Pentax UK Press Release

An Interchangeable Medium-Telephoto Lens for PENTAX Digital SLR Cameras, Featuring Ultra-Thin Pancake Design and High-Quality Visual Description

Pentax is pleased to announce the launch of the smc PENTAX-DA 70mm F2.4 Limited lens, designed for exclusive use with its digital SLR cameras and featuring an ultra-thin pancake design and uni-focal, medium-telephoto optics. With its medium-telephoto perspective, this new lens is ideal for many different situations, including portraiture and landscape photography. Its high-performance optics not only assures outstanding image quality, but also allows distinctive visual expression. The materials used for this lens have been carefully selected for optimum holding comfort and utmost operability. Thanks to Pentax’s advanced manufacturing technology, this new lens is designed to be extremely thin and lightweight, assuring go-anywhere portability for casual, day-to-day snapshot photography.

Major Features

1. Ultra-thin, super-lightweight design
Thanks to its newly developed, high-performance optics, this new medium-telephoto lens measures only 26 millimeters long and weighs a mere 130 grams. When mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, it protrudes very little from the camera’s front panel and offers a focal length equivalent to 107mm in 35mm format, making it a perfect choice for casual portrait and landscape photography.

2. Limited Lens-series quality

[1] Distinctive visual description:
The Pentax Limited Lens series is designed for distinctive visual description by combining a series of mechanical and numerical evaluations with human assessment of test-shooting samples. As a result, this lens produces smooth, natural skin tones and beautiful out-of-focus backgrounds at open aperture in portrait applications, while assuring crisp, high-contrast images at closed-down aperture in landscape photography.

[2] Premium appearance:
The lens barrel, hood and cap are all made of a high-grade aluminum material, shaped for perfect proportions and striking beauty. The focusing ring is designed for superb accessibility and maximum ease of focusing operation.

3. SP coating to protect the lens against water and grease
The Pentax-original Super Protect (SP) coating is applied to the front surface of this lens. Through a vapor deposition process, the lens surface is coated with a special fluorine compound to repel dust, water and grease, making it easy to wipe off fingerprints and cosmetics.

4. Digital SLR-exclusive optical design
This lens is exclusively designed for use with Pentax digital SLR cameras, with an image circle perfectly proportioned to the CCD size (23.5mm x 15.7mm), and optics optimized for digital imaging characteristics. Combining high-quality image reproduction with an ultra-thin, super-lightweight design, it is a perfect partner to PENTAX digital SLR cameras.

5. Others

Pentax-developed Quick-Shift Focus System for instant switching to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the AF system
Detachable, extendible lens hood (included) for enhanced portability
Nine-blade diaphragm for natural out-of-focus description

Specifications
Lens mount:  PENTAX KAF mount
      Lens construction:  6 elements in 5 groups
      Angle of view:  23° ( when used with *istD-series & K100D camera body)
      Aperture control:  Automatic
      Number of diaphragm blades:  9
      Minimum aperture:  F22
      Metering system:  TTL open-aperture metering
      Minimum focusing distance:  0.7m (2.3 ft.)
      Filter size:  49mm
      Maximum magnification:  0.12X
      Dimensions (diameter x length):  63mm x 26mm (2.5 inches x 1.0 inch)
      Weight:  130g (4.6 oz.) without hood; 150g (5.3 oz.) with hood

About Pentax
Pentax U.K. Limited was formed in 1979 and is a subsidiary of the PENTAX Corporation of Japan. The Imaging Systems Division successfully distributes its products through a number of channels, including independent camera shops and national retailers. The product range is extensive and includes state of the art digital SLR and zoom compact cameras, through to highly sophisticated professional medium format equipment. There is also a superb range of binoculars, suitable for a variety of leisure activities. Today, Pentax is a leading supplier of professional and recreational cameras and photographic equipment world-wide.