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Here's what I think is a decent translation :
Ricoh (Pentax) to announce the HD PENTAX-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR in a few days?
We are (or I am) able provide information that came from a reader (or readers) about two new Ricoh (Pentax) interchangeable lenses.
Ricoh Imaging could announce in a possible near future the introduction of two new lenses :
- PENTAX 08 Wide Zoom Lens
- HD PENTAX-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR
The 08 Wide Zoom Lens lens was published in the lens road map as part of the Q Mount, and was named a "WIDE" lens. This lens, once released, will allow to cover the focal length range from the ultra wide to the telephoto on the PENTAX Q.
The HD PENTAX-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR seems to be the DA Limited Zoom which appeared in the lens road map as part of the K Mount, based on the indications regarding its focal length. Details are unknown, but judging from the name, it includes a DC motor, although the weather-proof construction might be a mistake. The focal length of this lens is not something seen very often, so it is going to be a quite unique lens.
Thank you to the person(s) who sent me this information.
If this lens is indeed announced in the next days, I expect a lot of excitement in the Pentax community.
This piece of glass, though it has a bit odd of a focal length range (20-40mm isn't very wide nor isn't very long on the tele reach), could prove to be very useful for a lot of photographers, provided it comes in a compact package, like most DA Limited lenses usually do.
Too much compromises on the size can sometimes lead to compromises in image quality, something which can be avoided by staying conservative with the focal length range. I expect this zoom to deliver very sharp images, perhaps as sharp (or almost) as the other DA Limited primes. The maximum aperture is pretty decent for a (possibly compact) Limited lens, and while I would've preferred a constant aperture, this can once again a compromise to help keep the size down and the image quality high.
The DC motor isn't impossible at all, for Pentax was, until recently, one of the rare manufacturers still designing new lenses which are using the noisy screw-driven motor. Most of the others (Canon, Sony, Pana, Oly, Nikon, etc.), don't build lenses using screw-driven motors anymore, even if they still carry old screw-driven lenses in their line-up. There are some rare exceptions of course, but even Sigma and Tamron are switching to lens-based motors on most of their new products. Pentax had to catch up, and while SDM probably wasn't the most successful attempt at doing this, the DC motor seems to be the logical way to go for most of the new lenses.
The WR might be a mistake indeed, but it's not impossible the Ricoh-Pentax engineers managed to fit weather seals in rather compact Limited lens. That would make it the first Limited that can go under the rain without fear of damaging this delicate piece of art, and a nice alternative to the DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 ED WR.
I guess the suggested retail price will probably be between $US 800 to $US 1,300, judging on the price of other HD Limited lenses. But that's just pure speculation.
Nice lens, but not one that answers my needs for a weather-proof ultra-wide lens (or even very wide lens). Actually, I would've like some HD Pentax DA 15-45mm F/3.2 ED DC WR better, and a nice HD Pentax DA 12-24mm F/4 ED WR would've been a dream come true.
But still, looks like a darn nice lens.
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Originally posted by Gray 
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