Pentax appears to be readying the market for the availability of its overdue baby

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Pentax UK has released confirmed specifications for its forthcoming *ist D digital SLR. The company has also reconfirmed its plans to produce a 'DA' digital lens range designed specifically for the smaller image circle required by the 6 megapixel digital sensor used in the *ist D. This will start with the smc Pentax-DA Zoom 16mm-45mm F4 ED AL, which will be equivalent to a 24.5mm-69mm 35mm format lens. A conventional smc Pentax-FA J Zoom 18mm-35mm F4~F5.6 AL has been confirmed for September onwards distribution. It will provide an equivalent zoom range of 27.5mm-53.5mm when fitted to an *ist D camera.

Today's statements from Pentax are encouraging as the company had postponed its original plans to introduce the *ist d in June/July, however we still don't have an official release date or a price for the *ist D. The camera was first previewed in the UK back at the Focus show in February (see our original story here complete with several pictures.)

The *ist D is an interesting camera because it is so small and light. We had a chance to handle a prototype at the PMA show in Las Vegas at the beginning of March and the *ist D contrasts hugely from the chunky DSLRs from Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Kodak, Contax and Olympus to date. Pentax also has a massive K-mount-compatible lens user-base out there, so the market out there is impatiently waiting for the *ist D.

Let's hope there are no more delays and the *ist D hits the shelves soon.

Today's Pentax press releases:

• *ist D detailed specifications confirmed
• Digital lens range in the pipeline
• 18-35 zoom to arrive next month

Pentax UK home page

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