Today Pentax announced the release of a new Q-mount wide anle zoom. It’s the smallest and lightest ultra-wide angle zoom of any mirrorless system. It’s 17.5mm-27mm (FF equivalent) and has a f/3.7-4 aperture.
Press text:
RICOH IMAGING U.K LTD. is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX-08 WIDE ZOOM ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, designed exclusively for use with super-compact Q-mount digital lens-interchangeable cameras.
The latest model in the high-performance Q-mount lens series, the PENTAX-08 WIDE ZOOM is the world’s smallest, and lightest ultra-wide-angle zoom lens on the market.* When mounted on the PENTAX Q7 camera body, it provides focal-length coverage from 17.5mm to 27mm (in 35mm format), making it suitable for a wide variety of subjects including snapshots, architecture and sweeping landscapes.
* The world’s smallest, and lightest ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with a focal length of 20mm (in 35mm format) or shorter at its wide-angle end, as of November 1, 2013 (based on RICOH IMAGING research).
Major Features
1. Super-compact, ultra-lightweight design
The incorporation of three molded-glass aspherical elements in its optics, means that this zoom lens has the shortest overall length (approximately 38mm) in the Q-mount zoom lens range and features a super-compact body weighing a mere 75g. With its pocket size and unique focal-length coverage from 17.5mm to 27mm in 35mm format (with a Q7 camera body), it can be used for a wide range of subjects and applications — especially for shooting in confined spaces where the subject is close to the camera, and for scenic photography with exaggerated perspectives. Its machined-aluminium barrel cam assures a smooth, comfortable zooming operation.
2. Exceptional visual description
The incorporation of a moulded-glass DSA (Dual Super Aspherical) element in the first optical group means this lens reduces distortion to a minimum. By incorporating two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one super-low-dispersion glass element in its optics, it delivers clear, high-resolution images with edge-to-edge sharpness, while effectively compensating for chromatic aberration over the entire zoom range.
3. Other features
- Inner-focus mechanism for high-speed, low-noise AF operation
- Quick-Shift Focus system for instant switching to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system
- SP (Super Protect) coating to keep the front surface free of dust and stains
- Built-in lens shutter equipped with an ND (neutral density) filter and an iris diaphragm
RRP: £429.99
Availability: TBA
12 Responses
I’m the first one to reply even the news was post 1 day ago? , no one want to talk about the Q? weird….
I have a feeling its to late for the Q now. For me at least. (maybe different in japan) With its smaller size it had something over other systems, but with its small sensor it needed lenses like this to give it something over a point and shoot. It needed this lens from the start. Now the panasonic GM1 is here how could anyone justify getting a compact sensor over 4/3rds for the same size. True, this lens is half the size and weight of the smallest olympus wide angle zoom, But why so high of a price (if the quoted price is correct) If it was cheep i’m sure many more people would try this system for traveling and fun casual shooting.
Exactly. Pentax new products would have been great 3 years ago. Now, not so much.
It seems this lens is well designed. The real problem is- many of us were expecting a faster wide prime. Imagine say $300 USD tops. We are getting instead a zoom that while it may be nice, is not too fast, and is $500 USD.
Line up wise as far as lenses go, I can see how this can form part of a healthy line up. I just wonder strategically/market wise how sellable as a product this is even if it’s good. Hopefully Ricoh/Pentax may have bigger plans still for the mount? I wonder… if not then…
17.5mm to 27mm on Q7, meaning that on Q and Q10 it is something like 20-30? It is the least wide ultrawide ever.
Obviously, UWA is not the strength of the system. Supertele and macro could have been, but Pentax does not release the lenses…
UWA is not strength of the system. Toy lens are but they Pentax does not release enough of them.
Toy BS is available for many systems very cheaply. SLR Magic, Lensbaby, Lomography…
The only advantage of the system is high pixel density – and by not releasing superteles and macros, Pentax lets the advantage slip – while densities grow in all other systems.
Actually the main advantage of the system is very small, very lightweight with semi pro DSLR class control/options in it.
Even the GM1 handling is not quite this. And while the GM1 has the nice kit lens, it doesn’t have something anywhere near as small as what the 06 telephoto gives you- or even this lens.
The lens is 3.8-5.9mm – 17.5-27mm is the 35mm equivalent. You need to read more carefully.
The 35 mm equivalents is exactly what he’s talking about, and 17.5-27mm equivalent isn’t exactly ultra wide-angle, is it? And on the Q/Q10, with their smaller sensors, it is even less so.
Actually 17.5mm is ultra wide. Upper scale of ultra wide but that’s not by any means “just wide.” The lens obviously zooms into just wide, but doesn’t mean it doesn’t reach to ultra wide.
To his credit though he mentioned what it would be on Q, but just because in Q is not exactly ultra wide doesn’t mean the lens isn’t because on the Q7 it is.