Weather-resistant Pentax Limited 20-40mm F2.8-4 zoom lens announced

Posted by Chris Roubis on 7th, Nov, 2013

Ricoh has announced the HD PENTAX-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR, the first zoom lens in its Limited series. It boasts a weather-resistant build (another Limited first) and provides an equivalent focal length of 30.5-61.5mm in 35mm terms when mounted to a Pentax K-mount DSLR body. The lens barrel, hood and cap are all made of aluminum. It will be available in silver and black, at a recommended price of £849.99 in the UK.

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Press Release
Specifications
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Press Release:

HD PENTAX-DA 20-40mmF2.8-4ED Limited DC WR

The first zoom lens in the Limited Lens series, designed for use with PENTAX K-mount lens-interchangeable digital cameras

RICOH IMAGING U.K LTD. is pleased to announce the launch of the HD PENTAX-DA 20-40mmF2.8-4ED Limited DC WR interchangeable lens, designed for use with PENTAX K-mount lens-interchangeable digital cameras. The first zoom lens in the acclaimed Limited Lens series, this zoom lens features a lens-installed AF driving motor and a dependable weather-resistant construction.

This is the first zoom lens of the high-performance Limited Lens series, providing exceptional visual description, distinctive appearance and a meticulously detailed finish. It features a two-times zoom range covering focal lengths from moderate wide angle to standard, and a large maximum aperture of F2.8 at its wide-angle end. In addition to the state-of-the-art HD coating and completely round-shaped diaphragm, it also comes equipped with a weather-resistant construction – a first for the Limited Lens series – and a smooth, quiet AF system driven by a lens-installed AF motor, to capture beautiful, high-quality images, even in demanding weather conditions.

Main Features

1. The first two-times zoom lens in the Limited Lens series

With its two-times zoom coverage from 20mm to 40mm, this lens offers a focal-length coverage from 30.5mm to 61.5mm (in 35mm format) when mounted on a PENTAX K-series lens-interchangeable digital camera body. It provides the most frequently used focal lengths required for many popular applications, such as scenic photography, snapshots and portraiture, making it the ideal choice as an all-purpose, everyday lens.

2. Acclaimed Limited Lens-series quality for superb visual description and premium appearance

Inheriting the design concept of the Limited Lens series, this lens is designed with an optical construction that reproduces the feeling of depth while minimising astigmatism over the entire zoom range. It allows the photographer to optimise the subject’s visual description, by making its appearance softer at larger apertures and sharper at smaller apertures. Its lens barrel, hood and cap are made of a high-grade aluminium material, and are hand-machined for perfect proportions and beautiful texture. The zoom ring in the mid-section of the lens barrel features a series of grooves to facilitate zooming operation.

3. State-of-the-art optical technology

The lens has been treated with the PENTAX-developed HD coating*, a high-grade, multi-layer coating that reduces reflection in the visible light spectrum to less than 50 percent of that of conventional multi-layer coatings. This allows the user to capture crisp, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even in adverse lighting conditions. It also incorporates an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass and a super-low-dispersion glass element in its optics to deliver clear, high-resolution images with edge-to-edge sharpness, while effectively compensating for chromatic aberrations over the entire zoom range.

* HD stands for High Resolution.

4. The first weather-resistant lens in the Limited Lens series

This lens is the first Limited Lens-series model to feature a weather-resistant construction, with seven special seals to prevent the intrusion of water and moisture into the lens interior. By mounting it on a PENTAX weather-resistant digital SLR camera body, the user is assured of greater durability and reliability when shooting in the rain or mist, as well as locations subject to spray or splashes.

5. Other features

Smooth, quiet AF operation using a lens-installed AF driving motor
Round-shaped diaphragm to produce a natural, beautiful bokeh (blur) effect, while minimising the streaking effect of point light sources
The lens features the Quick-Shift Focus System, which allows the user to instantly switch 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
A choice of black or silver

RRP: £849.99
Current availability: TBA

HD PENTAX-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR specifications

Additional Images


Black, with hood	Silver

Comments

For everybody complaining the price:

take one picture with both lenses side by side:
a) This Pentax (dwarf)
b) Sigma 18-35 mm f/1.8 (behemoth)

Sigma went for the amazingly fast aperture of f/1.8
Pentax went for the amazingly small size

Both lenses are amazing in their engineering accomplishment and both ask an equivalent price for it

(The sigma lens already has proven it’s IQ, the Pentax one still has to deliver)

This could be a perfectly balanced lens:

* Great IQ
* Great Handling and Materials
* Small and light weight
* Quiet AF for Video
* Unobtrusive for street
* Potentially good bokeh (rounded blades + good lens formula)
* weather sealing
* Fast AF with Quickshift (manual focus override)

So lets wait for the test results. If they are excellent, than 1000 USD is a price many will be willing to pay for it, including me.

A truly unique and useful lens. Perfectly balanced to be the outstanding feature.

Ah, if the next Pentax Camera is like an A7 from Sony, except have the viewfinder in the corner, then we have a really cool system! (And I do not care for the thin camera body if each lens has to be longer to compensate for the short flange mount, but I care the build in EVF and I care it is placed in the corner like Range finder cameras, as in the corner it is more convenient to use and the camera does not collide with my nose)

So, if it’s optically better than my 16-50 the latter would be sold.
I’m rather annoyed by the vignette produced when using pop-up flash(some pics went to the trash because of that).

Pop up flash stinks, why do you need a DSLR with an expensive 2.8 zoom if you use pop-up flash ?

If it works for maxola67, why make it sour for him? Different people photograph in different ways. Some features are important to some, others are not. This lens is significantly smaller, it will vignette less with the pop up flash on the wide end. If this is what he needs to make his pictures work, then switching to this lens is the right choice for him. It sure looks like it is not the right choice for nicolaiecostel. My point: Please do not impose your way of photographing onto other people!

If the lens is superior to all other lenses then the price is right! Let’s wait for tests…I hope Pentax under Ricoh will redo most of the their current (weird) lenses…

I don’t want to sound like a troll, but a 20-40 focal ratio combined with a 2.8-4 aperture would have made sense in 1984.

Would it? I repeat, look at the size and weight: it´s only 283 g, which is in the league of prime lenses. Make it a constant f2,8 and it would be much bigger and heavier (see Sigma 18-35/1,8, even smaller zoom, but f1,8 makes it weigh 800 g).

Some things that made sense in 1984 still make sense today. Let’s not live under the imperative of change, no matter what!

Well, I have an older 16-45mm. I’m sure this new one is better, but I don’t know that the difference would make me a better photographer.

And then there’s the cost. $1,000 is a lot of money!

Hm, not sure why this is such a big deal. I mean there are plenty lenses out there with a constant aperture of f/2.8 like the Tamron 17-50 or sigma version or even the Tokina UWAs. Both of the aforementioned have broader focal length – although I have to admit both will propably be nowhere near the image quality of the 20-40.

Still I think this is rather weird for a lens to have only 20mm focal length radius. Nothing for me. I’d prefer a 10-30 f/2.8 that’d be something vanguardist. Still good to see many Pentaxians like it, the better they’re situated the earlier I get a good UWA. 😉

And what do you think of Sigma 18-35mm, only 17mm radius?
Sigma had to offer longer reach to achieve constant f1,8. Despite this small reach it weighs more than 800g. Compare it to this new Pentax: 283g is weight of a prime lens.
Besides, Pentax already has a 16-50mm/2,8 lens (which has 565 g).
So the whole point is lightweight and prime lens quality, imagine you have 2 limited primes (HD 21 mm Limited and HD 40mm Limited) in one lens.

Looks very nice! Reminds me of Helios I used on Zenit years ago.

One important thing that wasn´t in the article is the weight: 283 g pretty much answers all the complaints about small zoom and no constant f2,8.
Considering this weight (and small size) the lens makes perfect sense and there´s no point in comparing this lens to 16-50/f2,8 zoom (which weighs 565 g, i.e. twice as much).

P.S. The price in the US should be 1000 USD.

small aperture size and narrow zoom range, yes.
but how will it perform on K-3 we don’t know yet.
should be quite good I guess?

Almost a perfect lens for me! Now I can think about Pentax!

Hopefully there will be a 10-20 to go with that.

and 40-80, 80-160, and 160-320/2.8-4 on the other side?

Now that I would buy. That is if it’s not as expensive as this one. 😉

Yep, the more the merrier. Though I would have preferred a 10-30 / 30-60 / 60-180 2.8-ish setup.

Maximum Diameter & Minimum Length – Approx. 71mm x 68.5mm
Weight – Approx. 283g (with hood Approx.291g)

Looks like a nice WR limited lens, I just wish it was a bit wider. Now, an updated version of the DA* 16-50 would be of more interest to me.

I am waiting for an improved 16-50/2,8 with HD coating (but if I have to wait too long, I will get a Sigma 18-35/1,8 instead).

What are exactly its size and weight?
I’d like to compare it against my DA* 16-50.

If it was constant f/2.8 this might have been interesting.

But how much larger would it be? filter size 67mm? 72? 77? Pentax still has the old ME Super ethic: small — and being very, very good at what you do with it — is beautiful.

58mm should be enough for an f/2.8 constant for APS-C. both Nikon and Canon chose 77mm but that’s because some other reasons (why APS-C SLR should be abandoned).

“why APS-C SLR should be abandoned” – because of “some other reasons”? o_O You don’t make any sense. Just like abandoning APS-C DSLRs doesn’t make any sense.

Looks straight up Helios M42. Neat. I suspect it’ll be a nice lens. Very useful focal length.

Hey, we want more photos! And more info!
All these photos show the lens at 30mm. Will the lens change its length when zooming? If so, by how much?
How is the DOF scale supposed to work for a zoom? Will it give you reliable data no matter what the FL, or will it be usable only for one end of the lens?
Is that the lens hood, or just a ring on which to attach a lens hood?
Will this lens work with older bodies (I have a K10D, still working …)
Is the lens dust proof? I’d like to see a picture of the back of the lens (the mount) – because most stubborn dust enters my lens when changing the lens, via the back of the lens.

Why does the front of the black lens extend out from the front so much more than the silver version? Looks like two different lenses except for the nomenclature.

I was just thinking that, I’ll ask Pentax 🙂

edit: The black one has the screw on hood in place. 🙂

I can’t see what exactly are you referring to … It might be an issue with the angle or with the fact that one of the blacks has the filter/hood on it …
But they seem equally extended to me, and they are all shot at 30 mm.

black one has a “hood” on it.

Marry this a relatively compact Pentax DSLR and you have a pretty good street photography combo.

I guess it is all about what focal lengths you choose to use. It sure is very small, but not that small. However an interesting idea, a short focal length range for slight adjustments you may want to make… You could create a wide version from 16-24, this one, and a long version 40-80.

May be an interesting idea.

Got to give it to Pentax for making darn sexy looking lenses and unlike Leica, you don’t need to sell a kidney to own one. Now maybe Nikon should release a bunch of retro lenses for the Df with beautiful engraved DoF/distance scales.

That’s a good idea. Hopefully Nikon has long terms plan for the Df.

Nikon is still selling retro lenses with aperture rings. Actually – as far as I know they still manufacture them.

I prefer to see a 16-32.

sigh, Pentax, u gotta put some investment in marketing research before production. look around! lame.

They did a research and found no one else has ever made such a lens. Therefore decided to take a chance and deliver something new.
So they did exactly what you suggested.

Nobody had made such a lens because they usually go wider and longer with faster aperture for less money.

@tkbslc

What are these lenses that is built like a tank, excellent IQ and is weather resistant?

Sigma made a 20-40 a while back – I have it. It’s constant f2.8 and made for full frame. Optically, it’s not bad at all, but it’s huge and plasticky. I’ve not used it very much since going digital, because I have the Tammy 17-50, but this Pentax Limited looks interesting to me.

Definitely a beautiful lens, jewel-like. But other than newness and small size, I’m not sure why you’d prefer this over the Pentax 16-50 f/2.8 or even better, the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 (a large lens, but probably the sharpest APS-C zoom ever created) or for less money, the Tamron or Sigma 17-50 f/2.8.

But I do like the idea of pairing this 20-40 f/2.8-4 with the K-3 giving you a completely weather sealed, tank-like setup. The British price converts to $1364 making this one of the most expensive APS-C zooms ever created, but like all the DA Limited primes, the casing really is spectacular.

http://www.pentaxwebstore.com/product/45567

$999.95 in the US

Expensive!

Depends how cheap your photography goals are.

and that means what?

If you want IQ there are plenty of cheaper alternatives that will perform as good as this lens. If you want something beautifully designed and compact and you don’t shoot Leica then this is hard to beat.

If you don’t spend at least $1000 on a(ny) single lens, your photography goals are cheap. Simple as that. 😉

WRT price – if the quality is there, it may “replace” two other Limiteds so the price will be fair. Compared to Leica it may even be a bargain. We shall see when we see some pictures (out) of the lens…

this lens looks superb. Isnt made by voightlander (Cosina) by any chance is it?

Nope. Pure Pentax. Err I mean Ricoh,now. =))

Some of us still have the old Pentax 20-35 F4 designed as a compact wide zoom for film cameras. It had a very limited range for APS-C, but still covered useful focal lengths, was wonderfully compact, and produced marvellous images on the early generation of DSLRs like the 6MP DS. I suspect that may have provided some inspiration for this lens.

This is an interesting concept.. It’s what I call the “quasi prime” – I was thinking about this like 2-3 years ago.. if we could have a prime, faster lens, higher quality lens but ability to adjust framing “a little bit.” Would love to see how it really performs.

Tokina went a similar “quasi prime” path with its 11-16mm f/2.8 ultra wide-angle, and the result was a stellar performer (except for CA’s, which should not be so difficult to avoid at 20-40mm). More recently, Sigma went “quasi prime” with their spectacular 18-35 f/1.8. Interesting to see Pentax bringing this concept now to slightly longer focal lengths and a less ambitious f-range in order to make the lense as small as possible.

By the way, I have the 11-16mm, and at first the zoom range makes you laugh… until you find yourself actually using it to get the framing absolutely right, and you realize it’s very usefull afteral.

[edit: just to avoid confusion: yes I am aware that limited-range zooms have been around for longer, but it’s interesting to see these new lenses made with the latest methods and how incredible their optical quality can be]

Built in AF motor? Heh, that’s a change…

It is, and one of the worst things about the limited lenses is the loud gear driven focus. The DC motor should be nice and quiet but still allows compact size.

This really looks like a beautiful lens.

I don’t even own a Pentax camera, but I’d love to have one. Just so I could handle it, and look at it. And I really am not kidding.

(Wow…. I probably need professional help for this gearhead thing!)

We are evidently brothers although by your pic I would imagine our parents are unrelated.

My favourite lens is the pentax s-m-c 50/1.4 . I’ve not taken a single photo with it since I can’t stand to accidentally scratch the lens body. From time to time, I take it out and touch it. And then I put it back again.

It’s like a “quasi prime” – a prime with some degree of adjustability. I like the concept. Would love to see how it performs.

Sorry, but I don’t get it, Pentax. This is a 2:1 zoom ratio, relatively slow, variable aperture lens that isn’t very wide on the wide end, isn’t very long on the long end, and you want 849 POUNDS for it (I don’t even want to think of what that is in dollars)?!

The main thing that’s “limited” about this lens is what – range, versatility??

You would think that for your top-line lenses, you should be able to muster a 3:1 zoom ratio, constant aperture, and a focal length range that isn’t boring.

It’s small. Very small.

It probably has 1/4 or less volume compared to said 3:1 zoom ratio constant f/2.8 non-boring-focal-length lens.

Let’s see, you wish for a APSC crop standard zoom with 3x range and F2.8 constant aperture?

That would be the Nikkor AFS 18-50/2.8 DX. List price $1424 US. It’s also barking huge.

Get it now?

If they are going for ultimate lens correction with no compromises, then the limit on the zoming might be understandable.

Being different and exciting is the opposite of predictable, repetitive and being boring. In the tide of 3x zooms with huge aperture, this kind of lens is exactly what we’ve been missing all the time.

Probably image quality. Size. Construction. Build. Weather sealed added. DOF scale on mechanically linked focus ring.

And small small small. BTW, Pentax does already have a top of the line zoom that is constant aperture going from wide to beginning of tele.

Pentax have what you’re looking for, it’s the SMC Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 – All Weather Sealed… But that lens is HUGE and HEAVY…

This new 20-40mm lens is for people who want a tiny zoom lens with high quality optics and sports a silent AF and weather sealing…

You look like zoom-addicted person.
Limited lens line-up was quality/compact oriented from the scratch with no zooms among. But I hope this one wouldn’t be any different.

Hmm, I don’t get it, how can a focal length range be boring? Or even exciting for that matter? What’s exciting about a range of numbers? Unless you’re a math-o-phile…

Perhaps ‘useful’ is a more appropriate term?

How does the DOF scale work? Is it only for the 40mm end?

Yes, I think the DOF scale is for 40 mm.

It’s 30-60 mm in 135 format terms — it covers both classic 35mm and 50 mm FoV, with extra few mm on both ends.
To many this could be the only lens they’d ever need. And it’s WR too.
It also has a classic touch to it, with a Super Takumar focus ring type.

“The only lens they’d ever need.”

Yeah, I wish. Good point though. In covering 30-60, with a reasonably wide aperture, in a very small package, its a very nice compromise for travelling. The alternative is one from the selection of DA 35, DA 40 catalog and either the DA15 or DA21.

On paper, anyway, you don’t lose much by choosing to go with the zoom here.

Very very true. I didn’t think about it that way but that’s a good point. Two primes in one and the ability to frame in that range accordingly while keeping small.

So it’s a more expensive, narrower (zoom range), slower version of a 17-50/2.8. It’s a wonder nobody ever thought of it before !

30-60 might as well just be a 35 or 40mm prime. Then it could actually be fast.

Posts like this is the reason why Zvonimir Tosic doesn’t have credibility. What he wrote above applies to all kit zooms (some of them, like Pentax and Oly) are weather sealed too.

Just say that it’s small, beautiful looking, optically high quality (hopefully), though expensive lens.

No need to make up nonsense

by the laws of GBA, nope, this is not the ONLY lens one can ever need…

there’s the DA70 Limited too…
and the DFA100… and the DA15… and the list goes on 😀

Notice the reference to the old takumar m42 lenses in de zoom ring.

What’s with the red ring? We supposed to think it’s a Canon L?

I don’t think anyone would mistake a Pentax limited for a big Canon L

Still, it has a red ring. I will buy this for my Canon camera.

It’s their 8th lens with that red ring

other people will mistake it for a xbox 360. (But they won’t buy it anyway)

Red ring means “HD coatings”. No, you’re not supposed to think it’s a Canon.

Seriously though, those are some nice looking lenses.

“Still, it has a red ring. I will buy this for my Canon camera.”

What exactly is the most condescending comment I can post here that remains within the bounds of acceptability on these boards?

Buying this lens for one’s Canon body will at least give meaning to owning the Canon . . .

Not very fresh joke.

I m a Nikon Lover but since I lost my D200 to the ocean waves, I m just getting tired of waiting for the Nikon D400. Im seriously considering the purchase of a Pentax K-3 because reading carefully all the specs it just suits my best dreams for such a selling price

Now this lens is one more reason to keep thinking about, why not a Pentax ?

It would be a very nice lens to start, suitable for some landscape and portrait near the sea or in light rainy days

Oh . . . it might be a helluva lot better than you think right now. The Limited series has that tendency.

I think so – K3 would be good replacement for D400)))

The Limiteds IQ are quite addictive

Try a K-3 at the nearest place you can, and once this lens comes out (or at least the price goes down)

… your wallet will decide 😀

The Limited’s really are something else. I didn’t appreciate them, until I bought a couple. But be warned: they will be bad for one’s lens-buying addiction. And if you don’t have LBA now, you might catch it if you buy a Limited.

Who is still doing metal AF lenses these days? Simply beautiful !

From 35mm～70mm, the evidence points to ff coverage. The wider angle lenses, however, only cover aps-c.

Uhm, Leica I think? Zeiss? But I don’t think they’re AF.

Anyways, even Canon/Nikon have metal in their AF lenses, but not “all-aluminum” or something

wow

Interesting that they went with red…

Red signifies the new HD coating. Green is for smc.

It’s their 8th lens with that red ring

Actually, several of their C mount machine vision lenses have used red rings on the high resolution versions for a few years. 🙂

They still make C-mount ? I did not know that. There’s also that new 90mm for the 645D.

Beautiful lens! I’d have no use for it, but it’s gorgeous.

It seems a bit of an odd design – the wide end’s not very wide, the long end’s not very long, and it’s only f2.8 at the widest setting.

Hopefully it’s very good optically, and the weather sealing and small size are plus points. Interesting to see if there’ll be a market for it.

Ricoh is bringing it to the table!

Let’s see some images.

I wish all lenses were weather resistant. The most annoying thing is dust on the other side of the glass. You can see it but can’t do anything about it.

Not all people are ready to pay >600$ for glass.

It’s just rubber seals, they cost next to nothing to add. 18-55 WR is $200 new in box, and it’s even cheaper when sold from a “separated” kit, they go for less than $100 used. And 50-200 WR is very close in price, just $250 new and much less when sold used from the kits.

Looks like a traditional Leica RF lens barrel

The design was based from Super Takumar lenses…

Is that seriously the hood ? ? ?

It can’t be . . .

At first I was wondering why the black wasn’t the same as the silver, but it’s probably the hood indeed.
Hood ref is MH-RA55

Pentax likes it’s tiny hoods on limited lenses, some pop out, others are more like a lens cap with a hole in the middle.

That coating must be good 🙂

Yeah, but . . . damn! That hood is nothing more than a step-up ring.

That lens may be very great in handling lens flare, so maybe, the purpose of the hood is just for protection, also maybe just enough height to keep flares off… =)

This lens would appear to have”Limited” Appeal?

Sure, to those that like small high quality lenses. Pentax already makes the smallest high quality DSLR cameras (K-3), so this would be a natural fit for that camera. Would be a nice hiking lens where you wouldn’t have to worry about rain, etc. Probably not for you based on your comment.

Lighten up, it’s just a joke. (Corny one, too.) I like it!

Source Article from http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/11/06/weather-resistant-pentax-limited-20-40mm-f2-8-4-zoom-lens-announced