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/

Read More

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?

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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://

Read More

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

Read More

Pentax UK Summer Rebate

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


Related:-

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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/

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More