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The new Ricoh GR IIIx large-sensor compact camera has a 40mm F2.8 equivalent lens and an updated GR Engine 6 image processor.
Other than those two changes, the GR IIIx is otherwise identical to the GR III, which has a wider-angle 28mm lens.
There are also a number of new accessories to go with the the GRIIIx, including a tele conversion lens and external optical viewfinder.
No, this isn't an April Fool's joke - Pentax really have just announced a new flagship DSLR camera with an APS-C sensor that will cost a whopping £1,899.99 in the UK and $1,999.99 in the US.
In a world where everyone is scrambling to conquer the growing mirrorless market, new DSLR cameras are rarer than hen's teeth, so it's either great or surprising to see Pentax sticking to their DSLR guns, depending on whether you are a fan of either the brand or the technology.
You certainly can't deny that Pentax have pulled out all the stops to at least make the range-topping K-3 Mark III an interesting camera. For starters, it has a mightily impressive optical viewfinder with an almost 100% field of view and massive 1.05x magnification.
It also uses a new 25 megapixel BSI sensor and PRIME V image processor that are capable of pushing the ISO range all the way up to ISO 1,600,000, along with a new SAFOX 13 autofocus system with 101 AF points, in-body Shake Reduction (IBIS) worth 5.5 f-stops and burst shooting of up to 12 frames per second. There's even 4K video recording...
We can't help feel that Pentax have ignored the memo about the near-future of DSLR cameras - the one clearly marked "Extinct" - and have ploughed on with the development of the K3 III regardless of whether anyone will actually buy it. After all, nearly £$2000 will buy you a lot of mirrorless camera - almost the excellent Canon EOS R6 with its full-frame sensor, for example, or you could save a lot of cash and go for the outstanding Fujifilm X-T4 APS-C camera.
Pentax have today announced a new-generation Star series lens, the HD PENTAX-D FA★85mmF1.4ED SDM AW.
This large-aperture, medium telephoto lens is the second prime lens in the new-generation PENTAX Star (★) series line up. Designed for use with K-mount DSLRs, these lenses boast the highest imaging performance out of all the Pentax lenses.
The HD PENTAX-D FA 85mm F1.4ED SDM AW will be available on 26th June 2020 priced at £1,999.99.
Ricoh are developing a new flagship Pentax branded APS-C DSLR camera, due to be released in 2020. The product name, release date and price are still to be announced.
The Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 FF is an ultra-fast standard prime lens for full-frame DSLR cameras. The weather-sealed Opera 50mm F1.4 lens features 15 optical elements in 9 groups and an ultrasonic focusing system which provides quiet, smooth and fast autofocusing. Priced at £879 / $949, read our in-depth Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 FF now...
The Canon EOS 250D / Rebel SL3 is a new entry-level DSLR aimed at people buying their first interchangeable lens camera. It improves on the previous EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 model principally by implementing 4K video recording, a better live view mode, more sophisticated auto-focusing, and longer battery life. Is this the best interchangeable lens camera for beginners? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon EOS 250D review...
The Pentax K-1 Mark II is a modest upgrade of the 18-month-old K-1 35mm full-frame DSLR camera, principally adding just three new features. Are they enough to warrant upgrading and do they keep the Mark II competitive? Find out by reading our Pentax K-1 Mark II review...
Sigma has launched the new 105mm F1.4 Art and 70mm F2.8 Macro Art lenses, as well as announcing that 9 of its Art lenses will be made available for Sony E-mount full-frame cameras.
Sigma's new Sony E-mount lenses will feature a newly developed control algorithm that optimizes the autofocus drive and maximizes the data transmission speed. In addition, these lenses will be compatible with Sony’s continuous autofocus (AF-C) and high-speed autofocus, which are not supported by the current Sigma Mount Converter MC-11.
The brand new Sigma 105mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is the ninth lens in the Sigma F1.4 lineup. Designed for full-frame cameras and incorporating 17 optical elements in 12 groups, this lens offers minimal optical aberration and delivers incredible resolution and stunning contrast with a beautiful bokeh effect.
The brand new Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO Art is the first Macro lens in the Art range, delivering stunning resolution and incredible clarity, while at the same time offering extremely smooth autofocus performance for a weightier, high-performance lens.
Reflex is the first newly designed manual 35mm SLR camera released in over 25 years.
The Reflex Kickstarter campaign launches on 7 November 2017 and runs through to 7 December 2017. Reflex will be available to early bird backers for the price of £350, before moving to the standard Kickstarter price of £399. Backers will receive their Reflex camera in August 2018 and, shortly after, the product will go on sale to the mass market.
The new EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 is Canon's smallest and lightest DSLR camera. Aimed mainly at beginners, the EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 is also an attractive proposition for experienced photographers looking for a more compact body. Find out if it can satisfy both by reading our Canon EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 review...
Ricoh have just announced the shock- and waterproof Ricoh WG-50 digital compact camera. Developed as a standard-class waterproof digital compact camera, the WG-50 is waterproof to a depth of 14 metres, shockproof against falls from a height of 1.6 metres, and freeze-proof to temperatures as low as -10°C. It also provides a range of features to facilitate all types of still-image and movie shooting, including approximately 16 effective megapixels and Full HD movie recording capability. The camera also comes equipped with an outdoor friendly LCD screen whose brightness can be instantly adjusted to the lighting levels in a particular shooting situation. Ideally positioned around the circumference of the lens barrel for macro shooting, six LED Macro Lights allow the WG-50 to provide bright, uniform illumination on a subject when the Digital Microscope mode is selected. Available in black and orange colourways from the end of June, The Ricoh WG-50 carries a recommended retail price of £249.99.
The new Canon EOS 77D DSLR slots in between the cheaper EOS 800D and more expensive EOS 80D, attempting to blend together the best of both cameras. Find out if it succeeds by reading our expert Canon EOS 77D digital SLR review...
The Pentax KP is a new prosumer DSLR camera that inherits a lot of pro-level features from the flagship K-1 camera. The 24 megapixel KP is fully weatherproof, offers a tilting LCD screen, 5-axis image stabilisation, 7fps continuous shooting, a 27-point AF system, an optical viewfinder with nearly 100% frame coverage and a staggering ISO range of 100-819,200. Read the World's first in-depth Pentax KP review now...
The Pentax K-70 is a new mid-range DSLR camera that inherits a lot of pro-level features. The 24 megapixel K-70 is fully weatherproof, as is the 18-135mm kit zoom lens, and it also offers a vari-angle LCD screen, 6fps continuous shooting, an 11-point Hybrid AF system, an optical viewfinder with nearly 100% frame coverage and an ISO range of 100-102400. Read the World's first in-depth Pentax K-70 review now...
Ricoh have released "THETA+ Video" for Android, an Android version of the THETA + Video app for editing video captured with the Ricoh THETA 360° camera. This application makes it easy to edit and process 360° video captured with the Ricoh THETA S and RICOH THETA m15 and enables actions such as trimming, switching the view, changing colour tone, and inserting background music. Video can be cropped to the preferred angle then posted and shared on social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook. The "THETA+ Video" app is available as a free download from the Google Play Store.
The Pentax K-70 is a new all-weather digital SLR camera featuring a hinged LCD screen, Hybrid AF system, a top sensitivity setting of ISO 102,400 and a 24.24-megapixel CMOS sensor with no anti-aliasing filter. Other highlights include include a newly designed grip, redesigned mode dial and control buttons on the camera’s top and rear panels to ensure exceptional handling and operation. The Pentax K-70 even provides a range of advanced features, equivalent to those available on premium models, including the PENTAX-developed Pixel Shift Resolution System; an innovative AA (anti-aliasing) filter simulator with the same moiré reduction effect as an optical AA filter; an optical viewfinder with nearly 100 percent field of view; and a built-in shake reduction mechanism with a shake reduction effect equivalent to approximately 4.5 stops. The body-only price is £559.99, while the Pentax K-70 + 18-135mm lens bundle can be yours for £799.99.The launch date will be announced at the beginning of July.
The new Canon EOS 80D DSLR camera refines the innovative Dual-Pixel CMOS AF system of its predecessor whilst upgrading the processor, sensor, auto-focusing and metering systems. Read our in-depth Canon EOS 80D review to find out if it can still compete in 2016...
The new K-1 is the long-awaited full-frame DSLR camera from Pentax, based around a 36.4 megapixel CMOS sensor. Is this the best ever Pentax DSLR? Read our in-depth Pentax K-1 review to find out...
Sigma Corporation of America today announced two special Mother’s Day promotions. From now until 10 May 2016, the 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM | Contemporary lens (pictured) will include an instant rebate of $80 off its original Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $579 as well as a free USB dock, a $50 value and a Sigma macro close-up lens, a $55 value for a total saving of $185. Also offered during the same time period, the 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary lens will include a free USB dock.
Sigma Corporation of America has announced the immediate availability of its new Global Vision MC-11 Lens Mount Converter. Retailing for an MSRP of $249, the new MC-11 gives Sony E-mount camera users access to 15 high-performance Sigma Canon Mount (EF) and Sigma Mount (SA) Global Vision lenses. The converter features an internal control data system that automatically optimizes performance of AF drive, aperture control and other critical lens functions such as brightness and correct transverse chromatic aberration, distortion and more. The integrated flocking helps prevent internal reflections and reduction in lens performance, whilst the built-in MC-11 LED display lets users know if the attached Sigma lens is compatible and if it needs to be updated. The Sigma lens can be updated from a workstation or laptop using the Sigma Optimization Pro software and Sigma USB Dock.
The Polaroid SelfieDisc IR remote shutter control accessory for SLR cameras allows photographers to remotely snap a photo as well as start and stop video recordings. The compact button design attaches to the front of most Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony SLR cameras and offers extended remote shutter control via the Polaroid SelfieDisc Android/iOS app. Available as a free download, the app photographers control over their camera’s timer and shutter delay, allowing them to manage time-lapse and stop-motion animation photoshoots via a smartphone or tablet. The Polaroid SelfieDisc is now available from Amazon for $29.99.
Ricoh have announced their second annual developers contest. The competition is looking for new apps and gadgets that utilise the Ricoh Theta camera, which takes 360°, fully spherical images or videos in one capture. Winners of the contest will receive a trip to Tokyo, Japan, for the awards ceremony and the first prize winner will be awarded a cash prize of one million yen. Applicants have until 31st August 2016 to submit their final app and gadget designs.
Sigma Corporation of America has announced a special $80 instant rebate on its Sigma Global Vision18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary lens. Available for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma and Sony camera mounts, the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 is designed for APS-C cameras and features an enhanced optical stabiliser, an optimised hyper-sonic AF motor, four FLD elements and a 1:3 macro ratio. In addition to the rebate, Sigma is packaging in, at no additional cost, its Sigma AM72-01 close-up lens, a $55 value. Designed exclusively for the 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 lens, the Sigma close-up converter offers a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2. The instant rebate and close-up lens bundle is available now.
Sigma has announced its presence at the 2016 Wedding and Portrait Photographers International Conference (WPPI) in Las Vegas, NV from 7-9 March 2016. Sigma will showcase its brand new products including the 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM Art lens (pictured), the MC-11 mount converter and the 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens; as well as feature a lineup of Sigma Pro speakers in its theatre at booth 521. Attendees who visit the Sigma booth will have multiple chances to win Sigma lenses each day by simply scanning their badge or participating in the new Sigma Social Studio.
The HD PENTAX-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6ED DC WR is a compact, lightweight standard zoom lens for PENTAX K-mount digital SLR cameras. This new compact, lightweight standard zoom lens provides a focal-length range from wide angle to medium telephoto.
The HD PENTAX-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6ED DC WR lens will retail for £499.99 and will be available from the end of April 2016.
In the US the HD PENTAX-D FA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6ED DC WR lenswill be available in April 2016 at www.ricohimaging.com and retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $499.99.
Ricoh and Spinnable have entered into a strategic alliance. Spinnable, an immersive technology company for 360 social sharing, and the Ricoh Theta S (pictured) make it easy for anyone to create and share content in full 360 degrees, capturing what is going on all around them, not just what is in front of them. Spinnable users can use the Ricoh Theta S to capture and then directly upload images to the Spinnable app, which is currently available for iOS, and will soon be available for Android devices. Once in the app, the media can be moved with the swipe of a finger, or by panning, using the phone's gyroscope. The Ricoh Theta S camera can also be purchased through the app.
Ricoh have reconfirmed the launch date of their first Pentax branded DSLR. According to the company, the much-awaited camera is "coming up in spring 2016." Ricoh have updated their teaser website, and released a new product image (reprinted above) as well as a press release enumerating the most important milestones in the history of Pentax SLRs but providing no information on the specifications of the new model.
Sigma Corporation of America has announced its Black Friday deals on five of the company’s most popular lenses. During the promotion, which starts today and ends on Cyber Monday, the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens is available for $849 instead of $949. The Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM can be yours for $299 (originally $549), the 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM now sells for $419 (instead of $669), the 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM can be had for $1,149 (originally $1,399), and the Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM is being offered for $669 (regular price: $969).
Ricoh Imaging Americas has announced the Medium Format by PENTAX Advantage Programme for the Pentax 645Z medium-format digital camera system. Designed to provide professional photographers with continuous access to gear in the event of a camera system failure, the programme provides three years of extended service and support from date of purchase plus loaner camera bodies and lenses, and a dedicated toll-free support number. The Medium Format by Pentax Advantage Programme packages can be purchased now at authorised Pentax dealers for $849.95 (Pentax Advantage Gold Service) and (Pentax Advantage Platinum Service).
Ricoh has announced the Ricoh WG-40 and WG-40W waterproof compact cameras. Both models are designed to be waterproof to a depth of 14 meters, shockproof against falls from a height of 1.6 meters, and freeze-proof to temperatures as low as -10°C. They also provide a range of features to facilitate all types of still-image and movie shooting, including approximately 16.0 effective megapixels and Full HD movie recording capability. In addition to these features, the Ricoh WG-40W comes equipped with a host of Wi-Fi functions. A smartphone can be used to release the camera's shutter and set various functions from a distance, browse and download recorded images, and upload them to social networks and other websites. Do note that the Ricoh WG-40 and WG-40W will be marketed in Japan only.
The HD Pentax D-FA 24-70mm f/2.8ED SDM WR is a full-frame standard zoom for Pentax K-mount SLR cameras. Designed with Ricoh's new 35mm full-frame DSLR (currently under development) in mind, this zoom lens is constructed of 17 elements in 12 groups, including 3 ED glass elements and 4 aspherical lens elements. The built-in SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) provides a quiet, high-speed autofocus operation. The lens comes equipped with the Pentax-developed Quick-Shift Focus system, which allows the user to instantly switch to manual focusing as needed. The HD Pentax D-FA 24-70mm f/2.8ED SDM WR features a weather-resistant construction with special seals to effectively prevent water reaching the inside of the lens (despite having an extending zoom mechanism). The lens will be available from late October for £1149.99/$1,299.99.
The Canon EOS 760D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T6s in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts 24 megapixels, top panel LCD and rear panel control wheel, a 19-point autofocus system, Wi-Fi connectivity with NFC pairing and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 760D / T6s include burst shooting at 5fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's latest Digic 6 processor. Is the Canon EOS 760D / T6i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
Sigma has revealed the suggested retail price and launch date of the full-frame Sigma 24-35mm F2 DG HSM Art lens. Featuring a constant maximum aperture of f/2, the Sigma 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM Art lens has 18 elements in 13 groups and an iris diaphragm with 9 rounded blades. The lens incorporates large-diameter aspherical lens elements, which require advanced technologies to manufacture; one FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass and seven SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements, of which two are aspherical lenses. With a minimum focusing distance of 28cm and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.4, this lens is suitable for close-up shooting, environmental portraits with an attractive bokeh and deep-focus landscape photography. The Sigma 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM Art lens will become available in late July for £949.99 / $999.00. (In the UK, this launch date is valid for Sigma- and Canon-mount versions of the lens only. The availability of the Nikon variant has yet to be communicated.)
The new Pentax K-3 II DSLR camera builds on the success of the excellent K-3 model with a number of key improvements. Is this the best ever Pentax DSLR? Read our in-depth Pentax K-3 II review to find out...
Sigma Corporation of America today announced the pricing and availability of the Sigma dp0 Quattro large-sensor compact camera. The dp0 Quattro incorporates a fixed 14mm f/4 lens, which is equivalent to a 21mm lens on a 35mm camera; and features four “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass elements, two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements, and two aspheric lenses. The image sensor is a three-layered, panchromatic Foveon chip with green-sensitive middle and red-sensitive bottom layers each having 4.9 megapixels, plus a top layer that captures 19.6 megapixels of blue-channel chrominance and resolution/luminance information for the red and green channels. The Sigma dp0 Quattro camera will be available in the United States in late July for the street price of $999. (The UK RRP was already announced back in May.)
Ricoh have announced their summer cashback offers. Running from 21st May – 1st August, the promotion enables consumers to receive £75/€100 cashback on the Pentax K-3, and £40/€50 on the Pentax K-S2 and K-50. For further information on the promotion, visit the website below.
The Pentax K-S2 is a new, very capable entry-level DSLR camera. The weather-proof K-S2 offers 20 megapixels, a variable-angle LCD monitor, an 11-point AF system, 3-inch LCD screen, an optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage, wireless LAN and NFC functionality, and an ISO range of 100-51200, all for £550 / $700 body only. Read our in-depth Pentax K-S2 review now...
Lensbaby today announced the Velvet 56, a new 56mm lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2 and maximum aperture of f/1.6. According to the company this lens "delivers a velvety, glowing, ethereal look at brighter apertures, and beautifully sharp but subtly unique images as you stop down." Velvet 56 enables photographers to move seamlessly from shooting an environmental portrait to capturing details in a subject's clothing or jewelry. Nature and macro photographers will also find it highly usable thanks to its excellent close-up capabilities. Boasting an all-metal construction, the Lensbaby Velvet 56 will be available in two colours, black and silver. As seen in the photo above, the silver edition features a clear-anodised finish with engraved aperture and focus markings. Velvet 56 retails for $499.95 (black variant) and $599.95 (silver edition). The lenses will be available in Canon, Nikon, Sony A and Pentax mounts beginning13th April at lensbaby.com, B&H, Adorama, and from select specialty photo stores worldwide. Mirrorless mounts including Micro 4/3rds, Sony E, Samsung NX and Fuji X will be available in early May. Click through / scroll down for a gallery of web-resolution sample images taken by Caroline Jensen, Pauline Putt, Rachel Schomsky and Victoria Hederer Bell.
YouTube has added support for 360° spherical videos, including those created with the Ricoh Theta m15 camera (pictured). "With the announcement of YouTube’s 360 degree spherical video support, the world of content sharing is much more accessible worldwide," Ricoh says. Theta users simply create their 360 videos, upload MP4 video files generated with Windows and Mac software and share with family and friends
The Pentax K-S2 is the World’s smallest dustproof, weather-resistant digital SLR camera with a variable-angle LCD monitor, wireless LAN and NFC functionality. In addition to the Pentax-original SAFOX X autofocus system, it provides a full range of advanced features, including: an AA filter simulator to assure the same level of moiré-reduction effect as an optical AA filter; an optical viewfinder with a glass pentaprism to provide a nearly 100% field of view; an in-body shake reduction mechanism; and a top sensitivity of ISO 51200/48°. The Pentax K-S2 is equipped with an APS-C sized 20.12-megapixel sensor, high-performance PRIME MII imaging engine, and a high-speed shutter capable of shutter speeds up to 1/6000th of a second. The camera will retail for £549.99 (body only). A number of kit options will also be available, priced from £649.99 / $799.95.
The brand-new Ricoh WG-5 GPS is designed to be waterproof to a depth of 14 metres, shockproof against falls from heights of 2.2 metres, and cold-resistant to temperatures to as low as -10°C. Sporting a 25-100mm (eq.) f/2.0-4.9 lens and a 16-megapixel imager with sensor-shift image stabilisation, the Ricoh WG-5 GPS is capable of recording Full HD movies at 30 frames per second.. It also provides such creative movie-shooting tools as a high-speed camera function for slow-motion playback of captured movie clips, and a fast-forward movie function. A micro-HDMI terminal (Type D) is provided on the camera body for simultaneous output of Full HD movie clips and sound to external audio-visual devices. A new (Flash Off + Flash On) "Mermaid" mode has been added to the list of flash modes to consecutively capture two images of the same scene — one without a flash illumination and another with it — with a single shutter release. The new Ricoh WG-5 GPS’s exterior design is easy-to-hold owing to it’s non-slip body, and comes in a a choice of two colours - orange and gun metallic. The recommended retail price is £259.99 / $379.95.
The HD Pentax-D FA★ 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW is a new full-frame telephoto lens for Pentax KAF mount cameras. This telephoto zoom lens has been developed as the latest model in the Pentax Star series, which boasts the highest image quality of all Pentax interchangeable lenses. The optical construction features 19 lens elements in 16 groups plus an aperture diaphragm with 9 rounded blades. The minimum focus distance is 1.2m, and the lens takes 77mm filters. Additionally, this zoom lens is equipped with the Pentax-developed Quick-Shift Focus System, which allows users to instantly switch to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system. In order to improve its operability, a three-position switch has been installed on this lens, allowing instant switching among QFS/A, QFS/M and MF modes. QFS/A is an autofocus-priority mode, which allows the user to switch to manual-focusing operation when autofocus operation is complete. QFS/M is a manual-focus-priority mode, which enables the user to switch to manual focusing at any time — even when the AF system is in operation. MF mode allows the user to instantly switch to manual focusing with a simple twist of the focus ring on the lens. Available in March, the new HD Pentax-D FA★ 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW will retail for $2,299.95.
Ricoh have now confirmed the official name and specifications of the "high magnification super zoom" lens they had on display at photokina 2014. Designed for use on K-mount 35mm film cameras as well as the upcoming full-frame Pentax dSLR body (but also compatible with APS-C models), the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW features three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and a super-low dispersion glass element, HD Coating to optimise image rendition; and a dustproof, weather-resistant construction. Additionally, this zoom lens is equipped with the Pentax-developed Quick-Shift Focus System, which allows users to instantly switch to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system. In order to improve its operability, a three-position switch has been installed on this lens, allowing instant switching among QFS/A, QFS/M and MF modes. QFS/A is an autofocus-priority mode, which allows the user to switch to manual-focusing operation when autofocus operation is complete. QFS/M is a manual-focus-priority mode, which enables the user to switch to manual focusing at any time — even when the AF system is in operation. MF mode allows the user to instantly switch to manual focusing with a simple twist of the focus ring on the lens. Available in March, the new HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW lens is priced at $2499.95.
Having confirmed the development of a 35mm full-frame DSLR camera back at photokina 2014, Ricoh is now planning to exhibit a mockup/prototype at CP+, one of the largest and most comprehensive camera and imaging shows in Asia. The company says the new K-mount camera will be launched before the end of the year, and will not only be compatible with full-frame lenses but also DA-series optics via an image cropping function.
The Pentax K-S1 is a new entry-level DSLR camera that is available in 12 different colour variations. The 20 megapixel K-S1 offers 5.4fps continuous shooting, an 11-point AF system, 3-inch LCD screen, an optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage and an ISO range of 100-51200. Read our in-depth Pentax K-S1 review...
Ahead of our full review, here are 33 sample images taken with the Leica D-Lux (Typ 109) premium compact camera. The Leica D-Lux (Typ 109) is a serious compact camera with a large 4/3rds sensor, fast lens, 4K video recording and an electronic viewfinder.
Ricoh is exhibiting four digital SLR camera reference products at the 2015 International CES, including a new APS-C DSLR camera.
Ricoh UK has today launched its Winter Cashback promotion. Running until 10 January 2015, the promotion enables customers to claim up to £70 cashback on selected Pentax DSLR bodies and kits. Eligible products include the Pentax K-3, K-S1 (pictured) and K-50 digital SLR cameras. Note that with every K-S1 purchase you will also receive a free Flucard worth £99.99. For further information on the cashback offer, visit the website below.
Ricoh has announced the launch of the HD Pentax-DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6ED DC WR lens for Pentax K-mount digital SLR cameras. With a 35mm equivalent focal range of 24.5-130mm, the HD Pentax-DA 16-85mm f/F3.5-5.6ED DC WR features the PENTAX-exclusive HD coating to deliver sharp, clear images even in difficult lighting conditions, an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) optical element to effectively compensate for chromatic aberrations; and aspherical optical elements to minimise colour bleeding. The lens is equipped with the Pentax-developed Quick-Shift Focus system, which allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the camera’s AF system. The optical construction comprises 16 elements in 12 groups and a rounded diaphragm to produce a smooth bokeh. The lens features a weather-resistant construction with eight special seals to effectively prevent the intrusion of water into the lens interior. Available from the end of next month, the HD Pentax-DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6ED DC WR will sell for RRP of £599.99.
Ricoh have unveiled the water-, shock-, crush- and freezeproof Ricoh WG-30w compact camera, which comes equipped with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and advanced smartphone support functions. The 16-megapixel Ricoh WG-30w boasts a back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, a 28-140mm equivalent lens and a solid, airtight body that's waterproof to a depth of 40 feet, shockproof from a height of 5 feet, crushproof against weights up to 220 pounds, and coldproof to -10 °C. The WG-30 will be available in December 2014 for a suggested retail price of £259.99 /$299.95. In the UK, the company will also launch a non-Wi-Fi version called the Ricoh WG-30, priced at £229.99.
Sigma Corporation of America today announced the availability of the Sigma dp1 Quattro camera and a new viewfinder that will magnify Quattro cameras’ LCD screens. Unveiled in February, the Sigma dp1 Quattro utilises a newly developed, fixed 19mm (28mm eq.) f/2.8 wide-angle lens that is specifically designed and optimised to pair with Sigma’s new Quattro sensor, which outputs 5424x3616-pixel raw images at the highest resolution setting. The camera will be available in the United States in mid-October
Exclusively designed for the Quattro series of cameras. the new LCD View Finder LVF-01 attaches to the camera’s LCD screen to eliminate outside light and magnifies the display 2.5 times. This accessory will be sold separately beginning in December. The pricing of both products has not yet been announced.
Sigma has announced two new 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM lenses. The Sigma 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports (pictured) delivers enhanced, professional-grade optics and greater durability for challenging, high-action photographic situations. The 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary is a versatile lens that offers similar performance in a more compact and portable design. Both versions of the 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM feature a dust and splash-proof construction, as well as new water and oil-repellent coating on the front and rear lenses. They boast an updated optical stabiliser that features an accelerometer for improved vertical and horizontal panning. The Sigma 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports is priced at $1999.99. Pricing and availability of the 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary is not yet available.
Sigma has announced the US pricing and availability of its new 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM lens. Designed exclusively for APS-C camera sensors, the Sigma 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM features a 35mm equivalent focal range of 27-450mm. It incorporates four “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass elements, which have performance equal to flourite, in addition to one Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass element to minimise the chromatic aberration. Also, this lens comes with a newly developed optical image stabiliser for improved shake compensation. The lens will become available in October for the street price of $579.
The Pentax Q-S1 is a new compact system camera with a 1/1.7-inch, back-illuminated CMOS image sensor. Key highlights include a maximum sensitivity setting of ISO 12,800, a dust removal system, Full HD movie recording, compatibility with Eye-Fi wireless LAN SD memory cards and a range of creative tools to create uniquely personalised images and add filter effects with just a turn of a dial. The Pentax Q-S1 will be available in early September for £299.99 (body-only) in a choice of 40 colour combinations. A single-zoom kit including the Q-S1 camera and 5-15mm lens will be available for £379.99/$499.95, and a double-zoom kit comprising the camera, 5-15mm and 15-45mm lenses will also be on offer, priced at £549.99.
The Pentax 645Z is a 51.4-megapixel medium-format camera that's styled very much like a DSLR. The well-appointed 645Z has a wealth of features in addition to its very large sensor, not to mention a very competitive price tag (for a medium format camera at least). Read our in-depth Pentax 645Z review to find out if it's worth making the leap to medium format...
Ricoh has announced the Pentax XG-1, a 16-megapixel bridge camera with 52x optical zoom, 9fps continuous shooting and Full HD movies. Able to cover ultra-wide-angle (24mm equivalent) to super-telephoto (1.248mm eq.) ranges, the Pentax XG-1 has a 1cm Macro mode and an Auto Tracking AF function to keep your moving subject in focus. The camera also offers ten shooting modes including the hands-off Auto Picture, Scene (11 options), Program, Face Beautifier and Movie. There’s even a pet detection mode for automatic recognition of up 10 pet faces. The XG-1 is compatible with Eye-Fi wireless LAN SD memory cards so you can share your images and videos straight to your phone or tablet. Available from the middle of August, the Pentax XG-1 carries a suggested retail price of £279.99.
The Pentax 645Z is a new medium-format dSLR camera with a 51.4-megapixel CMOS sensor, live view, dual SD card slots, 3fps continuous shooting and Full HD movie recording capabilities. The sensor has an imaging area of 43.8mm x 32.8mm, which is approximately 1.7 times larger than that of a 35mm full-frame imager.The Pentax 645Z boasts a maximum sensitivity setting of ISO 204,800; a 10-frame raw buffer, a newly designed SAFOX 11 phase-matching AF module with 27 sensor points (including 25 cross-type sensors), a tiltable 3.2-inch LCD monitor with a resolution of approximately 1,037,000 dots and a large, bright viewfinder with 98% frame coverage. The camera shoots Full HD video clips (60i/30p) and allows interval video recording of 4K-resolution images (in Motion JPEG or AVI video format). By installing the optional Flucard for Pentax 16GB O-FC1 memory card in the 645Z, the user can release the 645Z’s shutter, check the live-view image, and browse and download the images recorded on the card using a smartphone. The Pentax 645Z will be available in May, priced at £6,799.99 / $8,499.95 (or £7,699.99 with a 55mm lens).
The Canon EOS 1200D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T5 in North America) is a new DSLR camera for beginners. The Canon 1200D / T5 offers an 18 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen, 1080p movies, 63-zone metering, and 9-point auto-focus system. Available body only from £349 and with a zoom lens from £449 / $549, read our Canon EOS 1200D / T5 review to find out if this brand new budget DSLR is a bargain or not...
Ricoh has launched Spherical Report 360 (SR360), a fun and interactive competition which equips citizens with a free Ricoh Theta spherical camera and presents them with the unique opportunity to become a photojournalist by reporting on local news. The photo-submission contest will take place over the course of four months with a Most Valuable Photographer (MVP) being selected each month. The contest will end on 31st August, and images shared on the SR360 website will be judged by a panel of distinguished guests. From the submitted images, one Grand Prize winner and two Gold Prize winners will be selected. Interested readers are encouraged to read the terms and conditions and register online through 10th April. Current Theta users are also invited to participate.
Singapore-based Adaptist have released their Pentax K+ Multi-Mount (PK+ MM) mounting ring, which allows photographers to attach Contax/Yashica, Konica, Nikon F and Olympus OM mount lenses to a number of Pentax SLR camera bodies. Compatible models include the Pentax *ist D, *ist DS, *ist DS2, *ist DL, *ist DL2, K100D, K110D, K100D Super, K-m, K2000, K-x, K-r and most Pentax AF SLRs. Note that this is not like a typical adapter - as Adaptist put it: "As most camera mounts have flange focal distances that are too close for adapters to be possible, by changing the original mount ring of the camera to an adaptive one like PK+MM, you can now mount different mount lenses without adapters, and still achieve infinity focus in most cases." The kit contains the PK+ MM plus 2 pieces of mounting shim for Nikon F mount, a 2mm cross-tip Philips screwdriver and a printed instruction manual. The Adaptist Pentax K+ Multi-Mount is available for S$98 + shipping via the website below.
Website: Adaptist
The Ricoh WG-4 is a new 16-megapixel water-, crush-, shock- and freezeproof compact camera with a fast wide-angle lens. Equipped with a 25-100mm (eq.) f/2.0-4.9 lens, the Ricoh WG-4 comes in two versions, with and without GPS. Thanks to the upgraded AF algorithm, the focusing speed in macro shooting has been greatly increased to facilitate close-up applications, the company says. Designed for the adventurous photographer, the WG-4 and WG-4 GPS (pictured) are waterproof to a depth of 14 metres, shock-resistant against a fall from a height of two metres, dustproof, freezeproof down to -10°C, and crushproof to 100kg. Other highlights include six LED macro lights to assist close-up shooting, sensor-shift image stabilisation and Full HD video recording capabilities. The new WG-4 GPS is available in a choice of blue or black for a price of £329.99 / $379.95. The WG-4 is available in silver or lime yellow for a price of £279.99 / $329.95. Both models will hit the shelves in March 2014.
The Ricoh WG-20 is a new, 14-megapixel water-, shock-, freeze- and crushproof compact camera with a 28-140mm equivalent lens and 25 shooting modes. Waterproof to 33 feet, shockproof from drops of up to five feet, coldproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit and crushproof, withstanding up to 220 foot-pounds of force, the Ricoh WG-20 is capable of recording 720p high-definition movies, in addition to 14-megapixel stills. Offered in white and red, the WG-20 will be available in March 2014 for a price of £199.99 / $199.95.
The Nikon D3300 is a brand new entry-level digital SLR camera with a 24 megapixel sensor, no optical low-pass filter, 50/60p Full HD movies, a 3 inch LCD screen, 5fps burst shooting and an ISO range of 100-25600. Read our detailed Nikon D3300 review, complete with sample JPEG and raw photos, test shots, videos and more...
Sigma UK has announced the recommended retail price (RRP) of its new 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM lens. The Canon version of the lens will be available in February at an RRP of £349.99 including VAT. The Nikon variant will follow in March with the Sony and Pentax editions (both without an optical stabiliser) being available in May.
Sigma has announced a new version of its 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 superzoom lens as part of its "Contemporary" product line. The new lens is smaller and lighter than its predecessor and bears the "Macro" designation to reflect its maximum reproduction ratio of 1:3. The close-focus distance is 39cm, which translates into a minimum working distance of less than 15cm. This lens incorporates SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements that have a high refractive index, and corrects chromatic aberration at the telephoto-end very well, the company claims. As before, the Canon, Nikon and Sigma versions have an Optical Stabiliser on board, while the Pentax and Sony variants come without this feature. Availability and pricing have yet to be communicated.
On paper at least, the new Pentax K-3 is the most full-featured prosumer DSLR camera, offering a long list of features that will leave serious photographers salivating. Read our in-depth Pentax K-3 review to discover if this new DSLR can compete with the fierce competition from Nikon, Canon and Sony, not to mention the excellent compact system cameras from Olympus, Fujifilm and Panasonic...
In the first part of our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide, we've selected our favourite DSLR cameras, with something for every budget.
The Pentax K-3 is the new flagship model of the PENTAX K digital SLR camera series. The new K-3 features 24 megapixels, a 27-point AF system, high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 8.3 images per second, a newly designed 86,000 pixel RGB light-metering sensor, a large 3.2-inch high-resolution LCD monitor, Full HD movies at 60fps, dustproof, weather-resistant body construction, and an optical viewfinder with the largest, brightness subject image in its class. It also has an anti-aliasing simulator, rather than an optical anti-aliasing filter, providing a choice of filtered or filter-free shooting for a given scene or subject, plus Dual SD card slots and a USB 3.0 port.
Available in black or limited edition silver, the Pentax K-3 will be available from November for £1,099.99 body-only, £1,199.99 with the DA L 18-55mm WR lens, £1,349.99 with the DA L 18-55mm WR & DA L 50-200mm WR lenses, and £1,449.99 with the DA 18-135mm WR lens. The K-3 Silver Limited Edition will cost £1,399.99. Optional accessories include a battery grip, FLU card for wireless LAN connection to a compatible smartphone, and a camera strap.
The new Pentax Q7 is the smallest compact system camera on the market. Offering a new 1/1.7"-type back-illuminated CMOS sensor, improved low-light auto focus and an upgraded Shake Reduction mechanism, can the Q7 compete with its bigger rivals? Read our Pentax Q7 review to find out...
The Pentax K-500 is a new entry-level DSLR camera with a lot of attractive features for the price. The 16 megapixel K-500 offers 6fps continuous shooting, an 11-point AF system, 3-inch LCD screen, an optical viewfinder with nearly 100% frame coverage and an ISO range of 100-51200. Read our in-depth Pentax K-500 review...
The Pentax K-50 is a new mid-range DSLR camera that offers a lot of bang for your buck. The 16 megapixel K-50 is fully weatherproof, as is the kit zoom lens, and it also offers 6fps continuous shooting, an 11-point AF system, an optical viewfinder with nearly 100% frame coverage and an ISO range of 100-51200. Read our in-depth Pentax K-50 review to find out if there's still life in the DSLR...
The new Canon EOS 70D is not just another DSLR camera, thanks to its innovative Dual-Pixel CMOS AF system. This new technology aims to deliver much better Live View and Movie shooting than any other DSLR on the market. Read our in-depth Canon EOS 70D review to find out if it delivers on its promise...
The Canon EOS 700D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T5i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts 18 megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 700D / T5i include burst shooting at 5fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 5 processor. Is the Canon EOS 700D / T5i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
Sigma has announced pricing and availability details for its 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art lens. Billed as the first zoom lens ever to achieve a maximum aperture of f1.8 throughout the zoom range, the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM is designed for digital SLR cameras with APS-C size sensors, and offers a focal range equivalent to 27-52.5mm in the 35mm format. The lens will arrive in the United States early July for the street price of $799. The UK RRP will be £799.99 including VAT. This new lens will be available in Canon and Sigma mount in early July with Nikon mount following towards the end of July. Availability for Sony and Pentax mount is to be announced at a later date.
The Samyang 300mm f/6.3 ED UMC CS is a small-size, manual focus, reflex lens for compact system cameras. The optical structure features 9 elements arranged in 6 groups, including one ED-type lens ensuring high contrast and effectively preventing chromatic aberration. Available from July for Sony E, Fujifilm X, MFT and Canon M mounts, the Samyang 300mm f/6.3 ED UMC CS has a suggested retail price of £289.99. In addition, the company has re-announced the Samyang 16mm f/2 ED AS UMC CS lens, which will be offered for £419.99 (or £459.99 for the Nikon version).
The Pentax Q7 is a small, 12-megapixel compact system camera with a new 1/1.7"-type back-illuminated CMOS sensor, improved low-light auto focus and an upgraded Shake Reduction mechanism. Compared to the existing Pentax Q and Pentax Q10 models, the new Pentax Q7 offers a larger sensor promising "the finest image quality in the Q series." Because of its larger sensor, the angle of view of any given lens is wider on the Pentax Q7 than on its sister models - for example, the Pentax-02 Standard Zoom Lens now covers a 35mm equivalent focal range of 23-69mm instead of 28-83mm as on the Pentax Q or Q10. Other highlights include Full HD movie recording, DR II dust removal system, in-camera HDR exposure blending, digital level function, Eye-Fi card compatibility, a multi-exposure mode and a 3-inch, 460,000-dot rear screen with an aspect ratio of 3:2. A colour-to-order service allows customers to choose from 120 camera colour combinations (including three standard models). The Pentax Q7 will be available from August for $499.95. UK pricing tis still to be confirmed.
The Pentax K-50 is a weather-sealed digital SLR camera available in 120 colour combinations. Key features include an APS-C sized 16.28-megapixel CMOS sensor, dust- and freezeproof camera body, a pentaprism viewfinder with 100% frame coverage and 0.92x magnification (with a 50mm lens focussed at infinity) Pentax-developed Shake Reduction, SAFOX IXi+ auto focus module, 6fps continuous shooting and Full HD video recording at 30, 25 or 24fps. The Pentax K-50 camera can be powered by a proprietary lithium-ion battery or four AA-size cells. A colour-to-order service allows for the selection from 120 camera colour combinations, including three standard models. The Pentax K-50 is available for a body-only price of £529.99 / $699.95, or £599.99 / $779.95 with the 18-55mm DAL WR lens. In the US there's also a dual lens kit including the DA-L 18-55mm WR and DA-L 50-200mm WR lenses for $879.95.
Pentax Ricoh has announced a new Ricoh branded “expert” digital compact camera, called simply the GR. Developed as a successor to the GR Digital IV, the new GR inherits the product concept of the GR Digital series while upgrading the basic specifications and functions of its predecessor. Thanks to the combination of an APS-C-size CMOS image sensor (with approximately 16.2 effective megapixels and no anti-aliasing filter) and a newly designed 18.3mm (28mm eq.) f/2.8 lens, the camera boasts high image resolution, gradation-rich colour reproduction and improved image quality. By coupling the large image sensor with the newly developed GR ENGINE V imaging engine, the GR offers high-sensitivity shooting at up to ISO 25600/45°. It also offers a range of user-assisting features, including in-body raw data development and focus assist to facilitate manual focusing. The GR will be available from May 2013 at an RRP of £599.99. An add-on viewfinder will be offered as an optional accessory, for £222.99.
The Pentax K-5 IIs DSLR camera features a faster auto-focus system, better LCD screen and a lower price-tag than the original K-5 model, and dispenses with the anti-aliasing filter of the slightly cheaper K-5 II model that was introduced at the same time. Read our Pentax K-5 IIs review to discover if this new DSLR can compete with the competition from Nikon, Canon and Sony.
Ahead of our full review, here are 74 sample JPEG and 9 RAW photos taken with the new Nikon D7100 DSLR camera with the 18-105mm kit lens and the 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto lens. We've included an ISO sequence from 100 to 25,600 so that you can see exactly what the new 24.1 megapixel sensor is capable of.
Sigma Corporation of America has introduced its redesigned website. New features include an expanded Sigma Lounge, an all-new product finder, redesigned photo galleries and a comparison tool allowing users to directly compare the specifications of up to five photography products to help them identify the best solution for their needs. You can visit the new website through the link below.
Pentax Ricoh is developing a new clip-on flash and fixed-focal-length mount cap lens for its Q-mount system cameras. Tentatively named the Pentax AF360FGZ II, the new clip-on type P-TTL flash unit has a guide number of 36 (in metres at ISO 100/21°) and a tilt-swivel head. The “mount cap lens” appears to be the same product that first appeared on the Pentax Lens Roadmap back in February 2012. Both the flash and the mount cap lens will be on display at the CP+ show beginning tomorrow in Yokohama, Japan. Availability for both products is slated for summer 2013, with pricing to be communicated.
Pentax Ricoh have unveiled a compact and highly portable waterproof digital camera called the Pentax WG-10. Waterproof to depths of 33 feet, the WG-10 offers a 14-megapixel backlit CMOS image sensor and a 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens coupled with a ring of LED Macro lights that enable users to take shadow-free, evenly-lit close-up shots. The Pentax WG-10 will be available from March / April for £179.99 / $179.95.
Pentax Ricoh have just introduced the Pentax WG-3 “adventureproof” compact, which comes in two versions, one with GPS and one without. Key components include a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, a newly designed 4x zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2 at the wide end, and a Shake Reduction mechanism of the sensor-shift variety. Waterproof down to a depth of 45 feet, shockproof from drops of up to 6.6 feet, coldproof to 14 °F and crushproof withstanding up to 220 foot pounds of force; the Pentax WG-3 also boasts six LED lights surrounding the lens barrel for bright, shadow-free macro images. The GPS model offers enhanced functionality for geotagging images that can be mapped back to your journey and a dedicated second display showing compass direction, elevation or depth below water. Priced at £329.99 / $349.95 the new WG-3 GPS will be available in a choice of purple or green. The WG-3 comes in black or orange for a price of £279.99 / $299.95. Both models are scheduled for a March 2013 launch.
The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a new moderate wide-angle prime lens. Boasting built-in image stabilisation and fast and quite auto-focusing, the plastic-bodied EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a more affordable alternative to Canon's professional wide-angle primes. Read our in-depth Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM review complete with full-size sample images.
The PENTAX MX-1 is a new high-performance digital compact camera. Featuring a four-times optical zoom lens with a maximum aperture of F1.8 to F2.5 and a 28mm wide-angle coverage, the Pentax MX-1 has a newly designed 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor with a top sensitivity of ISO 12,80 and a 3.0-inch, tilt-able, high-definition LCD monitor. Combining state of the art technology with a classic design reminiscent of film cameras, the MX-1 features a textured-rubber grip, and brass top and bottom panels. In addition the camera features a pop up auto flash, along with a number of metallic parts, including a metallic lens ring, to complete the tasteful, high-class retro design finish. The PENTAX MX-1 will be available in Black and Black and Silver from February 2013 priced at £399.99.
We’ve teamed up with PENTAX RICOH IMAGING UK LTD to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a fantastic PENTAX K-30 worth £649.99!
The lucky winner is Paula Hepburn. Congratulations!
The K-30 has been developed to help SLR beginners capture high-quality images with ease. Packed in a compact, weather-resistant, dustproof and lightweight body, the PENTAX K-30 offers a range of advanced features, including a 16 megapixel sensor, optical viewfinder offering almost 100% field of view, high-speed shooting and a full-HD movie function.
The K-30 is available in a choice of three colours: Crystal White and Crystal Blue, with brilliant, glossy finishes; and Classic Black, for a more traditional SLR look.
The Pentax K-5 II is a new DSLR camera that features a faster auto-focus system, better LCD screen and a much lower price-tag than the original K-5 model. Read our Pentax K-5 II review to discover if this new DSLR can compete with the competition from Nikon, Canon and Sony.
Sigma has announced the recommended retail price of the new Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens. Equipped with a HyperSonic Motor (HSM), brass bayonet mount and internal focusing system, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM features Super Multi-Layer coating, FLD and SLD glass elements and a large maximum aperture. As promised, each Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM will be individually checked using the company’s newly developed proprietary A1 MTF measuring system. The lens will be available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma and Sony fit, for £799.99/$899.00 including a hood and carrying case.
The Pentax X-5 is a new super-zoom compact camera featuring a 26x image-stabilized zoom lens with a focal range of 22.3-580mm. The X-5 also offers a 16 megapixel sensor, 3-inch tilting LCD screen, 1080p HD movies and 10fps burst shooting. Retailing for £199.99 / $279.99, read our Pentax X-5 review to find out if it can take on its superzoom rivals...
Pentax will exhibit and demonstrate several of its new products including its new flagship K-5 II digital SLR, point-and-shoot models, and compact system cameras, as well as new lenses and accessories at PhotoPlus Expo 2012, Additionally, Pentax will have its largest booth space at the show to date, measuring 1,200 square feet. And, attendees who visit the Pentax booth can pick up a rebate form for substantial savings on a wide variety of Pentax DSLR cameras as well as register in a daily drawing for a chance to win a K-30 DSLR camera kit with DA L 18-55mm lens. PhotoPlus Expo 2012 is taking place from 24-27 October 2012 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
We have collected the most interesting lenses announced at (or just before) Photokina 2012. They are not necessarily the “best” lenses out there—making comparisons across multiple platforms would be quite pointless anyway—but they are all intriguing in one way or another.
Day One of the Photokina 2012 trade show has turned out to be just as busy as Day Zero, so once again don’t blame yourself if you are feeling a little overwhelmed, wondering if you’ve read everything that may be of interest to you. In order to help you find your way around all the announcements, hands-on previews and sample galleries, we have collected all the relevant info on one page, with links to the detailed articles.
Sigma has announced three new lenses - the 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM, 35mm F1.4 DG HSM and 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM. Sigma has also organized all of its lenses into one of three product categories: Contemporary, Art and Sports. New Sigma Optimization Pro software and USB Dock are designed exclusively for the new lenses within the new product lines. The price and availability of the Sigma 17-70mm, 35mm, 120-300mm has yet to be announced.
The Pentax K-5 II is a sixteen-megapixel digital SLR camera with an APS-C sized sensor and a completely new Safox X AF module that remains operational down to -3EV. Coupled with an upgraded AF algorithm, the camera is claimed to deliver exceptional AF performance, including such features as a select-area expansion function, which automatically tracks the subject even when it moves away from a pre-assigned select point. Launched in conjunction with the Pentax K-5 II is the Pentax K-5 II s that comes without an anti-aliasing filter for superior resolution. The Pentax K-5 II is available from early October for £799.99/$1,199.95, while the Pentax K-5 IIs carries a body-only price of £949.99/$1,299.95. The K-5 II is also available in a kit with the 18-55mm WR lens (for £869.99/$1349.95) and in a bundle with the 18-135mm WR zoom (for £1,119.99/$1,549.95).
The Pentax Q10 is a tiny, raw-capable compact system camera featuring a new, 12.4-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, improved AF operation, Shake Reduction and a Full HD movie-recording function. Other highlights include 5fps continuous shooting (for up to five JPEGs), a small built-in auto flash with a guide number of 7 (in metres at ISO 200), an easy-to-access Quick Dial to simplify the application of creative visual effects, a three-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 460,000 dots and a sensor dust buster that incorporates a supersonic vibration mechanism. The Pentax Q10 will be available from early October in white, black and red. The single-lens kit (with the 5-15mm lens) will cost £379.99/$599.95, while the double-zoom kit (which also includes the new 15-45mm lens) will retail for £539.99.
The HD Pentax-DFA645 Macro 90mm f/2.8 ED AW SR is a new, stabilised short-telephoto lens designed for use with Pentax medium-format digital and film SLR cameras. Featuring Pentax-original HD coating — a newly developed, high-grade multi-layer lens coating — and the Pentax-designed, lens-installed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism, this lens offers a focal length of approximately 71mm (or approximately 65mm when mounted on a Pentax 645 film-format camera body) in 35mm equivalence. The HD Pentax-DFA645 90mm f/2.8 ED AW SR doubles as a macro lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2. As part of the AW (All Weather) series, this lens also features a dustproof and weather-resistant construction with 11 environmental seals. The HD Pentax-DFA645 Macro 90mm f/2.8 ED AW SR will be available from early October, priced at £3,799.99/$4,499.95.
The Canon EOS 650D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T4i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts 18-megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 650D / T4i include burst shooting at 5fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 5 processor. Is the Canon EOS 650D / T4i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
Sigma Corporation of America has announced availability and pricing for the 15.3x3-megapixel Sigma DP1 Merrill large-sensor compact camera. Going on sale in mid-September at an estimated street price of $999, the raw-capable Sigma DP1 Merrill boasts a totally redesigned 19mm (28mm eq.) f/2,8 lens with moulded-glass aspherical elements, “F” Low Dispersion and Super Multi Layer coating, and a telecentric optical design.
The Pentax K-30 is that most unfashionable thing - a mid-range DSLR camera. But don't run away just yet - it's also the most affordable weather-sealed DSLR on the market, with a long list of desirable features to boot. Read our expert Pentax K-30 review to discover if the DSLR is still alive and kicking in 2012...
We directly compare the Olympus OM-D E-M5 compact system camera and the Nikon D7000 DSLR in our first ever head to head review.
Here are 38 sample JPEG photos taken with a full production version of the new Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm F1.8 lens, mounted on an OM-D EM-5 body. The Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm F1.8 is a new telephoto portrait lens for the Micro Four thirds system, retailing for £799.
To celebrate the launch of the new Pentax K-30 DSLR camera, Pentax Ricoh Imaging UK todaylaunched Meet Britain, a nationwide competition asking members of the public to submit images of the things they feel make Britain great. Entrants can submit images across five different categories, including Great British Outdoors, Great British Culture, Friends and Family, Summer Holidays and Celebrations. The best images will then be shortlisted and will feature in an exhibition which will be open to the public in September. One winner from each category will take home a Pentax K-30 camera and one overall winner will be awarded £1,000. For more information, visit Pentax UK’s Facebook fan page.
DxO Labs have released DxO Optics Pro v7.5.1. This update adds support for the Nikon D800E (Elite edition only) and D3200, the Sony SLT A35 and SLT A57, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC GX1. The program’s raw conversion algorithms have been fine-tuned such that the “Remove colour moiré” tool works more effectively for the Nikon D800E camera to restore the finest details. Additionally, DxO Optics Pro v7.5.1 has integrated more than 400 new DxO Optics Modules, of which 61 are modules for the Nikon D800E and 71 are for the Nikon D3200. The Standard and Elite editions of DxO Optics Pro for Mac and Windows are available in the DxO Labs online boutique and at photo resellers, at a special discount price good through June 30, 2012.
The Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM is a new, compact superzoom lens for dSLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors. Compared to the existing 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM, the new lens offers a lighter and more compact design, better close-up capabilities with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.9, and incorporates a special Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) material that makes it ideal for use in circumstances where extreme variations in temperature cannot be avoided. The Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM lens is also equipped with Super Multi-Layer Coating to reduce flare and ghosting, a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) to ensure fast and quiet auto-focusing, an Optical Stabiliser (OS) for better hand-held results and a rounded, seven-blade diaphragm for a pleasant rendering of the out of focus areas. The lens will be available in Sigma, Sony, Nikon, Canon and Pentax mounts, starting with the Canon version coming in July. Pricing and availability for other mounts have yet to be announced.
The Nikon D800E is a 36 megapixel full-frame sensor DSLR with the anti-aliasing filter removed, which should result in higher resolution, sharper images compared to the regular D800. The D800E also offers 1080p HD video, a 3.2-inch LCD screen and a viewfinder with 100% coverage. Read our in-depth Nikon D800E review to find out if you should choose it instead of the D800.
The Nikon D3200 is a new entry-level digital SLR camera with an attention-grabbing feature list. The D3200 has a massive 24 megapixels, full 1080p HD movies, 3 inch LCD screen, 4fps burst shooting and an ISO range of 100-12800. Find out if this is the best DSLR camera for beginners by reading our detailed Nikon D3200 review, complete with sample JPEG and raw photos, test shots, videos and more...
The Nikon D800 is one of the hottest DSLR cameras for 2012. Featuring a remarkable 36 megapixel full-frame sensor, the D800 also offers 1080p HD video, a 3.2-inch LCD screen and a viewfinder with 100% coverage. Read our in-depth Nikon D800 review to find out if it's worth the £2499.00 / $2,999.95 cost of admission.
The Pentax K-30 is a new weatherproof mid-range DSLR camera. The 16 megapixel K-30 features a weather-resistant, dustproof and cold-proof body, a glass prism finder with nearly 100% field of view, high-speed shooting of six images per second, a 1/6000 second high shutter speed, and a full HD movie function. The Pentax K-30 will available in June in three colours, white, blue and black, priced at $849.95 / £599.99 for the body only, and $899.95 / £649.99 for the kit including the DA L 18-55mm zoom lens.
The Pentax K-01 compact system camera has been selected as a Product Design 2012 winner at this year’s red dot design awards in Germany. The award – the red dot – has established itself internationally as one of the most appreciated quality seals for outstanding designs. The Pentax K-01 was selected from more than 4,500 applicants from 58 countries to win the “Entertainment Technology and Cameras” category.
Ahead of our full review, here are 46 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with a full production version of the new Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR ultra-zoom compact camera. The HS30 EXR is a 16 megapixel superzoom/bridge camera with a 30x optical zoom lens, Full 1080p HD movie recording, RAW image capture, electronic viewfinder, a tilting LCD screen and a flash hot-shoe.
The long-awaited Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR has finally arrived, boasting improvements to virtually every aspect of its popular predecessor, the breakthrough 5D Mark II. It's cost has also increased significantly, so does the new 5D Mark III offer enough to justify the £2999 / $3499 asking price? Read our detailed Canon EOS 5D Mark III review to find out.
Pentax Ricoh has announced the new Pentax K-5 Silver Special Edition, comprising a silver Pentax K-5 camera body and matching 40mm f/2.8 XS pancake lens. Available only as a limited edition of 1,500 sets worldwide, the package will be available in April 2012 for $1599.95 exclusively through the Pentax Web Store.
Pentax is displaying new interchangeable lenses and camera accessories that are currently under development at the Japanese camera show, CP+ 2012. On show will be the smc PENTAX-D FA645 90mm f/2.8 medium-format lens, smc PENTAX-DA 560mm f/5.6 and smc PENTAX-DA 50mm f/1.8 K-mount lenses, telephoto zoom lens and standard lens with “body cap” design for the Pentax Q system, super-thin interchangeable lens for the K-01 compact system camera, and a lens adapter for mounting a K-mount lens onto a Q-mount body. Names and prices of these products will be confirmed at a later date.
The Pentax Optio WG2 and WG2-GPS are two new waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant compact cameras. Both models can be used at a depth of up to 12 metres and can withstand a drop of 1.5 metres, cold to -10°C and a weight up to 100kg. The WG2 and WG2-GPS also feature a 16 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, Full HD movie recording, 5x optical zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle coverage, 3 inch high-resolution LCD monitor with 16:9 dimensions and 460,000 dots, and six built-in LED macro lights. The Optio WG2-GPS additionally comes equipped with an upgraded GPS module.
The Pentax WG2 and WG2-GPS will be available from March 2012 for £299.99 and £349.99 respectively.
The Pentax K-01 is a compact system camera with a Pentax K lens mount and a 16.28-megapixel, APS-C sized CMOS sensor. Designed in collaboration with Marc Newson, the Pentax K-01 features sensor-shift shake reduction, a dust removal mechanism, a new-generation HDR mode, continuous shooting at 5fps, 19 digital filters and full HD video capture at either 24, 25 or 30 frames per second. Also introduced today is a new K mount “pancake” optic, the smc Pentax-DA 40mm f/2.8 XS, which is billed as the world’s thinnest interchangeable lens. The Pentax K-01 will be available for £629.99/$749.95 body only or £679.99/$899.95 with the DA 40mm f/2.8 XS. Other configurations include a bundle with the DAL 18-55mm lens for £679.99 and a double-zoom kit with the 18-55mm and the 50-200mm DAL lenses for £799.99.
Pentax Ricoh has announced a new superzoom camera called the Pentax Optio VS20. The 16-megapixel Optio VS20 features a 28-560mm equivalent zoom lens and a second vertical shutter-release button with zoom lever for effortless portrait oriented shooting. The Optio VS20 even includes a vertical tripod socket for better vertical support. Other highlights include sensor-shift image stabilisation, a digital level gauge, a 3” display, a new Handheld Night Snap mode and a range of creative digital filters. The Pentax Optio VS20 will be available in February for $249.95 / £199.99.
Sigma Corporation of America has announced the winner of its “Dear Sigma” contest. Participants were required fill out an entry form and draft a “Dear Sigma” letter describing what Sigma products they’re dreaming of this holiday season. The company today revealed that Brandon Bethea, of San Diego, California, will receive three Sigma lenses totaling nearly $2,500 as a result of his “Dear Sigma” contest entry, titled “Better to Give than Receive.” Bethea founded Fin Forward, a shark-diving project for cancer survivors, and said he plans to use the 50mm F2.8 macro, 8-16mm F4-5.6 wide angle (pictured), and 20mm F1.8 wide angle lenses to photograph his upcoming 2012 Mayan Shark Odyssey to raise awareness about cancer and shark conservation.
We've selected our top picks for this year's Holiday season, all the way from the cheapest digital compact up to the most expensive DSLR and everything in between. So no matter what your budget, make sure that you consult the Photography Blog Holiday Gift Guide for 2011 before splashing out your hard-earned cash.
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has launched a digital photography contest for US residents. The “Best Shots” competition is now open for entries and photo submissions will be accepted until 23 December. Entrants can submit one photo in each of four categories: people, travel, pets and cell phone shots. A slate of expert judges will select the finalists, and winners will be determined by an online popular vote running from 9-12 January 2012. The grand prize winner, to be announced on 13 January at the 2012 International CES, will receive a Nikon D3100 digital SLR camera kit. As always, we suggest that you read the rules before entering your work.
Curious Critters by Sigma Pro photographer and writer David FitzSimmons is a new children’s picture book featuring macro photographs. The author says the book came about as a result of his experimentation with animal macro photography techniques and his desire to teach children to appreciate nature and photography. “Though ‘Curious Critters’ is geared toward children, adults will be equally as fascinated with David’s incredibly tight photography,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “David has done a fantastic job with this book – the photography and technique is outstanding, and he’s melded the visuals with fun, entertaining stories and educational information. As a company that strives to empower photographers of all ages and abilities, we couldn’t be more proud of David’s work on ‘Curious Critters.’” Scheduled for a November 7 release, Curious Critters is priced at $19.95.
Pentax has just announced the launch of a limited-edition Pentax 645D camera kit. Called the Pentax 645D Japan, this kit features a beautiful, red lacquer-finished 645D camera body, which is made to order and is delivered in a specially designed paulownia-wood packaging. The exclusive lacquer finish not only gives the camera an elegant, exquisite appearance, but also enhances the camera’s durability, Pentax says. Orders for this special kit can be placed during a two-month period from 20th July 20 to 20th September through one of Pentax’s preferred suppliers in the UK. American customers will be able to pre-order the kit on the Pentax Web Store. The product will be delivered within “four months or more” from the receipt of the order. For more details, visit on of the websites below.
The new and stabilised Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro is now available for purchase in the USA. Announced in February, the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM features a maximum magnification ratio of 1:1, a Super Multi-layer Coating to reduce flare and ghosting, a HyperSonic Motor (HSM) for quiet auto focus and Sigma’s own Optical Stabiliser to combat motion blur resulting from shaky hands. The lens carries an MSRP of $1,400.
The Pentax Q is a new compact system camera that offers the world’s lightest and smallest body. Based around a back illuminated 12.4 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS image sensor, the Pentax Q uses the brand new super-compact Q-mount lens system, which has an outer diameter six millimetres shorter than that of Pentax’s conventional K mount. The Pentax Q also features Full HD movie recording, sensor-shift Shake Reduction mechanism, built-in flash, 5fps continuous shooting, 3.0-inch colour LCD monitor, and an extensive range of Smart Effect modes. An external viewfinder and camera case will also be launched alongside the Pentax Q. The Pentax Q will be available in white or black in mid-September 2011, pricing to be announced in the UK. Anticipated shipping time to the United States is early Fall 2011 at around $800 for the standard lens kit. The shoe-mounted viewfinder will be available at the same time for $249.95.
Pentax has just announced the Pentax O-GPS1, a versatile GPS unit providing basic location data and offering an array of original features. Designed for use with Pentax digital SLR cameras, the Pentax O-GPS1 records the latitude, longitude, altitude, coordinated universal time (UTC) and aspect of the location they are shooting, and additionally offers applications like ASTROTRACER, Simple Navigation and an Electronic Compass. The ASTROTRACER functionality, available with the unit mounted on the Pentax K-5 or K-r, couples the Pentax O-GPS1 with the camera’s magnet-driven Shake Reduction system to compensate for the Earth’s rotation, enabling photographers to capture stars as you see them, rather than as star trails. Thanks to its “simplified weather-resistant construction”, the Pentax O-GPS1 can also be used in light rain, making it a perfect companion to the K-5 camera and WR lenses. The unit will be available mid-June 2011, at the RRP of £229.99. In the USA, the Pentax O-GPS1 is expected to ship in July, for $249.95.
Sigma has announced that the updated Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM telephoto zoom lens is now available for purchase in the USA. Unveiled at Photokina 2010, the lens features one SLD and two FLD glass elements for maximum correction of chromatic aberrations. The OS (optical stabiliser) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. The super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting. The Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM is available for the MSRP of $4,700.
The Pentax 645D medium-format digital SLR camera has been selected as Camera of The Year at the Camera GP Japan 2011 Awards. The annual Camera Grand Prix Awards are one of the most prestigious camera awards in Japan and are sponsored by the Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC), a group of photography writers from the top 11 photo and camera magazines in Japan. The panel concluded that, as the first medium-format digital SLR camera launched by Pentax, the 645D represented “the perfect combination of many advanced and photographer-friendly features”, including an extra-large CCD image sensor housed within a highly dependable dust-proof, weather resistant body.
Jaybilizer today introduced the new, easier-to-balance version 2.0 Jaybilizer HDSLR camera stabiliser. Constructed of high quality steel and aluminium, the Jaybilizer HDSLR 2.0 makes the process of balancing the camera much easier with both side-to-side and forward and backward infinitely adjustable sliding balance plates with external locking screws. The Jaybilizer HDSLR 2.0 is available for purchase for $249 plus S&H from the website below.
Ahead of today's launch of the Lumix G3, we sat down with Panasonic to discuss the new camera and their plans for the future. Read our in-depth 33 question, 5,000+ word insight into Panasonic and the G3...
Pentax has partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, to offer a DC Super Heroes-inspired collection of personalised Pentax Optio RS1500 cameras Owners of the “DC Super Heroes RS1500” collector pack can personalise their camera with one of their favourite Super Heroes including Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Superman, or super villains, such as Catwoman and The Joker. Obviously targeted at the adolescent market, the limited-edition RS1500 camera will come in a specially designed package, including different skins depicting the well known characters, and a 4GB SD card. Timed to coincide with the release of a new Warner Brothers action-adventure film, Green Lanterns, the Pentax Optio RS1500 DC Super Heroes collector pack will be available from 1 May 2011 at the RRP of £119.99 including the camera itself, the super hero themed skins, memory card and a special Green Lantern protective camera case.
The Canon EOS 1100D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T3 in North America) is a new entry-level DSLR camera with some advanced features. Replacing the ageing 1000D / XS model, the new Canon 1100D / T3 offers a 12 megapixel sensor, 2.7 inch LCD screen, 720p movies, 63-zone metering, and 9-point auto-focus system. Available body only from £419 and in a range of kits from £459 / $599, read our Canon EOS 1100D / T3 review to find out if this budget DSLR is a bargain or one to avoid.
The Canon EOS 600D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T3i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts a class-leading 18-megapixels and full 1080p high-definition videos. Other key features of the 600D / T3i include continuous shooting at 3.7fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-12800, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 4 processor. Is the Canon EOS 600D / T3i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
The Pentax Optio RS1500 is a digital camera with a customisable skin. The Optio RS1500 comes with ten ready-made unique front skins. You can also easily customise the camera yourself as it also comes with five blank pre-cut paper foils. In addition, the new Optio RS1500 includes two lens rings – black and orange, so you can begin customising your camera straight away. The RS1500 has a subtle aluminium design and also offers a 4x wide-angle zoom (equivalent to 28-112mm in 35mm), a 3 inch LCD display and HD video recording (1280x720 pixels, 30fps). The Pentax RS1500 will be available in April 2011 for £89.99.
Sigma announced that 167 students have submitted images to the second annual Sigma Scholarship Contest. The contest has just entered the voting phase, with a crucial online, public vote now underway to narrow down the field of scholarship candidates to five finalists. Voting will last until 5pm ET, on 1 April 2011. From the five finalists, a judging panel of Sigma executives will then choose the scholarship winner, who will receive $5,000 in cash, and $1,000 toward Sigma products. Sigma will announce the winner on 18 April 2011. o view the students’ submissions and cast a vote, visit the website below.
Jacobs Digital have released details about their special show offers for Focus 2011. Highlights include discounts on the Panasonic GH2 and GF2, Sony A55 and NEX5, and the debut of the Canon EOS 600D. Jacobs are also the only official Pentax partner at Focus on Imaging.
The Olympus E-5 is a new semi-professional DSLR camera. Built to withstand the elements, the 12 megapixel E-5 has a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, 3-inch articulated LCD screen, top sensitivity of ISO 6400 and a new range of Art Filters. Read our expert Olympus E-5 review to find out if it can compete with the likes of the Canon EOS 60D, Nikon D7000 and Pentax K-5.
Try a Pentax camera before you buy around the UK this December. Five demo days are taking place throughout this month in Dursley, Barnstable, Carmarthen, Norwich and Exeter, giving you the opportunity to try out the new K-series DSLRs, lenses, accessories and RS1000 or RZ10 compacts.
The Nikon D3100 is an entry-level digital SLR camera boasting 14.2-megapixels and full HD movies. Successor to the popular D3000 model, the new D3100 features full-time auto-focusing in both Live View and D-movie modes, a Quiet Shutter Release mode, and an enhanced Guide Mode for the beginner target audience that the D3100 is aimed at. Find out if this is the perfect first DSLR camera for you by reading our expert Nikon D3100 Review.
The K-5 is the second DSLR camera from Pentax for 2010, inheriting the existing K-7's proven control layout and incorporating a new 16.3 megapixel APS-C sensor. The Pentax K-5 offers an incredible ISO range of 80-51200 plus Full 1080p HD movies, 7fps burst shooting and a large high-resolution LCD screen. Read our Pentax K-5 review to discover if this mid-range DSLR can compete with the competition from Nikon and Canon.
The new Pentax K-r is a mid-range DSLR camera that fills the gap between the entry-level K-x and prosumer K-7 models. The 12 megapixel K-r combines the best of both cameras, inheriting the compact size and simple layout of the K-x and the high-resolution screen and AF system of the K-7. Is that enough to still remain competitive in 2010? Read our Pentax K-r expert review to find out...
The EOS 60D is a new kind of DSLR camera from Canon, blending features from the cheaper 550D / / Rebel T2i and the more expensive 7D to exactly occupy the middle ground between the two. Aimed at the well-heeled amateur with a penchant for video, the 60D is the first EOS camera to offer an articulated LCD screen, making it easier to shoot both stills and importantly video. Read our expert Canon EOS 60D Review to find out if Canon's new prosumer DSLR is a worthy addition to the EOS range.
The Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM lens is now available for purchase in the US. This fast medium telephoto lens is optimised for 35mm full-frame digital and film SLR cameras, although it can of course also be used on cropped-sensor digital camera bodies as well. The Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM contains one Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass element and a glass mold element, and comes with a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for quiet focussing. The lens has a round, nine-blade diaphragm for attractive bokeh, and comes bundled with a petal-type hood. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is $1,400.
Pentax Imaging Company has confirmed the US launch date and MSRP of the Pentax 645D medium-format DSLR camera. The Pentax 645D (body only) will ship in December 2010 for the price of $9,995.95. The smc PENTAX-D FA 645 55mm F2.8 lens will ship at the same time for $1,199.95. American photographers interested in seeing the camera in the flesh can do so at PDN Photoplus Expo from October 28-30 at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City. The company also announced that the 645D has received an American Photo Magazine Editor’s Choice 2010 award.
Photokina is over for another 2 years, so we’ve looked back at some of the most notable products we have seen at the world’s biggest photography show.
The Pentax K-5 is a new 16 megapixel DSLR camera. Based on the Pentax K-7, the K-5 offers 7fps burst shooting, ISO 80-51200, full 1080 HD movies, faster autofocusing, upgraded HDR, and a dustproof, weather-resistant and cold-resistant construction. The Pentax K-5 will be available from mid-late October 2010 in three kits: K-5 +18-55mm WR - £1199.99, K-5 + 18-55mm WR + 50-200mm WR - £1299.99, and K-5 + 18-135mm WR - £1699.99.
Pentax have announced a new 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 high-zoom-ratio standard zoom lens. The smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL[IF] DC WR features a 7.5-times zoom ratio, simplified weather-resistant construction and extra-smooth autofocus operation. The smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm will be available from early November 2010 for £599.99.
Sigma are best known for their extensive range of lenses for other manufacturer's DSLR systems, but they also produce their own DP range of premium compact cameras and SD range of DSLRs. New for 2010 is the long-awaited SD15 digital SLR, which was first announced back at Photokina 2008, a long wait in the fast-moving world of digital cameras. Can the SD15 with its Foveon sensor still compete in today's market? Read our in-depth Sigma SD15 review to find out...
The Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM standard zoom for DSLR cameras with an APS-C sized sensor is now available in the US. This lens has two FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, plus two glass mold and one hybrid aspherical lens that are claimed to provide excellent correction for all type of aberrations. The Optical Stabiliser (OS) allows you to take longer hand-held exposures than would otherwise be possible, while the inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and circular polarising filters. The lens is currently available in Canon mounts at all authorised Sigma dealers for the MSRP of $980, and it will be available in Nikon, Sigma, Sony and Pentax mounts in the coming weeks.
Pentax has added a vibrant-orange version of the Pentax Optio W90 waterproof camera to its digital compact line-up. Named the Pentax Optio W90 Shiny Orange, this new model has an orange-colour aluminium-alloy front panel that features a fine hairline finish. The 12-megapixel camera, which is equipped with a 5x zoom lens, is sand- and dustproof, waterproof down to a depth of 6 metres and shockproof to approximately 1.5 metres. The recommended retail price of the Pentax Optio W90 Shiny Orange is £269.99 in the UK, and $329.95 in the USA. Availability is slated for July.
Is it a DSLR? Is it a compact? The new Pentax I-10 combines the styling of the former with the simplicity of the latter, complete with a 5x zoom, 12 megapixels and 2.7 inch screen for under £199.99 / $249.95. Gavin Stoker finds out if the Pentax I-10 is all style and no substance...
Hot on the heels of the Sigma SD15 announcement, Sigma UK has unveiled the suggested retail price of the new 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM standard zoom lens. Designed for DSLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors, the lens incorporates two FLD glass elements whose performance is equal to that of fluorite glass. The inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and circular polarising filters, while the Hyper Sonic Motor makes for fast and quiet focussing. Available now in Canon fit, the lens will also come in Sigma, Nikon, Sony and Pentax versions shortly. The suggested retail price is £649.99.
The Pentax Optio X90 is a brand new super-zoom compact camera featuring a 26x image-stabilized zoom lens with a focal range of 26-676mm. Successor to the X70 model, the X90 has a 12 megapixel sensor, 2.7 inch screen, full range of creative shooting modes and can record 720p HD movies. Retailing for £329.99 / $399.95, does the Pentax Optio X90 offer enough to match its super-zoom rivals? Gavin Stoker finds out in our Pentax Optio X90 review.
Bright blue, orange, green and purple are the new colours in which the Pentax K-x will be available in the USA. Until now, the Pentax K-x came in black, white, red and navy blue. The new colours are now available exclusively for pre-order in the Pentax Web Store. Each fresh new colour comes in a kit with a matching 18-55mm lens.
Website: Pentax Web Store
The Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM, the world’s widest rectilinear lens for DSLR cameras with an APS-C sized sensor, is now available in the US. This is the first ultra-wide zoom lens with a minimum focal length of 8mm, designed specifically for APS-C size image sensors. The wide-angle of view of 121.2 degrees produces striking images with exaggerated perspective, enabling photographers to emphasise the subject. The lens is currently available in Canon mount at all authorised Sigma dealers for the MSRP of $1,100, and it will be available in Sigma, Nikon, Sony and Pentax mounts in the coming weeks.
The Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM, the world’s widest rectilinear lens for DSLR cameras with an APS-C sized sensor, has just been given a price tag in the UK. This is the first ultra-wide zoom lens with a minimum focal length of 8mm, designed specifically for APS-C size image sensors. The wide-angle of view of 121.2 degrees produces striking images with exaggerated perspective, enabling photographers to emphasise the subject.The suggested retail price is £799.99. This new lens will be available at the end of April in Sigma, Canon and Nikon fit. Sony and Pentax will follow shortly, says Paul Reynolds of Sigma Imaging (UK) Ltd.
Sigma has announced that the deadline for voting online for its first-ever scholarship contest has been extended to April 30. A total of 122 high school seniors, hailing from nearly every state including Hawaii and Alaska, are vying for $5,000 in cash and $1,000 in Sigma products. Applicants were required to submit up to five thematically tied photographs, along with a brief essay describing their creative process in capturing and selecting the images. Students chose a wide variety of themes such as natural beauty, personal growth, artistic expression, and love. Online voting by the public started on 17 February and will end 30 April, narrowing the field to the top three student finalists.Responding to user requests to make the voting process more user friendly, Sigma modified the Web site to make it easier for voters to make their selection by using a valid email address.
Website: Sigma Photo Scholarship
The long-awaited Pentax 645D digital medium-format camera will be available in May 2010. The 645D features a 40 megapixel Kodak sensor, SAFOX IX+ autofocus system with 11 sensor points, weather-proof body, dual SD/SDHC card slots and a glass prism viewfinder. Expected to sell for ¥850,000 ($9,500 / £6,300), the Pentax 645D will initially only be available in Japan, with a decision about release in other countries still to be decided. In addition to the 645D body, Pentax will also launch the D-FA 645 55mm F2.8 AL [IF] SDM AW lens, which is equivalent to 43.5mm in the 35mm format and will cost around ¥100,000 ($1,100 / £750).
ArcSoft has announced a partnership with Pentax to provide ArcSoft MediaImpression for Pentax’s compact cameras. MediaImpression provides users with intelligent ways to organise, view, and edit their photo, music and video. It also provides easy access to share the media to popular online sharing sites such as YouTube, Flickr and Facebook. Pentax has recently launched a range of digital compact cameras including the Pentax Optio E90, H90, I-10 and W90 models, and the Pentax X90 superzoom with a 26x optical zoom lens (pictured).
Sigma has just relaunched its website, complete with a fresh look and new features. Designed by Blue Collar Interactive, the new Sigma site has an extensive Lens Finder Tool, enhanced functionality for Sigma dealers, and social media sharing tools. One of the prominent new features is the Sigma Lounge, which includes a photo share gallery and blog. “We’re particularly excited about the opportunity to interact with users and provide a place for the Sigma community to share their images,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, general manager of Sigma Corporation of America. Customers will also find it much easier to navigate our product pages and make purchases through Authorized Sigma Dealers.”
Website: Sigma
The Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is a large aperture medium telephoto lens. Optimised for use with digital SLR cameras, the Sigma 85mm F1.4 lens is ideal for portrait and low light photography. It features a minimum focusing distance of 85cm and a maximum magnification 1:8.6. For digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, a dedicated hood adapter, which expands the length of the lens hood, is supplied.
The Sigma 8-16mm f4-5.6 DC HSM is a new ultra wide-angle zoom lens for DSLRs with APS-C size sensors. This lens has an equivalent angle of view of a 12-24mm lens, producing striking images with exaggerated perspective. Four FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, compensate for colour aberration. The Sigma 8-16mm has a minimum focusing distance of 24cm throughout the entire zoom range.
The Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a compact large aperture standard zoom lens equipped with optical stabilisation. This large aperture standard zoom lens is designed for digital SLR cameras with APS-C size sensors. Two FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, plus two glass mold and one hybrid aspherical lens, provide excellent correction for all type of aberrations. The inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and circular polarising filters.
The Pentax Optio I-10 is an eye-catching SLR-shaped digital compact camera. The flash unit and speaker are positioned in the upper middle section of the I10 body, the centre section of the camera’s front panel is textured, and the near-centred lens and Pentax logo just above it have all been carefully designed to enhance the SLR image. The Pentax I-10 also offers a 5x zoom lens (28-140mm), 12 megapixels, triple anti-shake protection, HD movie recording and wireless remote shooting. The Pentax Optio I-10 will be available in mid-February for £199.99.
Sigma Corporation of America has highlighted the work of four elite photographers - Chip Forelli, Paula Lerner, Stephen Mallon and Sean Perry - in its online photo gallery, “Our World: Awe-Inspiring Images.” All four photographers were given a Sigma DP2, with which they were not familiar and were encouraged to produce images that pay tribute to the camera’s image quality. The results are currently available on the company’s Web site for public viewing.
Website: Our World
Sigma have announced a new, optically stabilised version of their 17-70mm DC lens. This fast standard zoom for DSLR cameras sporting an APS-C sized sensor has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at the wide end and f/4 at maximum telephoto. The OS (Optical Stabiliser) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible, Sigma claim. The incorporation of HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures a quiet and high speed AF. Three aspherical lenses and one Extraordinary Low Dispersion glass element are on board to fight all types of optical aberration, whilst the Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting to help maintain optimum contrast in all lighting conditions. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 22cm(8.7in.) throughout the entire zoom range and maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.7, which is why the word ‘Macro’ appears in the product name. This minimum focusing distance is apparently measured from the sensor plane, as Sigma also claim you can focus as close as 4.7cm(1.9in.) from the front lens element to the subject. The lens will be available for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma and Sony DSLRs.
Website: Sigma
Digital River has signed a new e-commerce agreement with Pentax Europe, concerning the launch of an online store and the provision of.a range of e-commerce services to support online consumer sales of Pentax cameras in the UK, Germany, France Switzerland and Hungary. The Pentax Europe store is expected to launch before the end of this year.
Pentax have been producing excellent DSLR cameras for some time now, and their latest model, the K-x model, is certainly no exception. The small and lightweight 12 megapixel Pentax Kx has a wealth of features, including 4.7fps continuous shooting, 11-point auto-focus, high-definition video, auto modes for beginners and manual modes for experts. With an official price of £599.99 / $599.95, the K-x also won't break the bank. Mark Goldstein finds out if the new Pentax Kx deserves a place on your DSLR short-list...
The Canon EOS 7D is a brand new 18 megapixel DSLR camera, complete with 8fps continuous shooting, high-res 3 inch LCD screen, Live View and Full HD movies. The Canon 7D also features a number of significant improvements to its auto-focusing, metering, viewfinder and flash systems, which all add up to make this one of the best-ever specified EOS cameras. Find out if the Canon EOS 7D can also take great pictures by reading the World's first expert review...
The Pentax K-x is a new 12.4 megapixel mid-range DSLR camera. Featuring a newly developed CMOS image sensor, the Pentax Kx offers a wide sensitivity range between ISO 200 and 6400 (expandable to 100-12800), 2.7 inch LCD screen, Live View with three different focusing modes, and in-built Shake Reduction. Based on the compact and lightweight design of the K-m camera, the Pentax Kx can shoot HD movies at 1280 x 720 pixels at 24 frames per second, 4.7 still frames per second in high-speed continuous shooting mode, and has a high-precision 11-point AF sensor. The K-x is being launched in conjunction with the new smc PENTAX-DA L 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED super-telephoto zoom lens, which comes as part of a K-x twin lens kit package. The Pentax K-x will be available in black, white, red and blue in October for £599.99 / $599.95 with the 18-55mm DAL kit lens (also available in all four colours), and £749.99 / $849.95 with the 8-55mm DAL and 55-300mm DAL double kit lens. An additional kit with the smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm lens and smc PENTAX DA L 50-200mm zoom lenses is available in the US for $749.95.
The Pentax X70 is the latest super-zoom compact camera to land on our review desk, and the first entry from Pentax into this ever-competitive segment of the market. This 24x zoom model offers an amazingly versatile focal range of 26-624mm, covering everything from wide-angle landscapes to up-close-and-personal nature shots. If there still isn't enough telephoto range for you, the software-based Intelligent Zoom function boosts the X70's reach up to 3900mm. Also on offer are a 2.7-inch LCD monitor, 1280x720 pixel HD movies, 1cm macro and full range of manual shooting modes. Currently selling for around £370 / $399, Gavin Stoker finds out if the Pentax X70 can compete with the super zoom big boys in our latest expert review.
The 10-megapixel Pentax Optio WS80 is a new rugged, dust- and waterproof camera with a 5x zoom lens and the ability to record high-definition video. The Pentax Optio WS80 can withstand depths up to five feet (1.5 metres) for up to two hours, and sports features like extra-quick face detection, smile capture, shake reduction and an Auto Picture mode similar to the iAuto mode of other manufacturers’ digital cameras. Available in two eye-catching color options, black with orange accents or white with purple accents, the PENTAX Optio WS80 will ship in September 2009 for $249.95 USD.
Pentax Imaging has announced that Camera Repair Instrument Service (CRIS), a provider of camera repair and imaging device maintenance, will partner with Pentax to provide factory repair service for Pentax cameras in the US. In this agreement, CRIS will act as the “factory service facility” for dealers and consumers in the United States. More information is available at www.criscam.com or visit www.pentaximaging.com for CRIS customer service contact information.
The Pentax Optio P70 is an affordable point-and-shoot camera that's super-slim, light-weight and good to look at. Firmly aimed at the beginner, the 12 megapixel Pentax P70 features a 2.7 inch screen, 4x zoom lens with wide-angle 27.5mm setting, and a wealth of auto and scene modes. Competitively priced at £179.99 / $199.99, does the Pentax P70's performance match its good looks? Read our expert review to find out...
The Pentax Optio W80 is Pentax’s most water-, shock-, dust- and cold-proof digital camera ever. The Pentax W80 can withstand depths of up to 16 feet (5 meters) for up to 2 hours, drops of up to 3.3 feet (1 meter), and sub-freezing temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius). The 12.1 megapixel W80 also features a 5x zoom lens, HD movies, a 2.5-inch LCD screen and triple anti-shake protection. Available in Cardinal Red, Azure Blue and Gunmetal Gray, the Pentax Optio W80 will be available in July 2009 for $299.95. Accessories include a custom designed clear protective skin ($16.95) and a comfortable floating wrist strap ($19.95).
The new Pentax K-7 digital SLR camera is one of the big surprises of 2009, offering a multitude of desirable features in a compact, weatherproof body. The K7 is the latest DSLR to feature a HD movie recording mode, in addition to its 14.6 megapixel still images. Other highlights include a dedicated HDR mode, improved 11-point auto-focus, high-res 3 inch LCD screen and optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage. Can the Pentax K-7 take on and beat the likes of the Nikon D300 and Canon EOS 50D? Read our in-depth review with test shots, JPEGS, RAW files and movie to find out...
The Nikon D5000 is the latest digital SLR camera to incorporate a video recording mode, capable of producing 720p, 1280x720 pixel movies at 30fps complete with sound. The 12.3 megapixel D5000 also features a vari-angle LCD screen, making unusual picture compostions easier than with a fixed screen. More traditional SLR features include an ISO range of 100-6400, 4fps continuous shooting, and 11-point autofocus system. Retailing for £719.99 / €878.00 / $729.95 body only, or £799.99 / €972.00 / $849.95 with the 18-55mm VR kit lens, we find out if the Nikon D5000 can successfuly combine video and still images in our latest expert review.
The new Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM lens now has a suggested retail price in the UK. This new lens will run alongside the current Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM and is expected to be available in the UK in July for Sigma, Canon and Nikon fit, with Sony and Pentax fit arriving in August. This super wide-angle lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 throughout the entire zoon range and incorporates two exta low dispersion and four aspherical elements as well as a ‘hyper sonic’ motor that enables quiet and high-speed auto focus as well as full-time manual focusing capability. The suggested retail price will be £649.99 in the UK.
According to Dublin-based market research company Research and Markets, product penetration for digital still cameras has reached at least 48% in the USA. Affordable and easy-to-use digital cameras have transformed how U.S. consumers use photography, changing it from something used to document important occasions like weddings and trips to an integral part of everyday life, the company notes in its new report, “Still and Video Cameras in the United States 2009”. The high penetration figure may indicate that the market is becoming increasingly saturated, and makes it challenging to maintain revenue growth.
The Pentax K-7 is a new mid-range DSLR with a number of novel features. New to the Pentax K7 are functions like video recording, in-camera HDR and automatic horizon correction. The dustproof, weather and cold-resistant Pentax K-7 also features a new shutter designed for 100,000 actuations, a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second, a through-the-lens optical viewfinder with approximately 100% frame coverage and 0.92x magnification, and a new Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen designed to improve focusing accuracy during manual-focus operation.
The Pentax K-7 has a continuous shooting rate of 5.2 frames per second for up to 40 JPEG images, a newly developed DR II dust removal system, a new 77-segment matrix meter, a new-generation SR mechanism for improved shake-reduction, a 3” LCD monitor with approximately 920k dots, Live View with Face Recognition AF, a new 11-point wide-frame AF module with 9 cross sensors and 2 line sensors, a multi-exposure function and automatic compensation of lens distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations with DA and DFA lenses.
The Pentax K7 also offers all the well-known Pentax goodies like the RAW button, Shutter/Aperture priority and Sensitivity-Priority modes, Hyper Programme and Hyper Manual functions. In line with what Gabrielle Remmers, Marketing Communication Manager of the Division of Imaging Systems of Pentax Europe, recently said about the “sensible resolution limit” having already been reached, the new Pentax K-7 has the same pixel count as its predecessor the K20D, although the sensor is a newly developed CMOS that allegedly offers “greatly reduced” noise levels.
In the UK, the Pentax K-7 will cost £1,199.99 body only, £1,229.99 with the 18-55mm kit lens, and £1329.99 with the 18-55mm + 50-200mm double kit lens. In the US, the K-7 body only will ship in July 2009 for $1,299.95 USD. The D-BG4 battery grip also will ship in July 2009 for $229.95. The newest weather-resistant lenses will be priced at $199.95 for the DA 18-55mm and $249.95 for the DA 50-200mm. These products also will ship in July 2009.
The ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD is the world’s first standard zoom lens to feature a constant f2.0 aperture. It provides an equivalent focal length of 28-70mm in 35mm terms and features the SWD-driven ultra-fast AF system. Part of the premium Super High Grade (SHG) series for Olympus DSLR cameras, the Olympus 14-35mm F2.0 SWD also offers dust-/drip-proofing, a mechanically interlocked manual focusing mechanism, and a large, flower-shaped hood with a polarization filter control window. Priced at $2,299 / £1,999, we find out if the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD is the best standard zoom lens that money can buy.
Pentax Imaging Company has announced a third instant rebate programme effective May 15 – May 24, 2009 on select digital cameras. The savings consist of a $20.00 USD instant rebate on the PENTAX P70 and the PENTAX E70 compact digital cameras and a $50.00 USD savings on the PENTAX K2000 digital SLR double lens kit. There is no need to submit or track claims or wait several weeks for a rebate cheque. More information about the programme and all of these products is available at: www.pentaximaging.com
The Canon EOS 500D is the latest DSLR camera to jump on the HD video bandwagon, offering 1080p and 720p quality settings. Also known as the Digital Rebel T1i, the successor to the EOS 450D features a 15 megapixel CMOS sensor, 940,000 dot 3-inch LCD screen, Live View and ISO range of 100-12800. At $799.99 / £869.99 body only or $899.99 / £969.99 with the EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS kit lens, find out if the Canon EOS 500D is the best consumer digital SLR in our expert review.
Pentax offers an instant rebate programme on select digital cameras. The models involved include the Pentax Optio E70, Optio P70 and Optio W60 compacts, and the Pentax K2000 DSLR bundled with a DA L 18-55mm kit lens and an AF200FG flash. The rebate programme is valid in the US between 3 - 11 April.
Sakar have unveiled new Vivitar products including digital, underwater and video cameras, digital SLR camera lenses and flashes. The Vivitar V8400P ($129.95) is an 8 megapixel that’s waterproof at depths up to 30 feet. The Vivitar V8025 ($99) is an 8 megapixel touch-screen camera. The Vivitar Series 1 Lenses for DSLRs includes an 85mm F1.4A spherical lens for portraits and a a 650-1300mm super telephoto lens. Vivitar Series 1 Flashes includes the DF-283 ($129.95) bounce, zoom, swivel AF flash and the DF-383 ($199.95) power zoom LCD display flash.
Pentax USA have reduced the price of the Pentax K20D by $200. Effective immediately, the K20D is now available at these prices:
K20D body only - $799.95
K20D with DA 18-55mm II lens kit: $879.95
K20D with DA 16-45mm lens kit: $1199.95
Pentax are also extending the free Three Year Warranty on all K20Ds purchased by March 31st 2009.
The PDML Photo Annual is comprised of artwork from 59 photographers from around the world, with 100% of the profits being donated to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. The PDML (PENTAX-Discuss Mail List) is an email list of photographers all over the world. This project brought together 59 artists in 15 countries to create the PDML Photo Annual, which was assembled electronically and uploaded to the online publishing site Blurb. The PDML Photo Annual costs from $32.95.
Pentax USA have reduced the prices of the K-series digital SLR cameras. From February 1st-22nd, the Pentax K20D body only and all body and lens kits will have an in-store instant $100.00 Consumer Rebate. Pentax have also reduced the price of the D-BG3 Battery Grip to $19.95 ($129.00 value) when combined with the K200D body and any lens by March 31st.
Pentax have launched a white version of the entry-level K-m digital SLR camera. In these unique, limited-edition kits, both the Pentax Km camera body and the zoom lenses have a brilliant white finish. 100 Km Whites will be available in the UK, priced at £449.99 for the single 18-55mm lens kit, and £549.99 for the twin lens kit (also includes the 50-200mm lens).
The entry-level camera market is a cut-throat world, with falling prices and improving specifications making DSLR photography more affordable than ever before. Enter stage left the new Pentax K-m (also known as the Pentax K2000), a small, light and simplified camera aimed squarely at beginners to SLR photography. Costing a wallet-friendly £399.99 / $699 with the new smc DA-L 18-55 lens (and flash in the US), the 10 megapixel Pentax Km is one of the smallest DSLRs available, yet still offers a host of impressive features. These include a built-in anti-shake system, dust-removal, Auto Picture mode, and 3.5 frames per second continuous shooting speed. Can the Pentax K-m make an impression and challenge the likes of the Nikon D60, Canon EOS 1000D, Sony A200 and Olympus E-420? Mark Goldstein finds out…
Website: Pentax K-m Review
Tamron has announced the winners of its 2008 Wet & Wild user photo competition. John O’Bryan of Moscow, Idaho won the Grand Prize title, winning a Tamron AF28-300mm VC zoom lens, and Donald Handley was named the People’s Choice winner. The theme of the 2009 contest - Americana - Photographs That Define American Culture - was revealed earlier this week.
Pentax have launched a new ad campaign dubbed “Be Interesting” in the USA. “Pentax users, and people who are naturally drawn to the brand, truly are independent spirits. They don’t follow. They decidedly beat their own drum. The campaign’s idea is to celebrate that independent spirit.” said Jim Real, Associate Creative Director/Copy at advertising agency RPA. The Be Interesting tagline will be deployed across all Pentax brochures, packaging and internal communications.
Photokina is over for another 2 years, so we’ve looked back at some of the most notable developments from the World’s biggest photography show.
Leica S System
Undoubtedly the greatest surprise of this year’s Photokina was Leica’s announcement of the new S system. The German manufacturer did not simply launch a new, high-resolution camera with an assortment of lenses to go with it. They did not simply introduce a new mount either. Instead they announced a completely new camera format, something that hasn’t happened since the debut of the FourThirds system five years ago.
The Pentax K-m is a new entry-level DSLR camera offering simplified, user-friendly operation, and an easy-to-manoeuvre compact, lightweight body. The 10 megapixel Pentax K-m (also known as the K2000) includes a built-in anti-shake system, dust-removal, Auto Picture mode and 3.5 frames per second continuous shooting speed. The Pentax K-m / K2000 will retail at £399.99 with the new smc DA-L 18-55 lens or £499.99 with the smc DA-L 18-55 and 50-200mm lenses.
Update: Click the continue link to see a gallery of pictures of the new Pentax K-m DSLR, live from the Photokina show floor.
The Pentax Optio E60 is a new entry-level, 10 megapixel digital camera. The E60 offers a 3x, 32-96mm zoom lens, Auto Picture, Face Recognition, High Sensitivity Digital Shake Reduction modes, and an Image Recovery function to retrieve accidentally-erased images. The Pentax E60 will be available in black in October for under US $140.00.
CameraLabs have reviewed the Pentax K200D, a new 10 megapixel entry-level, compact digital SLR camera.
“So while the K200D may be missing out in some respects, it does boast by far the best build quality of any entry-level DSLR. Couple that with the upper screen and unique RAW options, along with plenty of control over processing and customisation, and you have a DSLR which really stands out from the crowd and one we can Highly Recommend. Ultimately if you want a tough DSLR with weather-proofing, but can’t stretch to a semi-pro model, then the K200D really is your only choice.”
Website: CameraLabs - Pentax K200D Review
Website: Read our Pentax K200D Review
The Pentax Optio W60 is a new fully waterproof, 10 megapixel digital camera with 5x zoom lens and 28mm wide-angle capability. The Pentax W60 can operate up to 13 feet underwater for two hours and at extreme temperatures well below freezing. The new Digital Wide function merges two shots into one image for ultra-wide-angle image capture (equivalent to a focal length of 21mm in 35mm format). The High-Quality Movie mode offers HD resolution up to 1280 x 720 pixels, comparable to a 720p HDTV. The Pentax Optio W60 will be available in July 2008 for $329.95 in a choice of two colors, Ocean Blue and Silver.
The Tamron SP AF70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO now has a built-in AF motor, making it compatible with Nikon’s APS-C DSLR cameras. The Tamron 70-200mm lens provides a field of view equivalent to 105-300mm when used with the Nikon D60, D40x and D40. Tamron have revealed that the new lens will be launched in Japan on May 30th 2008.
Bibble Pro 4.10 adds support for eight of the newest digital SLR cameras and 14 new lenses. Version 4.10 adds support for: Nikon D60, Canon Digital Rebel XSi (450D), Sony a200, a300, and a350, Pentax K20D and K200D, and Olympus E-420. Version 4.10 is the last planned update to Bibble Lite and Bibble Pro before the launch of Bibble 5. Bibble 4.10 is available in both “Pro” ($129.95) and “Lite” ($69.95) versions for Windows, Macintosh (PPC/Intel as a Universal Binary) and Linux.
Pentax has organised a global photoshoot, dubbed Pentax World Day, to be held on Saturday, April 5, 2008. Forum members at www.pentaxforums.com plan to shoot locally on that day and submit images to a central website. The event is being organized just for the satisfaction of shooting and sharing images with other forum members. Images must be captured with a Pentax camera on Pentax World Day (April 5, 2008) between midnight and midnight.
The world digital camera market is projected to reach 122 million units by the year 2010. The United States and Europe has a combined share of over 59%, with Asia-Pacific expected to offer strong growth backed by the growing affluence of the population. Technical innovations in batteries, photo printing, storage devices and internet technologies are expected to propel the growth of digital cameras.
The new Pentax Professional Services program supports professional photographers with several services and benefits. Membership is complimentary and limited to working professional photographers. Benefits include a 72 hour rush turnaround on most PENTAX digital SLR repairs, short-term equipment loans and direct access to dedicated customer service representatives. Membership may be obtained by completing a Pentax Professional Service program application.
Professor Kobré’s Lightscoop instantly improves photos taken with the pop-up flash in 35mm SLR cameras. Professor Kobré calls his Lightscoop “an ideal intermediary lighting tool for beginners who can’t yet afford an external strobe”. More advanced users who own an external flash will appreciate the Lightscoop as a lightweight, simple alternative for casual shooting. Professor Kobré’s Lightscoop costs $29.95 and is available in two versions, one with a standard mirror and another with a gold-tinted mirror to provide a warming effect.
The new Tamron SP AF70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO is a fast tele-zoom lens for digital SLRs with with 35mm full-size image sensors. The new lens offers the best-in-class minimum focusing distance of 37.4” (0.95m) over the entire zoom range. The Tamron SP AF70-200mm offers a focal length range from 109-310mm on a DSLR with an APS-C size sensor. The Canon mount is scheduled for spring delivery, with Nikon, Pentax and Sony versions to be announced at a later date. Price and availability of the Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8 lens to be announced.
The Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF] is now available in the Pentax mount. Designed for DSLRs with APS-C size sensors, the Tamron 17-50mm is a lightweight and compact, fast standard zoom lens that offers a focal length of 26-78mm. The Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF] is already available in Nikon, Canon and Sony AF mounts. Price and availability of the Tamron 17-50mm lens for Pentax to be announced.
Pentax will exhibit three DSLR lenses currently under development at this week’s PMA show. The smc PENTAX-DA 55mm F1.4 SDM is a moderate-telephoto lens offering a focal length equivalent to 84.5mm. The smc PENTAX-DA 60-250mm F4 ED [IF] SDM is a telephoto zoom lens covering moderate- to super-telephoto ranges (92-383mm). Finally, the smc PENTAX-DA 17-70mm F4 [IF] SDM is a moderate-telephoto zoom lens equivalent to 26-107mm. Two of the lenses are slated for a Summer 2008 release.
The new Pentax K20D DSLR camera offers 14.6 megapixels, making it the leading semi-professional model in terms of image resolution. The K20D builds on the success of the acclaimed K10D, offering more megapixels, a larger 2.7 inch LCD monitor, Live View mode, ISO 100-6400, Dust Alert System and an X-sync socket for studio flash systems. Other standout features offered by the Pentax K20D include built-in Shake Reduction system, 11-point AF, and support for a large number of older, pre-digital lenses. The 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor inside the K20D has been developed in a joint-venture with Samsung, who are responsible for the fabrication. The Pentax K20D will be available in March 2008 for £899 / $1299 body only or £999 with the new 18-55mm II kit lens.
The winners of Tamron’s “An Emotional Appeal” 2007 photo competition have been announced. “Mixed Emotions” by Lance Taylor was chosen as the Grand Prize Picture and wins a Tamron AF 18-250mm lens for a picture of his wife Jacqueline and 3-year old daughter Jillian at a beach near Corolla, North Carolina. Tamron has also just announced the “An Emotional Appeal” 2008 Photo Contest - the deadline for entries is 11/30/08.
TrustedReviews have reviewed the Pentax K10D, which offers 10.2 megapixels, shake-reduction, dust removal system, 22-bit colour, three new shooting modes, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 11 point auto-focusing.
“Despite being over a year old, the Pentax K10D still compares well with other current mid-range enthusiast’s DSLRs. It is one of the few digital SLRs on the market with a weatherproof body, and combines this with outstanding build quality and design, superb performance and excellent image quality. Add moving-sensor image stabilisation and an effective anti-dust mechanism and you have what is unquestionably one of the best mid-range DSLRs on the market.”
Website: TrustedReviews - Pentax K10D Review
Website: Read our Pentax K10D Review
You can win a Tamron AF18-250mm Di II All-In-One Zoom Lens as part of Digital Scrapbooking Day, held this year on November 3rd. Triscape created Digital Scrapbooking Day to encourage scrapbookers, photographers, crafters, and genealogists to set aside some time to preserve, document, and archive their memories digitally. You can enter to win the lens at http://www.tamron.com/lenses/digital_scrapbook07.asp , until the contest closes on 12/10/07.
Website: Tamron 18-250mm Lens Prize Draw
ACDSee Pro 2 features next-generation workflow management and RAW processing functionality. The upgrade was developed with input from more than 2,500 photographers worldwide. “The ability to work directly with our customers has allowed us to develop a product release that will bring unprecedented efficiency to the photographic community, freeing them to focus on what they do best—producing quality images.” said Mark Franklin, executive vice president of ACD Systems. ACDSee Pro 2 is available now for $129.99. Current ACDSee customers are eligible for a 30-percent customer discount.
The Pentax Z10 and Pentax S10 digital cameras offer a 7x zoom lens and 10 megapixels respectively. The 8 megapixel Pentax Z10 has a 7x optical zoom, Face Recognition for improved portraits and ISO 3200 mode. The tiny Pentax S10 is a 10 megapixel camera with digital Shake Reduction, Face Recognition and DivX video format. Priced at US $249.95 each, the Pentax Z10 and Pentax S10 will ship in September.
The Pentax K100D Super is an updated version of the K100D entry-level DSLR which first shipped in July 2006. The new K100D Super incorporates Pentax’s Dust Removal (DR) system which helps keep the CCD sensor free from dust. The Pentax K100D Super also offers full compatibility with PENTAX SDM lenses. Priced at US $599.95, the PENTAX K100D Super with 18-55mm lens will ship in August 2007. The price of the camera body only is $519.95. Pentax are also announcing the compact, easy-to-use AF200FG Auto Flash, which will ship in August 2007 for US $149.95.
Pentax have announced a limited edition K10D DSLR package to commemorate the camera winning the Camera Grand Prix 2007 Award in Japan. offers an exclusive new colour scheme, gold lettering, dark brown rubber coating and leather camera strap. Only 150 Pentax K10D Grand Prix Packages will be available in the UK.
A panel of digital imaging editors have selected the winners of the prestigious DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards. DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards recognize products or services utilizing new technologies and /or applications that make the product either distinct or the first of its kind. The winners include the HP Designjet Z Photo Printer Series, Lensbaby 3G, Olympus SP-550 UZ and Think Tank Photo rotation360 backpack.
PMA 2007: The PENTAX-DA Star 16-50mm and smc PENTAX-DA Star 50-135mm are the first models in Pentax’s new, high performance lens range. Both lenses feature a supersonic motor to deliver smoother, quieter auto focusing operation, plus tightly sealed, weather and dust-resistant construction. These lenses were first shown at the Photokina show in September 2006, and are only compatible with Pentax’s digital SLR cameras. They will be available in May 2007, price to be confirmed.
The new Lensbaby Creative Aperture Kit is for use with the Lensbaby 3G (pictured) and Lensbaby 2.0 SLR lenses. Points of light in out of focus areas of the photo take on the shape of the hole in the aperture disk. Photographers can fashion the blank disks into their own custom shaped apertures. The new Lensbaby Creative Aperture Kit is available now for $9.99.
PMA 2007: It seems the build-up to the PMA show has started early this year, as the new Pentax T30 and Pentax M30 compact digital cameras are announced today. The Pentax T30 features 7.1 megapixels, a 3 inch touch-screen LCD display, Face Recognition Auto Focus and Auto Exposure, plus a high ISO Digital Shake Reduction mode. Available in March, the Pentax T30 will cost US $349.95. The Pentax M30 also offers 7.1 megapixels, Digital Shake Reduction and Face Recognition AF and AE in an ultra-slim body. Available in March, the Pentax M30 will cost US $199.95.
Megapixel.net have reviewed the Pentax K10D, which offers 10.2 megapixels, shake-reduction, dust removal system, 22-bit colour, three new shooting modes, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 11 point auto-focusing.
“The Pentax K10D is well-designed and this comes through very quickly when the camera is in hand. Controls are intelligently laid out, their position intuitive. In addition, the K10D is extremely capable. It is equipped with all the basic modes and adds a couple of interesting modes. The K10D has all the functions one expects from a high-end SLR: it can be user-customized for many functions, it has built-in stabilization that allows it to stabilize any Pentax lens; and it also provides a wide range of sensitivities, even yielding useable images at the highest part of that range. To boot, it is dust and moisture resistant, a claim few others can make.”
Website: Megapixel.net - Pentax K10D Review
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Concert Audio For Digital Camera Videos
2. SDHC Write Speed For Digital Camera Videos
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the new Samsung GX-1S digital SLR, a 6 megapixel digital camera that uses the Pentax lens mount.
“To venture into the market of the DSLR camera as a perfect stranger can be very tricky indeed. Samsung have adopted a rather clever approach to this problem by joining forces with one of the “old hands”. However, where we saw Sony and Panasonic add a new flavour, Samsung have resorted to a copy of an existing camera. A pity really, especially as Samsung really do have more than a fair share of know-how, and simply could have done better.”
Website: LetsGoDigital - Samsung GX-1S Review
The Pentax K10D DSLR camera is announced today. The K10D offers 10.2 megapixels, shake-reduction, dust removal system, 22-bit colour, three new shooting modes, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 11 point auto-focusing. There is also a new D-BG2 Battery Grip for the K10D, and a new range of supersonic motor-driven lenses are currently being developed. Price and availability of the Pentax K10D is still to be confirmed.
Pentax UK Press Release
PENTAX will be unveiling their new flagship product, the Pentax K10D lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera on September 14th 2006. The new Pentax K10D digital SLR camera combines 10.2 effective megapixels with a host of advanced technologies — including the PENTAX-original Shake Reduction (SR) system. The K10D combines 10.2 effective megapixels with an array of new advanced technology to make this camera a true class leader. These include the PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system to minimise the adverse effects of camera shake, a newly developed A/D converter designed to convert a large volume of data more accurately and swiftly, and a new high-performance imaging engine designed exclusively for the Pentax K10D. The Pentax K10D also comes equipped with a host of features and functions designed to assist the photographer in all aspects of high-quality digital SLR photography. They include a new Dust Removal (DR) system to keep dust off the CCD surface, a PENTAX-original exposure system for accurate reproduction of the photographer’s creative intentions, and a dependable dust-proof, water-resistant body construction meaning photographers don’t have to stop taking pictures when the rain starts. All combined, the Pentax K10D delivers exceptionally high image quality and responds brilliantly to the exacting demands of advanced photographers and keen amateurs alike.
Photokina Update: We now have some product photos of the Pentax K10D with the 21mm, 40mm and 70mm pancake lenses, live from Photokina 2006 - just click the link below to view them.
Pentax have revealed that they will be showing 3 new SLR lenses - smc PENTAX-DA* 16-50mm F2.8ED AL[IF], smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8ED [IF] and smc PENTAX-DA* 60-250mm F4ED [IF], at Photokina next week, along with the 18 megapixel PENTAX 645 Digital medium-format camera (first shown as a prototype back at PMA in February). The company have also announced that the 645 Digital will be upgraded with new sensors throughout its life, reaching an expected final resolution of 30 megapixels.
Pentax UK Press Release
Thursday 21st September 2006, London - Pentax will be exhibiting three new interchangeable digital SLR camera lenses, as well as a new medium-format camera, at this year’s Photokina in Cologne. Still in pre-production, Photokina will represent the first opportunity for anyone outside of Pentax’s engineering team to view these exciting new products. Also on demonstration at the show will be the recently launched K10D - Pentax’s flagship digital SLR camera, featuring 10 megapixels, Pentax’s proprietary shake reduction system and a host of other innovative features. These in turn will be supported by Pentax’s current digital compact line-up, which includes marketing leading cameras such as the Optio A20, Optio W20 and Optio T20.
The new Pentax T20 digital camera is announced. Offering 7 megapixels, 3 inch LCD screen and a slim 19.5mm body, the Pentax T20 will arrive in UK stores in October with a retail price of £249.99.
Pentax UK Press Release
14th September, 2006 - Pentax is delighted to introduce the new Pentax Optio T20 compact digital camera. An upgrade to the highly successful Optio T10, the new camera still benefits from a combination of stylish design and innovative functionality - such as touch-screen programming, on-screen image manipulation and high-definition playback - but now boasts a meatier 7 megapixel processing performance. This makes the Pentax T20 ideal for those who want to match cutting edge design, top-end optical performance and leading digital technology. Housed within an extremely slim body, the Pentax T20 is defined by its extra-large 3.0-inch, high-definition LCD monitor, which allows for easy viewing and a touch-screen control system for programming the camera. Using the screen as the main interface in this way, navigation is simplified, more control is given to the user, and the design of the camera is simplified to make it much more aesthetically pleasing. Yet ease of use and stunning design is balanced by high-end performance, with the T20’s 7 effective megapixel resolution delivering exceptionally high-quality prints with crisp detail.
Pentax UK Press Release
August 22 2006, London; PENTAX is pleased to announce the new Optio A20, a compact digital camera featuring 10 effective megapixels and the latest optics and shake reduction technology to produce class leading images in even the most challenging of photographic environments. The Optio A20 is the latest model in the premium Optio A series range. Housed in a tough, lightweight aluminium casing the Optio A20 offers 10 effective megapixels, and has a range of features, including three types of anti-shake function. The Pentax developed SR (Shake Reduction) technology reduces camera shake by using gyroscopic sensors to oscillate the CCD as the camera moves, ensuring crisp images even when the camera is moving. To further improve image quality Blur Reduction optimises the settings for crisp images in any conditions and the Auto Tracking AF function, ensures the subject of the image remains in focus even if it is moving, allowing for perfect action shots.
Pentax UK Press Release
Pentax adds to its family of high performance and easy to use digital cameras with the 7 megapixel Optio M20
22nd August 2006, London - PENTAX is pleased to announce the launch of its new Optio M20, the high performance yet user friendly compact digital camera boasting extended battery life and an upgraded 7 effective megapixels. Stylishly designed, lightweight and easy to use, the Optio M20 will appeal to families who enjoy recording events for the family album or those wanting to upgrade their current digital experience - as delivered through a combination of market leading optics, high-end megapixel count and a competitive price. Packed with features, the camera is extremely versatile and perfectly able to cope with a range of photographic situations.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. DSLR Dynamic Range Needs Improvement
2. Digital Shutter Lag Versus 35mm
3. Newbie Seeks Camera That Rocks
[Note: Here are the answers to last week’s questions. I am still one week behind, so if you recently submitted a question, you should receive an answer by next week. Thank you for your patience. – Gary]
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
DIWA member and Norwegian website digit.no have published their review of the Samsung GX-1L DSLR, which offers 6-megapixels, five-point wide-area Auto Focus system, three-mode metering system and 8 scene modes.
“With a name like Samsung, known to the photographic world as a manufacturer of low-end compacts, it can’t be easy to fight against mighty, established names like Canon, Nikon, Pentax og Olympus on the D-SLR arena. Nevertheless, Samsung is one of the fastest growing companies in the industry and I woun’t be surprised if they one day is a leading D-SLR brand. The GX-1L is the first baby from their marriage with Pentax. Basically, the GX-1L is a slightly modified version of the Pentax *ist DL and comes in a kit with two amazing zoom lenses; 18-55 mm and 50-200 mm. Branded Schneider-Kreuznach D-Xenon, but obviously identical to the Pentax versions, they both deliver outstanding optical performance at very competitive prices. The GX-1L has no major weaknesses, but lacks some of the most refined features found in more advanced D-SLRs. In most respects, the GX-1L matches its main competitors, even outperforms them in terms of a larger and brighter viewfinder, larger and more detailed LCD screen, USB 2.0 High Speed interface, AA battery compatibility, yet light weight and small dimensions. Although lens performance is outstanding, the image processing performance deteriorates the capabilities of the 6.1 MP CCD sensor when images are stored as JPEGs. If you stick to the RAW format, the GX-1L will provide first class images for its class and price range. My summary is that the Samsung GX-1L in kit with the two standard zoom lenses is a price bargain it is unwise to overlook.”
Website: digit.no - Samsung GX-1L Review
Pentax USA Press Release
July 1, 2006 (GOLDEN, CO.) PENTAX Imaging Company has announced an Essential Rebate Program on the PENTAX *ist DL digital SLR and two compact digital cameras. Effective immediately, consumers may purchase an *ist DL or any lens listed on the rebate coupon between July 1, 2006 and October 11, 2006 and cash in on rebates up to $100.00 per product. In addition to the rebate on the digital SLR systems, PENTAX just made it easier to own the powerful Optio M10 or the fun-to-use Optio T10! Buy one or both of these popular compact digital cameras between July 1, 2006 and October 11, 2006 and you can cash in on $30 per camera.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. No Need To Go Below ISO 200
2. Whether To Weatherproof Or Waterproof
3. Nikon D70 Front Focusing Problem: S-O-L-V-E-D
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected], and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
Pentax UK Press Release
PENTAX K100D - A Lens-Interchangeable Digital SLR Camera Featuring Innovative Shake Reduction System and a Host of Advanced Technologies for High-Quality, User-Friendly Digital SLR Photography
PENTAX Corporation is pleased to introduce the PENTAX K100D lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera. This new digital SLR camera combines 6.1 effective megapixels with a host of advanced technologies - including a PENTAX developed-Shake Reduction (SR) system - to deliver high-quality, user friendly digital SLR photography to all abilities. The Pentax K100D packs an array of advanced, user-friendly features - including a PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system, high-precision auto focus and auto sensitivity control - all in a compact, well-balanced body to accommodate a wide range of shooting and playback requirements. Its outstanding overall performance makes high-quality digital SLR photography effortless, fun and exciting for all users in any situation- from casual travel snapshots and memorable family pictures to highly specialised photography. All together, the Pentax K100D is a versatile all-around digital SLR for all levels of photographers.
Pentax UK Press Release
PENTAX K110D - A Multi-Feature, Simple-to-Operate Entry-Class Digital SLR Camera with Lens Interchangeability for High-Quality, User-Friendly Digital SLR Photography
PENTAX Corporation is pleased to introduce the PENTAX K110D, an entry-class lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera that combines a host of advanced technologies with a simple, user-friendly operation system and a compact, lightweight body. It brings high-quality digital SLR photography to everyone - especially to first-time digital SLR users.
Developed as a starter camera for budding digital SLR photographers, the K110D is designed to capture high-quality images with simplified operation in any situation. In addition to a sophisticated auto focus system that rivals the performance of high-end models, the high-performance K110D offers a bright, clear viewfinder, an extra-large, wide-view LCD monitor, and 6.1 effective megapixels.
Phase One Press Release
Capture rate speeds up with new Capture One 3.7.4 on Intel-based Macs and Windows - Updated RAW workflow software supports all Phase One P Series digital camera backs, the new Canon EOS 30D, Pentax *ist series and Sony DSC-R1
April 11th 2006, Copenhagen, Denmark: Phase One®, the world leader in professional digital imaging solutions, has updated Capture One™ RAW Workflow to support more cameras, more RAW file formats and Intel-based Macs. Capture One is the most efficient, fully color-managed RAW Workflow image-processing solution and delivers the highest possible image quality from the new generation of digital SLRs and Phase One digital camera backs.
PMA 2006: RawShooter essentials 2006 is introduced, including improved performance and camera support for 15 additional cameras. Also announced today is RawShooter premium 2006 which supports Nikon D200 including improved performancean is free for existing users. Finally RawShooter Color Engine has been updated to v1.1 to include additional camera support including Pentax and Konica Minolta.
Pixmantec Press Release
Orlando, FL. – February 25, 2006 – Pixmantec, a leading manufacturer of digital imaging software, continues to provide photographers at all levels of experience and expertise with the latest in RAW Workflow management technology with the introduction of RawShooter | essentials 2006, RawShooter | premium 2006 V1.02 and RawShooter | Color Engine V1.1, all being FREE updates. The software offers many new features, upgrades and is compatible with the most popular digital SLR camera models on the market including newly introduced models such as the Nikon D200, Canon EOS 5D, 1Ds Mark II, and 1D Mark II N, Sony R1 and several other brands and models. RawShooter | essentials 2006 continues to be offered as a forever FREE download via Pixmantec’s Website and has set the standard in the industry for quality, speed and certainly affordability.
Digital Foci Press Release
Digital Photo Album with Large 3.6” LCD Securely Saves Photos on the Road in its 40GB & 80GB Portable Hard Drives - Compatible to Print Photos without a Computer - Records Voice & Video
February 7, 2006 – Orlando, Florida – Digital Foci announced today that it will be introducing at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Conference Picture Porter Elite portable digital photo album with 40GB and 80GB hard drives and a memory card reader. Featuring a large 3.6” LCD for easy viewing, Picture Porter Elite lets you instantly and securely save and view digital photos and video on its hard drive wherever you go, so you can keep snapping away and stop worrying about limited memory card space on your digital camera.
Pentax Press Release
PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce that it will expand the production capacity of PENTAX VN Co., Ltd., the company’s overseas subsidiary based in Vietnam, with the construction of a second plant. PENTAX VN specializes in the manufacture of optical instruments and components. This move is made to prepare for the expected increase in demand for interchangeable lenses for digital SLR cameras, as well as to respond to intensifying price competition in both the domestic and international markets.
The Pentax *ist DL with kit lens is now available for just $599, making it the cheapest DSLR on the market.
Pentax USA Press Release
GOLDEN, CO (February 1, 2006)...PENTAX Imaging Company has announced a significant price adjustment on the *ist DL digital SLR camera with 18-55 DA lens kit. The price reduction from $799.95 US to $599.95 US takes effect February 1, 2006.
“Digital single lens reflex cameras with interchangeable lenses are gaining in popularity as products have become easier-to-use and prices have fallen,” said Ed Lee, Director, Consumer Services and Digital Photography Trends Service InfoTrends, Inc. “Consumers wavering between a higher-end compact digital and a digital SLR will take note of this new PENTAX pricing as will consumers who have been considering an upgrade to a digital SLR,” added Lee.
PMA 2006: The Pentax *ist DL2 digital SLR camera is announced today. New features include 8 scene modes, 5 point wide-area AF system, and a new digital preview function which allows confirmation of depth of field, exposure level, image composition and flash lighting effect, on the LCD monitor.
Pentax Press Release
PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the marketing of the PENTAX *ist DL2 lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera to offer the fun and excitement of high-quality digital SLR photography to many levels of photographers — especially first-time digital SLR users. Developed as a proud successor to the popular *ist DL, this new digital SLR inherits many of its predecessor’s popular features, including a compact, lightweight and easy-to-hold body and a simple, accessible operation system. At the same time, it provides several improvements and additions, such as an increased number of AF sensor points and eight user-friendly Scene Modes. As a result, it delivers greatly enhanced overall cost performance to its users. PENTAX believes that the new *ist DL2 is an ideal starter camera for many different users around the globe, ranging from photographic novices and family snapshot enthusiasts to current digital-compact and film-SLR users who want to take up digital SLR photography.
With the CES show fast approaching (starts January 4th) the usual round of rumours, sightings and dodgy product shots are appearing. There are strong rumours over on the DPReview forums of a new DSLR from Samsung called the GX-1, which looks identical to the Pentax *ist DS2 and kit lens, but thankfully has a marginally better name. The fact that Samsung’s first digital SLR looks so familiar is hardly surprising, as earlier this year Pentax and Samsung announced that they would be collaborating on a new Samsung DSLR. Collaboration is one thing, rebadging an existing 6 month old camera and hoping to pass it off as a brand new product is another - let’s wait until the rumours are confirmed or not before passing further judgement…
Website: DPReview - Samsung GX-1
Sigma Press Release
10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC for Konica Minolta and Pentax digital SLR cameras.
Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC lens for Konica Minolta and Pentax digital SLR cameras. This exclusively designed zoom lens allows enjoyment of super wide-angle photography and it is a very powerful tool for indoor shooting and landscape photography with APS-C size image sensors of digital SLR cameras. It covers a super wide angle of view 109.4 degree to 70.5 degree and has a wide-angle perspective throughout the zoom range. The new multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost, which is a common problem with digital cameras and also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range.
Pentax USA Press Release
Golden, CO. (November 30, 2005)…PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the smc PENTAX DA FISH-EYE 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 ED [IF] lens. Designed exclusively for use with the PENTAX line of digital SLRs, this interchangeable lens offers fish-eye (180° diagonal angle of view at a focal length of 10mm) to super wide-angle performance in a single unit.
Mounted on the PENTAX *ist D series of digital SLRs, the new PENTAX lens will capture fish-eye imagery with a 180 degree angle of view and a focal length of 10mm as well as super wide-angle performance that allows photographer to make use of dramatic angles-of-view resulting from slight changes in focal length. This super wide-angle capability also will capture images with an expanded perspective including creative deformation of subjects and sharp pan focus that extends throughout the entire frame.
Pentax USA Press Release
PENTAX WEBSITE TARGETS SLR USERS - REBATES UNTIL 2006
GOLDEN, Co (November 18, 2005)…Shopping for a digital SLR system? Now, you can shop right from your desktop at www.PentaxSLR.com , a microsite dedicated to the growing family of PENTAX digital SLR systems including small, lightweight bodies, superior optical lenses, powerful flashes and nifty accessories. The site also offers FAQs, Specs, Rebates, and other information about building a digital SLR system. Visitors may link from the site to their favorite on-line retail sources to finalize purchase decisions.
“Digital SLR buyers are looking for educational resources, and our microsite is important for anyone looking to build or add on to an existing PENTAX system,” said Ned Bunnell, director of marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company.
Aptly named THE NEW CLASSIC, the microsite touches on the solid PENTAX legacy and devotion to SLR users. Since its first SLR introduction in 1952, PENTAX has remained devoted to delivering the most lightweight and compact SLR products including the PENTAX K1000, one of the most popular 35mm SLRs ever manufactured. PENTAX Imaging Company will acknowledge the 30th anniversary of the PENTAX K1000 in 2006. PENTAX shipped a fourth digital SLR body, the *ist DS2, in November 2005.
The Sigma 170-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG lens is introduced. The Sigma 170-500mm lens features a new multi-layer lens coating and lens design to reduce flare and ghosting. will cost £629.99 and be available in Sigma AF, Canon AF, Nikon AF, Pentax AF and Konica Minolta AF fittings.
Sigma UK Press Release
An ultra-telephoto zoom up to 500mm producing high performance with digital or film SLR cameras.
- The new multi-layer lens coating and lens design reduces flare and ghosting.
- Aspherical lenses and SLD glass provide correction for all types of aberration throughout the entire zoom range.
- Rear focus system ensures fast auto focus.
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 170-500mm F5-6.3 DG lens. This compact ultra telephoto zoom lens covers a useful range up to 500mm.
The Konica Minolta Dynax 5D is a new entry-level 6 megapixel digital SLR that is currently one of the most compact DSLRs currently available. Highlights of the Konica Minolta Dynax 5D include a large 2.5 inch LCD screen, unique CCD-shift anti-shake mechanism that enables you to take sharp photos at slower shutter speeds than normal and a 9 point auto-focus system. Interchangeability with all Konica Minolta lenses and a range of different picture modes for beginners and experienced photographers alike complete the specification. Perhaps more importantly, all of this is available for an RRP of £599/799 body only or £649/$899 with the 18-70mm kit lens. This drastically undercuts the older and (slightly) higher-spec Konica Minolta Dynax 5D camera and puts the 5D into direct competition with the likes of the Nikon D50, Pentax *ist DL and Canon Rebel XT/350D. So is the Konica Minolta Dynax 5D a better buy than its more expensive, older sibling, and also the other brands that are battling to dominate this rapidly growing sector of the market? Carry on reading to find out.
Website: Konica Minolta Dynax 5D Review
CNET have published their review of the Fujifilm FinePix S9500 Zoom, a new 9 megapixel digital camera with a 28-300mm lens with twist-barrel zoom control (also known as the S9000).
“Fujifilm’s FinePix S9000 shows just how close digital SLR wannabes are getting to the real thing. This is one EVF-equipped camera that can compete in both the SLR and non-SLR arenas. Just a hair smaller and priced within $50 of compact dSLRs such as the Pentax *ist DL, the FinePix S9000 looks and handles very much like its interchangeable-lens competitors and in some ways outfeatures them. It boasts a 28mm-to-300mm (35mm equivalent) 10.7X zoom lens, where most low-end dSLRs come with a skimpy normal zoom; and its 1/1.6-inch Fuji Super CCD HR sensor packs in 9 million pixels, compared to 6 megapixels for most budget digital SLRs.”
Website: CNET - Fujifilm FinePix S9500 Zoom Review
Website: Read my Fujifilm Finepix S9500 Zoom Review
Digital Foci Press Release
Picture Porter Digital Photo Album Securely Saves Photos on the Road on 20GB & 40GB Portable Hard Drives without Heavy Laptop
Keep on Snapping Photos - Never Run Out of Memory Card Space Again
Los Angeles, California, September 23, 2005 – Digital Foci, Inc. (www.digitalfoci.com) introduced today Picture Porter portable digital photo album with hard drive and card reader that lets you instantly and securely save and view digital photos and video on a hard drive wherever you go, so you can keep snapping away and not worry about running out of memory card space.
Especially valuable for vacations, trade shows, special events, parties, and for pro photographers who take and show a large number of photos, Picture Porter saves photos on its compact portable hard drive, so you don’t have to bring heavy laptops on the road. Picture Porter takes the worry out of losing precious photos stored on easily damaged memory cards. Its built-in memory card slots let you copy and archive photos directly from any digital camera card, without the need of cumbersome cabling. With Picture Porters’ compact 20GB and 40GB hard drive versions, you’ll virtually never run out of memory card space on the road again.
DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the new entry-level Pentax *ist DL digital SLR camera. The Pentax *ist DL is a 6.1 megapixel DSLR which features a 2.5 LCD screen and light 16 ounce body.
“The *istDL is a reasonable entry in the entry level DSLR market. The camera’s most unique features in that market, the 2.5-inch LCD and the ISO 3200 setting, are real strengths. For some shoppers, they should be enough to decide the issue. The *istDL’s other good qualities – very solid construction, relatively small size and clean design – are not unique in the market, but they are still very attractive. The *istDL is notably inferior to other sub-$1000 DSLRs in only two areas: its autofocus mechanism is less advanced than the Nikon and Canon offerings, and its handgrip is less comfortable than others. The autofocus issue is likely to be a substantial one to many users, but some people’s hands will be better suited to the handgrip than mine. “
Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Pentax *ist DL Review
Pentax UK Press Release
Pentax Introduces a Compact Ultra-Wide-Angle 2x Zoom Lens for Digital SLRs
Pentax Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of the smc Pentax-DA 12mm-24mm F4 ED AL [IF]. Developed for exclusive use with Pentax digital SLR cameras, this compact, lightweight, two-times zoom lens lets the photographer capture unique, eye-catching images with its ultra-wide-angle perspectives.
Major features
1. Ultra-wide-angle coverage
When mounted on one of the Pentax *istD-series digital SLR cameras, this two-times zoom lens offers an angle of view from 99 degrees to 61 degrees (equivalent in focal length from 18.5mm to 37mm in the 35mm format) to create extraordinary visual effects available only in ultra-wide-angle photography, including a greatly emphasized sense of perspective and an extremely wide depth of field (or in-focus area).
The Pentax *ist DS2 digital SLR camera is announced. The Pentax DS2 is virtually identical to the existing *ist DS, adding a larger, higher-resolution 2.5 inch color LCD monitor. The Pentax *ist DS2 digital SLR (body only) will ship in September 2005 for under $800 US.
Pentax Press Release
Pentax Expands Digital SLR Offerings with New Model, Lens and Flash
Golden, CO. (August 21, 2005) - Pentax Imaging Company announced today it will continue to expand its digital SLR line with another new model and accessories. The latest model, the PENTAX *ist DS2 digital SLR camera, comes equipped with a large, high-resolution 2.5 inch color LCD monitor and a high-magnification glass pentaprism viewfinder for a large, clear view at every stage of digital photography from shooting to playback to editing. With its enhanced operability and maneuverability, the new *ist DS2 assures high-quality digital SLR photography to photographers of all levels.
The Pentax *ist DS is an entry-level 6 megapixel digital SLR that is also one of the smallest and lightest DSLRs currently available. Highlights of the Pentax *ist DS include a large 2 inch LCD screen, 11 point auto-focus system, interchangeability with a wide selection of existing Pentax lenses and a range of different picture modes for beginners and experienced photographers alike. At a current street price around £650 / $850 / €850 with the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL lens, the *ist DS represents Pentax’s attempt to capture a slice of the entry-level DSLR market, and is subsequently competing with the likes of the Canon EOS 350D, Nikon D70s and Olympus E-300. Pentax themselves have recently announced an even cheaper version, the *ist DL. So is the Pentax *ist DS a good choice in what is rapidly becoming a saturated sector of the digital SLR market? Read my review to find out.
Website: Pentax *ist DS Review
CNET have published their review of the new Nikon D70s DSLR camera.
“With the D70s, Nikon upgrades its popular D70 consumer digital SLR. The improvements are minor, but they should be sufficient to keep this camera, already one of the best in the sub-$1,000 class, competitive with smaller rivals, such as the Pentax *ist DS, and ones with higher pixel counts, such as the Canon Digital Rebel XT. This tweaked 6-megapixel model retains the solid design, the impressive performance, and the excellent image quality we liked in the original, while repairing a few of the more frustrating shortcomings.”
Website: CNET - Nikon D70s Review
Website: Read my Nikon D70s Review
Pentax *ist DL digital SLR camera is announced. The Pentax *ist DL is a 6.1 megapixel DSLR and features a 2.5 LCD screen and light 16 ounce body. The main differences between the Pentax *ist DL and the *ist DS are 3 auto-focus sensors (down from 11), automatic selection of ISO speed, smaller, lighter body and a larger LCD screen. The *ist DL will ship in July 2005 with the smc PENTAX DA 18-55mm digital lens for under $800 US, and in the UK for £499.99 body-only.
Pentax USA Press Release
PENTAX Announces New Digital SLR Model: Simple, Affordable, Small Body Features Large LCD Monitor
Golden, CO (June 1, 2005)…PENTAX Imaging Company has unveiled a third digital SLR camera − the PENTAX *ist DL digital SLR. Carrying on the PENTAX tradition of compact digital bodies with simple operation and outstanding performance, the *ist DL features a 2.5 inch LCD monitor and the lightest PENTAX digital SLR body at only 16.6 ounces.
“The *ist DL is the smallest digital SLR with the largest LCD in its class offered at a very affordable price,” said Ned Bunnell, director of marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company.
Positioned as an addition to the popular PENTAX digital SLR family, the *ist DL is a perfect camera for beginning digital photographers including families and digital users who are ready to step-up from a point-and-shoot, compact digital camera.
Pentax Optio S5z, Pentax Optio S55 and Pentax Optio S45 are announced today by Pentax USA.
The Optio S5z (pictured) has a 2.5 inch LCD screen, 3x optical zoom lens and a 5 megapixel sensor. The Optio S5z features Pentax’s Sliding Lens system to help make it extremely compact and light. The PENTAX Optio S5z will be available for under $350 US.
The Optio S55 is also a 5 megapixel camera with a 2.5 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens. The Optio S55 features a Help mode that displays function explanations and will be available for under $300 US.
The Optio S45 has 4 megapixels, a 2.5 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens. The Optio S45 will be available for under $230 US. PhotoShow Express software ships with all 3 models.
Pentax USA Press Release
Golden, Colorado (May 10, 2005)…PENTAX Imaging Company has announced three new digital camera additions to its popular Optio digital camera lines. The PENTAX Optio S5z, the Optio S55 and the Optio S45 as well as the manufacturer’s sixth DA lens will ship to dealers in June 2005.
DPReview have just posted their review of the 6 megapixel Pentax *ist DS DSLR.
“The *ist DS is one of those cameras which grows on you, it’s certainly compact and well put together but when you first pick it up you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a bit basic. In actual fact it packs more features and controls than most other budget SLR’s and has some impressive performance to back that up. In use we found the *ist DS a very nice ‘photographic tool’, it always does the job, auto focus is reliable, that big viewfinder is a welcome change from some of the ‘tunnel like’ viewfinders found on other digital SLR’s. Put it this way you’re never left thinking you bought the second-best Pentax digital SLR.”
Website: DPReview - Pentax *ist DS Review
Pentax UK Press Release
Pentax to Offer its Highly Acclaimed Entry Level Digital SLR, the *istDS, With Up To £100 Cashback
Bringing High-End Digital Photography Another Step Closer For Photographers of All Abilities
31st March 2005 - Pentax is delighted to announce that its latest digital SLR, the *istDS, is, for a limited time only, available with up to £100 cashback. One of the markets smallest and lightest digital SLRs, the *istDS has won many plaudits since being introduced in November 2004.
Lightweight, stylish, compact and yet packing all the functionality and optical excellence that you would expect from a Pentax, the sales promotion will see £100 cashback being offered on *ist DS with smc Pentax DA 18-55mm AL Lens and £50 cashback on *ist DS body only. The promotion runs from the 4th April 2005 through to the 31st May 2005 and can be redeemed at all participating retailers.
Pentax *istDS Silver is introduced by Pentax UK. The *istDS Silver is a silver-coloured version of Pentax’s popular digital SLR, with the same specification as the black version. Price and availability of the Pentax *istDS Silver are to be confirmed.
Pentax UK Press Release
PENTAX Adds a Silver-Coloured Version to Its Popularly Priced Compact Digital SLR Camera
PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the addition of a silver-coloured version to the popular PENTAX *istDS digital SLR camera. Named the PENTAX *istDS Silver, it offers the same user-friendly features and high-standard specifications as the original black-coloured version, except for its body colour. With a choice of two attractive colours, the *istDS now extends outstanding manoeuvrability, simplified operations and an affordable price to a broader range of quality-conscious digital SLR users.
Sigma announces the EM-140 DG electronic macro flash, fully dedicated with new TTL flash control systems of all popular camera manufacturers.
Sigma Press Release
ELECTRONIC FLASH MACRO EM-140 DG is designed to work with both AF 35mm film and Digital SLR cameras of all the popular manufactures. The EM-140 DG Flash is ideal for photographing subjects in fine detail when the shadowless mode is used and is extremely effective for scientific and medical applications. Dual flash tubes can fire simultaneously or separately. Using only one flashtube creates shadow, which can give a three-dimensional feeling to the subject. The flash features a guide number of 14 w/ISO 100.
I’ve completely overlooked Mike Johnston’s “Sunday Morning Photographer” column, which this month takes a look at Pentax and the *ist DS DSLR camera.
“So what does the Pentax DS offer to make it special? What unique feature sets it apart? Nothing! That’s right, nothing.
Well, actually I suppose you could say small size, which as I say is a longtime hallmark of Pentax products. The *ist DS is the smallest, lightest digital SLR so far. But beyond that, there’s no special feature to grab the fickle attention of the buying public. It hasn’t got anti-shake. No sensor-cleaner. The Canon 20D has better image quality, if only marginally. Several cameras focus somewhat faster. You can get slightly better value out of a couple of others. The DS is not the quietest, the fanciest, the most feature-laden, the most special in any way. Except one…”
Website: Sunday Morning Photographer: The K-1000 of Digital SLRs
Steves Digicams have posted a first look at the new 6 megapixel Pentax *ist DS DSLR.
“PENTAX has downsized digital SLR photography again with the *ist DS digital SLR. Even smaller than last year’s *ist D SLR, the *ist DS is one of the smallest and lightest digital SLR cameras available. Measuring just 4.9 x 3.6 x 2.6 inches and weighing under 18 ounces, it has a durable stainless-steel chassis, multi-layered electronic circuit boards and delivers superior image quality in a very compact design. Despite its size, the *ist DS offers 6.1 million effective pixels of resolution and PENTAX original image processing technology. The camera is compatible with most existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses to meet a wide range of applications and visual creativity.”
Tamron Press Release 28/09/04
TAMRON ANNOUNCES AF18-200MM F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II ASPHERICAL (IF) MACRO
A NEW HIGH POWER STANDARD ZOOM LENS DESIGNED FOR EXCLUSIVE USE WITH DIGITAL (APS-C) SLR CAMERAS
Photokina, Cologne, Germany, September 28, 2004 - Mr. Morio Ono, President of Tamron Co., Ltd., announced the successful development of the AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II Aspherical (IF) MACRO (Model A14), a new high power zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras using APS-C size image sensors.
The new AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II Aspherical (IF) MACRO is a high power zoom lens for exclusive use with digital (APS-C size) SLR cameras that inherits the product concept of the existing AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR zoom lens. Even two years after its introduction, the current AF28-300mm is still a favorite and highly evaluated by photographers around the world as a representative model of high power zoom lenses. With the market influx of digital SLR cameras in recent years, the use of high power zoom lenses has become increasingly popular since high power zooms provide the convenience of handling many photographic scenes and the capability of shooting ultra telephoto shots without changing lenses. The popularity of this focal length led Tamron to initiate the development of new zoom lenses to further meet the needs of digital SLR photographers. The result is the successful development of a new zoom lens exclusively for use on digital SLR cameras. The wide to ultra tele focal range of this lens will allow digital SLR camera owners to enjoy digital photography with comfort and convenience.
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Extensis Inc. Press Release 27/09/04
Free filter powered by Bibble Labs enables professional photographers to read Raw data from image files of leading digital SLR cameras.
Photokina, Cologne, Germany - September 27, 2004 - Extensis Inc. today announced an update to its Pro Photo Raw Image Filter for Portfolio 7. The updated filter will be a free upgrade for registered owners of Extensis’ digital asset management (DAM) solution for organizing digital photos, illustrations, page layouts and presentations.
With the Pro Photo Raw Image Filter, Portfolio generates high-quality thumbnails and previews from the unprocessed raw image files created by professional digital cameras from Nikon, Olympus, Kodak, Canon, Fuji, Konica-Minolta, Pentax and Imacon. With the Pro Photo Raw Image Filter, Portfolio 7 can extract EXIF metadata and IPTC from the Raw files, create thumbnails for displaying the images in catalogs, and generate high-resolution JPEG previews on the fly for detailed viewing, printing, slideshows and QuickTime movies.
“There have been rapid developments in the digital camera industry since we released our first Raw camera support for Portfolio last year,” said Dan Harlacher, Extensis Portfolio product manager. “With this update, professional photographers now have the Raw camera support they demand for keeping pace with the new camera developments without losing the ability to preview, keyword, organize and sort thousands of images within Portfolio without getting bogged down in a lengthy conversion process.”
Pentax USA Press Release 13/09/08
PENTAX DOWNSIZES DIGITAL AGAIN IN SECOND COMPACT DIGITAL SLR
*ist DS Delivers Outstanding Image Quality
GOLDEN, Colorado (September 13, 2004)...PENTAX has downsized digital SLR photography once again with the introduction of the *ist DS digital SLR. Developed as a second, even smaller, PENTAX compact digital SLR, the *ist DS camera advances the PENTAX commitment to easy-to-use and portable digital.
The *ist DS is one of the smallest and lightest digital SLR cameras available. Measuring just 4.9 x 3.6 x 2.6 inches and weighing under 18 ounces, the *ist DS also delivers superior image quality in compact design. Despite the size, the *ist DS offers 6.1 effective megapixels and PENTAX original image processing technology. The camera is designed to be compatible with most PENTAX interchangeable lenses to meet a wide range of applications and visual creativity.
The *ist DS hosts an array of advanced, user-friendly features including a high-magnification viewfinder, a 2.0 inch color LCD monitor, a generous LCD data panel, and an innovative Auto picture mode for automatic selection of the proper exposure program. Offering quick, effortless operation and easy portability, the *ist DS is the ideal digital SLR for all levels of photographers, including first-timer digital SLR users and families.
PENTAX will unveil the *ist DS and other new and exciting digital products on September 20 at the PEPCOM Holiday Spectacular in New York City. The PENTAX *ist DS will ship to major camera retailers in November 2004.
Pentax USA Press Release 24/08/04
GOLDEN, Colorado (August 24, 2004)...PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER Magazine has awarded two HOT1 Awards to PENTAX Imaging Company for the two digital SLR lenses in the PENTAX DA-series. Positioned as the perfect companion lenses for the *ist D digital SLR camera, the magazine has recognized the smc PENTAX-DA 16mm-45mm F4 ED AL lens and the smc PENTAX-DA 14mm F2.8 ED [IF] interchangeable wide-angle lens.
The compact, high-performance, interchangeable smc PENTAX-DA 16mm-45mm F4 ED AL lens features a 3X zoom ratio with focal lengths covering ultra-wide to moderate-telephoto ranges for the angle of view equivalent to 24.5mm-69mm in the 35mm format. The smc PENTAX-DA 14mm F2.8 ED [IF] interchangeable wide-angle lens is the second model of the DA-series lineup. At 14.8 ounces and measuring just 2.7 inches long and 3.3 inches in diameter, the lens is one of the lightest in its category.
Phase One Press Release 30/07/04
More than 25,000 professional photographers and enthusiasts benefit from working with Phase One’s C1 RAW workflow software every day. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we introduce C1 LE RAW Workflow software for Mac. Now, for the first time, Mac users can enjoy the low entry cost that C1 LE offers to the Digital SLR enthusiast and low volume professional. C1 LE provides the highly regarded and never duplicated RAW Workflow that Phase One has developed over the past 10 years, along with the famous Phase One image quality.
C1 LE RAW Workflow software for Mac supports RAW files from the following DSLR cameras:
- Canon:
10D/ 300D/ Rebel/ D60/ D30
- Nikon:
D100/ D70
- Olympus:
E1/ E10/ E20
- Pentax: *istD.
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Pentax USA Press Release 08/06/04
PENTAX PLANS DIGITAL SLR FAMILY EXPANSION
June 8, 2004 (GOLDEN, CO) - PENTAX Imaging Company, a division of PENTAX of America, Inc. has announced it is developing cameras for the entry level digital SLR category. The first introduction is slated for Fall of 2004.
PENTAX entered the digital SLR market in the Fall of 2003 with the popular *ist D digital SLR that offers 6.1 megapixels (pictured), interchangeable lens compatibility, and one of the world?s smallest, lightest camera bodies in the digital SLR category.
PENTAX introduced two DA series designed lenses to match the *ist D CCD size since the 2003 arrival. The PENTAX-DA Zoom 16mm-45mm F4 ED AL shipped earlier this year and the smc PENTAX-DA 14mm F2.8 ED [IF] interchangeable wide-angle lens will ship in June 2004.
This latest announcement further demonstrates the PENTAX commitment to the digital SLR camera market including entry level photographers.
PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of digital and film cameras, binoculars, spotting scopes, eyepieces, lenses, mobile printers, scanners and internet cameras. For more than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PENTAX Corporation of Japan.
Website: Pentax USA
PENTAX Press Release 12/05/04
Compact, Lightweight 14mm DA-Series Lens for *ist D
GOLDEN, Colorado (May 12, 2004) - PENTAX Imaging Company has announced a second lens designed for the *ist D digital SLR will ship later this month. The smc PENTAX-DA 14mm F2.8 ED [IF] interchangeable wide-angle lens was developed as a second model of the new DA-series lineup. At 14.8 ounces and measuring just 2.7 inches long and 3.3 inches in diameter, the lens is one of the lightest in its category. The lens features a standardized DA-series design incorporating high-grade metallic components with green accents.
Featuring a focal length of 14mm (equivalent to 21mm in the 35mm format) and a 90-degree angle of view, this high-performance wide-angle lens incorporates a high-refraction, low-dispersion glass element and an Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass element to produce high-resolution, true-to-life images in advanced digital photography. The lens offers a minimum focusing distance of .56 ft. for a maximum magnification of approximately 0.19 times. The image circle is designed to perfectly match the 23.5mm x 15.7mm size of the CCD used in the *ist D, contributing to a drastic reduction in size, weight and production cost.
PTN Announces Top Photo and Imaging Products of the Year; Leading Imaging Products Help to Determine Photographic Technology Future
[Business Wire]
Business Wire via NewsEdge Corporation : MELVILLE, N.Y.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 11, 2003—If you haven’t yet purchased that digital camera, camcorder, home printer, cell phone or even a single-use camera for someone special for the holidays, don’t take another step until you look at what the experts have chosen as their top products of 2003. Photo Trade News (PTN), the number one business journal in the photo imaging industry, recently unveiled its Top Photo and Imaging Products of the Year as voted on by its thousands of photo trade retailers who are asked to rate the products that created the most consumer excitement throughout the year and impacted their bottom line.
Not surprisingly, the Top Product Overall for five years in a row was a digital camera. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel not only took top honors, but it also claimed the top spot for the Digital SLR category. With details like a highly responsive autofocus and Continuous Shooting Mode which allows users to capture split-second action sequences at 2.5 fps with a 4-shot burst, it’s easy to see what draws buyers.
The Pentax Optio S4 and Olympus Stylus Digital 300/400 tied in the Consumer Digicam category, both offering similar opportunities to capture great photographs.
“Because the winners are chosen by the photo trade industry, honorees are acknowledged by the group responsible for selling their product,” says Cygnus Imaging Group Publisher Kathy Schneider. “Being selected essentially lets the manufacturer know that they are succeeding and their retailers are happy.”
Canon’s entire line of camcorders was selected as a Top Product and it was Fuji’s line of one-time-use-cameras that retailers found to be the best seller. Epson claimed first and second spots for home printers with their Stylus Photo 925 a close second to their Stylus Photo 2200. If you’re searching for the top cell phone, look no further than Motorola’s product line.
“We’re seeing more technology-based imaging solutions and products scoring fairly high,” says PTN Publisher Liz Vickers. “The photo industry is being revolutionized with items like this year’s Overall Technology winner Graphx Photogize which gives consumers a fast and easy way to send digital photos from their home PC to the local photo retailer, for same day print fulfillment. Only a decade ago, we couldn’t even imagine such innovations.”
For a complete list of PTN’s Top Photo and Imaging Product winners and runners-up, log onto Imaging-info.com. Photo Trade News (PTN) magazine reaches 12,500 imaging industry retailers primarily through the photo specialty, minilab, consumer electronic drugstore and computer channels. The magazine is published 12 times per year and is currently in its 67th year of successfully covering the photo trade industry.
Steve’s Digicams posted no less than 5 new reviews on Friday and Saturday of last week, so rather than post separate entries, here’s a round-up of the reviews.
Pentax *ist D
“The PENTAX *ist D digital SLR camera combines a high-performance, APS-sized 6.1 effective megapixel CCD image sensor, Pentax K lens mount, pentaprism viewfinder, and a 1.8 inch LCD monitor in one of the world’s smallest and lightest camera bodies in the digital SLR category. The *ist D measures a very compact 5 x 3.7 x 2.3 inches and weighs just 18 ounces without batteries.”
Website: Steve’s Digicams - Pentax *ist D Review
Pentax Optio S4
“The Pentax Optio S4 is the same height and width of a credit card yet is packed with features that you wouldn’t expect to find in such a small camera like a 4-megapixel imager, 3x optical zoom lens, 11MB of built-in memory, 3D Imaging, Panorama Assist and Digital Filtering for color and image effects.”
Website: Steve’s Digicams - Pentax Optio S4 Review
Canon PowerShot Digital ELPH SD10
“Stretching the limits of style, size, and resolution, Canon have produced (at least for the moment) the worlds smallest 4-megapixel digicam, the PowerShot SD10 Digital ELPH. This tiny, unintimidating (dare I say cute?) point-n-shoot will please beginners with its ease of use in automatic exposure mode, yet it offers a limited range of adjustments in Manual mode that will help the intermediate user deal with less common shooting conditions.”
Website: Steve’s Digicams - Canon PowerShot Digital ELPH SD10 Review
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P92
“The DSC-P92’s images are excellent. The P92 is accurate even in low light conditions. The overall image quality, sharpness and color balance is on the same level as much more expensive cameras with the same image resolution capabilities.”
Website: Steve’s Digicams - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P92 Review
Canon i860 Photo Printer
“The Canon i860 is an incredibly fast printer and is the perfect replacement for both an all-purpose text and graphic printer and a photo printer. Most people don’t print enough photos to justify a dedicated photo printer and with today’s inkjets like the Canon i860, i960 and i9100 you no longer need a dedicated photo printer. These printers are up for both of these tasks and do them extremely well.”
The UK digital photogrphy website ePhotoZine have quietly published a full review of the Pentax *ist D, which is due to hit the high street very soon. Can the new *ist D compete with the more well-established DSLRs like the Canon EOS 10D, Fuji S2 and Nikon D100? Find out in ePhotoZine’s review…
“Overall the Pentax *ist D offers a level of image quality similar to other six megapixel digital SLRs available, which is good considering this is Pentax’s first production Digital SLR to reach the market. We received the camera with the kit 18-35mm lens and used a 24-90mm we had in the office too. The 18-35mm provides a useful wide-angle and for around ?100 extra over the body-only price is not bad value. In comparison to the 24-90mm it is slightly softer at 24mm but does provide that 6mm more wide-angle coverage. One advantage it has over most other wide-angle lenses is it is very lightweight making the combination of this lens and the *ist D a good travel companion.”
Website: ePhotoZine - Pentax *ist D Review
I’d almost forgotten about Pentax’s new DSLR, the *ist D, which back in May was officially delayed until the end of August due to “a delay in the procurement of material required”.
It now seems that Pentax have procured whatever it was that they needed, as this morning they have officially announced that the *ist D will begin shipping in September. So all you Pentax owners out there can now breathe a big sigh of relief!
Here’s an excerpt from the US press release:
“PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. announced that the long anticipated digital SLR *ist D camera (pronounced ist-dee) will begin shipping in September 2003* to the United States.
Housed in one of the world?s smallest, lightest SLR camera bodies, the *ist D comes equipped with an array of advanced functions and user-friendly features, including an APS-sized CCD with impressive 6.1 effective megapixels, a responsive SAFOX VIII autofocus system with 11-point AF sensor, a sophisticated 16-segment multi-pattern metering system, a bright viewfinder with a newly developed compact glass pentaprism, an innovative ?Hyper? operating system and 22 user-adjustable custom functions. The *ist D is compatible with existing PENTAX 35mm-format interchangeable lenses and accessories.*
* Some restrictions and conditions may apply to certain lenses and accessories.”
Pentax are also releasing 2 new lenses at the same time as the *ist D:
- smc PENTAX-FA J Zoom 18mm-35mm F4-F5.6 AL
- smc PENTAX-DA Zoom 16mm-45mm F4 ED AL
The DA part of the 16mm-45mm is very important. Pentax have also announced that they are developing a new DA Series of interchangeable lenses for the *ist D, with the smc PENTAX-DA Zoom 16mm-45mm F4 ED AL being the first ever lens in the DA series. The image circle in the DA-series lenses is designed to perfectly match the size of the CCD (23.5mm x 15.7mm) incorporated in Pentax’s digital SLRs, optimizing the performance of these cameras. The new design also contributes to a drastic reduction in size, weight and production cost, compared to 35mm-format counterparts with similar specifications.
No prices have yet been announced for either the *ist D body or the new lenses.
UPDATE: Luminous Landscape is reporting that the *ist D body will cost $1699 in the USA, or $1899 with the 18-35mm zoom lens (which seems like an excellent deal to me).
Website: Luminous Landscape
Several websites already have the news and the usual first looks and previews:
Website: BytePhoto
Website: DCResource
Website: DP-Now
Website: DPReview - Pentax *ist Preview
Website: Imaging Resource
Website: Steve’s Digicams
If you’re at all interested in medium-format photography, then the New York Institute of Photography’s review of the Pentax 645NII camera will be well worth reading.
“This month our own tough and intrepid writer, Medium Format Marie, gives readers her impressions of the Pentax 645NII medium format SLR. Marie took the camera to the Jersey shore on one of the coldest days of the year. “We’ve been spoiled here for years now,” Marie says, “winters have been mild and we haven’t had much snow, but this year we’re having a real winter. And with that come those great days with clear blue bright skies. Cold weather aside; I had a terrific time with this camera!”
Marie writes, “Let’s not forget why we’re all considering moving up to medium format in the first place - those big beautiful negatives and the ability to make bigger and better enlargements! The 645NII blends the convenience of a 35mm camera with medium format benefits. My impression is that this camera, combined with a few great Pentax lenses and accessories, would be a great choice even for pros.”
Chuck DeLaney, Dean of the New York Institute of Photography (NYI), the world’s largest photography school, says, “Sadly, many photographers never even dabble in the medium format. This is a shame, and one that we’re out to fix. That’s where Marie comes in. She’s tough, she’s a gear head, and she’s taking her camera to the streets. We don’t have advertisers to please, so Marie can write whatever she wants about each model she gets her hands on. Every few issues, Marie will be back with a review of a medium format model, some of which are decidedly inexpensive. In fact, there’s a plastic medium format camera, the Holga, that sells for around $20! Our intrepid staffer, June Lang, started the ball rolling by writing “Capturing Mermaids with a Holga.”
Website: Pentax 645NII Review
“Reprinted with permission from the New York Institute of Photography web site at http://www.nyip.com”
Well, I take a day off from everything to celebrate my birthday, and look what happens! Pentax have announced a new digital SLR camera, the Pentax *ist D, and a new wide angle lens, the smc PENTAX-FA J Zoom 18-35mm F4-5.6 AL. Pentax has also been developing lenses compatible with the new digital SLR camera. Pentax aims to launch these in Fall 2003.
See all 6 views of the Pentax *ist D and read the Press Release
“The lens-interchangeable *ist D digital SLR camera. With the clarity of 6.1 effective megapixels, a pentaprism viewfinder, and a 1.8 inch LCD monitor, the *ist D will feature one of the world?s smallest, lightest camera bodies in the digital SLR category. The *ist D will officially launch in July 2003.”
Other notable features include a 16-segment metering system which achieves more accurate exposure, 11-point AF sensor, fast 1/4000 sec. shutter speed and high-speed flash sync at 1/150 sec and continuous shooting at approx. 2.7 fps.
As revealed yesterday, Pentax have announced the 5-megapixel Optio 550 and the 4-megapixel Optio 450. Both models host a variety of features including a high resolution 1.5 inch LCD monitor, a movie mode that captures up to ten minutes of video with sound, a voice memo recording mode, a vice memo function, panorama assist, full manual control and a 5X optical zoom (20X combined). As with Nikon’s earlier announcement, there is no sign yet of an imminent DSLR release from Pentax.
Website: Pentax Press Release - Optio 450/550
Pentax have also announced a new film camera, which like Nikon’s F75 is a direct competitor to Canon’s very popular EOS 300. The bizarrely named Pentax *ist (yes, that asterix is part of the name) is supposedly “one of the world?s smallest in the Auto Focus SLR category”. I’m not sure which other cameras’ are smaller, but this doesn’t seem like a great claim to fame from Pentax.
Feature highlights of the *ist include a multi-mode exposure system with an innovative Auto Picture mode and an accessible illumination mode dial, a 16-segment multi-pattern metering system, an 11-point Auto Focus system, a 1/4000-second high-speed shutter, 17 custom functions, a large LCD panel, a multi-data LCD viewfinder indicator, and a retractable auto pop-up flash.
Website: Pentax Press Release - New Film SLR
At a time when the digital race is getting ever faster, it seems a little odd that both Nikon and Pentax have announced new low/mid-end film SLRs. I guess there must still be a big market out there for these kind of cameras. ?200 -?300 is the typical entry-level price-range for most new photographers who are looking for a film camera that’s more sophisticated than a compact. But how many of those people are still considering film? Are they paying more money, say ?500, for a digital camera that offers similar functionality to a typical film SLR, but with all the convenience that digital offers?