New Pentax Rumours: FF and 645DII Coming

The Pentax "rumourizer" OGL has made a post about an alleged interview with Pentax Ricoh Russia as cited from another Russia forum post:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/240639-pentax-ricoh-russia-answers-ff-ricoh-future.html

So, the following are rumoured:

1. FF will be next year. Not later than Photokina 2014. Maybe, on spring or summer, 2014.
2. New DFA lenses will be

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A7R AF and Continuous Shooting Demo Videos

1. AF Demo:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZORc67c--M

2. Continuous Shooting and Shutter Sound/Response:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcJg6Dh-5rE

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K-3 User Manual is Online

http://www.ricoh-imaging.eu/media/b8320cbe10de8415d32b5e0d641b6d19/K3-OPM-EN.pdf

For those who concern.. (me exclusive~)

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Nikon Retro-Style Full Frame DSLR is Coming

See what Nikon Rumors have disclosed:

http://nikonrumors.com/2013/10/20/breaking-new-nikon-full-frame-hybrid-mirrorless-camera-coming-soon.aspx/

With brief rumoured specs as follows:

- Nikon FM2 like design

- Pentaxprism viewfinder

- 16.2MP 36x23,9 full frame sensor (same sensor as the D4's)

- SD memory card

- 2016-pixel RGB image sensor

- 9-cell framing grid display

- 3D color matrix

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Size Comparison: Pana GM1 Vs Pentax Q7

http://camerasize.com/compare/#491,464

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Let's Not Forget the Prominent History of Asahi Pentax (Re: Pentax 67 and 645)

While Ricoh continues to ricohize the Pentax camera and lenses (recent examples here, here and here) and dwarf the name of "Pentax" (instead of strengthening it further!), I am glad to see someone still remember Pentax the brand and is yet making a product with the old genuine brand name of Asahi "Pentax" and here it is!

http://www.dodgeandburn.com/collections/shop/products/six-by-seven

I have

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The Pentax L43 Special (L39-mount) Put onto the A7

Via: http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/the-rumor-counterattack-from-fuji-full-frame-x200-coming-in-2014/

Wow!


Related: 

This is What the Limited Lenses Should be Put Onto!

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A7R Vs A7 Complete ISO Crop Comparisons

http://dcdv.zol.com.cn/404/4049905.html
(in Chinese)

Test pictures were made with the same FE35/2.8 Zeiss lens and then pictures from both cameras were resized to 4,000 pixels in width and then cropped.

It seems the A7R really shines here, for both image details and noise, i.e., both are better than the A7!

In addition, it is highlighted that the A7R has some special new features including

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Another HD Limited Lens Review with Samples (K-5IIs and HD DA21)

http://news.mapcamera.com/KASYAPA.php?itemid=22519
(in Japanese)

Samples are downsized but yet not too small. Sharpness is good as seen but I am not fond of that cool and purplish colour rendition and tone. It maybe just a K-5IIs issue that is well known and thus nothing can be concluded about the new HD coating and glass regarding this! ;-D


Related:

My Best Optimal Custom Image (Colour)

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First Full Samples of the A7 and A7R Betas (with ISO Test Samples)

I follow what Adam of PF is doing and would like to post more A7/R first tests and news! ;-p

The following article is really worth a look, it is unique as there are various full samples posted including a complete ISO series:

http://www.eprice.com.hk/dc/talk/1433/3951/1/
(for A7, in Chinese)

Well, while noise is really low at high ISO speeds, I am afraid that the noise reduction applied is too

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FF Mirrorless to Adopt All K-mount FF Lenses to Come in Less Than 3 Hours!

And the official countdown:



Via: SAR.


Related:

World's First 135 Full Frame Mirrorless is Coming!

The A Mount Seems to be Aborted, Will K Mount (Ricoh) Follow?

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K-3 is NOT Using the Same Sensor as Nikon D7100/D5200's

K-3's:

Source: What Digital Camera

D7100's:

Source: Imaging Resource

D5100's:

Source: Nikon Rumors

The K-3's looks different from the D7100 and D5200's. They do NOT look the same, do they?

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K-3 Unofficial Samples (Down-sized, from Japanese Bloggers, with Beta Units)

1. http://flickriver.com/photos/n00bs/sets/72157636383971445/

This guy (poster) is familiar. I think he is just a Pentax insider, or very close to even if not.

2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mawari/sets/72157636369323634/

An ISO 3200 is included in the second link, click here to see.

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Ricoh Goes Further APS-C - Three New Lens Patents! >:-o

http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2013-10-10
(in Japanese)

So, possibly we would have another three new APS-C lenses and designs, namely, a 18-70mm F4-6, a 16-70mm F4 and a 25-350mm F3.5-6. Good luck, Ricoh Pentax! Hope you will not Rest in Peace too soon! :-x

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A Quick SMC Vs HD Flare Control Comparison Test

http://ganref.jp/m/f-47gallery/reviews_and_diaries/review/5552
(in Japanese)

Well, the Sigma zoom performs the worst, which is indeed well expected. It shows that the HD lens of the "same" DA35 Macro lens yet performs better than the old SMC version, despite the stupid name of it.


Speaking of the "new" HD limited primes, DC Watch has posted some new full samples that were made with the new

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Worth Re-posting: How Meaningful is a 24MP APS-C Sensor?

http://ricehigh.blogspot.com/2011/08/when-sensor-outresolves-lens-how.html

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Official K-3 Promotional Videos at YouTube

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Poll: Will You Buy a K-3?

Will You Buy a K-3?
Yes, I am currently a FF user.
No, I am currently a FF user.
Yes, I am currently an APS-C user.
No, I am currently an APS-C user.
  
pollcode.com free polls 

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K-3 Official Full Samples and an Early Hands-on Video (Unofficial)

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/k-3/ex/
(in Japanese)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiHYIumICH0
(in Spainish)

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K-3 Full Specs

Product
K-3

Type
Digital SLR

Sensor
Type: CMOS w primary color filter and integrated Shake/Dust Reduction sensor movement system
Size: 23.5 x 15.6mm
Color depth: 8 bits/channel JPG, 14 bits/channel RAW
Effective pixels: 23.35 MP
Total pixels: 24.71 MP

Recorded resolutions
Still: Jpeg –
L (24M：6016x4000),
M (14M: 4608x3072),
S (6M: 3072x2048),
XS (2M: 1920x1280)
RAW – L (24M：6016x4000)

Movie (

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New Official K-3 Component Pictures

Guess what is what by yourself! ;-)

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Red-Ring HD "Pentax DA" 55-300/4-5.8 Full Specs

http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/camera-lenses/HD_PENTAX-DA_55-300mm_F4-5.8_ED_WR#!product-specs

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K-3 Officially Released!

http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/dslr/K-3_

http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/dslr/K-3_Limited_Edition_Silver_

24 effective mega-pixels in an APS-C sized CMOS sensor Designed for the demanding photographer, the K-3 features 24 effective megapixels in an APS-C sized CMOS sensor for outstanding high resolution imagery.  By coupling this sensor with a newly developed PRIME III imaging

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A Ricoh K-3 Could Look Better! :-o

Source: http://i.imgur.com/oxCBwf8.jpg

I must have been crazy! I found that the above PS picture looks better than the now "Pentax-in-front and Ricoh-behind" K-3! Is that Only Me? :-o

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My First Leaked K-3 Specs Confirmed

The secret Pentax insider source of Digicame Info striked finally, here we go:

http://digicame-info.com/2013/10/k-3-7.html
(in Japanese)

Btw, most of the latest leaked information are the same as what I first leaked back to two weeks ago. Below are what's new and in addition:

- Optical low pass filter simulation by sensor shifting, three settings: Strong, Weak and Off;
- 27-point SAFOX 11: 25

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Many K-3 Modelling/Marketing Photos - a Flickr Set

http://www.flickr.com/photos/l-camera/sets/72157636201872393/
(The album owner is a Japanese.)

Via: http://www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/topic/new-k3-image---interesting--44829/p-5

Afterall, the Ricoh logo on the back is confirmed! :-( 

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More K-3 Product Images (There is a K-3 Silver and Grip!)

Source: http://imgur.com/a/8WPd5

Via: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2164825

Well, the Ricoh logo on the back is really disgusting! I would rather prefer they changed the front logo to Ricoh altogether one off! One big reason that forces me not to consider and buy the K-3 is just this tiny but ingenuous Ricoh logo mark! >:-(


Related:

New Product Images of the "Ricoh" K-3 and A

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New Product Images of the "Ricoh" K-3 and A "New" Red Ring DA HD 55-300 WR Lens

Source: Digicame Info Here and Here.

So, it once again proves that my first leaked specs of the K-3 dated back to Sept 22nd is correct and there is a new phone jack but not only the mic jack against the previous K-5 series.

Nonetheless, I am disappointed with an once-again refurbished lens by Ricoh and the new red ring and colour is indeed awful and just makes the lens looks ugly and

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DC Watch "New" HD 15 Limited First Test with Full Samples

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/lens_review/20131004_618007.html

It seems that the lovely 14-stroke starbursts of the original SMC DA15 Limited lens has gone! :-(

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K-5II/s New "Urgent" Firmware V1.06

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k-5_2_s.html

It seems that there was a major bug in the last firmware, so an urgent update is needed. The bug is not told, though. I have also seen quite some users of other Pentax models reported about strange phenomenon since the last recent updates for their bodies. So, it would be wise not to do the update if you have other newer model(s

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K-3 Real Look First Leaked

Source: http://weibo.com/ph6cn (in Simplified Chinese)

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SAFOX XI?!

+ + +


+ + + + + + +
+ + + + + + +
+ + + + + + +


+ + +

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Removing AA Filters is a Mistake for the Industry, Said IR

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-m1/olympus-e-m1A.HTM

Via Image Sensors World

Quoted:-

"Low-pass filters, the lack thereof, and moiré

There's been a strong move in the camera industry lately to remove low-pass filters (aka anti-aliasing filters or LPFs) from cameras, in pursuit of greater image sharpness. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is one of the latest camera models to join this

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Camera Name K-3 Accidentially Leaked at the Official Ricoh's Japanese Website!

The following is the Official Japanese PPG (Pentax Photo Gallery), it once shown the name of K-3, together with the name of the "K-5 series", for photo submission under the same camera category! :-o



Via: http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~hu5150/dcl/camera_news/article/pentax/2013/0922_01.html (in Japanese)

Well, the picture was shortly deleted and reverted back now, where only appears the name K-5

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Latest K-3 Technical Details (from my Trustable Source)

So, the last rumoured K-3 thing while is true but not exact. Of course, I believe my source. Here we go! :-D

Ricoh Pentax K-3: 24MP APS-C Sensor, Hardware AA Filter-less, Software AA Filter, PRIME III Image Processor, 86k RGB Segmented Light Metering with -3EV Sensitivity, 27-Point AF with -3EV Sensitivity, 8.5 Maximum FPS (Tentative), 4 Stop SR, 100% 0.95X Optical Viewfinder, Fixed Air-gapless

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More Rumours: Upcoming K-3 and New Lens

Read this post at the Japanese Kakaku Forum written by a Japanese Pentaxian who has heard some secrets from the dealer, for the following:

- The K-3 will be announced near end October.
- 20MP APS-C sensor, possibly made by Sony.
- AA filter less.
- 100% viewfinder at 1.0X.
- Black body marketed first, followed by Silver colour later, first marketed at around 120,000 Japanese Yens (i.e., US$1200

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20 Millions of Pentax Cameras in 2013

(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));See the posts here, here and here by Pentax PH.

So, for what is told, the 20 million-th Pentax camera has just been

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Lead Glass and Lead-free Glass for Photographic Lenses

I agree that these are long reads but really interesting:

http://optics.org/indepth/2/7/3

http://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/Stakeholder_comments/Exemption_13_several_industry-stakeholders_27_March_2008.pdf

Via: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52159193

In short, lead-containing glass is still better optically, less temperature sensitive, more stable and actually

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AF Fine Adjustment: "Apply All" and "Apply One" Fully Explained

Quite some time ago, I explained how to focus adjust a K-5 camera using Live View. However, there are some confusions amongst Pentax users over time for the meanings and effects of the "Apply All" and "Apply One" settings. So, I opt to explain more this time. Well, the user manual tells nothing useful about these once again, just see page 126 of the K-5 user manual! >:-(

For a camera like the

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New Firmwares for Pentax DSLRs Released Today

@ Ricoh.jp (In Japanese Only.)

Support to the "new" HD Limited lenses and the "new" model 360 and 540 II flash units are added. Released firmwares are for K-r, K-5, K-5II/s, 645D, K-01, K-30 and K-50. There is no new firmware to the K-500, though.

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Amazon.jp is Selling the K-5IIs at US$730! Replacement Model Coming Very Soon?

See:



@ Amazon.jp

Although the product pics are of a K-5II, detailed product descriptions below and the page heading confirms that it is just a K-5IIs!

Btw, I am happy to see this stop-gap model will soon come to an end, after one year and something, possibly! :-D


Related:

Breaking News! Pentax "K-3" is "Weeks Away" to Come, Said Adam Oest of the Pentax Forums!!

How to Order a Custom

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My Best Optimal Custom Image (Colour) Setting Combination for the Later Pentax Digital Bodies

Well, here it is:



The above was first tested out with my K-5, of which the hue output was always not correct for most of my Pentax digital lenses for all of the built-in custom image profiles, even for the Natural profile, which was supposed to be colour accurate. So, I sat down to think what's wrong and observed quite some of my old photos made with the K-5..

My conclusion was that green

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Ad: Ricoh Lens Choices

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/lens_cmp/

So, it is concluded that the kit lens is junk and should be thrown away immediately! Now, it's time to buy the two plastic wonder primes from Ricoh, or the two old DA/DFA lenses that few people remember and buy now. Go, go, go and act fast and you will be redirected to the Japanese online store of Ricoh! :-o At the end of the day, Ricoh

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When the Wrong Lens Hood is Used for the Same Lens..

Then vignetting or even dark corners will happen, for the case of the same Q 02 lens that is used on a Q/Q10 versus a Q7, see the following test:

http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/K0000264454/SortID=16353126/?Reload=%8C%9F%8D%F5
(in Japanese, Google translation to English Here.)

So, the new flower-shaped lens hood must be purchased separately for the old lens owners, otherwise the old lens hood cannot

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Five Reasons Why Choose Pentax? (Official, and then for Five Reasons NOT!)

Read: http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/whypentax/index.html

But as the top "Pentax hatred site" on Earth, I have to write five of the most updated reasons for why not Pentax now so as to make the balance, namely as follows! ;-p

1. Pentax is not Pentax anymore, its name disappeared from web and on lens (the name plate and marking was removed)! And, there is no SMC anymore! >:-o

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Breaking News! Pentax "K-3" is "Weeks Away" to Come, Said Adam Oest of the Pentax Forums!!

See:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/236082-new-processor-pentax-k-3-a.html

The following are what told and posted today!

"With the announcement of the K-3 supposedly just weeks away, I would think that they've probably already finalized most if not all of the hardware."

"For all we know it might not even end up being called the K-3! I doubt Pentax would make two

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Possibly This is the New Ricoh "Ground Breaking" Thing that is to be Announced Later Today! >:-L

Which was posted accidentally at Ricoh US website a few days ago! See the Google cached snapshot below:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:sbNlzCW43nYJ:m.us.ricoh-imaging.com/medium-format/Theta_360+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&lr=lang_en|lang_de

So, below are the product highlights:

A new way to take pictures
The RICOH THETA is lightweight and small enough to carry with you

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London 360-Degree Panorama (Super High Resolution)

See: http://btlondon2012.co.uk/pano.html

Amazing! :-o You can also measurbate the picture(s) endlessly if you like! ;-)


Last Related: 

Tokyo Gigapixels 360 Degrees!

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Ricoh New Product Launch Event: 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tomorrow, Pre German IFA Show

Last time about one month ago I reported that Ricoh would be on show at the German IFA from 6 to 11 September.

Now, a quick search to the updated official IFA page reveals that a "new product launch event" will be presented by Ricoh on 5 September (i.e., tomorrow) from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Yes, the press dates for the exhibitors happen a bit earlier, as early as 4 Sept., i.e., two days in advance

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What is the New HD Coating? An Official Explanation

Well, the old Pentax web domain link didn't work anymore. So, I need to search for it again! After some hard finding, here it is! >:-(

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/news/2012/20120911_8.html



So, it reflects less (claimed a 50% improvement) and the coated surface is harder. And it also says that the HD coating is "almost as good" as the last nano-tech Pentax original Aero Bright

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Do They Know What They Are Talking About?! >:-[

First see this official press release:

http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/about/press/310/Ricoh_Imaging_Americas_Corporation_Expands_Team_with_Appointment_of_Brian_McIntosh_as_Director_of_Marketing

And quoted:
"| About Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation |

The company now known as Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation, was originally founded in 1919, under the name Asahi Optical Joint Stock Co.

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Ricoh has Changed the Serial Numbering of the New FA Limited Lenses

See this post at the Chinese Xitek Forum for what is reported and posted:

http://forum.xitek.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1167651&page=1&ordertype=1#pid47747769
(in Simplified Chinese.)

The new s/n is now named as ABCXXXX instead of 00XXXXX of before, where the header ABC is not a zero number anymore, see below for the latest production (left) against an older/previous one (right):


(

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I Miss the PENTAX Green Rings and LOGO on Lenses! >:-(

We all have learnt what Ricoh has done to Pentax recently, SMC was replaced further and the Pentax logo was removed from the name plates of the repackaged DA Limited lenses! And, a Ricoh GXR coloured red ring replaces the symbolic green rings of our Pentax DA lenses..!



Pretending Zeiss lenses? Marked "Aperture / Focal" something, instead of marking "Focal / Aperture" (which is the common

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"New" K-mount Lens Roadmap "Updated" and Published

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/lens/images/K_Mount_Lens.pdf

Compared with the last one and the last last one, what is "new" actually? :-o

And, "2013 or Later"? 2013 has only three more months to go! And in 2046 which still means "Later"!

Maybe each year Ricoh could change the coating name from SMC to HD for some lenses and also the colours of some existing Pentax lenses can be

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Ricoh has Refurbished the Old 360 and 540 Flash Units

See the Press Release at DPR:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/08/27/ricoh-introduces-weather-resistant-flash-units

Weather sealing and a video LED light source are added:

"New" 540II:


"New" 360II:


"The AF360FGZ II and AF540FGZ II will be available for purchase at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and retail outlets nationwide in September 2013 for the suggested retail price of $429.95 and $

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Ricoh Continues to Dump SMC and Ricohizes the Outlook of Existing DA Lenses!

See what is just reported at the Photo Rumors (Source: Japanese Digicame Info):

http://photorumors.com/2013/08/27/pentax-to-refresh-their-hd-da-lenses-with-new-hd-coating-and-circular-apertures



The new colour scheme of the old DA lenses is just damn UGLY. The traditional blue+yellow focusing scale distance markings have disappeared! The name of HD coating is really mediocre and silly! The

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Shooting Moon with the Pentax Q and a F*300/4.5 K-mount Lens

Here is the result (from direct JPEG out of the Q, no major re-touching but just only resizing along with light sharpening):



( Click to Enlarge - All Rights Reserved: RiceHigh (c)2013 )

And the combo of my gear that used:



Indeed, there are quite some advantages of using the Q in shooting this type of photos, namely:

1. No mirror slap and even no shutter shock of any during the course of

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The A Mount Seems to be Aborted, Will K Mount (Ricoh) Follow?

See what Sony Alpha Rumors report lately:

(SR5) First image of the new ILC-3000 (A3000 in Japan). 230K LCD and 1,44 Million dot EVF.

So, possibly this will soon mark the end of the A-mount lens line as there will be no more new A-mount body. For all those excellent Minolta A-mount lenses, the old users must use them via an adaptor and Sony will be a mirrorless brand from now on.

After all,

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More K-50 and K-500 Reviews

1. A detailed mesurbation review of the K-50 with bunch of full samples:

http://www.optyczne.pl/231.1-Test_aparatu-Pentax_K-50_Wst%C4%99p.html
(in Polish)

2. Another K-500 review after the K-50 review by PF:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-k-500-review/features-and-highlights.html

But as the K-500 is just almost the same camera as the K-50, why did the review again? I really don't

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(Different) Optical Constructions of the Four DA18-55 Zoom Lenses

Source: http://forum.xitek.com/thread-866434-1-1-1.html (in Simplified Chinese)

1. Original DA18-55 - 12 Elements in 9 Groups, One Aspherical Element:





2. DA18-55II - 11 Elements in 8 Groups, One ED (Extra Low Dispersion) Element:





3. DA18-55WR - 11 Elements in 8 Groups, One Aspherical Element and One ED Element:





4. DAL18-55 - 11 Elements in 8 Groups, No Aspherical nor ED Element of

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Pentax TidBits 8-19

1. DA50/1.8 is on sales, for the US users only, at $120:

http://www.pentaxwebstore.com/product/31909

Btw, is it really cheap? Just compare it with the similar offers from Canon and Nikon! One thing is for sure anyway, the original set price of $249 is just ridiculous!

2. DC Watch has reviewed the DA560, with various full samples posted, taken with a K-5IIs:

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs

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New K-50 Official Full Samples are Now Available

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/k-50/ex/index.html
(in Japanese)





Lenses used include DA*16-50, DA*55, DAL18-55, DA*50-135 and DA50/1.8. Measurbation Time Now!

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Shootout of Six Tough DC 2013 Models (XP60 Vs AW110 Vs TG-2 Vs TS5 Vs WG-3 Vs TX30)

http://www.mobile01.com/newsdetail.php?id=13603
(in Traditional Chinese)

Read More

Q 07 Mount Shield Lens User Samples

http://www.dchome.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1216412

So, the IQ of this lens really sucks. This can be treated as special effect, though, provided that it is liked.

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German IFA 2013: Ricoh Will be On Show

The IFA show  is coming next month, from 6 to 11 September. This show is meant for consumer electronics and digital products. A quick search at their official page found that Ricoh will be on show:



But yet entering key word of "Pentax" in the same search page gives two returns, one Sigma lens and one Metz flash. So, the Ricoh booth above is the only real Pentax related thing that is found,

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New Pentax Reviews: Q7 and K-50

1. DPR's Q7 review is out. Wow, it is completed published so quickly this time. Has Ricoh done something? ;-)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-q7

The overall mark given is quite low, though.

2. Full K-50 review at PF:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-k-50-review/conclusion.html

So, this is the key point of the conclusion:

"With that said, the K-50 is essentially nothing

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World's First 135 Full Frame Mirrorless is Coming!

By this October!

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sr4-nex-ff-only-15-bigger-than-the-nex-7-available-in-october/

Note that it is of SR4 probability which means that it is likely to happen!

How is Pentax then? Where is Pentax? What "hi-end" thing that they are actually still working on??! >:-o

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First Quarter Financial Results of Ricoh

See the Q1 financial report here:

http://www.ricoh.co.jp/IR/events/2013/pdf/h26ke.pdf

with the summary fact sheet here:

http://www.ricoh.co.jp/IR/pdf/summary_text_1307.pdf

Via: Kakaku forum post here.

(All of above are in Japanese.)

Below are excerpts of camera business related statements as directly copied from Google Translator:

- "Optical business has remained strong, such as FA camera

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Tidbits Today

1. Ephotozine has completed the full review of the K-50, conclusions and comments are quite favourable:

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-k-50-digital-slr-review-22468#Verdict

2. The once discontinued K-01 Yellow Edition (which "was discontinued owing to the too high market demand"!?) is reborn and can be purchased via the following! ;-p



http://e-young.en.alibaba.com/product/

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Pentax Forums Now Host Official Canon Ads, Not Pentax Nor Ricoh's! :-o

For instance: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/229588-ricoh-announces-company-name-change-no-more-pentax-ricoh-imaging-just-ricoh-31.html

A click on the Ad Banner will direct you to the Official Canon EOS M Page of your local server! :-o

Btw, they do have to earn a living, don't they? When Ricoh don't pay them well.. This is completely understandable! ;-)

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Pentax Japanese Customer Support Email

FWIW, it is:

pentax.gs@pri.pentax.co.jp

Via: http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1194052-1-1-1.html (in Simplified Chinese)

The case is about what happened back to May. It seems that the customer service was really good for that particular case and the supporting staff who handled the case was really helpful. But I just wonder if the above email address still works as it does contain the "pentax"

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Yet Another Camera Database and Comparison Website

At digicamdb.com, which has some more detailed comparisons for the sensor specs, in addition to the body specs. For instance:

Leica S2 Vs Pentax 645D: http://www.digicamdb.com/compare/leica_s2-vs-pentax_645d/

Canon 5D3 Vs Nikon D800: http://www.digicamdb.com/compare/canon_eos-5d-mark-iii-vs-nikon_d800/

Pentax K-50 Vs Pentax K-30: http://www.digicamdb.com/compare/pentax_k-50-vs-pentax_k-30/,

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Pentax' Optical Design Copied Leica's?

First, this is the Leica Tri-Elmar 28-35-50mm F4 Wide "Zoom", at 28mm:



And then, this is the Pentax FA20-35mm F4 Ultra Wide Zoom:



And then, compare the above two and then also against the Leica Summilux 21mm Prime below:



Via: http://www.dchome.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1215807
(in Chinese)

It is not difficult to notice that, as the OP has pointed out, the optical designs of the

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A Latest Interview with the Japanese Ricoh Head

The Chinese Fengniao editors interviewed the Ricoh head who is in charge of the Pentax camera business just a few days ago, when he came to China for something:

http://qicai.fengniao.com/387/3874303.html
(in Simplified Chinese, Google English Translation Here.)

I've opted to translate some key excerpts of the interview and putting aside all the other marketing bullshits (although many things

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The Name PENTAX is Dismissed from the Cyber Space! >:-(

The name of PENTAX was a history of the past since August 1st 2013. Look what Ricoh has done to destroy the name Pentax! >:-{ For instance, click the following, i.e., the old Pentax Japanese homepage:

http://www.pentax.jp/

It will be forwarded to the following page immediately:

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/moved/

It is told that the old webpage does no longer exist, visitors should click on

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Q7/Q10 Designers' Stories (Interviews)

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/interview/20130719_607368.html

The above article is in Japanese, an Excite machine-translation to English can be found here.

Actually, there is not much useful information that we do not know, but if you still want to read it further, just click the above! ;-)

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Loyal Pentax Merchant and PR Tool is Pissed Off by Ricoh Recently! >:-o

I seldom quote Mr. Bourque actually, but this time I really can't help myself! :-(

http://pentaxdslrs.blogspot.com/2013/07/sometimes-it-just-feels-good-to-be.html

The following is told, quoted:

"I'm not sure of what's going on with Ricoh/Pentax. They used to loan me
the new cameras so that I could write my e-books about them. I also have
a  singed  NDA agreement with them but I haven't heard

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Pentax "Spotmatic Digital" Concept / Imagination

Source:
http://www.esveldtphoto.com/collected_works/cooperations/asahi_pentax_spotmatic_d_concept

Via: A PF post here.

The concept is not bad IMO, but it lacks at least one e-dial and a set of 4+1 way buttons! :-D And well, just imagine if it is even a Full Frame body! :-o


Old Related:

My Idea of a K1000D

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Customize and Colorize the Ricoh GR, Pentax Q7 and K-50!

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/support/customize.html
(in Japanese)

Update (8-5): The above picture link is dead because Ricoh has changed the domain name of their website. I just won't bother to correct that as it's the sole fault of Ricoh!

Well, the main point of those RP cameras is now colours, not the colours of the images they produce, but the colours of the camera shells! Well done, Ricoh!

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Recent Pentax Tidbits

1. An original Leica-made Pentax 645 lenses to S body adaptor:



Via: http://info.xitek.com/news/201307/17-128176.html (in Chinese)

Now those FA 645D lenses can be operated on the Leica S body with AE and AF, for compatible lens models, my beloved FA120/4 Macro lens is excluded, though! :-(

2. An original lens case for the Pentax Q 02 and 06 zoom lenses:



Via: http://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/

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When Did Pentax Forget about a Compact DSLR Body?!

First look at my old *ist DL2:



Do note that the above is already loaded with batteries and memory card and is ready to shoot.

And then a K-5 with the same compact DA pancake lens of mine, also loaded and ready:



In fact, the K-5 body alone is just heavier than the DL2 with the 21mm pancake lens! :-(



Yet I bet Pentax fanboys will again defend that the K-5 is not a low-end body and thus it

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New K-50/500 Review at C|Net

Read here:

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/pentax-k-50-with/4505-6501_7-35792160.html

Some performance and timing measurements were done and sample photos are posted. In short, whilst the reviewer thinks that the K-50 is feature-rich, the Image Quality of it does fall behind the competition, below are some comments that he writes, for instance:

"Image quality
Overall, the image and

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Ricoh Starts to Sell Off Pentax' Old Patents? (But Yet Another New "Ricoh" Patent Submitted)

See what is recently reported in this PF thread:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/231593-ricoh-selling-off-licensing-pentax-designs-patents.html

The previous Pentax Ricoh patented design now becomes a Vixen's!

If it is true, it is really too bad! And Pentax is doomed!!

Btw, Ricoh has yet submitted a new patent application for a stupid and useless design and thing like

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Colour Rendition Shootout: 6M CCD Vs 16M CMOS - *ist DL2 Vs K-5

It has been almost ten years since Pentax launched their first DSLR, the *ist D, almost ten years ago. I did buy my *ist D very shortly after it hit the streets and it may be interested to read back my old textural review of it which was first published back to fall 2003.

Okay, nine years something has elapsed and now the new Pentax cameras have climbed up to 16 megapixels in pixel count and

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A K-50 Unboxing + Quick Review with Tests on the New Kit Lenses (DAL WR Zooms)

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera-sp-pentaxricoh-k50.html
(in Japanese)

The above is the index page, click on the links to see different test pages. In particular:

1. This is the ISO test for the K-50:

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera-sp-pentaxricoh-k50-04.html

The NR setting from left to right is weak, medium and strong, respectively.

2. These are the lens tests for the new DAL WR kit

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DPR MX-1 Full Review Published

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-mx-1

And the Conclusions and Samples:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-mx-1/11

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My Samples: FA645 120mm F4 Macro on 5D3

For what last time I mentioned about and intended to do, the following samples were taken and are now posted. Just browse the album below, full-size original samples are available per picture page:

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RiceHigh/library/5Ds/FA645_120F4Macro?sort=9&page=1

(Or, you can view a quick Slideshow Here.)

All pictures were taken with direct JPEG out of the camera in best

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Metz 58AF-1 Hotshoe Upgrade (Old to New Version, from Plastic to Metal, plus New PCB)

Read this:-

http://www.pentaxfans.net/thread-138657-1-1.html
(in Traditional Chinese, but posted pictures are self-explanatory.)



So, the hotshoe base material has been changed, from plastic to metal. The PCB inside/underneath has been updated too. It can be seen that the whole circuit board design has completely been revamped.

Speaking of those Metz flashguns for Pentax, last time they

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Q7 Japanese Commercial Video (TV Ad.)

Broadcast Version (30 seconds):



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=B4GtAqJM99M

Online Version (Loooong!):



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L34Ei6oqRjE&feature=player_embedded#at=47

Via Pentax.jp

Everything is in Japanese.

Besides, speaking of YouTube videos that I have embedded and linked to, last time I discovered that the YouTube server robot had automatically

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Capture One Express 6 is Made Free by Phase One

Capture One Express 6 is now made available for free:-

http://www.phaseone.com/dcm

Via: Peta Pixel

Just follow the instructions provided to obtain the free license and register the product.

Besides, quite some time ago, Adobe had made their CS2 available for download together with "free" registration key in the page below:-

http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html

However,

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Shootout of the Five APS-C DCs: X100s Vs X2 Vs Coolpix A Vs GR Vs DP1M (Portraiture and Scenery Tests)

http://www.mobile01.com/newsdetail.php?id=13633
(in Traditional Chinese)

I think the test pictures speak themselves and the differences in results are obvious. There is simple footnote for the camera in use with shooting information under each sample picture.

My overall impression is that for skin tone reproduction: Fuji is better than Leica > Nikon > Ricoh > Sigma. Well, it seems that the

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Q7 Complete Set Unboxing and Basic Measurbations for All Q Lenses

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera-sp-pentaxricoh-q7-all.html
(in Japanese)

via PFC (in Traditional Chinese)

Different ISO settings are measurbated. It is worth noted that NR does have effect at the base ISO of 100 already, if "strong" is selected.

And, there are more measurbations for all the Q system lenses, including distortion and resolution measurements. For instance, here are the 01,

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K-01 Schtroumpf/Doraemon is not Japanese Home Market Specific

It is also being marketed at the mainland China:-

http://www.pentax.com.cn/NewsFiles/201307/040849165865.html
(in Simplified Chinese)



Btw, this Doraemon colour combination is not anything new. In fact, the K-x was sold like that, see this:-



Via an old DPR news article here.

So, Pentax boys should be really happy for the true and complete reborn of the K-01! Bravo, Ricoh! :-o


Last News:-

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NEWS: Mr. Jun Hirakawa Now Works for Tamron and Mr. Blurry Cameraphone has Left Pentax China

See this latest post and thread at the Chinese Xitek Pentax Forum, these are told:-

1. It is confirmed that Mr. Jun Hirakawa, who was (forced) early retired by Hoya back to 2010, is now working for Tamron and below is the evidence:-



The above is a Japanese patent application in 2013 which shows that the inventor of the lens is Jun and the intellectual property owner company is Tamron!

Btw,

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New Q and Q10 Firmwares

Q FW Version 1.13: http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/q_s.html

Q FW 1.02: http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/q10_s.html

What's new then? In short, the new 07 body cap toy lens will be supported plus some unknown general debugs. Do note that for Q users, the firmware update will reset the camera and all the current user settings in the camera will be erased.

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New K-01 Schtroumpf! What the Fuck?!

See this at the Japanese homepage of "Pentax" for the current products today. A new body is announced and it is to be marketed on July 25, 2013! So, what is it? It is yet the already officially discontinued K-01 but repainted?!



Besides, browse further into the product page of the current accessories for Pentax DSLRs, it is found that the AF360FTZ flash is still there! Well, wasn't the

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Pentax SR is Not Yet Conforming to the New CIPA Standard for Image Stabilization Performance

See what our knowledgeable ex-Pentaxian (now a Nikon D800 user), Falk Lumo (aka Falconeye, who is an engineer I believe), has reported yesterday at the PF:-

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/general-photography-industry/229561-pentax-cipa-shake-reduction-efficieny-published.html

It is reported that according to the new CIPA standard, more precise description on the IS (SR) performance must be

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Reactions of Pentaxians for the Deletion of the "Pentax" Name from Companies!

 
(Above: A picture drawn by a Pentax user at the Japanese Kakaku Pentax forum, directly linked.)

As we all have learnt, the word "Pentax" will be deleted from all the Ricoh Imaging companies worldwide very soon. Let's see what are the reactions of all we Pentaxians at DPR, PF, Here at my Blog, Kakaku (Japan), Xitek (China), PFC (Taiwan) and DCH (Hong Kong) and etc..

Reactions are overall

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Change of Company Name: From "Pentax Ricoh" to "Ricoh" Only

See the official press release today:-

http://www.pentax.jp/english/news/2013/20130702.html
 

Press Release


July 02, 2013


 

COMPANY NAME CHANGE


PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. (President: Noboru Akahane; hereinafter referred to as "Pentax Ricoh") announces the company name change as follows.


New company name
RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
(Others except for the company name remain

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Canon 70D is Here! Leaving Pentax K-5II/s in the Dark!

http://www.canonrumors.com/2013/07/early-eos-70d-images-surface/

http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/02/canon-70d-hands-on/

http://www.canonrumors.com/2013/07/canon-dual-pixel-liveview-autofocus/

For a more detailed preview, read the DPR's:-

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-70d

Pentax? K-5/K-5II/K-5IIs "flagship"?? 3-year old technologies for both the body design and the sensor,

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The Three FA Limited Lenses on Sony Alpha A99

A Flickr Set, here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/airsama/sets/72157634292514713/

Via: http://www.sonysdf.com/alpha/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=82338&start=0
(in Traditional Chinese)

I have no specific comments about the IQ of those sample pictures. But what I want to say is that the Limited lenses perform great on the A99 and it is what a PITY that Pentax still has no FF body of any and ever!

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Nikon 50/1.4D Vs Zeiss 50/1.4ZE Shootout on Canon 5D3

Test Conditions: f/1.4 to f/11 in one f-stop stepping; Manual focus to Infinity according to focus indication in-body, until the green dot is lit up permanently. Photos were taken at closest time as possible and for the same scene. The weather was good but it was a bit hazy, though. Camera was mounted on tripod and was fired using 2-sec self-timer. Of course, all image settings were kept the

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How Choice of Camera Brand Says About You

Read this somehow old article, that is interesting and funny!

http://shutterfinger.typepad.com/shutterfinger/2010/10/what-your-choice-of-camera-says-about-you.html

"Pentax owners
 You’re the sort of person who would
buy a $1500 DSLR body so your stash of thread-mount, K-mount and M-mount
lenses from decades ago (collectively worth $75.00 at a flea market or
yard sale) won’t go to waste;

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More K-50 Full Samples (Unofficial)

Here, at the Digital Camera Review:-

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=5346&news=pentax+k+50+image+quality

Click on the images and download the full original images, which were produced directly out of the K-50 without any modification.

As before, I don't like the colour response by the way. All Prime M bodies, including the K-01, K-30 and now the K-50/500 do have a strong

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Sony RX100 II Announced

http://store.sony.com/p/20.2-megapixel%2C-RX100/en/p/DSCRX100M2/B

Will you consider this instead of the new Ricoh GR or Pentax Q7, or even over the old Pentax MX-1? Undoubtedly, the RX100 II is far more versatile and it compromises well for its features set, performance, sensor size, camera size, image quality and then the price! Well, it does support an EVF and has a flipped monitor, too!

In

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Updated Q Lens Roadmap to Show Effective AoV with Different Sensors

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/products/lens/images/Q_Mount_Lens.pdf

01 to 07 lenses on Q/Q10 against Q7 are shown. The crop factors / multiplying factors of the 3 toy lenses are complicated, as they are all different on the Q7!

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Pentax Q7 Brief Hands-on at PF

http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/pentax-q7-first-impressions.html

I think the only useful information that is provided is the following:-

"The Pentax 03, 04, and 05 lenses do not support the Q7's larger
sensor.  These lenses will automatically be used in a crop mode on the
Q7.  With adapted DSLR lenses, the crop factor has changed to 4.5x, down
from 5.6x."

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A Set of K-5 Vs 6D Real-life Direct Comparisons

http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1138503-3-1-1.html
(in Simplified Chinese)

Two cameras were used at almost the same time to shoot almost the same thing. The Pentax lenses used were DA*16-50 and the FA77LE. Canon lens used was only the "cheap" EF24-105L kit zoom.

There are many sets of comparisons. As direct linking is not allowed by the Xitek server, please click on the small sample pictures in

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Yet Another Ricoh GR Review with Full Samples

http://www.dcfever.com/cameras/readreview.php?type=&id=8320

The review is in Chinese, but it doesn't matter if you can't read. The pictures speak for themselves. And just download the full sample pictures and measurbate! Do note that the Original pictures can be accessed via the links marked as "Ori".

Btw, I've seen moires and false colours in samples. Your take to find out where they are! :-)

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New Metz Firmware to Support HSS on K-30 and K-5II/s

After more than one year, the solution finally comes! :-o

http://www.metz.de/en/flash-units/firmware-download-flash-units/mecablitz-50-af-1-digital/pentax.html

This is for the Mecablitz model 50 AF-1 for instance. New firmwares for other current major metz models are also available, which is the solution to enable the High Speed Sync when using their flashes on the K-30 or a later Pentax DSLR

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New Ricoh GR Review at DPR

Let's jump to the Conclusion before looking back at each section for details! ;-)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/ricoh-gr/17

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Friendly Reminder: Backup/Migrate Your Google Reader Subscription Data Now! (If Not Yet..)

The Google Reader will soon disappear and be out of service within two weeks. I have been lazy enough to do my own migration to Feedly just a few minutes ago!

As for how to migrate from Google Reader to Feedly, here is a tutorial:-

http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/tools/feedly/

In short, just download the Feedly plugin for your browser from feedly.com, run it and you will see this starting page:

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First Looks of the Q7 and K-500 at EPhotoZine

Q7: http://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-q7-hands-on-preview-22178



K-500: http://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-k-500-dslr-hands-on-preview-22177



The K-500 preview reminds me of how Pentax could make "two" new camera"s" by just: One bundled with a lithium battery and then the other with an AA battery holder plus without the installation of the weather sealed rubbers at the factory,

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Yet Another Rumour: More Pentax DSLRs to Come This Fall

Roland Mabo, the long-time Pentax Internet supporter, has recently posted this rumour at the PF:-

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/227880-swedish-distributor-hints-new-products.html

This is the key statement that told: "In fall 2010 Ricoh bought the camera division of Pentax, and with this came big resources for development of new products. Now we can see the first fruits

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Q7 Official Full Samples

8 nos.:http://www.pentax.jp/japan/products/q7/ex/index.html

Not too bad in general, but purple fringing is obvious and this issue is common.

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K-50 Samples

1. @ DPR (Full Size Available):-

http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/reviewsamples/albums/pentax-k-50-preview-samples

2. @ Pop Photo (Full Size *Original*):-

http://www.popphoto.com/gallery/sample-images-pentax-k50-k500-dslrs-and-q7-ilc

Well, it seems that Popphoto and DPR went to the same press conference and shot the same targets.. Nevertheless, the Pop Photo samples indicate that the

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More K-50 and Q7 Stuff at Pentax.jp

1. The colour simulator (with matching for a few lens models) for the K-50:-

http://www.camera-pentax.jp/k-50

Meanwhile, this is the classic desert military colour that I have made:-




Note that the DA"L" 18-135 WR lens should be a typo. From the photo of the lens, it should be the old DA 18-135 WR lens, just!

2. Next, there is also a Q7 colour simulator:-

http://www.camera-pentax.jp/q7

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K-50/K-500 and Q7 are Now Official

Read the news/press releases/preview over DPR:-

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/06/12/Pentax-launches-k-50-k-500-16MP-mid-and-entry-level-16MP-DSLRs

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/7885360476/first-impressions-of-the-pentax-k50-and-k500

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/06/12/Pentax-announces-Q7-with-larger-1-over-1-point-seven-inch-12MP-BSI-CMOS-sensor

As DPR has commented, the suggested

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Q7 Specs and There is a K-500 Also (Not K-50)

Above: Q7 with a "new" 01 prime lens in black colour.

- 12.4 MP effective 1/1.7" CMOS sensor
- New "Q Engine" image processor
- 25 zone AF, improved sensitivity down to EV0
- ISO Sensitivity 100-12800
- Shutter speed 30 to 1/2000s mechanical, up to 1/8000s in combination with electronic shutter
- In-camera shake reduction (SR) up to 3 stops approxmately
- Full HD video recording at 30fps,

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Q7 Vs Q10 Sensor Size Compared (Animated Image)

With the leaked image from Digicame Info of the Q7 and the old Q10 image from Pentax Imaging, I have made this:-



How much "bigger" is the new sensor? Your take! :-)

Besides, after almost half a year, the Pentax Q-mount body cap lens will be marketed very soon! Well, they really needed another six months to make it come true since their last/first product announcement?! >:-o



Via Digicame

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Rumour: Pentax Q-7

See this latest rumour about the "upcoming" Pentax Q-7:-

http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/new-pentax-q7-will-have-a-larger-11-7-inch-sensor/

The new Q-7 will be in Q-mount (of course) but will incorporate a larger 1/1.7" sensor, source of "leaked" information from the Japanese Digicame-info.com (Google-translated), which should be reliable enough for their past track records.

Btw, the Q-mount

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New Pentax P&S DC Efina and White Colour WG-III

For details, see the press releases at DPR here.

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New K-5IIs Supplement Review at IR

This is the supplement review by the IR for the K-5IIs:-

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k5-iis/pentax-k5-iisA.HTM

The previous original IR review of the K-5II can be found below:-

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k5-ii/pentax-k5-iiA.HTM

So, what are the differences, go figure out yourself!


Related:-

The Much Belated DPR K-5II/s Review

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Pentax K-50 Leaked

http://photorumors.com/2013/06/05/pentax-k-50-dslr-camera-leaks-on-retailers-website-in-france/

How is the "new" camera different from the old K-30, except for now the more traditional appearance and a stereo built-in microphone (still no mic-in socket of any!)? Is it really so difficult for Ricoh to make a true new body? And, where is the compact DSLR body of Pentax? E.g., a K-x successor,

Read More

Italian Navy Officer Uses Pentax Gear

Source: Navy.81.cn (in Simplified Chinese, Goggle-translated English page here.)

The body and lens combo seems to be a FA*24/2 on a K-5.


Read Also:- 

Pentax Weapon Used by an US Soldier at Afghanistan

Read More

The Much Belated DPR K-5II/s Review

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-k-5-ii-k-5-ii-s/18

This review finally arrives after 10 months of the original product announcement for this "stop-gap" product! I am afraid that the body have already reached the end of its product life cycle actually! In fact, it has existed just for too long whilst the real gap has become larger and larger! >:-( So, mission failed!! :-o

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40mm FF Shootout 2: EF40/2.8 Vs FA43/1.9LE Vs FA645 45/2.8 on 5D3

Above Left to Right: Pentax FA 43/1.9 Limited, Pentax FA645 45/2.8, Canon EF 40/2.8 STM; Tested on a Canon 5D3 135 Full Frame Body. (Remark: Both my Pentax lenses were Japanese made.)

Further to my last shootout test of the same, I've done the test again on a bright day, but on a different scene. Apertures from f/2.8 to f/11 have been tested per lens, at nearly the same time and at the same

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Copy 120 Films Using an ILDC/DSLR with a Macro Lens

First inspired by Petapixel, this is what I have tried and done myself:-

1. These are the tools that I've used: A white fluorescent desklamp at 6000K, two 77mm UV multi-coated filters, a lens hood with outer diameter in 77mm, some "white" milky transparent paper:-



2. Turn on the lamp, mine is a Panasonic with invertor circuitry which enables the lamp operated at a high frequency:-



3. Put

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Recent Pentax and Ricoh Gear Reviews

The Phoblographer has reviewed the K-5II and K-5IIs:-

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/05/21/review-pentax-k-5ii-k-5iis/

I think this review is quite user-orientated, so no detailed measurbations are expected. :-)

And just not long time ago, they just made a rumour (which they said themselves was "humour") for a Full Frame Pentax body to come:-

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/05/11/

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Ricoh GR DxOMark(s) Published, Worse than the Pentax K-5II/s'

See the side-by-side comparison here.

Despite that the GR and the K-5II/s are both using the same APS-C sized Sony sensor, the scores of the GR in every aspect are just worse. Is it owing to different processing for both hardware and software?

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40mm 135 FF Shootout: EF 40 Vs FA 43 Vs FA645 45

Above Left to Right: Canon EF 40/2.8 STM, Pentax FA645 45/2.8, Pentax FA 43/1.9 Limited; Tested on a Canon 5D3 135 Full Frame Body. (Remark: Both Pentax lenses of mine were made in Japan.)

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RiceHigh/library/5Ds/40mm_Shootout?sort=4&page=1

Apertures from f/2.8 to f/11 were tested per lens, at nearly the same time and for the same infinity scene. Of course the

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Modding a K Body into a R Mount One

Watch this Video for how to do it:-

http://you.video.sina.com.cn/b/102350636-2028510075.html

Via: Sina Weibo (all in Chinese, aka "micro blog").

Wow, what a workmanship! :-o  Now, all the Leica lenses of that user can be mounted directly without any adaptor needed.
 
Nonetheless, I think the use of a Leica-R to Pentax-K adaptor (widely available) is still preferable, which is simple, not

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A "New" Pentax FF Rumour

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3491706

"Two friends who work at an authorized Pentax dealer told me that there would be a full frame Pentax released by this Halloween. Apparently, the Pentax reps that they are in contact with have passed on the inside information, and they also said that third party lens manufacturers are quietly working on a beginning lens lineup. My friend's exact words

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Ricoh GR-ize the "Pentax" MX-1

With this latest accessory for the MX-1 (made by 3rd party), the DC will become GR alike featuring an automated lens cover and lens shade two in one:-

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20130517_599805.html
(in Japanese)



The price of this add-on accessory is at 2,480 Japanese Yens (about US$25 as at today).

Nevertheless, it is almost ascertained that the MX-1 is an OEM product that made

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Telescope Lens, Lens Telescope! :-o

We all knew that with the DA560, Pentax had given us a telescope as the camera lens! The results are rather unsatisfactory as various reviews and samples have revealed and shown! >:-(

On the other hand, as a well-known and "infamous" "anti-Pentax" Pentax user and guy, what I had to do is of course in the opposite direction than Pentax! As a result, I decided to use Pentax lenses as telescope and

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Pentax Imaginations - Too Many but Nothing Ever Happened!

These are the recent imaginations:-

1. Pentax K-02 with an OVF:-



Via Mirrorless Rumors

But I think a $15 hotshoe-mounted external OVF will do the job anyway, see this of mine:-



Btw, last time I polled, there should not be a K-02 anyway, as it is almost well known that the "line" was killed.

2. A Pentax 135 Full Frame, see this weekend humour by the PB, which is well written:-

http://

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New DA560 Test Review: "Disappointed"!

http://bbs.dgtle.com/thread-148282-1-1.html
(in Simplified Chinese)

The reviewer writes that he is rather disappointed about the IQ and usability of this expensive lens of Pentax. Purple fringing is obvious, stopping down is the only mean for better resolution, but then at f/8 using a lens with this long focal is actually impractical and rather difficult to use. The author also writes that this

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Pentax UK Summer Rebate

http://www.pentax.co.uk/cashback


Related:-

Pentax (US) Lens Prices are Up Again! >:-(

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I've Cropped My Pentax 645 Lenses Myself, in 1.6X! :-o

Since an original 645 lens when put onto an 135 FF body is cropped only 1.6X, I have decided to do this! :-o :-)



I suppose the degrade in IQ (in particular, the resolving power of the 645 lenses) would not be too much as this is exactly what Pentax has been doing/forcing us to do exactly the same thing with more or less the same crop ratio for all those K-mount film lenses of us when they are

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TIPA Awards 2013

http://www.tipa.com/english/XXIII_tipa_awards_2013.php

"The annual meeting of the Technical Image Press Association to vote for the best photographic and imaging products in 2013 was held on 20 April 2013 in Hong Kong.

This year at the TIPA General Assembly 27 member magazines and the Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC) of Japan voted for the best product in each category. The General

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A Metabones Speed Booster Clone, in K-mount

Pentaxians might complain about why Metabones didn't make their "Speed Booster" in K-mount? I think it is just a market(ing) decision after all.

Still, if you want to get something similar to use, i.e., to put your old Pentax FF lenses onto the current APS-C cropped body, here is an alternative solution:-

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/

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Completely Disassembled and then Reassembled the DA40XS Lens

This 40XS lens user had his lens dropped from 15cm onto the table. The instant results were an optical element shifted and all the aperture blades came off! Wow, how durable this lens actually is! >:-( Is this the result of over-minimization of this lens? :-o



http://www.dchome.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1197120
(in Traditional Chinese)

So, he dis-assembled the whole lens down to the

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Pentax (US) Lens Prices are Up Again! >:-(

See the latest announcement by the PF, which is almost official!

http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/pentax-usa-increases-lens-prices.html

So, here we go:-


Lens

Old Price

New Price

Increase / Percentage

DA 14mm F2.8 $710 $950 $240 / 34%
FA 35mm F2 $400 $600 $200 / 50%
FA 43mm F1.9 Limited $585 $750 $165 / 28%
D FA 50mm F2.8 Macro $450 $600* $150 / 33%
FA 50mm F1.4 $360 $450 $90

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DC Watch K-5IIs Vs K-5 Shootout Test, with Large Samples

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/longterm/20130426_597538.html
(in Japanese, but the pictures with quick shooting info underneath speak themselves.)

The colour renditions of the two cameras are indeed different. The focus point of the two cameras are somehow different btw. AF or user error?

For instance, look at this set of f/8 shots, which should usually be the aperture of an APS-C

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De-crippling the K-mount - An Upkeeping Petition at the Pentax Forums

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/200075-pentax-ricoh-de-cripple-k-mount-petition.html

Two hundred and something Pentaxians have signed. But I bet the proposition will NOT be entertained as Pentax has never listened nor made any response of course. So, it's just a waste of time, frankly! >:-(

In fact, I have requested this for years now. I think I do have a stronger/

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What is/are the Meaning(s) of a Cropped Digital System Now?

In a recent interview with the Pentax Ricoh China Japanese Head, it was told that the 645D was just a completely different product than the 135 FF Nikon D800E, which is far more differentiated.

However, this reminds me of the fact that the 645D, like all other K-mount Pentax DSLRs, is actually also cropped for its sensor. So, I just wonder, how is the 645D different from those 135 FF DSLRs and

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The Pentax Coffins! >:-o

The K-30 is in the Chinese style, for its top/head/front! :-o





On the other hand, the K-7/K-5 is in Western style! :-D



* All the pictures above are searched via Google Pics and linked directly to their respective web links as posted.

Now, I know why Pentax needed to hire Marc Newson to design the K-01! Otherwise, their own designers seemed to get no idea on what to do, so that they

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Proof of Existence of Pentax Marketing - Sexy Korean Pentax Showgirls!

See: http://www.cutekorean.net/2013/03/kim-ha-yul-at-pentax-photo-festival.html

Some photos (not all):-


(Click to Enlarge.)

Note where the Pentax logos are printed! I see that it spells "Porntax"! >:-o ;-D


Last Related:- 

The Pentax Sex Party Continues..

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Ricoh GXR is Discontinued

After three years and some months, the GXR has completed its historical duty. News via Photo Rumors.

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FF Officially Confirmed! Latest Interview with the Head of Pentax Ricoh China at the Chinese P&E 2013

(Left: Mr. Tomoyoshi Shibata, the Managing Director and General Manager of Pentax Ricoh China (Shanghai) Company; Right: Pentax Ricoh at P&E 2013, Beijing, China.)

Read this interview, in Chinese:-

http://www.pcpop.com/doc/0/900/900149.shtml

The key points of what are told by the MD are as follows:-

1. The sales of the MX-1 has been quite good.

2. The sales of the K-01 is actually very

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More Watch from Pentax Ricoh! (Now the Q Watch!)

See: http://www.eprice.com.hk/dc/talk/1442/3660/1/ (in Chinese)

Just shortly after Ricoh Pentax has marketed their new K and GR Watches, the Q Watch is now bundled when one buys the custom colour Q10 kit set. So, now I can safely declare that Pentax Ricoh has successfully transformed into a Watch Company for what it markets and sells. Congrats! ;-p

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For Those Who Thinks the K-01 is the "Best Pentax Video Camera Ever"..

(Above: A professional setup for video shooting using the K-01, for details of the parts and accessories used, click here.)

"It is close, but not yet there"! This pro-user gave up! No matter how he had tried to make it, but in vain! >:-(

http://www.whatblogisthis.com/2012/03/so-close-yet-so-far.html

In short, the two killing major technical problems and design limitations:-

1. Focus peaking

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Yet Another Late K-5IIs Vs K-5 Comparison Review

http://info.xitek.com/pzreview/xitektest/201304/15-119843.html
(in Chinese)

The pictures and crops speak themselves. Whilst the resolution of the K-5IIs images are obvious higher, the very blueish/cold plus dark response of the sensor/camera is also easily noted. Btw, I found that the overall colour response of the original K-5 was somehow blueish already. So, now the K-5II/s is yet even more "

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Ricoh GR Size Compared to Other Cameras

Source: Flickr

Or, just compare it freely at the camerasize.com, for instance:-

Ricoh GR Vs Pentax K-01



So, we can see the big difference between the GR and the K-01, despite that both are having the same Sony sensor, in the same size of course! :-o

In fact, the K-01 is designed to be almost "gripless". So, clever Pentaxians are always much adaptive and like to DIY to tackle those

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New Q and K-5II/s Firmwares Released

The ever shortest-life Pentax firmware of the V1.11 for the Q has been substituted, here comes the V1.12:-

http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/q_s.html


Changes to V1.12

Corrected --- Tone Expansion of Smart Effect is not effect correctly in firmware version 1.11.
Improved stability for general performance.


And also a new firmware for the K-5II/s, in V1.04:-

http://www.pentax.jp/

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Pentax K and Ricoh GR Limited Watches

See the latest official Japanese Press today:-

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/announce/20130417.html

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After More Than Half a Year, DPR's Half-baked Review(s) on the K-5II and IIs are Published!

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/6059494336/review-in-progress-pentax-k-5-ii-and-k-5-ii-s

I wonder if they would complete the review(s) before that the camera(s) are discontinued! :-o

Meanwhile, it is found that the K-5II has a rather weak AA filter, whilst the K-5IIs has none, e.g.:-



(Above: Left: Image from the K-5II; Right: from K-5IIs.)

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The New GR is Coming Very Soon

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88LiM3RSVVo

Via: Mirrorless Rumors

Btw, is the reader "Mistral" same guy as the one who regularly visits here? :-)

- Same 16MP APS-C Sensor as K-5II/K-5IIs
- GR V Image Engine
- New GR 18.3mm F2.8 Lens (28mm FF equivalent), 9 Aperture Blades
- GW-3 Added-on Wide Adaptor to 21mm Ultra-wide
- Quick AF and Fast Boot-up
- ISO 25600
- Size Comparable to GR1,

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Yet Another MX-1 Full Review, with Full Size ISO Samples

http://digiphoto.techbang.com/posts/4630-pentax-mx-1-evaluation-renewal-of-classic-retro-wen-qing-is-worth-losing-it?page=2

(in Chinese, Google machine-translated page here.)

A full ISO comparison with full test samples are posted. The reviewer says that the IQ is not good enough starting from ISO800 with the significant loss of details and the appearance of more noise, which is considered

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D7100 DxOMark is Out, Scores Higher than the K-5IIs

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Nikon-D7100-review-Update-to-popular-DSLR-drops-anti-alias-filter-for-sharper-images/Comparisons



So, the D7100 scores better than the K-5IIs but the D7100 is in 24MP instead of the low 16MP count by today's standard. Besides, it does not have an AA filter in front of the sensor either.

Btw, is the D7100 gonna to be better than FF

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Disassemble a DSLR and Inspecting a Mirror-Locked MZ Body

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvFMFb9JylQ (EOS 50D)



URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3cCTv7JbrY (EOS 1000D)

The procedures are shown clearly and it is carried out in a professional manner.

Besides, there is a guide for how to check and try to repair a Pentax MZ film body that had its mirror locked up in the following thread:-

http://forum.xitek.com/

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No FA Limited Mentioned/Listed in the Latest Lens Brochure Published by Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas

First of all, download and read this well-prepared brochure from the Pentax Imaging website:-

http://c2b6d376b97bcc466063-5420c200a1f030d1394a9548df6eadbd.r5.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/support/LENS%20BROCHURE_121912_LR.pdf

Next, the FA Limited is nowhere mentioned in the above brochure, whilst the latest DA offering including the DA560 lens is there. So, what does this mean?!

Does it hint that the

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A Thread to Help Jim Malcolm of Ricoh Pentax USA

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3467089

What we can see in the thread, as quoted or posted are: Desperate Pentaxians are leaving, the ship is sinking, the salesman was bull-shitting, stupid fanboys who bought very little Pentax stuff and rather infrequently responded and defended in between the dialogues..

So, if you have an account over there, you are encouraged to post something to

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New Ricoh Lens Patents for 1/1.7" Sensors

A 135 film equivalent 24-100mm F1.8-2.8 and a 21-84mm F1.8-2.8 lenses after all.

Via http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2013-04-08

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This is What the Limited Lenses Should be Put Onto!

That is, a 135 Full Frame Body!!

Btw, my FA43LE has better Image Quality than my Canon 40mm STM pancake which is yet better than my DA40XS lens on Full Frame (of which the image corner performance is just so poor). So, this adoption is just "unavoidable"! ;-D


Related:- 

DIY: Adapting the Pentax FA*85/1.4 onto the Cantax K-5D Mark III

DA40XS Vs EF40STM on 5D3 (Full Frame Shootout Test)

Read More

Pentax Ricoh New Native US Head Interviewed

By the Digital Camera Info:-

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/features/an-interview-with-pentax-evp-jim-malcolm

Whilst most of the talks are just pure sales talks with nothing important IMHO, the most shocking saying is that he told that he had never met any Q user and talked to any of them(us)!

Also, this guy's stance to Pentax FF is rather dismissive.

This interview article is via Pentax

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New K-30 Firmware V1.04

Since the last firmware release for the K-30 (V1.03) was buggy (for instance, quite some K-30 users reported that the machine hanged up from time to time), Pentax has released a new firmware version to correct the errors:-

http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/k-30_s.html

I hope this time it will work.

On the other hand, the new Q firmware of the V1.11 was withdrawn just within one day

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Tokyo Gigapixels 360 Degrees!

http://tokyogigapixel.com.s3-website-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/

Amazing quality and details! Flash player 10 or above is required. Btw, can the Ricoh Pentax dumb bell be compared?! ;-D (Of course NOT!)

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MTF Tests for SMC Pentax 50mm Lenses in 1977

Source: Photography Directory and Buying Guide 1977 Via: Nesster @ Flickr.

Lenses Tested:-

SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.2
SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.4
SMC Pentax 55mm f/1.8
SMC Pentax Macro 50mm f/4

Well, these lenses are really excellent! The resolution performance is superior!

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Two Reasons to Sell Off a US$125k Set of Pentax Gear!?

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographic-equipment-sale/220345-sale-entire-pentax-collection-4-5mm-2000mm-125-000-a.html

"2xPentax K-5 | Pentax K-01 DFA: 100/2.8 Macro WR DA: *16-50/2.8, *50-135/2.8, *55/1.4, *60-250/4, 10-17/3.5-4.5 Fisheye FA: *250-600/5.6, *600/4, *200/4 Macro, *300/2.8, *400/5.6, *85/1.4, *24/2, *80-200/2.8, 31/1.8 EE Ltd, 43/1.9 EE Ltd A: *1200/8, *400/2.8, *135/1.8,

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Adapting Pentax K-mount Lenses to Nikon F-mount Bodies is Painful

http://www.dchome.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1189091
(FA35/2 adapted on D600, in Chinese)

The user has to replace the whole K-mount so as to fit in the lens, for the correct back focus register distance! The modification is mostly destructive btw. >:-(

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DIY: Adapting the Pentax FA*85/1.4 onto the Cantax K-5D Mark III

Since a Pentax K-mount FF has been rather pessimistic for long and even that the K-mount might be aborted, today I have decided to build my own K-mount Full Frame body myself again, to accommodate my superior and excellent FA*85/1.4 lens, which has been collecting dust for long without a matching FF body!

So, here we go!

Warning: If you follow me to do the following, do it at YOUR OWN RISK!

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Latest Interchangeable Lens Camera (ILC) Market Sharing for 6 Months (Japanese Home Market)

See what BCN reports:-

http://bcnranking.jp/news/1302/130228_24917.html
(in Japanese)



The aggregated sales trend of the top four market leaders are plotted for 6 months, namely, Canon (Orange), Nikon (Yellow), Sony (Blue) and Olympus (Green). Do note that the sales of both DSLR/reflex and mirrorless types are included and added up.

As both Canon and Nikon sell mostly reflex cameras instead

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Higher-end DSLRs Live Longer than the Cheaper Ones!

http://www.petapixel.com/2013/03/24/study-confirms-higher-end-dslrs-lose-value-more-slowly-than-cheap-ones/

Unfortunately, Pentax has no real high-end camera of any for the mass market. But on the other hand the 645D is just too "high-ended" to keep the company alive!

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Canon has Taken the Crown Away From Pentax! :-(

..for the smallest and lightest DSLR bodies ever made, wins over both the size and the weight! >:-(

Camerasize.com has updated their database to include the new Canon EOS100D/SL1, in particular, I've checked the following:-

1. 100D Vs K-x:-

http://camerasize.com/compare/#448,229

The overall size of the 100D is a bit smaller, but the weight of the 100D is 30% less!

2. 100D Vs K-01:-

http://

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DA560 Lens Review Published at PF

The ever most expensive Pentax DA lens has been reviewed in full by the PF:-

http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-da-560mm-f56-ed-aw/introduction.html

I have gone though the IQ parts of the review. From the test pictures and samples posted, I found that the resolution of the lens is low, flare control of it is so-so, CA of it could be obvious, bokeh of it is not that pleasing, i.e.,

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New Firmware for Pentax Q

http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/q_s.html

Improved contrast AF performance.
Improved stability for general performance.

Good job, Pentax! I will update mine shortly.

Update (3-29): The firmware is pulled down from the above Japanese support website without any reason given. Only the following is stated:-

We are sorry to inform you that the software version 1.11 is temporary not

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K-mount is to be Discontinued and Replaced!?

The rumours continue.. Read this Xitek post (Google translated).

Well, it is told that:-

1. The source of information is from an old classmate of the OP who is now working at Tokina in Japan;

2. There is a collaboration project in progress amongst Pentax Ricoh and Tokina (This is confirmed via the previous news posted by the PF);

3. The March 27 rumour is not true! (Yes, that poster firmly

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What Internet Contents that Could be Trusted BTW?

A Chinese idiom states that sometimes one cannot really distinguish between the truth and the fake..

An alleged boy named himself as Mike (Milan) Svitek as the poster appeared in YouTube yesterday and stated that all the recent Pentax new body and lens rumours "created" by him were all fake!



URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXPo72dpAtQ

But then here comes the questions! IF *everything*

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Where Came the Countdown?

It was originated from a blog post by the Mr. Blurry Cameraphone-man, whom posted the diagram below at his new Chinese "micro-blog" hosted at the Sina Weibo, a few days ago:-

http://weibo.com/1495193132/zob2Hz9r5

(Update: The above page has been removed.)

So, this is the significant stuff that posted:-



In short, the Japanese words above meant that at 10:00 a.m. on a x7th day (something is

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V.P. of Pentax Canada Forced Mike Svitek to Withdraw All his Posted Contents about the New Pentax DSLR!

(Glen Sealy, V.P. of Pentax Canada Imaging.)

According to what Mike Svitek told lastly, Vice President of Pentax Canada, Glen Sealy, phoned him, strongly requesting removval of all his previous posted contents about a secret Pentax DSLR body tested by him, at Google+ and Twitter.

So, now all his contents are removed but then it seems yet confirms that what Mike told are true, maybe! And do

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Pentax Australia has just Confirmed FF!!

@ https://twitter.com/PentaxAustralia/status/316151346644533248

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Something "Very Different" is Coming!

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Updated: Countdown to the Upcoming Pentax New Product Announcement!

Countdown To

UPDATE: The Counter is RESET! :-o :-(

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K-3 FF in 24MP is Being Beta-Tested?

A guy called Mike Svitek has posted and typed these in his twitter and Google+ accounts, as follows and quoted, one by one:-

https://twitter.com/svitekphotos/status/314424040804720640/photo/1

"Testing the Pentax K-3 ... ISO25600 sample blew me away!"

https://plus.google.com/109859150130478662888/posts

Read the earlier one of the two posts made on March 20th:-

"Testing out the new Pentax K-#

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Canon DSLR Diminished, Leaving Pentax and Others Behind!

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-100d-rebel-sl1/7



http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/canon-sl1/canon-sl1A.HTM



http://www.photoreview.com.au/reviews/dslr-cameras/entry-level/first-look-canon-eos-100d

Via: 1001 Noisy Cameras.

So, Canon has made my old dream comes true but not Pentax, nor anyone else neither. I might buy that EOS100D btw, it's a little funny *reflex* camera

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"Sunsetting" of the Google Reader!

http://googlereader.blogspot.com/2013/03/powering-down-google-reader.html

The Google Reader is dying! It's really Too Bad! I have been using this for years now, any suggestion for a replacement? :-(

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Copyright Reiteration

I have been noticing that particular people who follow my Blog have been consistently cloning my post contents of the latest and re-posting these, which are actually originated from my Blog, at other Internet places as if they found the contents themselves, *without citing* the original source of the contents, i.e., my Blog! I have commonly seen this happened at the two major Pentax forums from

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Yet Another Recent Rumour from Japan: K-3/3s April, 645DII June

Read this:-

http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/K0000416049/SortID=15794099/
(in Japanese)

This rumour is actually a few weeks earlier than what Photo Rumors told us about five new Pentax/Ricoh cameras are to come just on the day before. The Japanese OP seems to know something. Btw, it is said that the K-3/3s is an APS-C body with 24MP pixel count, just! >:-|

Edit: Thanks to "phoenix15" for his/her

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Last Clearance - Instant Rebate for Lenses with the Purchase of 645D and K-5IIs

See the latest offers here, in US only:-

http://pentaximaging.com/special-offers/

And this is the downloadable claim form:-

http://c758710.r10.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/rebates/1363016044_PENTAX_K5IIsLENS_645DLENS_REWARDS_2013_022613_V2_HR.pdf

So, it seems that Pentax is trying to clean up the last stocks of the 645D and K-5IIs at this moment and that promotion of those FA Limited full frame

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Rumour: Pentax Ricoh to Announce Five New Cameras Shortly

See what PR has just reported:-

http://photorumors.com/2013/03/10/pentax-rumored-to-announce-several-new-dslrs-and-a-new-compact-aps-c-camera/

The source of information is not mentioned, though. But I believe that the PR should have some insider channel for what they said, as before (and that it was proven for times that they were right, although not always). And yes, PR (Photo Rumors)

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The "Brick Pentaxian" Switched to Canon for Super Tele-photography

The brick owner of the Pentax K-01 and some other Pentax gear, decided and got a Canon 7D and an "outdated" Canon 400/5.6L USM lens to do the job:-

http://steevemarcoux2.com/2013/03/08/from-pentax-to-canon-7d-400mm5-6-l-for-wildlife/

Nice photo, btw!


Read Also:- 

The Pentax Big Guns for Birding!

Read More

New K-5II/IIs Firmware V1.03

http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/k-5_2_s.html

Changes to V1.03

Improved the accuracy of exposure when using AA batteries.
Improved stability for general performance.

Read More

Online Sensor Size Comparison Tool for Different Cameras

@ http://cameraimagesensor.com/size/

For instance, this is what I have just compared:-



http://cameraimagesensor.com/size/#188,167,137,231,190,75,83,133,11,135,a

Enjoy!


Old Related:-

Sensor Sizes Re-visited, including the Latest Rumoured Nikon and Fuji Mirrorlesses

Virtually Compare the Sizes of Different Cameras

Read More

MX-1 DxOMarked

Just see what happens for what it is compared against the Olympus XZ-2 and the Q10:-

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/(appareil1)/854|0/(brand)/Pentax/(appareil2)/841|0/(brand2)/Olympus/(appareil3)/828|0/(brand3)/Pentax

Well, it tells that the XZ-2 and the MX-1 are actually the same camera inside, as most of the marks are just so close

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So Boring in the Pentaxland Recently, What is/are Coming?! >:-(

Feel free to reply in "Comments" for anything you know or want! :-o

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New Full MX-1 Review at the Pentax Forums

http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-mx-1-review/introduction.html

Fairly detailed.

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Ricoh Files Patent for Their Dumb Bell Camera

http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2013-02-13
(in Japanese)


Related:- 

Pentax Dumb Bell Camera is Now a Ricoh

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The Pentax Big Guns for Birding!

Above: From Top to Bottom: DA560, FA250-600, Sigma DC500, FA400.

There is also a A600 as well (the lower one):-



From these PFC posts (in Traditional Chinese):-

http://forum.pentaxfans.net/thread-134670-1-1.html

http://forum.pentaxfans.net/thread-134602-1-1.html


Who said Pentax is not for Birding after all?! ;-)

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Unleash the Local Language Menu of a Locked K-01 Version

http://forum.pentaxfans.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=135078
(in Traditional Chinese)

For those special versions that sold in particular countries/regions, e.g. in Japan, the K-01 has only Japanese and English selectable as the user menu language. Someone in Taiwan has discovered that the local language menu can actually be unlocked and unleashed simply via the Debug mode.

What to do is to

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Some Recent Pentax Reviews and How Would the MX-1 Look Like Over Time?

1. A K-5II Vs K-5IIs IQ Comparison at DCI

Via 1001 Noisy Cameras

2. A MX-1 Full Review at PB (with ISO comparison) and other Samples (by others) Here and Here.

Via 1001 Noisy Cameras

3. Speaking of the MX-1, someone has tried to do a time catalysis to his Pentax bronze DC to see how it will look like some time later, as inspired by that recent Pentax marketing statement about the MX-1! :-o

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Will There Be a K-02? (Poll)

Above is an imagined/PSed diagram by someone for a K-02, with the new short back focus 18-70 kit lens. The PS job was either done by someone who had nothing better to do or officially! ;-D To compare the original K-01 diagram, click here.

So, here is the poll:-



Do You Think That There Will Be a K-02?
Yes!
No.

  

pollcode.com free polls 



Related:-

K-01 is Discontinued

Is K-01 the

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New Firmwares for K-01 and K-30 (V1.03)

http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/k-01_s.html
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/k-30_s.html

"Corrected – When recording Movies, contrast AF does not work for some lenses in firmware version 1.02."

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A Latest K-01 *User* Review - One Year with the Brick!

http://steevemarcoux2.com/2013/02/17/pentax-k-01-one-year-with-the-brick/

So, the K-01 is not that bad at all. I especially like its extraordinary ability to stand vertically without the need of a tripod! Brick has its real advantage! ;-D

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K-01 is Discontinued

http://www.pentax.jp/english/products/others.html


Related:-

Gun Cameras, Camera Gun! (And Please Continue the K-0x Line, Pentax Ricoh!)

The Half-Baked K-mount Mirrorless! >:-(

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Pentax K-5+DA15 Vs Sigma DP1X Head-to-head Field Comparisons (Full Size Images)

The Bayer Vs X3 Fight begins! @ the Xitek Forum Post Here (in Simplified Chinese).

Set 1: Pentax Sigma (Click to Enlarge; Warning: Original Files in Large Size!)

Set 2: Pentax Sigma

Set 3: Pentax Sigma

Set 4: Pentax Sigma 1 Sigma 2

After all, the pixel sharpness of the DP1X pictures is impressive. And I do somehow prefer the colour rendition of the Sigma, too, which looks more natural for

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The DA560 is Not Completely Full Frame Compatible

See the latest test by the PF with a roll of film for the $7,000 DA560 lens put onto a MZ-S:-

http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/da-560mm-f56-is-it-a-full-frame-lens.html

The test pictures speak for themselves, there is heavy vignetting at corners at f/5.6. It should be noted that the hood was not extended for these shots. The darker corners can still be seen at f/8, i.e., one stop from wide

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MX-1 Now Made in Indonesia, An Unboxing and Quick ISO Test/Comparison

The box and package is in the same style and uses the same material as the WG series of digital cameras of Pentax.

Source: http://forum.pentaxfans.net/thread-134470-1-1.html (in Traditional Chinese)


MX-1, the first "Pentax" camera that ever made in Indonesia.


The lens is what we can find in Olympus XZ series of DCs, for exactly the same specification and outlook. Btw, I don't think it

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Pentax Dumb Bell Camera is Now a Ricoh

Read this latest DPR news and we can learn that the Pentax dumb bell concept camera that was first display in the Photokina has now become a Ricoh.

Do note that in the YouTube demonstration video by the Digiinfo.tv, the guy who carried out the demo wore a Pentax uniform, but not a Ricoh. So, should this cam a Pentax product, or not? :-)

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Full Review: K-5 Wi-Fi, Q Wi-Fi and EOS 5D6! ;-)

(Above: My New 5D6!~)

Background

I bought this and all my current cameras have now suddenly become Wi-Fi capable! :-D



So, my Pentax Q is now the Pentax Q Wi-Fi, my K-5 is now the K-5 Wi-Fi and my 5D3 is the 5D6 now, which is actually a 5D3 with some of the Wi-Fi features of the 6D two in one!~

Basic Operation

This card has two transfer/connection modes, the first is that the card acts as

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DA560/5.6 First User Samples (14 Nos.)

http://kakaku.com/item/K0000416085/picture/#tab
(in Japanese)

All of them are bird shots. Btw, the lens is now on sales at the B&H, for a price of $7,000!


View Also:- 

AF Performance and Accuracy Verified for the New K-5 Firmware! ;-D

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PF Pushes Rumours about Pentax FF at the CP+

First saw this the day before: http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/tokina-confirms-pentax-full-frame-under-development.html

And then this today: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/214117-pentax-confirms-full-frame-cp-inteview-pentax-forums.html

As PF is close to the official Pentax second to nothing (they should be even closer to Pentax than DPR by now), their promulgated

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AF Performance and Accuracy Verified for the New K-5 Firmware! ;-D

At the Field! :-D (@ the Hong Kong Wetland Park.)

















All the photos were taken with my K-5 with my F*300/4.5 lens mounted. The firmware programmed in body is the latest version of 1.14. Phase-matching AF was used mostly for nearly all the shots I took:-



What I subjectively felt was that the AF is somehow faster but I did not find any significant improvement in accuracy, which is

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New Firmwares for K-5II/s, K-30, K-01, K-5 and K-r

The new firmware is available for download in the following page:-

http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/download_digital.html

And the changes for the new firmware are as follows:-
Optimized contrast AF when using [HD PENTAX-DA 560mmF5.6ED AW]　lens.
Improved stability for general performance. 

Update (2-1) : I have roughly tested the LV AF of my K-5 after updated to the latest firmware and it

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New Product Photos of the AF360FGZII Flash and the Q Body Cap Pinhole Lens

Via: http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/announce/20130130.html
(in Japanese)

Note that the body cap pinhole lens is NOT a REAL Pinhole lens as there is glass/optics inside the hole! It is because owing to the really small-sized sensor of the Q, it is not possible to make a small enough hole to produce a sharp enough image but at the same time to observe the diffraction limit before everything is

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WG-10, WG-III / GPS are Coming

See what Photo Rumors reports:-

http://photorumors.com/2013/01/28/full-list-of-new-cameralenses-to-be-announced-at-the-cp-show-this-week/



Update (1-31): The new WG-IIIs and WG-10 have been officially announced:-

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/2013/20130130_1.html

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/2013/20130130_2.html
(Both in Japanese)

There are four colours in total for the WG-IIIs, two

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6D Vs 5D3 ISO Test, 100 to 12800, Outdoor Scene

(Modelling photos taken with my Pentax Q.)

So, measurbation party again! Click on the following album and measurbate endlessly picture by picture, one by one by your oneself! ;-D


http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v313/RiceHigh/5Ds/6D_Vs_5D3_ISO/

Test Conditions:-

1. Camera mounted on a sturdy tripod (a giant Gitzo) and shutter was triggered via the original Canon remote cable switch;

2.

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D5200 Took the Crown of the Benchmark King from the K-5s

See the news: http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Nikon-D5200-New-sensor-and-new-leader

Now, the D5200 is the new King of APS-C in the DxO BenchMark ranking!

And the comparison of the D5200 against the K-5IIs:-

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/850|0/%28brand%29/Nikon/%28appareil2%29/830|0/%

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More Recent Pentax Samples (K-5IIs, K-5II and MX-1)

All via the 1001 Noisy Cameras:-

K-5IIs full samples here and DA18-270 samples here, by the ePhotozine.

K-5IIs Vs K-5II image comparisons of the same scenes, by WDC of UK.

Pentax MX-1 first samples (RAW) at Quesabesde with quick hands-on.

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First "Ricoh MX-1" Hands-on Report and Samples

By fengwei/frank (who is a die-hard Chinese Pentaxian located at Singapore):-

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/pentax-ricoh/1209242-pentax-mx-1-handson-review.html

Quick samples and with particular crops are posted in thread via consecutive posts here and here. Do note that it is stated that the camera is a pre-production unit as provided, though.

Similar to the K-01 and the Pentax Q, I can

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K-5 SR Super Demo (YouTube Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XiPmR5SFQI

OMG! :-o

Speaking of the K-5 family, here is also a latest ISO test for the K-5IIs against the Fuji XE-1:-

http://www.neocamera.com/camera/fuji/xe1/samples/indoor

It seems the results of the IIs is good enough and it wins hands down the Fuji.


View Also:-

K-5 Mirror "Jumpy" Videos Galaxy

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Evangelion (EVA) Q10 Versions

Via: http://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/used/2013/01/pentax-q10-1.html
(in Japanese)

N.B. EVA stands for Neon Genesis EVAngelion, a Japanese popular science fiction cartoon series back to 1995.

Update (1-31): More official information about these special versions of the Q10 can be found at the Japanese EVA online store link below:-

http://www.evastore.jp/pc/index.php?toid=PC_ARTICLE&fromid=

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Luxury 50mm Lens Fight: EF 50/1.2L Vs CZ 50/1.4ZE on 5D3

(Modelling photos taken with my Pentax Q. Who said that such a tiny sensor doesn't give a "shallow" DoF? ;-p But it may still be not enough after all~)

Well, there is not much new Pentax gear that interested me for the time being and I have "nothing better to do" with my current Pentax gear. So, I decided to continue my measurbation dream to the Canonland. So, I did the following and here we go

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"New" Lens Roadmaps Have Nothing New to Tell! :-(

Pentax has "updated" and published their "new" lens roadmaps as at January 2013 at their official facebook page.

First of all, let's look at that "latest" K-mount roadmap:-



But if you compare the last one that was published back to February 2012, actually we could find nothing new, except those lenses announced in Photokina last year are now included:-



Actually, the same applies for the Q

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New Ricoh's APS-C Lens Patents: 23mm F2.5 and 27mm F1.9

(27mm F1.9 APS-C lens, 40mm 135 equivalent FoV.)

(23mm F2.5 APS-C lens, 35mm 135 equivalent FoV.)

Via: http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2013-01-11 (in Japanese)

It seems that the development of APS-C and FF will be carried out in parallel by Ricoh, then.


Last Related:- 

New Pentax Lens Patent Published: 70-200mm F2.8 Full Frame Lens!

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New K-5II/s Firmware and New Pentax DC

New Firmware for K-5II/s: http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/k-5_2_s.html

Changes to V1.01

Enabled contrast adjustment on Monitor.
(Added [contrast ]on [LCD setting ]menu)
Improved stability for general performance.

And the new Pentax "Efina": http://www.pentax.jp/english/news/2013/20130117.html

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MX-1 Quick Hands-on and other Gear TidBits

Read what the Phoblographer found in the secret room of Pentax at the CES:-

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/01/09/first-impressions-pentax-mx-1/

Here were their first impressions and quick conclusion:-

"Overall, I walked away from the Pentax MX-1 a bit disappointed. When I saw the camera, I had hoped for more because of all the hype already surrounding it. But something about it just

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Yet Another Pentax Lens Arsenal!

Well, the classic luxury FA* lenses could be used as the legs of a table for playing Chinese Mah-jong! :-o

Via Chinese Xitek Forum Here.

And then here is the White Pentax lens collection of that Pentax user/collector, who is in Taiwan:-



And then maybe most of his Pentax glass:-



Via Xitek Forum Here.

Now, I am knowing that I am really "not a Pentax user", in comparison with him! :-(

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Yet Another Online Index to Pentax Gear Samples (Listed by Bodies and Lenses)

http://www.pixel-peeper.com/cameras/pentax/

And below are the other similar links that were previously reported:-

A Japanese Pentax User Site with Much Samples

Pentax Picture Samples (Full Sized, Japanese Link)

Pentax Lens Samples Galaxy @ Flick(river)

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Excellent Page about Early Pentax Lenses and Designs

http://taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_e.html
(in English.)

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4 Million Visits to My Blog!

Oh, really? ;-D

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DC Watch CES Live Report - Pentax: New Look of the AF360FGZ II

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20130109_581023.html
(in Japanese)

It seems to be a mock up, though. Look at the back LCD panel, there is nothing inside!

Btw, there are some other photos of the MX-1, for a real product.

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MX-1 Samples, Official in Small Size

See: http://www.pentaximaging.com/digital-camera/MX-1_Silver

They are directly linked as follows:-



N.B. Click to Enlarge. Those samples are converted to PNG format and of course there is no EXIF. Btw, I think they look good enough to my eyes although they are small.

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Pentax Offers 100 Colours of the Q10 for the US Market

Further to what has been offered in the Japanese home market for the Q10, now custom ordering is also available for the customers in the US market. See what Engadget reports:-

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/pentax-offers-100-different-custom-color-options-for-its-q10-ilc/

As for the Q10, last time I tried, it feels too plasticky than my like, especially when it is compared to the original

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Are You Interested to Acquire the MX-1?

At the weight of nearly 400g (loaded and ready) and at the price of (US)$500, would you consider to get one?


Do you intend to get the MX-1?
Yes.
No.
Unsure.
  
pollcode.com free polls 

Read More

"New" AF360FGZ II Flash is Coming (And K-01 is Not Yet Dead!)

See the official Press Release here - what are displayed in the CES is also told.

Future Product Concept

AF 360 FGZ II: Scheduled for a 2013 launch this automatic, external, clip-on flash has a maximum guide number of 36 (at ISO 100) with bounce flash functionality adjustable both vertically and horizontally.


So, it is just a 360 flash with a swivel head now, most probably. What a

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Why Use a Pentax Camera?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NnfBtxPvHY

The true answer is at after 1:00! :-D

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Pentax MX-1

The MX-1 is announced over the DPR, but the same news cannot yet be found at the Pentax Japanese homepage. It is not a DSLR, nor it is an ILDC. It is just a DC, or you may call it an advanced compact if you want.

For more details, please go read DPR's quick hands-on preview.

Btw, I don't like Pentax Ricoh to use the MX' name so causally just for a compact. I think at least they should create

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The Unbalanced Q - Part 2.5: Photo Samples

Here are some quick samples taken by the "560mm" lens Q-K combo that I posted for the last time:-



All the above photos were taken handheld, at ISO 320, lens set at f/4 using the aperture ring, which my DFA lens has one but not the latest version, with the in-body SR on (correct focal length input as 100mm at startup). I have done some minor retouch to the above photos, including light up the

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Chipworks Reviews Full Frame Sensors and Predicts Trend

Look at this series of articles by Chipworks:-

Full Frame DSLR Cameras Part I – Nikon vs Sony

Full Frame DSLR Cameras Part II – Canon stays the course

Full Frame DSLR Cameras Part III – New entrants and look forward


Last Related:- 

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

Twelve Years of 135 Full Frame Digital Cameras (Timeline 2012->2000)

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20 Top Selling Mirrorless and DSLR Cameras in Japan in 2012

http://bcnranking.jp/news/1212/121228_24511.html
(in Japanese)

As for the mirrorless, the top 20 models equal to 91.1% share of the total market in 2012. The Pentax Q is ranked at No. 8 while the K-01 is just at No. 20. The total Pentax brand share is 7.1%.

As for the reflex, the top 20 models equal to 95.4% share of the
total market in 2012. The K-30 is the best selling Pentax model, followed

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The Unbalanced Q - Part 2 (with a K-mount Lens)

(Above: Pentax Q with DFA 100/2.8)

The Q is so unbalanced, when a K-mount lens is mounted. The above is an 135 equivalent 560mm F2.8 Super Tele Macro lens which has a highest effective magnification of 5.6:1, i.e., in 5.6X! Wow, what a Super Fast Super Telephoto and Macro lenses two-in-one it is!

As for that hot-shoe mount Optical Viewfinder as shown also, it is a cheap Chinese made one with

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