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.

nil
A rear view of Pentax's K200D digital SLR. The K200D includes a 2.7" LCD as in the K20D, but it should be noted that there's no live view functionality, since this isn't possible with the CCD imager the K200D is based around.
Michael R. Tomkins