The smc 21mm is a new pancake thin (in theory) and lightweight wide-angle lens from Pentax, launched to coincide with the release of the K100D and K110D. Being only one inch long, the lens only protrudes very slightly from the body of a camera, making the two collectively very useful for casual snapshot photography.
When used with a digital SLR, the field of view is equivalent to 32mm in 35mm format. It's a digital SLR exclusive design, specifically optimised for the size of the CCD sensor.
The lens is also part of the “Limited Lens” series that apart from having a distinctive aluminium body and glossy appearance are designed with quality in mind - producing clear, sharp images even at the maximum aperture setting.
Other features of note include Super Protective coating to keep the front of the lens free of dust, water and grease, a minimum focusing distance of 20cm and Pentax's Quick Shift Focus system for instant switching to manual focus from auto.
The lens will be out in America first in July 2006, priced at $549.99
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