HD Pentax DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR lens coming soon

Ricoh is rumored to reveal the HD Pentax DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR and Pentax 08 wide zoom lenses for K-mount and Q-mount cameras, respectively, soon.

There is obvious evidence that Ricoh has not abandoned the Pentax brand. The company has not purchased the camera maker with the intention of killing it, instead it has chosen to take its legacy further. After the launch of the new Q7 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera earlier this year, it appears that a couple of new optics will be launched to provide more choices for Q- and K-mount photographers, sources have revealed.

The 20-40mm DA zoom Limited optic can be seen in the 2013 or later Pentax K-mount lens roadmap. Sources say that this optic will be announced soon along with a wide zoom Q-mount model. (Click on the image to make it larger.)

Ricoh set to announce HD Pentax DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR and 08 Wide Zoom lenses

Pentax Q7 features a larger than usual sensor for the Q-series: a 1/1.7-inch-type BSI CMOS model capable of shooting photos at 12.4 megapixels. Although Ricoh has promised that we will hear more about this mount soon, we have been left in the dark so far.

Nevertheless, the rumor mill says that two Pentax-branded optics are in the works and they will be announced very soon. The first is the 08 wide zoom lens and is said to cover focal lengths from the wide end to the telephoto one when taking into consideration the crop factor of the Q-mount.

On the other hand, the second model is the HD DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR, which has appeared in the company’s recent K-mount lens roadmap, before the announcement of the K-3 DSLR.

New Pentax zoom lenses rumored to become official in the near future

The focal length of the Pentax 08 wide zoom lens is known, but the HD Pentax DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR will provide a 35mm equivalent of 30-60mm. This is a pretty “weird” range to say the least, while the aperture is not among the brightest out there, so it might be received with mixed feelings by the users.

Nevertheless, it is a Limited lens and it should be very small. Additionally, it is weathersealed and most likely the first Limited to be like this. The good news does not end here, as the autofocus motor appears to be a DC one, meaning that it will be very quiet when compared to most other K-mount optics.

A release date is not provided, but these two products should not leave us waiting for too long, therefore the Japanese company’s fans should not look surprised if Ricoh makes an announcement soon.