Denver – Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas introduced Monday a pair of new flagship D-SLRs in the Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs.
Both models were designed to build on the popular K-5 D-SLR, which launched in October 2010. Both models feature new dustproof, weather-resistant and cold-resistant bodies and an advanced SAFOX X AF sensor with a broad autofocusing EV range (-3 EV to +18 EV.)
The Pentax K-5 IIs removes the anti-aliasing filter to deliver sharper images, for advanced photographers who can work around possible image artifacts like moiré patterns that the filter is designed to remove.
Pentax said the cameras’ AF sensor enables photographers to work with a luminous flux based on F2.8 levels in addition to F5.6, which increases the AF accuracy when using fast lenses. An upgraded AF algorithm and the Select-Area Expansion feature enable automatically tracking subjects when they deviate from a pre-assigned selection point, by assessing data from neighboring sensors.
The cameras include a 16.28 megapixel CMOS image sensor coupled with the PRIME (Pentax Real Image Engine) II imaging engine for virtually noise free shots over a sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12,800 in the standard setting, or from ISO 80 to ISO 51,200 when expanded via a custom function.
The cameras include a 3-inch 921,000-dot LCD screen; Pentax’s shake reduction system, which shifts the sensor in all directions to compensate for the adverse effects of camera shake by approximately three shutter steps for blur-free images; and 7fps high-speed shooting.
The K-5 II will be available in October at a $1,200 suggested retail for the body only, $1,350 for the K-5 II kit including the DA 18-55mm WR zoom lens and $1,550 for the K-5 II kit including the DA 18-135mm WR zoom lens. The K-5 IIs will ship at the same time at a $1,300 suggested retail for the body only.
Also introduced were new K-mount lenses including the DA 560mm F5.6 ED super-telephoto lens offering an 859mm equivalent focal length on crop-sensor cameras like the K-5 II. In adds a new HD coating for higher light transmittance with reduced reflection for less flare and ghosting.
The all-weather-designed lens will carry a $7,000 suggested retail when it ships in December.
Also introduced to the K-mount lens family was DA 18-270mm F3.5-5.6 ED SDM lens. The 15x zoom lens covers a 27.5-414mm equivalent on Pentax’s crop sensor bodies like K-5 II. The new 18-270mm lens features Pentax’s SDM AF system with a supersonic motor for faster AF speeds, along with two extra-low dispersion elements.
The DA 18-270mm F3.5-5.6 ED SDM lens offers a 1.6-foot minimum focus distance throughout the zoom range, and will ship in November at an $800 suggested retail.
