Pentax Life

Pentax Germany website promises the surprise at the IFA Consumer Trade Show in Berlin (August 31st - September 5th). According to DigitalFotoNetz, newest highlights from the digital camera range to be shown.

German press release repository PresseBox has a press release issued by Pentax Europe GmbH (but not activated yet) about “powerful flashgun with a guide number 54 for Pentax DSLR cameras“. Perhaps this is the new flash that Pentax will roll out on August 31st - September 5th at the IFA Consumer Trade Show in Berlin.

PentaxLife Forum user ogl has reported that the Russian Pentax dealer has significantly raised prices on all Pentax lenses. Some of them are priced twice more than in U.S. or Japan and 20% more than in U.K. - the former probably most expensive place to shop for Pentax. What could this mean? Response to the current shortage, or they are getting ready for the coming breakthrough, or Hoya raising prices everywhere?

This short video demonstrates focusing speed of Pentax DA* 50-135mm F2.8 SDM lens. From infinity to closest focusing distance and back to infinity just for little more than one second.

Just two weeks left for Pentax DA* 16-50mm F2.8 and DA* 50-135mm F2.8 SDM lenses to be shipped to those American and European customers who have managed to pre-ordered them. But some lucky guys already have theirs.

One of the first set of samples appeared on Ned Bunnell’s blog. Shot with K10D in RAW at ISO200. No sharpening or any other manipulations except for minor cropping and white balance adjustments on some shots.

Another two sets of samples were found at German DigitalFotoNetz Forum: set one and two.

Image by Kasache

Also if you considering DA* 50-135mm F2.8 zoom, check out this page with hi-res samples.

Sigma to start selling 24-60mm F2.8 EX DG large-aperture compact zoom lens for Pentax K-mount on July 28, 2007 as stated in official press-release. MSRP in Japan will be 65,000 Yen (around US$530).

Sigma 24-60mm F2.8 EX DG is quite small 87.2mm * 83.6mm 550 grams take-everywhere short zoom with constant maximum aperture of F/2.8 and internal focusing. Filter diameter 77mm. 9 diaphragm blades. 16 Elements in 15 Groups including Special Low Dispersion (SLD) and aspherical glass elements. Closest focusing distance is 38 cm or 15 in.

Nikon, Canon and Sigma versions of this lens are already available, so you can find a lot of samples on the internet.

Pentax Japan has officially announced release date for two new DA* lenses. In Japan DA* 50-135mm F2.8 will be available July 27, 2007. DA* 16-50mm F2.8 two weeks later - August 11, 2007.

In the United States (and most other countries) both lenses will available simultaneously on August 15, 2007.

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.

According to the Spanish website Quesabesde.com (which is referring to Rodolfo Biber, Spanish Carl Zeiss importer) Carl Zeiss to introduce six its most legendary manual focus lenses for Pentax K-mount till the end of 2007. New ZK series will include Carl Zeiss ZK Planar 50mm f1.4 (will be announced first), ZK Planar 85mm F1.4, ZK Distagon 25mm F2.8, ZK Distagon 35mm F2.0, ZK Macro-Planar 50mm F2.0 and 100mm F2.0. All these lenses will be fully compatible with Pentax KA mount so they will be fully functional being mounted on the modern Pentax and Samsung digital SLRs as well as on the older 35mm film cameras (except for autofocus, of course).

Nikon versions of these lenses are already available. Prices are ranged between $500 for Planar 50mm F1.4 and $1,500 for Macro-Planar 100mm F2.0

There is no information about ZK series or any other K-mount products on the official Carl Zeiss website.

July 20 update:The rumor is officially confirmed:

The first lens will be available for shipping in August 2007:
Planar T* 1,4/50 ZK - 503,36 € (without VAT)

All other lenses will be available in Q4 2007:
Distagon T* 2,8/25 ZK - 671,43 € (without VAT)
Distagon T* 2/35 ZK - 671,43 € (without VAT)
Planar T* 1,4/85 ZK - 881,51 € (without VAT)
Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZK - 881,51 € (without VAT)
Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZK - 1.343,70 € (without VAT)

• Pentax K100D’s successor is on the way.
• Camera above K10D is planned.
• All the announced DA* lenses (60-250mm, 200mm, 300mm) are in development now.
• In the nearest future K10D firmware version 1.30 will be available for download.

Sigma Japan announced today the release date for Pentax version of APO 300mm F2.8 EX DG wide aperture telephoto prime lens - June 24th. This is a digital incarnation of the well known APO 300mm F2.8 with the new multi layer lens coating.

• Lens Construction - 11 Elements in 9 Groups, 9 diaphragm blades
• Minimum Aperture - F32
• Minimum Focusing Distance - 250cm / 98.4 in.
• Maximum Magnification - 1:7.5
• Filter Size - 46mm (drop-in type)
• Dimensions - 214.5mm * 119mm (8.4 in. * 4.7 in.), weight 2400gr / 84.6oz

According to Yodobashi.com, estimated retail price in Japan - ¥367 500 or around US$3 000.

Sigma France announced K-mount version of its lightweight large aperture zoom lens 50-150mm F2.8 APO DC EX. This lens is specially designed for APS-C digital SLR cameras and consist of 18 elements in 14 groups with 9 diaphragm blades. Minimum focusing distance is 100cm and filter size is 67mm. Dimensions: Diameter 76.3mm X Length 135.1mm (3.0 inches x 5.3 inches), weight: 770g/27.2 oz.

Pentax version of Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 will be available on July 1, 2007 for about $650.

Peter Bernik has tested the Canon version of this lens (100% crops included):

The lens is not as good as one would think when looking at specifications. Sharpness is very good from f4 above, especially towards the long end (100mm and more). CA can be pretty bad at f2.8.