The worlds largest annual photography trade show is set to start for another year. PMA 2008, held in Las Vegas from January 31st to February 2nd, has already seen a few announcements of the DSLR side of things.

In a widely expected move, Canon have announced the successor to the 400D, to be called the 450D (Rebel XSi). With 12 megapixels, a new 14-bit processor and Live View, it’s sure to be a big seller for Canon. DPReview has all the details.

Pentax have announced a couple of new cameras. As an entry level camera, the K200D replaces the K100D, and the K20D replaces the K10D.

The sensor technology in the Pentax was developed and made by Samsung, so it comes as no surprise to see a Samsung DSLR announced as well. The GX-20 is essentially the same as the Pentax K20D with a slightly different body design and a different menu system.

The worlds largest annual photography trade show is set to start for another year. PMA 2008, held in Las Vegas from January 31st to February 2nd, has already seen a few announcements of the DSLR side of things.

In a widely expected move, Canon have announced the successor to the 400D, to be called the 450D (Rebel XSi). With 12 megapixels, a new 14-bit processor and Live View, it’s sure to be a big seller for Canon. DPReview has all the details.

Pentax have announced a couple of new cameras. As an entry level camera, the K200D replaces the K100D, and the K20D replaces the K10D.

The sensor technology in the Pentax was developed and made by Samsung, so it comes as no surprise to see a Samsung DSLR announced as well. The GX-20 is essentially the same as the Pentax K20D with a slightly different body design and a different menu system.

Pentax have announced the opening of the Pentax Photo Gallery. An online photo gallery dedicated to photographs taken with Pentax equipment with a very well done Flash interface, Pentax Photo Gallery allows you to browse images in collections, categories, artists and even by camera or lens. The entire site is available in six languages and already hosts over 2500 images by 300 photographers.

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Pentax Press Release

GOLDEN, CO. (August 6, 2007) PENTAX Imaging Company has opened the doors of www.pentaxphotogallery.com to give PENTAX shooters around the world the opportunity to be represented in the gallery and share their most defining moments of photography. This virtual Photo Gallery is the first of its kind to offer space for passionate PENTAX photographers to exhibit their work, share and gain resources within an artistic community, create an online portfolio, and more. “For decades, PENTAX collected the best images captured with our cameras and published the work annually in an historical, coffee table-type, book collection,” said Ned Bunnell, Vice President Marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company. “Now we are taking things in a new direction with the PENTAX Photo Gallery that offers 24/7/365 virtual access to the best photography captured by PENTAX photographers.” Unlike most photo sharing websites, www.pentaxphotogallery.com is an original website that was designed exclusively for Pentaxians by PENTAX Imaging Company. PENTAX photographers may submit work for display and become part of an online photography community that reflects a collaborative archive of talent. Biographies of each photographer help reveal the personalities behind each lens. With limitless virtual capacity, the PENTAX gallery already features more than 2,500 images submitted by more than 300 artists. Photographers range from 16 to 80 years of age and hail from more than 40 countries throughout Europe; Asia; the Middle East; North, South and Central Americas; Africa; and the Pacific Rim. The gallery offers site navigation in six languages: English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese, and Italian. Featuring a search engine that locates images according to camera bodies and individual lenses (as well as photographer and subject category), the gallery educates budding photographers about the creative capabilities offered by the vast array of PENTAX digital SLR lenses. PENTAX photographers interested in more information regarding submitting work to the gallery may email: photogallery@pentax.com. An informative flash demonstration of this process is also available at: http://extranet.texturemedia.com/pentax/photogallery/demo2/demo.html

Pentax have announced a couple of new lenses – smc PENTAX-DA 16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM and smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8ED [IF] SDM. Designed exclusively for use with its digital SLR cameras, these zoom lenses are the first models of the new high-performance smc PENTAX-DA* lens series.

The SDM system is a new autofocusing motor that provides smoother and quieter AF through the inbuilt supersonic motor. This will only work on the Pentax K10D after a firmware upgrade – on other Pentax DSLRs, conventional AF will still operate.

These new lenses are also sealed against dust and moisture.

Here’s the specs for them.

smc Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM
• Lens mount: Pentax KAF2 mount
• Lens construction: 15 elements in 12 groups
• Angle of view: 83-31.5°(when used with Pentax digital SLR camera)
• Aperture control: Automatic
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Number of diaphragm blades: 9
• Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.3 m
• Filter size: 77mm
• Maximum magnification: 0.21X
• Dimensions (DxL): 84mm x 98.5mm (3.3 inches x 3.9 inches)
• Weight: 565g ( 19.9 oz) without hood, 600g ( 21.2 oz) with hood

smc Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8ED [IF] SDM
• Lens mount: Pentax KAF2 mount
• Lens construction: 18 elements in 14 groups
• Angle of view: 31.5-11.9° (when used with Pentax Digital SLR camera)
• Aperture control: Automatic
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Number of diaphragm blades: 9
• Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
• Minimum focusing distance: 1.0 m
• Filter size: 67mm
• Maximum magnification: 0.17X
• Dimensions (DxL) : 76.5mm x 136mm (3.0 inches x 5.4 inches)
• Weight 685g: ( 24.2 oz) without hood, 765g ( 27.0 oz) with hood

There’s also the possibility of a digital MF, the Pentax 645, with a Kodak designed CCD, however they’ve been saying this for a few years and it hasn’t appeared yet

Digicam-wise, some new Pentax Optio’s have been announced – the W30, A30, T30 and M30.