Pentax Life

Adobe has posted updates for its Lightroom 1.4 and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 4.4 RAW manipulation software. Now both packages are support Pentax newest K20D and K200D DSLRs’ RAW files as well as RAWs from the recent cameras from Nikon, Canon and Sony.

Here you can download update for Mac or Windows version of Adobe Lightroom. To upgrade you copy of ACR fallow the Mac or Windows links respectively.

Update: DNG troubles

The Lightroom 1.4 update for Mac and Windows has been temporarily removed from the Adobe.com web site.  Those Lightroom users who have installed Lightroom 1.4 should uninstall the update and install Lightroom 1.3.1.(Mac, Win) until a further update can be provided. For those not in immediate need of the updated camera support available in Camera Raw 4.4 or the DNG 4.4 Converter, it’s recommended that you also continue working with the 4.3.1 versions. (Mac, Win)

Adobe has removed Lightroom and ACR updates from the website due to some issues including DNG conversion errors.

Updated updates (sorry for tautology) will be available later.

LetsGoDigital’s Ilse Jurriën has interviewed Jon Carlson – Pentax Imaging USA product manager and the chief K20D evangelist – at PMA. He has told about Pentax and Samsung cooperation background, plans on future lenses and why the digital medium format development was suspended. But the most of attention was given to the Pentax flagship DSLR.

Thanks to the CMOS you have less energy consumption. The sensor of the Pentax K20D is capable of transferring the received information very quickly. What they did is decrease the picture to 1.6 Megapixels so it can be transferred from the buffer to the memory card speedily. This is how you reach 21 pictures per second… …Someone even told me that he uses Photoshop CS3 Extended and he attached 150 pictures sequentially as a QuickTime movie and it looks like a real movie recording.

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We are now showing three SLR lenses that will get introduced later, hopefully this year. We have a 17-70 mm one that is considered as a replacement for the 16-45 mm but offering an SDM engine. And we have the extreme light sensitive 55mm and the 60-250 mm.

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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Cosina has announced two manual focus prime K-mount lenses under the Voigtländer brand.

Voigtlander Ultron 40mm F2 SLII pancake-style lens is half stop faster than popular Pentax DA 40mm pancake but ten millimeters bigger and a little heavier. It consists of six elements in five groups including double-sided aspherical elements and high-refraction glass. Voigtlander Nokton 58mm F1.4 SLII consists of seven elements in six groups.

Both lenses have nine diaphragm blades, all metal casing and fully compatible with Pentax KA mount. MSRP in Japan should be around ¥50,000 or US$435. These lenses are expected to hit the shelves in the next two months.

Previous versions of Voigtlander Ultron and Nokton lenses including screw-mount ones are well known for the built quality and exceptional sharpness even at the widest possible aperture.

Pentax UK has informed the European Pentax customers that some of the 3-pin plug cords supplied with Pentax K10D and some of the Optio digicams after 17th November ’06 may reveal a manufacturing defect.

To identify the cable in question hold the cable by the end with the 3-pins. Turn the pins to face away from you and look for a box containing the text “Approved BSI KM 45980″ All affected cables also have a red fuse holder on the 3-pin plug.

Look at the pictures at this Pentax UK page to get a hint.

Under certain conditions a crack may appear in the connector that connects to a battery charger may lead to electric shock and attendant injuries.

Affected cords were supplied with the following cameras: Pentax K10D, Optio A20, L20, S7, T20 and W20. If you have bought one of these cameras outside Europe or haven’t identified your cord as shown on the pictures above you have nothing to worry about. Otherwise contact Pentax UK by free-phone 0800 2889410.

This week Pentax has announced the other two (as usual) point and shoot cameras: A40 – the fourth generation of Pentax’s high-end compact digicam and V10 which is starting whole new series of ultra compact point and shoots.

Pentax Optio A40 got the new 12 megapixel 1/1.7″ sensor, probably the same as in Canon G9 and A650 digicams. The lens remains the same 7.9-23.7mm. Due to larger sensor (previous A series cameras have 1/1.8″ sensors) it became a little bit wider and shorter: 37-111mm against 38-114mm (in full-frame terms). Tests and reviews will tell us if the larger sensor with the same old lens will produce more vignetting and corner softness.

Pentax Optio V10 is a stylish ultra compact camera just 19mm in depth. Despite its credit card size V10 has a large and sharp 3″ LCD display on its back. Aluminum alloy body makes it a good competitor to Canon’s Digital Elf (IXUS) series. Full specifications could be found here.

Pentax has updated their lens roadmap recently. Nothing particular new except for cloned Tamron which was announced this Monday. But there is a good news and a bad news. The good is that DFA 645 55mm F2.8 is still there so the 645D project is alive. The bad is that DA* 60-250mm F4 is no longer targeted to December, 2007.

Yesterday several people at once have reported that the announcement of the new Pentax lens – DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ultrazoom have appeared on the Pentrax Imaging website. But this announcement have disappeared in an hour or two just to appear again couple of hours later. So the Pentax DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL IF is officially announced.

The new lens looks like rebranded Tamron 18-250mm (that is also available for K-mount) but with Pentax’s proprietary SMC coating.

• Lens construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
• Angle of view: 76° ~6.5° (when mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body)
• Number of diaphragm blades: 7
• Minimum aperture: F22 ~ F45
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.45m (1.48ft) over the entire zoom range
• Filter size: 62mm
• Maximum magnification: 0.28X
• Dimensions & weight: 75mm (maximum diameter) x 85.5mm (length); (3.0 inch x 3.4 inch); 16.0 oz (455g) (without lens hood)