New Pentax 35mm f2.4 prime is shorter, lighter but not f1.8 like NikoSony

Coming together with the Pentax K-r DSLR is the new Pentax 35mm f2.4 DA-L AL prime lens. This is an APS-C lens that gives just over 50mm equivalent (around 53.5mm or so) on APs-C DSLRs which is what Pentax has at the moment. It may be a mild surprise to some that it is not a 35mm f1.8 that Nikon and Sony have announced, however, when you peruse the Nikon 35mm f1.8 specs you will notice that the Pentax 35mm f2.4 is 124 grams vs 210 grams and the 35mm f2.4 is 7.5mm shorter. So, some of the trade-offs: f1.8 vs smaller/lighter lens.

The lens has six elements in five groups, six blades, 30cm (nearly 1 foot) minimum focusing distance, 0.17x max-mag, takes 49mm filters, it is 45mm long and 63mm diametrical (okay, it has a diameter of 63mm), f22 minimum aperture, SP coating, and sprinkles of the Pentax glow ;-)

The lens is expected to come out in October with a starting price of $220 in the US and 200 euro in Europe.

Read more about it
+ dpreview
+ Photography Blog
+ Le Monde de la Photo
+ Fotopolis
+ Pentax itself
+ AP UK
+ opinion at The Online Photographer
+ opinion at Prime Time CreW
+ the initial monthly production output is 2,000 units per month says Pentax Japan