An interchangeable zoom lens, featuring a new retractable mechanism creating the world's shortest length
This standard zoom lens has been developed as a compact, easy-to-use everyday lens that meets user demand for a downsized, high-resolution digital SLR imaging system. Thanks to its retractable mechanism -- employed for the first time in the PENTAX K-mount lens system -- it provides the world's shortest length in the stored position: just 41 millimeters. * Despite its ultra-compact design that assures outstanding portability, it also features the PENTAX-original HD Coating, Anomalous Dispersion Glass elements and aspherical elements to effectively compensate various aberrations for sharp, high-contrast, well-balanced images.
Offering flexibility in a compact package, the K-mount HD PENTAX DA 18-50mm f/4.0-5.6 DC WR RE Lens from Pentax features a retractable design which significantly shortens the lens when not in use, and has a versatile 35mm equivalent focal length of 27.5-76.5mm when used with APS-C cameras.
The aperture is variable with a range of f/4.0-5.6 when wide open, and the lens utilizes aspherical lens elements to ensure edge-to-edge sharpness throughout the zoom range. Also, it utilizes both the HD PENTAX coating for limiting flare and ghosting for excellent contrast in your images as well as a Super Protect coating to ensure the lens elements aren't easily damaged or scratched.
The world's shortest standard zoom lens
This standard zoom lens offers a zoom ratio of approximately 2.8 times to cover the wide-angle to standard ranges (for focal lengths equivalent to 27.5mm to 76.5mm in the 35mm format), which are the most frequently used ranges in general photographic applications. Thanks to its new retractable mechanism, it measures a mere 41millimeters in length in the stored position -- the world's shortest for a standard zoom lens -- to assure outstanding portability in combination with today's downsized digital SLR camera body.Dependable weather-resistant constructionThis lens features a dependable weather-resistant construction with nine special seals to effectively prevent the intrusion of water into the interior. By pairing it with a weather-resistant PENTAX digital SLR camera body, the user is assured of a durable, reliable digital imaging system that performs superbly in demanding shooting settings -- even in the rain or mist, or at locations prone to water splashes or spray.
Exceptional image rendition to accommodate latest digital SLR cameras
Incorporating Anomalous Dispersion Glass elements and aspherical elements in its 11-element/eight-group optics, this lens effectively compensates various aberrations for high-contrast, high-resolution, fine-detailed images with minimal color bleeding.HD* Coating to improve image descriptionThis lens is treated with the high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating.* Compared with conventional multi-layer coatings, this PENTAX-original coating assures less reflection and higher light transmittance to deliver bright, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even under demanding lighting conditions such as backlight.
* HD stands for High Definition
Quick-Shift Focus System
This lens is equipped with the PENTAX-developed Quick-Shift Focus System, which allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation, even when the camera's AF system is in operation.