Pentax K70 crams weather-proofing and plenty of pixels into a tiny DSLR

Pentax K70

Ricoh is moving on up to full-frame cameras, but it hasn't forgotten about its much loved crop-sensor DSLRs and now the company has announced the new Pentax K70.

The new model comes as a replacement to the Pentax K50 with a 24.24-megapixel sensor, which is quite an upgrade from its predecessor's 16.49MP sensor. The new DSLR is still compact as ever and designed with dustproofing and weather-resistant in mind, however, Ricoh has introduced a redesigned grip.

Users will also have an easy time operating the camera even with gloves on as the Japanese camera company promises it has reworked the controls from the mode dial to camera's top and back panels. The Pentax K70 also features Ricoh's latest sensor based stabilization system, which helps to reduce camera shake and other vibrations up to 4.5 shutter steps of correction.

Rounding out the camera is a new set of Phase-Detection autofocus points and a three inch 921K dot resolution LCD screen that swings out to the side for video and selfie shots.

The Pentax K70 will be available next month with a starting price of $649 (£449, AU$872) for the camera body by itself. Ricoh also plans to bundle the Pentax K70 with a 18-135mm kit lens, but it has yet to announce final pricing.

Pentax K70

And in case you need another shiny new lens, Ricoh has also announced a new Pentax DA 55-300mm f4.5-6.3 WR telephoto lens that will also release in early July for $399 (£275, AU$536).

Kevin Lee

Kevin Lee was a former computing reporter at TechRadar. Kevin is now the SEO Updates Editor at IGN based in New York. He handles all of the best of tech buying guides while also dipping his hand in the entertainment and games evergreen content. Kevin has over eight years of experience in the tech and games publications with previous bylines at Polygon, PC World, and more. Outside of work, Kevin is major movie buff of cult and bad films. He also regularly plays flight & space sim and racing games. IRL he's a fan of archery, axe throwing, and board games.