"Every seam, every button, every hinge has been weather sealed for adventure-proof creative photography," says John Carlson, a spokesman for Pentax in the US, introducing the K-30, Pentax's latest mid-range digital SLR camera, aimed at photographers with "active outdoor lifestyles".

The new addition has a 16-megapixel APS-C-sized sensor adapted from Pentax's K-01 camera, and is housed in a compact and lightweight body that is claimed to be weather-, dust- and cold-resistant, along with "features found only in higher end DSLR camera models", many of them borrowed from the company's more expensive cameras. These include a glass prism optical viewfinder with 100 percent field of view, HD video recording at 1080p and a sophisticated autofocus system.

The K30 has 81 seals protecting it from the elements, and a "proven functionality in sub-freezing temperatures as low as -10°C". And the focus on outdoor shooting continues with the body design's oversized grip, shake reduction, along with its rubber casing and low-profile pentaprism housing resulting in a more compact, "sporty" shape.

Its SAFOX IXi+ autofocus sensor module uses a diffraction lens to "minimise chromatic aberration in accordance to the characteristics of each individual lens". Pentax adds: "Additionally, nine of its 11 focus points have cross-type sensors to capture subjects in sharp focus, while a spot beam assists the AF system during low-light situations. The K-30's AF algorithm has also been upgraded in all areas for efficiency and accuracy. A new expanded area AF function allows the sensor module to continue to track a moving subject in AF select mode, even when it moves out of a pre-assigned auto-tracking area, by assessing distance data collected by neighboring focus sensors. This greatly improves the accuracy and speed of detecting moving subjects during autofocus shooting, and autofocusing performance when using a telephoto lens."

Further features include high-speed bursts at a maximum speed of 6fps in JPEG mode, a sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 12,800 (expandable to 25,600 via a custom function), shutter speeds up to 1/6000s, and there's a choice of three camera colours, black, white and blue.
The K-30 is expected in UK stores by early July, priced £600 for the body, or £650 with the DA L 18-55mm zoom lens (available in colours to match the body). Other kit configurations are also available.

Pentax also announced the arrival of an affordable portrait prime lens, the DA 50mm f/1.8 telephoto, which delivers a 35mm equivalent focal length of 76.5mm. The lightweight lens is just 38.5mm long, and uses round diaphragm blades to deliver pleasing bokeh. It will be prived £250.