News has reached us that Pentax are set to withdraw a number of its products from the European market, as new EU legislation regarding the use of lead solder in camera circuit boards is about to come into force (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2004 (RoHS Regulations)). Pentax is the second company to pull product due to this legislation - the Hasselblad Xpan has already been withdrawn from market. The full list includes the Pentax 645N II and 67II medium format cameras, some lenses and a number of digital compact cameras (the majority of which have already been discontinued due to product life cycles).

John Dickins, the Marketing Manager of Pentax UK, has issued the following statement.

“In light of impending EU legislation (RoHS) governing materials used in the manufacturing of consumer technology and IT products, Pentax will be discontinuing the production and European sales of a number of products, including its film based medium format cameras, some film and digital compact cameras, as well as a number of lenses and accessories.

Pentax is currently revaluating its European product portfolio in light of this legislation and information on future product introductions will be made in due course once assessments have been made into market demand. The company would like to make clear, however, that the decision to discontinue these products has been made in order to fully comply with this European directive - which comes into affect in July this year and which has implications for number of consumer electronic companies retailing within the EU.

Pentax would like to take this opportunity to reassure consumers that while it embarks upon the withdrawal of the products in question, the commercial role out of new digital SLR and medium format cameras, as unveiled at PMA earlier this year, will continue unabated. The remainder of this year will also see a number of exciting new product introduction across the company’s portfolio - all of which will be in tune with the demands of Pentax’s community of users.

Pentax would also like to stress in the strongest terms possible that current users are in no way in danger from existing models already in use - rather, this is a strategic move by the EU to move production away from the extensive use of materials that could be dangerous if found in large quantities, particularly in respect to their ultimate disposal, not in day-to-day usage. The Pentax products affected by this legislation do not pose any threat whatsoever to users but the company fully understands the decision to take a strict line on build materials in order to provide comprehensive safeguards for the enviroment moving forward.”