Pentax's Super New SLR
Pentax's new 6.1-megapixel K100D Super SLR.
(Credit: Pentax)With a nod toward the naming schema the company used in the late '70s when upgrading its popular ME film SLR to the ME Super, Pentax has announced its new K100D Super 6.1-megapixel digital SLR. An update to last year's K100D, this new SLR adds Pentax's Dust Removal system, as well as support for the company's high-end SDM lenses, to one of the more affordable digital SLRs on the market. Other than these additions, the K100D Super is essentially the same as the K100D, which included Pentax's sensor-shift Shake Reduction system, which helps reduce blur-inducing camera shake across all your lenses, rather than making you purchase special optically stabilized lenses. The K100D Super also boasts an 11-point autofocus system and 16-segment metering system, along with a 2.5-inch 210,000-pixel LCD.
The new Pentax AF200FG hot-shoe flash.
(Credit: Pentax)Since an SLR announcement just isn't enough for Pentax, they've also unleashed a new, compact affordable hot-shoe flash called the AF200FG Auto Flash. It doesn't tilt or swivel, but does offer a guide number of 20 at ISO 100 and covers an angle of view equivalent to that of a 28mm lens, or 24mm with its built-in, flip-down diffuser in place.
Pentax introduced its SDM lenses at this year's Photo Marketing Associaton trade show in Las Vegas, NV. Previously, the only Pentax camera that could make use of these fancy lenses was the K10D. Now, the K100D Super brings support for these lenses to a wider audience. Pentax will offer the K100D Super as a kit with an 18-55mm lens for about $600, or body only for about $520. The company expects to sell the AF200FG for about $150. Both the K100D Super and the AF200FG are expected to ship to stores this August.
