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Pentax has just announced a new standard K-mount zoom lens: the HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f/2.8ED SDM WR for $1,296.95. This versatile wide-angle to medium telephoto lens packs in almost every one of Pentax’s library

of optical technologies, including a Supersonic Direct-drive Motor (SDM) for fast, quiet, and accurate focusing, a constant f/2.8 aperture, and weather-resistant construction.

While optimized for full-frame sensors, the lens is just as useful on Pentax’s APS-C bodies, thanks to a 37-107mm equivalent focal length. Also, it contains three Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements, three aspherical elements, and one anomalous dispersion glass mold aspherical lens into the 17-element / 12-group design, to minimize aberrations, correct distortion, and ensure high sharpness. This works in combination with the High Definition (HD) multi-layer coating that controls ghosting and flare for sharp, high-contrast images. Furthering image quality is the implementation of a rounded 9-blade aperture for smooth out-of-focus elements.

Heavy-duty construction has always been a staple of Pentax imaging products, and this lens is no exception. The barrel is built with five special seals for excellent weather resistance, preventing rain and moisture from entering the lens. The lens also has a tactile manual focus ring, which is accessible using the Quick-Shift Focus System, allowing photographers to simply twist the focus ring to switch from AF to MF. And, as an added touch, a zoom lock lever is available to prevent the lens from zooming out when not in use.

Main Features

1. Exceptional imaging power: Consisting of 17 elements in 12 groups, this new lens features three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) optical elements, one anomalous-dispersion-glass aspherical optical element and three aspherical optical elements to compliment super-high-resolution image sensors. By delivering sufficient light even at the edges and minimizing aberrations, this zoom lens provides a high MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) for finely-detailed high contrast, high resolution images. When mounted on a current PENTAX K-series camera body, it uses only the central area of the image circle to deliver high-resolution images with uniform detail.

2. Large-aperture standard zoom lens: When mounted on a 35mm-format full-frame DSLR, this lens offers a zoom ratio of approximately 2.9 times from ultra-wide-angles to standard zoom ranges (24mm to 70mm in focal length). It provides a maximum aperture of F2.8 over the entire zoom range to deliver brilliant images. It not only covers the most common focal-length range, but also provides ultra-wide-angle coverage to produce distinctive visual results, such as exaggerated perspectives or extra-wide depths of field; this makes it very useful with subjects such as sweeping landscapes and shallow indoor scenes. When mounted on a current K-series DSLR, it provides focal lengths from 37mm to 107mm in the 35mm format to cover wide-angle to medium-telephoto ranges. Its large maximum aperture not only creates an excellent bokeh effect on the background for beautiful portraits, but also allows the photographer to handhold the camera for poorly lit subjects, such as sunsets or indoor scenes.

3. Built-in SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor): Thanks to the incorporation of a new-generation SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor), this zoom lens ensures quiet, high-speed autofocus operation, allowing the photographer to react swiftly to all types of photographic opportunities.

4. Weather-resistant construction: This lens features a dependable weather-resistant construction with special seals to effectively prevent water reaching the inside of the lens. Pairing it with a weather-resistant PENTAX DSLR, provides a durable, dependable digital imaging system that performs superbly in demanding shooting conditions or locations, where the weather or indeed water, would normally cause problems.

5. HD Coating to improve image description: The lens is treated with high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating.* Compared with conventional multi-layer coatings, this PENTAX-original coating assures higher light transmittance and less reflection to deliver bright, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even in demanding lighting situations.

6. Quick-Shift Focus system: The lens comes equipped with the PENTAX-developed Quick-Shift Focus system, which allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system.

7. Other features: Rounded diaphragm to produce a smooth, beautiful bokeh effect, while minimizing the streaking effect of point light sources. Zoom lock lever to prevent the accidental extension of the lens barrel when pointed downwards.

 Expected availability: October 20 2015

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