PENTAX-DA Zoom 18-55 Digital Lens - Press Release

[Photo-John]

PENTAX Introduces a Third Digital Lens:
PENTAX-DA Zoom 18-55 Perfect Fit For New Digital SLR

GOLDEN, CO (September 13, 2004)…PENTAX Imaging Company has introduced the smc PENTAX-DA Zoom 18mm-55mm F3.5-F5.6 AL lens. Exclusively designed for PENTAX digital SLR cameras including the newly announced *ist DS SLR, the PENTAX-DA Zoom 18-55 lens is portable and affordable to ensure comfortable, well-balanced operations. This compact, lightweight standard zoom lens features an image circle to match the camera’s large 23.5mm x 15.7mm image sensor.

PENTAX will unveil the lens and other new and exciting digital products on
September 20 at the PEPCOM Holiday Spectacular in New York City.

The PENTAX-DA Zoom 18-55mm lens will ship to major camera retailers in November 2004.

Major features of the PENTAX –DA Zoom 18-55 lens include:

Ideal zoom range for a standard lens
Mounted on the PENTAX *ist DS, this zoom lens provides an angle-of-view equivalent to a 27.5mm-84mm lens in the 35mm format that covers the most frequently used ranges from wide angle to moderate telephoto.

Compact dimensions with minimal aberrations
The aspherical optical elements in this new lens contribute to a reduction in size and weight of the lens and to more effective compensation of unwanted aberrations.

Functional and fashionable design
The aperture ring has been eliminated from this lens to simplify camera operations and improve appearance while aperture-setting operation is performed from the camera body.

Quick-Shift Focus System
Once subjects are captured by the camera’s autofocus system, this PENTAX-original system allows photographers to shift the focusing mode instantly to manual without any switching operations.

Specifications Lens mount: Lens construction: Angle of view: Aperture control: Number of diaphragm blades: Minimum aperture: Metering system: Minimum focusing distance: Filter size: Maximum magnification: Dimensions (diameter x length): Weight:

PENTAX KAF mount 12 elements in 9 groups 76° - 29° Automatic 6 F22 at 18mm; F38 at 55mm TTL open-aperture metering 0.25m (0.82 ft.) 52mm 0.34X 2.7 in. x 2.7 in. (68mm x 67.5mm) 7.9 oz. (225 grams)

For more information please visit, www.pentaximaging.com