Happy New Year 2013!

Wish you folks all the best and a prosperous new year! Still, a new Pentax FF is wished! Will there be one within 2013?

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Nikon V2's DxOMark is Close to That of Pentax Q!

Look at:-

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en%E7%B0%BF%E8%81%B6%E7%BF%BB/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/849|0/%28brand%29/Nikon/%28appareil2%29/745|0/%28brand2%29/Nikon/%28appareil3%29/722|0/%28brand3%29/Pentax

Btw, I wonder why it is yet worse to its predecessor, i.e., the V1? More pixels but worse image quality?! :-o

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Shutter Life Survey Database of DSLRs

http://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/

Six models of Pentax DSLRs are included. The results can also be compared to other camera models of other makes as well.

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Hack the Firmware and Deactivate the SDM

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/maintenance-repair-articles/208353-how-deactivate-sdm-autofocus-allow-screw-drive-autofocus-da-16-50mm-f-2-8-a.html

I think the above is of high risk. Do only when you clearly know what you are doing and try it at your OWN RISK!

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New 645D Firmware and an Unknown Award for K-30

http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/645d_s.html

Now, the new SR lens is fully supported.

http://www.pentax.jp/english/news/2012/20121226.html

So, what is that btw? "IF"? :-o

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The Unbalanced Q - Part 1 (with an External Flash)

(Above: Pentax AF200S put onto the Q - Click to Enlarge.)

Everything has got so unbalanced when the something is attached on the Q. But in order to get rid of the annoying P-TTL of the Q, an external auto flash unit with built-in flash exposure meter and control is required! ;-D

Now, there is no more annoying pre-flash and picture taking is just instantaneous, i.e., without any delay just

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Updated: Full Transcript of Kitazawa's Interview in English (Machine and Human Translated)

PENTAX Ricoh imaging incorporated company

Is a full size tinged with a touch of reality? The new product of the Ricoh brand is also due to be put on the market.


PENTAX Ricoh imaging incorporated company development generalization division manager Toshiyuki Kitazawa 72 1978, Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. (that time) entrance into a company.
A camera designing department is assigned.
In charge of

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Official! Full Frame Pentax System is Coming!! (Latest Interview with Pentax Ricoh Head)

First of all, see this latest interview report by the Japanese Impress magazine online:-

https://www.impressjapan.jp/pr/monitor/1113_dcm/271301_free.pdf

Via Digicame Info (in Japanese) Via Pentax Fan Club Forum (Taiwan, in Chinese).

The Head of Product Development of Pentax Ricoh, who was first employed by the Asahi Optical Company back to 1978, is interviewed. It is told that a new set of

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Bits and Pieces 12-19 (Pentax Related or Not)

1. First of all, here comes the new patent of Nikon's "silicon film", i.e., a digital back for old analogue film cameras, but which is yet a vapourised ware that has never come true, since it was first announced back to 1999.




(Above: An imagined diagram by Xjrumo - A Chinese Camera Gear Blog.)

2. Instagram's New Terms of Service - Five Things that You Need to Know!

http://

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SDM DIY Repair II - Go Further to Succeed!

Here is a new guide with additional tips for an enhanced method, on top of the original one:-

http://www.soomal.com/doc/20100003594.htm

The article is in Traditional Chinese, but the pictures are self-explanatory. Each picture of the series represents each step of the whole repair procedures. The new trick is to turn further from the underneath of the motor module, which should be further

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K-01 Elected as the Japanese Historical Camera of the Year 2012

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20121214_578860.html

Article in Japanese, Google English translation can be found here.

11 cameras are elected. These cameras will be put into the Japanese (JCII) Camera Museum for display forever~


Related:-

Bad News: The Pentax Muesum is to be Closed Down by July 31! :-|

Pentax SLR Cameras 1952-2011

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645D IR

The 645D IR is released today:-

http://www.ricoh.co.jp/release/2012/1212_1.html

(in Japanese, Excite English Translation Here.)

After all, it is essentially a 645D with the IR-cut filter removed. The production volume is targeted to be in 100 units per year, btw. It is further stated that when an IR-cut filter is added back by mounting onto the front thread of the lens, the 645D can be used

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The Large Air Blower Model K-5IIs! :-o

A K-5IIs user complained about his new K-5IIs body had an air leakage problem which is demonstrated in the following YouTube video that he uploaded:-



(http://youtu.be/1WFT5sQinlo)

He hence requested for a replacement unit. After the replacement unit arrived, he did the following comparison test:-



(http://youtu.be/6qt4FmiP8vI)

Via: Post @ Pentax Fans Club (Taiwan)

Wow, what a difference

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DC Watch K-5IIs Hands-on (Part 1)

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/longterm/20121211_578073.html
(in Japanese)

Original full samples of the test pictures are available for downloading. EXIF is preserved.

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DxOMark of K-5IIs (Same Score as K-5 and K-5II)

The DxOMark of the K-5IIs has been out.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Pentax-K-5-IIs-maintains-the-excellence-of-its-sister-model-the-K-5-II/Measurement

A quick comparison of the K-5IIs against the K-5II against the K-5 is as follows:-

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/829|0/%28brand%29/

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My Pentax Q Vs NEX-3 Measurbation: ISO 125-3200 (My Standard "Bird" Shot Test)

Test Conditions:-

1. Pentax Q with 01 8.5mm prime lens, effective 135 focal ~47mm; NEX-3 with E 30mm Macro lens, effective 135 focal ~46mm.

2. Both cameras set in Av mode for best performing f-stop so as to avoid diffraction while stopped down for just more than 1 stop, namely, Pentax Q at f/2.8 and the NEX at f/5.6. Multi-point single autofocus set for both cameras.

3. 2 second timer was

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My Q is Here! :-D

Finally, I've got it! At (US)$350, these four things are bundled!



So far, at this price, I love my Q. It is just a lovely little DC, with very good image quality for a compact and is really very easy to carry anywhere and is surely very easy and a fun to use! And, the build quality is really impressive, it feels far more solid than my K-5 when put in my hands! :-o



Here are some quick

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Pentax Launches the Next Generation of HD+ and i10 Series Products!

For details, see the latest news reports by Reuters, PR-Inside.com and Business Wire and etc.

The following official web-page shows a summary of all the new products, at the Pentax Europe website, for instance:-

http://www.pentax.de/en/hi_line.php
(in English)

Btw, it seems that those guys at Pentax are loving the name of i10 and HD very much, so that they have to use it over and over again

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K-5 is Officially Discontinued, Finally!

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/products/others.html
(in Japanese)

The above is the official list of all the discontinued Pentax camera models at the Japanese Pentax homepage. The K-01 and Q aren't been there yet but this does not necessary mean that so they are still in production. And, in the list we can see the VS20, which is a product that has never really appeared in the streets before it is

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