New Weather-Resistant Pentax Lens: Pentax D FA Macro 100mm F2.8 WR

Pentax has added a new weather-resistant lens to its lineup. The Pentax D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 WR lens is equivalent to a 153mm lens on a full frame or 35mm camera and it can focus as close as 5 inches (12.7cm). The WR in the name indicates that the lens is weather resistant and can handle wet weather and splashing. This makes it a perfect lens for outdoor photographers who shoot with Pentax weather resistant DSLR bodies.

Pentax is flying below most photographers’ radar right now. But the new Pentax D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 WR telephoto lens is a good reminder of how serious they are about making good digital SLR gear. Given, we haven’t been able to get a Pentax digital SLR for review since the K200D, but we’ve been impressed when we have been able to use them. The high-end bodies like the K10D (we loved it – our Pentax K10D review), the K20D and the more recent K-7 combine sensor-level image stabilization and a burly weather resistant build in a compact package that makes them very attractive for serious outdoor photography. I loved the Pentax K10D for mountain bike photos in nasty weather.

Weather-Resistant Pentax D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 WR Telephoto Lens

Pentax owners should be psyched about this new lens. The combination of a 153mm focal length (35mm equivalent) and a 5-inch (12.7cm) minimum focusing distance makes it an awesome all-purpose outdoor telephoto lens. For the serious macro shooters, the lens is compatible with the Pentax AF160FC macro ring flash. Pentax also developed a completely round aperture for the new 100mm, so the out-of-focus areas in macro and large aperture images should be beautifully soft. Besides the optics and weather-resistance, the new Pentax D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 WR lens body has an oil and moisture-resistant Pentax SP (Super Protect) coating.

The new The Pentax D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 WR telephoto lens should be available in January of 2010. Suggested retail price for the new lens is $849.95.