Pentax still believes in the DSLR design, and as well as having a new flagship Pentax APS-C DSLR in the pipeline, it has announced the development of three new lenses with a new, updated lens roadmap.
Pentax makes both APS-C and full frame DSLRs, with lens ranges for each. The APS-C cameras use Pentax-DA lenses made specifically for the smaller crop sensor, but they can also use the larger Pentax-D FA lenses for the full frame Pentax K-1 and K-1 II.
HD Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 (expected 2021)
This is the tentative name for a new constant aperture premium quality standard zoom for Pentax APS-C cameras. It will offer an effective 24-75mm focal range and be the equivalent of pro-spec standard zooms for other DSLR systems. The ‘*’ in the name indicates Pentax’s top optical quality standards.
HD Pentax-D FA 21mm Limited (expected 2021)
The Pentax ‘Limited’ lenses are compact retro-styled prime lenses that aim to offer a classic style of image rendering and handling, and this will be by far the widest Limited lens for full frame Pentax DSLRs. We don’t yet know the maximum aperture, but it will have an integrated petal-style lens hood, weather-resistant design and built in DC AF motor. It will also be available in silver (shown) and black.
HD PENTAX-D FA* 85mm F1.4ED SDM AW (expected late 2020)
The new Pentax 85mm f/1.4 portrait lens, which we first announced in March 2020, will have a very unusual feature – a concave front element designed to reduce the refraction effects that cause chromatic aberrations. It’s one of Pentax’s ‘*’ ‘star’ lenses, so it will boast the company’s highest optical quality, and it also has weather-resistant (WR) seals and efficient SDM autofocus.
Pentax APS-C lens roadmap
Here’s a diagram showing the current Pentax APS-C lens line-up and its future plans (it also includes full frame lenses, since these can also be used on the APS-C models).
Pentax full frame lens roadmap
And here’s a diagram showing the Pentax full frame lens range and roadmap. The new lenses are visible, but there are a further two as yet unnamed lenses to come, including a ‘Large aperture wide-angle single focus (prime) lens’ and a mysterious ‘Telephoto Zoom Lens’. We’ll bring more details just as soon as we have them.
Read more:
• These are the best Pentax cameras today
• The best Pentax lenses right now
• The best DSLRs to buy
