DSLR News

Ricoh Imaging has just announced the Pentax KP, an ultra-compact, weatherproof DSLR designed for outdoor and travel photographers who shoot on the run and want to travel light. The camera packs many of the advanced features of the sophisticated Pentax K-3 II into a slim, mobile body that weighs only 1.4 pounds.

The Pentax KP boasts a new 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor as well as an advanced, 5-axis shake-reduction system that Pentax says will compensate for camera shake up to 5 steps for great low-light performance and hand-held shooting with telephoto lenses.

Also contributing to shooting under extremely low-light conditions is the Pentax KP’s top sensitivity of ISO 819,200.

The Pentax KP features both mechanical and electronic shutter mechanisms, for a top speed of 1/6000 with the former and 1/24,000 with the latter. The electronic shutter also offers reduced noise and vibration. The camera enables high-speed continuous shooting at 7 fps.

Designed for rugged use under adverse weather conditions, the Pentax KP utilizes a dustproof, weatherproof body with 67 points of sealing, and is designed to function in temperatures as low as 14° F. The rugged camera’s front, back and bottom panels are constructed of lightweight magnesium alloy for maximum durability.

Other key features of the new Pentax KP include an optical viewfinder with a nearly 100% field of view and magnification of .95X, and a high-speed, 27-point AF system designed to provide precise focusing under lighting conditions as low as -3 EV. The camera also captures Full-HD videos and has an external microphone terminal.

The Pentax KP will be available in black and silver on February 25 for a suggested retail price of $1100. You can find can find complete details on the Ricoh Imaging website.