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:

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.

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

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.

The price quoted for the K30 kit by Amazon.com.uk was 699 pounds, which is only 20 pounds more than what the 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.

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

Now, it seems that Samyang lenses for Pentax will be much easier to acquire in the US, with the recent arrival of all 4 lenses at retailers!

The currently Samyang lineup includes 4 surprisingly-sharp, manual focus, auto-aperture, budget primes: the 8mm F3.5 Fisheye, 14mm F2.8, 35mm F1.4, and 85mm F1.4.  Interestingly, with the exception of the fisheye, they are all full-frame-compatible lenses.  These lenses are fully compatible with Pentax DSLRs, and work just like SMC Pentax-A lenses.

Read on for more information about these lenses!

The price of this lens went up by $50 following the introduction of Pentax USA's unilateral pricing policy last month, which fortunately isn't much compared to other lenses.  At the new price of $249, is this 50-200mm lens still worth it for outdoors shooters and landscape use, or as a supplement to the kit lens?  Some might say "yes" right away, because at the moment, Pentax offers no weather-sealed version of their popular 55-300mm lens. 

In any case, read our 50-200mm review to find out!

Shop Topaz Plugins

We've posted in-depth reviews of the following Topaz plugins, which we hope you'll enjoy reading!  The results from DeNoise are particularly stunning, as it does a much better job of reducing noise than Photoshop.

Topaz BW Effects Post-Processing Plugin   8.4

Topaz DeNoise Noise Reduction Plug-In   9.2

Topaz Adjust 5 Review Editing Plugin   8.2

First of all, you need to make sure your computer has the right ICC profile installed for the photo paper you are about to use. In my case I use paper from Ilford, who provide ICC profiles for all their photo paper on their website. Check with the manufacturer of the paper you intend to use, the right profile will give you a better representation of your picture in print.

With the right ICC profile installed, and if your screen is properly calibrated, you can now use the corresponding ICC profile to preview round about how things will look on your printout, by using a function in Aperture called "Onscreen Proofing".

Rather than judging these entries, we will now open the floor up to you, our members!  The top 8 articles will win the following prizes:

• Grand prize: $500-$1000 worth of gear at B&H
• 2nd place: $150 B&H gift card
• 3rd place: $100 B&H gift card
• 4th place (5 winners): $50 B&H gift card

Please vote in this poll for the articles you think should win.  The winners will be ranked based on the number of votes.  In addition, one extra vote percentage point will be given to each article for every 1000 views, divided by the number of pages in that article.  So, for instance, if a 5-page article with 10,000 views would get 2% more votes (relative to the total number of votes).

Voting will run through the end of May, and we will announce the winners on June 1st! To help you out, we're providing an overview of the 15 articles. Read on for links to all 15!

Vote Now!

The DA 35mm Limited at the time of writing has 75 user reviews in our user review section, making it one of the most popular Pentax lenses despite its price tag. Its average used price range is $400-$450 and after the recent price hike the price as new is a hefty $699 in the USA.  Despite the high price we find that the lens is worth a second look if you're after a 'normal' walk around lens with full macro capability and with exceptional build and image quality. If you're primarily after the Macro capability our advice is to go for a lens with a lens with a longer focal length, around 100mm or even more, which allows you to put some distance between lens and object being photographed.

We've recently revised our in-depth review of this lens, and we hope you'll find it helpful!

Read our review of the DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited

Read the Pentax 70mm vs 77mm comparative review

For more about this lens read our in-depth review of the 100mm macro , or our comparative review of the Tamron 90mm vs Pentax 100mm.