Well, I take a day off from everything to celebrate my birthday, and look what happens! Pentax have announced a new digital SLR camera, the Pentax *ist D, and a new wide angle lens, the smc PENTAX-FA J Zoom 18-35mm F4-5.6 AL. Pentax has also been developing lenses compatible with the new digital SLR camera. Pentax aims to launch these in Fall 2003.

See all 6 views of the Pentax *ist D and read the Press Release

“The lens-interchangeable *ist D digital SLR camera.  With the clarity of 6.1 effective megapixels, a pentaprism viewfinder, and a 1.8 inch LCD monitor,  the *ist D will feature one of the world?s smallest, lightest camera bodies in the digital SLR category. The *ist D will officially launch in July 2003.”

Other notable features include a 16-segment metering system which achieves more accurate exposure, 11-point AF sensor, fast 1/4000 sec. shutter speed and high-speed flash sync at 1/150 sec and continuous shooting at approx. 2.7 fps.