Pentax photographers may still be waiting for the brand’s new DSLR, which has been teased over the last few weeks, but there is now some good news for K-mountshooters following the release of the HD PENTAX-D FA 70-210mm F4ED SDM WR – a compact and lightweight optic that’s sure to prick the interest of travel and wildlife photographers.
Designed for use on Pentax full-frame cameras like the K-1 Mark II, the lens can also be used on Pentax crop-sensor APS-C cameras like the K-P where the effective focal length switches up to 105-315mm, making the lens a wise choice for both general travel photography, wildlife and even long lens portraiture.
The 70-210mm tips the scales at just 819g and is built around a 20-element, 14-group design with a maximum aperture of f/4 and also offers an impressive minimum close focusing distance of just 95cm, enabling small subjects to fill the frame. The design is further improved thanks to a weather-resistant construction, making the lens suitable for professional use.
A built-in SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) aims to provide fast and quiet autofocus, while a nine-bladed diaphragm should produce impressive bokeh. The additional of SP coating helps repel water, grease and dirt from the front element and Pentax says the additional HD coating ‘not only improves light transmittance but also reduces average reflectance in the visible light range by more than 50 percent, minimising the adverse effects of flare and ghost images even in demanding lighting conditions such as backlighting.’
Additional features include a Quick-Shift Focus System to shift from auto to manual focus and Pentax shared a number of images, captured using the new HD PENTAX-D FA 70-210mm F4ED SDM WR lens, which is expected to start shipping mid-February with a price tag of around $1100/£1200.
