The Pentax K-50 is a weather-sealed digital SLR camera available in 120 colour combinations. Key features include an APS-C sized 16.28-megapixel CMOS sensor, dust- and freezeproof camera body, a pentaprism viewfinder with 100% frame coverage and 0.92x magnification (with a 50mm lens focussed at infinity) Pentax-developed Shake Reduction, SAFOX IXi+ auto focus module, 6fps continuous shooting and Full HD video recording at 30, 25 or 24fps. The Pentax K-50 camera can be powered by a proprietary lithium-ion battery or four AA-size cells. A colour-to-order service allows for the selection from 120 camera colour combinations, including three standard models. The Pentax K-50 is available for a body-only price of £529.99 / $699.95, or £599.99 / $779.95 with the 18-55mm DAL WR lens. In the US there's also a dual lens kit including the DA-L 18-55mm WR and DA-L 50-200mm WR lenses for $879.95.

Pentax Press Release

PENTAX K-50

A weather-resistant, user-friendly high quality digital SLR camera available in 120 colour combinations

PENTAX RICOH IMAGING UK LTD. is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX K-50 digital SLR camera. Weather-resistant and dustproof, this compact, lightweight camera combines user-friendly operation, with a host of advanced shooting features usually found in high-end models.

The PENTAX K-50 boasts outstanding specifications, including high-speed shooting at six images per second, high-sensitivity shooting at ISO 51200 and high-precision AF with accurate tracking of moving subjects. This means that novice SLR users and casual photographers can enjoy high-quality digital photography with minimal effort.

The K-50 also features a weather-resistant, dustproof construction for improved durability and performance in demanding outdoor conditions.

The K-50 delivers a wide range of advanced shooting features, such as full HD movie recording and a selection of creative tools, including digital filters, to accommodate various shooting requirements. In addition, the camera can be powered by easy-to-obtain AA-size batteries,* or the standard lithium-ion battery.

Launching alongside the K-50 camera body, are two different weather-resistant lenses — the smc PENTAX-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6AL WR, and the smc PENTAX-DA L 50-200 F4-5.6ED WR — which enhance the reliability and performance of the K-50 imaging system.
　　　　　　　　　　
In addition to the high technical specification, the K-50 will be available in 120 different colour variations. The colour-to-order service has proved to be very popular as a unique, stylish way for PENTAX camera users to express their style through their choice of camera system.
　　　

The K-50 will be available from the end of June 2013.

RSPs:
K-50 body only - £529.99
K-50 + 18-55mm DAL WR lens - £599.99

* The optional D-BH109 AA Battery Holder is required for AA-battery operation.

Major Features

1. High-resolution, super-high-sensitivity shooting at ISO 51200
The K-50 features the state-of-the-art CMOS image sensor with a large image-capturing area measuring 23.7mm by 15.7mm, to assure high-speed image data readout. This image sensor is coupled with PRIME M — the same high-performance imaging engine incorporated in high-end models — to deliver super-high-resolution, rich-gradation digital images with approximately 16.28 effective megapixels. The K-50 also offers super-high-sensitivity shooting at a top sensitivity of ISO 51200, allowing the photographer to handhold the camera for beautiful nighttime snapshots.

2. Reliable weather-resistant, dustproof body
Thanks to the 81 seals set in its compact, lightweight, portable body, the K-50 is built to be weather-resistant, dustproof and cold-resistant at temperatures as low as -10°C. This means that the K-50 can be taken along on outdoor activities such as camping, mountaineering and sports, for the joy of high-quality digital SLR photography without worrying about weather conditions. Its compact, functional body is carefully contoured; ensuring that even a photographer with small hands will have a firm grip of the camera.

3. Innovative SR mechanism
The PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism effectively compensates for camera shake to deliver sharp, blur-free images, even under shake-prone conditions such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting in the dark without flash illumination, or taking landscapes at twilight. This innovative mechanism works with almost all PENTAX interchangeable lenses — even those developed for film-format cameras.** Thanks to the SR mechanism’s flexible design, which tilts the image sensor unit in all directions, the K-50 offers several useful features to assist the photographer during shooting, including an Automatic Horizon Correction function for high-precision image framing and effortless adjustment of horizontal alignment; a Composition Adjustment function to allow minute adjustment of image alignment both to horizontal and vertical directions, as well as slant-wise rotation; and an ASTRO TRACER mode to simplify astronomical photography in combination with the optional O-GPS1 GPS Unit.

** Lenses compatible with this mechanism: PENTAX K, KA, KAF, KAF2 and KAF3mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); and 645 and 67system lenses (with an adapter). Some functions may not be available with certain lenses.

4. High-precision autofocus with SAFOX IXi+ AF module
The K-50 features the state-of-the-art SAFOX IXi+ AF sensor module, which assures responsive, high-precision autofocus operation with 11 sensors (including nine cross-type sensors in the middle). It also features a spot beam projector to assist AF operation in poorly lit locations. Its select-area expansion function keeps the sensor module tracking a moving subject, even when it moves out of a pre-assigned auto-tracking area, by assessing the distance data collected by neighbouring focus sensors. As the result, not only the accuracy and speed of detecting moving subjects during autofocus operation, but also the auto-tracking performance of moving subjects when using a telephoto lens, have been greatly improved.

5. High-speed continuous shooting, at approximately six images per second
When shooting fast-moving subjects such as wildlife or sport, the K-50’s high-speed continuous shooting function comes in handy. It allows the photographer to record active, fast-moving subjects in a series of images, at a maximum speed of approximately six images per second (in the JPEG recording format).

6. High-quality movie recording
The K-50 captures high-resolution, full HD movie clips (1920 x 1080 pixels) in the H.264 recording format, with a choice of frame rate (30, 25 or 24 frames per second). It even comes with creative image-processing tools*** like Custom Images and useful movie-recording features like an interval movie recording function, for the production of more personalised movies.

*** The frame rate may vary when nonstandard image processing is required.

7. Optical finder with approximately 100% field of view
Despite a compact body common to all entry-class models, the K-50 features a glass prism finder with nearly 100% field of view and approximately 0.92-times magnification (with a 50mm F1.4 lens at infinity) to cover the entire field of view for easy focusing and framing. Since it delivers a clear view of the subject even in bright sunshine and eliminates parallax and time lag in the viewfinder image, the K-50 responds efficiently and reliably to demanding applications and subjects, such as landscapes requiring delicate, high-precision framing, and sports scenes where the timing of shutter release is critical. The in focus point is indicated as a red point in the viewfinder for at-a-glance confirmation.

8. Effortless, user-friendly Auto Picture and Scene modes
The PENTAX-original Auto Picture mode automatically selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene from Portrait, Landscape, Macro and other distinctive shooting modes. Since the K-50 sets all vital camera settings — including shutter speed, aperture, white balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness — the photographer can concentrate on image composition and shutter opportunity. The K-50 also offers 19 Scene modes, including Night Scene Portrait, Pet and Backlight Silhouette, to simplify the photographing of subjects and scenes that could be too complicated or demanding for entry digital SLR photographers, by optimising all camera settings with a simple choice of the corresponding icon on the camera’s LCD monitor.

9. A selection of image-processing tools for creative, personalised expression
The K-50’s custom image function allows the user to easily and quickly select the desired finishing touch for a particular image, with a choice of 11 custom images. These include Bleach Bypass to create a dramatic visual effect used in motion pictures, and Cross Process to produce fanciful, eye-catching images with dramatic colours. The K-50 also provides 19 distinctive digital filters to add distinctive visual effects to captured images and produce creative, artistic images without the need for a computer. The user can even explore new creative possibilities by applying multiple filters to a single image.

10. Choice of two power sources
In addition to the standard rechargeable lithium-ion battery capable of capturing approximately 480 images with a single recharge,**** the K-50 can also be powered by four AA-size batteries using the optional D-BH109 AA Battery Holder. Since AA-size batteries can be easily obtained almost anywhere around the world, there’s no worry about battery shortages, even when travelling.

**** Under testing conditions prescribed by PENTAX, using the D-LI109 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery with no flash discharges.

11. Outline of PENTAX K-50 colour-to-order service
The new PENTAX K-50, the colour-to-order service allows for the selection from 120 camera colour combinations (including three standard models). Each user can choose the desired colour combination to more personalise their K-50 camera body.

Colour options: a choice of 20 body colours and six grip colours are available. When ordering one of the lens kits with a black, white, red or pink camera body, alongside a black grip, the PENTAX-DAL 18-55mm F3.5-5.6AL WR lens will be of the identical colour. The Lens Kits that come with any other camera body colour will be accompanied by black lenses.

12. Other features
VIII.  Large, wide-view 3.0-inch LCD monitor with approximately 921,000 dots
IX.      77-segment multi-pattern metering system for extra-accurate light measurement
X.        DR (Dust Removal) mechanism to shake dust from the surface of the CMOS image sensor
XI.      Digital level for extra-accurate image composition
XII.     PENTAX-designed Hyper control system to assure flexible, unfailing response to the photographer’s creative intentions
XIII.   RAW data retrieve function to save an original raw data of a just-recorded JPEG-format image
XIV.      RAW/Fx button for single-action switching of image file format, as well as for assignment and instant recall of a specific function

XV. Compatibility with Eye-Fi wireless LAN SD memory cards

XVI.      SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 LE for PENTAX RICOH IMAGING(RAW-data processing engine developed by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory) included, together with the K-50’s in-body RAW data processing capability

Overview of the smc PENTAX-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6AL WR lens

This standard zoom lens covers focal lengths from 27.5mm wide angle to 84mm moderate telephoto (in the 35mm format). Thanks to the incorporation of high-performance aspherical and super-low-dispersion glass optical elements in the optics, this lens delivers outstanding image resolution and remarkable brightness, even at the edges, while effectively compensating for various aberrations.

Overview of smc PENTAX-DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6ED WR lens
This telephoto zoom lens covers focal lengths from 76.5mm moderate telephoto to 307mm super telephoto (in the 35mm format). With the incorporation of extra-low-dispersion (ED) glass optical elements, it assures excellent description of the subject in various telephoto applications, including portraiture, sports/action and landscape, while effectively compensating chromatic aberration over the entire zoom range.

Both lenses feature a simplified weather-resistant construction, which prevents the intrusion of water into the lens barrel. By mounting one of these lenses on the K-50 camera body, the user creates a highly durable, dependable digital imaging system, even when shooting in the rain, mist or spray.

♦ All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
♦ Designs and specifications are subjects to change without notice.

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