Pentax Life

Pentax Imaging Co. have officially announced two new DSLRs: 14.6 megapixel CMOS Pentax K20D and 10.2 megapixel CCD Pentax K200D.

While Pentax K20D appeared to be quite disappointing with its old autofocus and metering systems, could be better LCD and 12-bit RAWs, Pentax K200D is the revolution in this generation of k-mount DSLR cameras. Pentax took a smart move by pushing K10D technologies such as all-weather sealing and battery grip to the entry-level segment.

It’s still two days before Pentax K20D should go official but the full specs of the new camera are already available on the various websites. Most of them are quite respectfull. E.g. Russian Pentax dealer Pentar Corp. have published full specs today (these guys were in Dubai too):

• 14.6 effective (15.07 total) megapixel (4672 х 3120 pixels) 23.4*15.6mm (1.5x) CMOS sensor
• 3 FPS
• 12-bit RAW (where is the rumored 14-bit?)
• Dust Alert software system in addition to mechanical dust removal sensor-shake system and SP sensor coating that will help to remove black dots from the RAW images already taken with the dirty sensor
• 11-point (9 cross-type) SAFOX VIII autofocus
• 16-segent TTL metering
• Auto ISO 100/200/400/800/1600, Manual 100-3200, ISO 6400 available
• Shutter speed 1/4000 – 30 seconds and bulb
• PC-contact for studio flashes
• Pentaprism with Natural-Bright-Matte II 0.95x focusing screen
• 2.7” 230,000 pixels LCD screen
• LiveView feature with 4x and 8x magnification
• The same D-LI50 battery and D-BG2 battery grip (good news)
• Weights 800g with battery and memory card, dimentions are almost the same as K10D

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Today two Norvegian websites (Akam.no and Aronsen.no) have reported the announcement of the all new Samsung GX20 DSLR. However, still no official press-release on the Samsung Techwin website.

So what and when we should to expect?

• Brand new 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor with LiveView feature. The rumors says that this sensor is designed by Pentax, but manufacturer is unknown yet.
• Good old Shake Reduction and all-weather sealing in the practically the same body – just a little bit larger 2.7″ LCD.
• ISO3200 and dedicated RAW button (they’ve heard us!).
• Shipment in the end of Q1 2008 for around US$1800 in Norway, so it should be around $1200 in the United States.

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Steve at Steve’s Digicams has reviewed Pentax K100D Super – latest update for Pentax entry level DSLR line-up. Unfortunately Steve hasn’t got the new DA* lenses (most of the sample photos are made with DA 12-24mm F4) so the most important new feature that differs K100D Super from its predecessor – Supersonic Drive Motor lenses support – haven’t been tested and even mentioned in his review.

Another Pentax K100D Super review is posted by JerryJ at DigitalCameraReview:

Since my day-to-day cameras are a Pentax K10D and Pentax *ist DL, I was curious how the K100D Super would compare. I expected the camera to perform better than the *ist DL but fall short of the K10D. What I discovered was that the K100D Super is much more like its big brother the K10D than I expected. In short, this is one amazing little camera… …the K100D Super is the best value on the market.

Japanese Impress Watch website have tested Pentax DA* 50-135mm F2.8 SDM lens. Automatic translation is close to unreadable but full resolution samples are talking by themselves. By the way, Amazon offers DA* 50-135mm F2.8 for $851.04.

DigitalCameraInfo have criticized Pentax A30 point&shoot digicam in the thorough review they have published recently: “With inaccurate colors, high noise levels, limited dynamic range, and terrible video quality, this camera isn’t worth the $350 price tag.“

Australian DPexpert has published a very short (no image quality tests or samples) review of Pentax K100D Super entry level DSLR. Overall verdict is “Highly recommended”. Their only dislikes are too loud mirror slaps and too high contrast and saturation level by default. Positive impressions: “The value-for-money of this camera makes the competition look either greedy or inefficient. There is nothing cut-down or under-done about the Pentax.“

Another one K100D Super review (and DA* 50-135mm F2.8 SDM on the same page) came from Japan. Here is automatic translation.

J. Keenan has reviewed fourth generation of Pentax Optio M series at DigitalCameraReview:

The Pentax Optio M40 is an entry-level compact digital P&S that provides a basic feature set, yet throws in some manual inputs not normally encountered in cameras of this class. The ability to set ISO and exposure compensation in most of the various shooting modes is a welcomed departure from the norm, although it seems somewhat incongruous in a camera that really is targeting users who wouldn’t ordinarily be expected to care about, let alone use such features. Performance in good lighting conditions is adequate, but the camera struggles to focus and shoot in dim light.

Impress Watch have a short preview of Pentax newest DSLR K100D Super. Nothing new in the shots of camera itself except for “Super” sign, but two dozens of full size samples made with DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 “kit” lens are bit more interesting – there are no visible changes in image quality and especially in high ISO performance. K100D Super is undoubtedly as good in available light conditions as its predecessor.

Meanwhile Pentax K100D Super prices are already known – no significant difference with K100D:

• In Europe K100D Super body will cost you around €510
• In U.S. – $520 for body, $600 for single lens kit
• In Japan – around ¥62,000 ($520) for body or ¥74,800 ($630) for single lens kit

Update: more Pentax K100D Super samples.

Samsung UK offering customers the £100 cashback (rebate) for its top digital SLR GX10 (K10D clone). This cashback applies to both single 18-55mm lens kit and double 18-55mm/50-200mm lens kit. To claim the cashback you need to download special form from the Samsung Camera UK website, fill it out, add the proof of purchase and return to the address specified on the form.

Klaus Schroiff at PhotoZone has reviewed Pentax SMC-DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED entry level telephoto zoom and has got surprisingly bad results:

The resolution characteristic of the lens is rather mediocre – specifically the image borders are often soft at large aperture settings.

Must be because he has take faulty (and than repaired) copy of 50-200mm, as he noted in his review.

ePhotoZine have tested Samsung GX10 DSLR. Nothing really new, just some rumblings about how Samsung manual worse indexed than Pentax one.

IT Reviews have finally put their hands on Pentax K100D:

An affordable, solidly built and versatile digital SLR with a host of improved features over the previous ‘*ist’ series, resulting in outstanding picture quality and shake reduction.

DigitalCameraInfo have named Pentax Optio W30 “the best value in the waterproof digital camera category“:

With waterproof, dustproof (and kid-proof) abilities, the Optio W30 functions as an all-around camera that can be transported on land or water. It also includes basic PDA functions such as alarm and calendar.

Sales of the Pentax K10D Grand Prix package scheduled to July 12. Only 5,000 pcs. will be sold worldwide, each region will get their own quota.

According to DPReview forums user Kevin_sun, the price in Japan should be 139,400 Yen or around US$1,150.

Firmware version 1.30 previously presented in the Pentax AP50 Anniversary camera now available for Pentax K10D. The only new feature is the support for new SDM (Supersonic Drive Motor) lenses. To install this update download archived file for Windows (self-extractor) or Mac (BinHex), unpack it and follow the instructions in the readme.txt file.

Thus all new Pentax digital SLRs are now fully compatible with SDM lenses, but these lenses themselves are still listed as available for preorder only with the shipment date in August 15, 2007.