Pentax is poised to launch a new 6.1-million-pixel digital SLR called the *ist DL which is due on UK high streets in July at a penny under £500.

The *ist DL boasts features such as a 2.5in LCD screen and a 3-point AF system (compared to 11 area AF on the *ist DS), plus selectable spot AF.

Out in a choice of black or silver the debutante has a top shutter speed of 1/4000sec, a 16-segment metering system and a burst rate of around ?2.8 frames per second? for up to five shots.

Trumpeted by Pentax as ?compact? and ?lightweight? the *ist DL measures 125×92.5x67mm and weighs 470g without battery and SD memory card (compared to 505g weight of the *ist DS).

For the full story – including other differences over the *ist DS – see forthcoming issues of AP, on sale every Tuesday.