The SMC PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 AL, which will be available from mid-October at a retail price of £180, will seat alongside the previously released Pentax smc DA 35mm f/2.8 lens. The new model offers an angle of view equivalent to 53.5mm in 35mm format.

It is composed of six optic elements, including a hybrid aspherical optical glass, in five groups and is treated with Pentax’ Ghostless Coating to minimise flares. The lens measures 53x45mm, accepts 49mm filters and weighs 124g.

The 35mm lens will fit the new K-r DSLR, which Pentax has also introduced today. The K-r fills a gap in the imaging company’s range of DSLRs. It will seat in-between the entry-level K-x and the more advanced K-7 cameras.

The K-r sports a 12.4 megapixels CMOS sensor, which is complemented with Pentax’ Prime II imaging sensor. It can shoot up to six images per second with a maximum of 25 images in JPEG in a single sequence.

The new DSLR also features the Safox IX autofocus system with 11 sensor points, has a three-inch LCD screen, can be powered with either a standard rechargeable lithium-ion battery or four AA batteries. The K-r can also record movies in 720p high-definition at 25fps.

The K-r will retail from October at £600 with a 18-55mm lens, or at £700 in a double-lens kit featuring a 50-200mm lens. For more details, visit www.pentax.co.uk.

Fun fact: In Japan, photographers can customise the look of their K-r camera by choosing the colours of their camera body, grip and lens - with up to 12 different colours available, offering more than 1700 different combinations such as the one below: