Pentax Life

According to Business Wire, the dual-axis gyroscope that works as a part of Pentax Optio A30 Shake Reduction system is InvenSense IDG-1000. The same announcement also said that this device will be used in the future Pentax digital cameras. So, perhaps, we will see more Pentax digicams with Shake Reduction feature soon.

InvenSense, the leading provider of integrated motion sensing solutions for consumer electronics, today announced that Pentax Corporation has selected its IDG-1000 series dual-axis gyroscope for use in the Optio A30 digital camera and for next generation digital still camera (DSC) models with optical image stabilization features. InvenSense’s gyro is used to precisely measure the camera user’s hand shake which is compensated for using Pentax’s Shake Reduction (SR) technology for improved image capture in low-light settings and telephoto use.

This is a good sign and a good answer for all those doomsayers who are saying that Hoya will drop imaging division or shrink it down.

Sigma has introduced successors to the popular EF-500 series flashes – EF-530 DG SUPER and EF-530 DG ST. Both new flashguns have a guide number 53 meters and movable head for flash bouncing.

EF-530 DG Super also (unlike DG ST) supports wireless flash function and modeling flash function, enabling the user to check for intense reflections and shadows, before actually taking the picture.

Sigma EF-530 DG Super and EF-530 DG ST will be available in a month or two for $259 and $189 respectively.

Thanks to Don Douglas, who has pointed to an article from the U.K. photomagazine Amateur Photographer where the future of Pentax digital medium format camera is questioned:

Hiroshi Onoda, European general manager for Imaging Systems, told AP’s technical editor Angela Nicholson: ‘The medium format digital SLR is no longer a priority for Pentax.’

Some people on various Pentax forums and communities were in a hurry to declare the death of 645D project. But the phrase “no longer a priority” doesn’t mean cancellation, or does it?

Pentax Imaging have announced two new Optio point and shoot cameras today. And one of them – Optio Z10 – starts completely new Z series that features non-protruding high zoom power lens in a stylish slim body.

Z10 offers 8 Megapixels 1/2.5″ sensor, 7x optical zoom (38-266mm in terms of 35mm film) hidden beneath the sturdy sliding cover that acts like power on/off switch, easily viewable 2.5″ LCD monitor and sensitivity up to ISO3200.

Ultracompact 10 Megapixels 1/1.8″ 3x optical zoom Optio S10 digicam will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart Stores in the United States.

Both cameras will hit the shelves in September for around $250 each.

Pentax have just launched a teaser page for their upcoming (scheduled on September 6, 2007) website pentaxians.com. Today most of the Pentax SLR photographers (those who were registered at Pentax Photo Gallery) have received a letter from Pentax Marketing Team. They were informed about creation of Pentaxian website and were asked to tell something about themselves and what makes them Pentaxians.

Pentax Japan have issued a press-release where they are apologizing for Pentax DA* 16-50mm F2.8 SDM lens shortage. It was rolled out on August 11th in Japan and all 16-50mm’s were sold in the same date.

The reason is clean and still a bit discouraging: overwhelming demand for DA* lenses. Pentax can’t satisfy the market’s demand. It has become that the current production level is insufficient.

It has to say that the only cure for this problem is to put new production facilities into operation as soon as possible to feed the continuously growing Pentax market share. An Pentax is working on that.

Pentax Corporation announced today that the Pentax K10D digital SLR camera was selected as the “EISA European Camera of the Year 2007-2008” by the European Imaging & Sound Association (EISA).

EISA is the European organization with a membership of fifty leading consumer electronics magazines from 18 European countries. Every year EISA member magazines select the most outstanding products released in the preceding twelve months in their area of interest.

Last year the winner of European Camera of the Year award was Nikon D200. Canon 350D was the Camera of the Year in 2005-2006.

According to Impress Watch, recently announced 8 megapixels Pentax Optio M40 point and shoot digital camera will be available in Japan on August 9, 2007. Japanese customers will have a choice of three colors: silver, pink and brown.

In the United States ultraslim 18mm depth (it’s slimmer than my mobile phone!) M40 digicam is ready for preorder (sliver color only) for $199.95 and will be shipped on September 15, 2007.

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.