Pentax to showcases its future top of the range of digital SLR camera products at...

Press release:
Pentax will be exhibiting its soon to be release products at this year's PMA. The products, all currently under development, are planned for release later in 2007. PMA is America's largest annual photographic merchandise trade show, running from 8th to 11th March in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The smc PENTAX DA* lenses on display boast a supersonic motor which delivers smoother and, quieter auto-focusing, enabling wildlife enthusiasts to capture once in a life time shots without disturbing their subjects. The introduction of this range has increased the choice of Pentax lenses available to digital SLR photographers, which are suitable for every circumstance from portraits, to landscapes, action or wildlife photography.

Key products on display will be the high performance smc PENTAX-DA* (DA Star), interchangeable zoom lens range that includes the:

* smc PENTAX-DA* 200mm
* smc PENTAX-DA* 300mm
* smc PENTAX-DA* 60-250mm
* Compact and lightweight interchangeable macro lens, the PENTAX-DA 35mm

The lenses will join the PENTAX-DA* 16-50mm and smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm, which are the first models in the range that launched today. Its new range of high-end digital SLR products further demonstrates Pentax's renewed investment in the professional photography market.

Pentax's medium-format digital SLR camera the 645 Digital will also be on display together with a medium format interchangeable lens that has been exclusively developed for use with the camera.

Overview of products on display

1. Three interchangeable lenses for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras
These top of the range lenses are being developed as part of the Star-series lens range, which provide superior performance and technological excellence. The lenses also include the advanced SDM system that ensures smooth, quiet auto focusing operation using the supersonic motor installed in the lens body.

smc PENTAX-DA* 200mm f/2.8ED[IF]SDM

• A uni-focal super-telephoto lens, with an angle of view equivalent to a 306mm lens in the 35mm format
• Market launch scheduled for September 2007

smc PENTAX-DA* 300mm f/4ED[IF]SDM

• A uni-focal super-telephoto lens, with an angle of view equivalent to a 460mm lens in the 35mm format
• Market launch scheduled for September 2007

smc PENTAX-DA* 60-250mm f/4ED[IF]SDM

• A super-telephoto zoom lens, with an angle-of-view coverage equivalent to a 92mm-383mm zoom lens in the 35mm format
• Market launch scheduled for December 2007

2. smc PENTAX-DA* 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited - Compact, lightweight interchangeable macro lens for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras

• The first macro lens of this high-quality lens series, offering outstanding contrast and clarity
• Offering an angle of view equivalent to a 53.5mm lens in a 35mm format camera it is ideal for normal applications as a standard lens
• Launch date: TBA

3. PENTAX 645 Digital interchangeable-lens medium-format digital SLR camera

• Extra-large CCD image sensor developed by Kodak with 31.6Mp (TBC)
• Compatibility with existing smc PENTAX 645 interchangeable lenses
• Two storage-media slots for SD memory card and a CompactFlash card
• Release schedule to be announced

4. smc PENTAX-D FA645 55mm f/2.8 Interchangeable standard lens for exclusive use with PENTAX
medium-format digital SLR camera

• A standard lens designed exclusively to be used with the PENTAX 645 Digital (tentative name)
• Advanced optical design and optimised for digital photography with all properties of lens element groups, including curvature and lens coating,
• In addition the lens can be used with existing PENTAX 645-series medium-format SLR film cameras
• Market launch schedule to be announced at a later date (will available at the same time as the PENTAX 645 Digital camera body)

5. PENTAX AF200FG Dedicated auto flash

• Compact clip-on-type auto flash unit with a guide number of 20 (at ISO100/m)
• Launch date: TBA