Booth Report: Pentax Corp.

Las Vegas Convention Center

Pentax had five new digital camera models on show at PMA 2008, including two new digital SLRs, plus a whole slew of lenses. The digital SLRs included a followup to the flagship K10D in the form of the Pentax K20D, plus a new lower-cost K200D model that is in part based on the K10D. The remaining digital cameras were three new models for the Optio series – the Optio M50, S12 and E50. Pentax also announced a new program for professional photographers, the Pentax Professional Services program. New lens models at PMA 2008 included the smc PENTAX DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM, smc PENTAX DA* 300mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM, smc PENTAX DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED, smc PENTAX DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited, and smc PENTAX DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II. Also shown for the first time under glass at the show were the tentatively named smc PENTAX-DA*55mm F1.4 SDM, smc PENTAX-DA*60-250mm F4ED [IF]SDM, and smc PENTAX-DA17-70 LF4 AL [IF]SDM lenses.

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Pentax's K200D digital SLR adopts the ten megapixel CCD image sensor that was previously used in the K10D, along with the same buffer memory. Designed for ease-of-use, the Pentax K200D includes a range of auto and scene modes that weren't found on the K10D. Also included are shake reduction, weather-sealing (to the same degree as the K10D, although there are fewer total seals since the camera body has fewer openings in it), and more.
Michael R. Tomkins