Pentax has a new point and shoot in the works, named the Optio LS465. It will be very compact, have a 16 MP sensor, and will be aimed at the entry level point-and-shoot market, or rather the fashion market! It will have a 5x zoom, 20-140mm eqv., just like the recently-introduced WG-2. Where the WG-2 is designed to withstand heavy use/abuse, the LS465 will be a stylish, very compact camera with a customizable front panel.  This customizeability isn't new for Pentax, and suggests to us that this camera is a direct replacement for last year's Optio RS1500.

The camera will be capable of recording movies in standard HD (1280x720) and has face detection with smile capture and several other scene modes. It is not quite as feature-rich as the WG-2, but we expect it to be much cheaper.

The battery can be charged in the camera which some will find more convenient than having to remove the battery and use a separate charger.

As soon as we have the full technical specifications they will be posted here in our camera database.

At this point we know the following:

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We're now able to present the complete specifications for the new budget 50mm lens as published by Pentax.  The lens will become available in late June/early July at a price of $249.95.

Consult the SMC Pentax-DA 50mm F1.8 page of our lens database for the specs!

The lens database also accommodates user reviews, so if you decide to get this lens please review it to the benefit of others! It will be highly appreciated.

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Earlier this week, Sigma announced some exciting new rebates on three popular lenses: the high-end 24-70mm and 70-200mm F2.8 lenses, and the new 18-200mm super zoom lens. With this rebate, the price of the super zoom falls to $399, which makes it very attractive, given that the Pentax 18-135mm now costs $529.  All these rebates expire at the end of the month.

May Sigma Instant Rebates - thru 5/31
	Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 HSM This is a fast standard lens optimized for full-frame cameras, but it still works well on Pentax APS-C.	Price: $824
	Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 II HSM The brand new 18-200mm mark 2 from Sigma is an all-purpose super-zoom lens featuring silent HSM autofocus and improved optics.	Price: $399
	Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 HSM We think this is one of the best sports lenses currently available for Pentax- and given the recent price hike by Pentax, it's cheaper than the DA* 60-250mm and DA* 200mm. In-depth comparative review	Price: $1299

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Pentax announced the SMC Pentax-DA 50mm F1.8 prime lens back in February at the CP+ 2012 trade show in Japan and also showed us a prototype then. We now expect that next week Pentax will finally release the official technical details for this lens and announce that it's hitting the shelves!

We believe that the lens will start shipping in late June, together with the K-30 (source).

Considering that it's a normal lens, and given the precedent set forth by the SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.4 lens, we're sure that this 50mm will deliver great image quality while still being very affordable.

We will update the Lens Database with full details as soon as they are released. At this point we know the following specifications for this 50mm:

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Rumor has it that Pentax has a new mid-range DSLR coming out called the K-30. Log on to the PentaxForums.com homepage this Monday to learn all about the K-30!  Below we've got a countdown timer which we think reflects when the camera will be launched- but we can't be 100% sure!

Once the timer expires, view photos, specifications, and highlights of the rumored Pentax K-30 mid-range DSLR. Until then, you may dwell on the K-30 rumors on the forum or read our K-30 homepage preview.

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Back in the 1980's Pentax introduced a number of budget lenses without SMC coating. In typical Pentax marketing style, there was not much consistency in the naming of the lenses, but we have it all sorted out in the Lens Database.

Some of these lenses are mediocre at best, but in between there are some really good ones, and they can be found for very little money on the second hand market (such as the Takumar 135mm F2.5). All but one of these lenses have been reviewed by PentaxForums users so you know what to expect in case you come across one!

We have now added specifications and other information for all these lenses to the database:

Read about the non-SMC budget ZOOM lenses here

Read about the non-SMC budget PRIME lenses here

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Amazon.co.uk seems to have prematurely listed the new mid-range Pentax K30 DSLR on their web site even though the camera isn't due to be officially announced until next week.  The listing was taken down a few hours after we noticed it.

This makes one wonder whether or not mistakes such as these are genuine mess-ups, or if stores are doing it on purpose to gain early publicity.  Earlier this year, we saw Adorama list the Pentax Optio WG-2 about two weeks before it was actually announced.

K-01 kit currently sells for.  Considering that the Amazon.com price for the K-01 kit is $899, we suspect that the new K30 will share the same price tag, or possibility be bumped up to $949 MSRP.  Similarly, we suspect that the K30 body-only will be priced at $799-$849.  This would make sense, as it would be slightly more expensive than the K-01 while still being much cheaper than the upcoming Pentax flagship DSLR (at launch).

This is only slightly ($50-100) more than what the Pentax K-r, the K30's predecessor, was launched at; the K-r body-only MSRP was $799, the 18-55mm kit was $849, and the 18-55mm + 50-200mm kit was $999.

Another revelation that the Amazon listing made was that the Pentax K30 will start shipping on June 25, 2012 in the UK. The same is likely to apply in other countries.

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One of our forum members recently posted a leak from a French Pentax forum about the Pentax K30, which is rumored to be the new intro-level DSLR replacement for the Pentax K-r, or a mid-range camera succeeding the K200D.  This would seem to be the first rumor which is more than just plain speculation, as a credible photo of the camera has appeared in a French catalogue that has not yet been published.  Our sources indicate that the K30 will be officially announced early next week.

Update: the official announcement has now been posted.

The camera's name change may suggest a departure from convention, as this new Pentax is weather sealed, has additional external buttons, and has two e-dials: a first in an intro-level Pentax DSLR.  On top of that, it seems to have been redesigned quite significantly, meaning that this camera will be much less of a derivative than its two predecessors. Like the K-m/K-x/K-r, however, the Pentax K30 will not have a top LCD.

The launch price is rumored to be higher than that of the K-r: 799 euros for the kit, or some $900 in the US ($700-800 body-only).

The preliminary Pentax K30 specifications are as follows:

• 16.28 Megapixel sensor (likely inherited from the K-5)
• Full HD video recording (framerate unknown, likely same as the K-01)
• Weather sealed body
• 3-inch LCD
• Uses AA or rechargeable batteries
• 6FPS shutter
• Prime M processor
• ISO range: 100-25,600
• 11-point autofocus
• 100% viewfinder coverage
• 3 available colors

The introduction of weather sealing in a budget DSLR body may make this camera a success.  We remain hopeful that it will launch sooner rather than later!

Discuss the Pentax K30 on our forum

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