Pentax Life

Pop Photo Editors have speculating about future pro-grade Pentax DSLR based on the full frame sensor that is probably in development by Samsung:

Pentax We have heard talk of a new pro level camera in the works. The next big offering from Pentax is likely to have improved noise levels and include a full-frame sensor from Samsung.

Samsung The company isn’t likely to make its own DSLR, as its consumer market is more in the big-box and electronics stores. The company probably will continue working closely with Pentax. A full-frame sensor for a Pentax DSLR is likely in the works.

Such rumors are floating around for more than a year, but the sources are becoming more and more credible.

DPReview forums user rArWebWorks has quoted the words of unnamed service manager at the Golden, Colorado service center, who said that there won’t be any further firmware upgrades for Pentax K10D DSLR.

Earlier, Pentax Europe product manager Wolfgang Baus has confirmed ‘no more firmware updates for K10D’ policy to the popular German Pentax community DigitalFotoNetz.

More in the news: OK1000 has reported Apple adds Pentax K200D and K20D RAW support to Aperture 2.0 and iPhoto ‘08.

Chinese Engadget (quite trustworthy resource) has reported the rumors that Chinese manufacturer Patriot Aigo in cooperation with Carl Zeiss planning to roll out first China DSLR with Leica-M mount. What’s most interesting is that Engadget has illustrated this rumor with something looking just like Pentax MZ-D 2001 6Mp full-frame DSLR prototype with Patriot Aigo logo on it:

Here is how the MZ-D looks like:

Yes, the first image is undoubtedly poorly photoshopped MZ-D. But it’s nice to see that its memory still lives in people’s hearts.

Hoya Pentax Imaging Systems Division and Microsoft Corporation have signed the cross-licencing deal today. The agreement covers digital cameras made by PENTAX as well as a broad range of other consumer products each company manufactures and sells. Ko Torigoe of Hoya Pentax said that “We believe that this contract will further solidify the alliance between the two companies. We also expect that it will bring considerable benefits to consumers in the near future, as we should be able to shorten the time required for product development because of technological advancement by both companies, and therefore deliver higher-quality products to the market.”

So what exact benefits to consumers Ko Torigoe is talking about? Ars Technica contributor Emil Protalinski has speculated about it:

Camera functionality for the Zune is entirely possible. The current Zunes can all store and display both pictures and videos and, while phone capabilities are unlikely, that does not mean that the Zune cannot pick up features that almost every mobile phone has nowadays: photo and video capture.

He could be right. It’s not the new business for Pentax, which is pretty known for its camera modules for mobile phones.

According to Impress Watch Pentax has suspended the development the digital era version of its medium format camera - 645 Digital to concentrate on the APS-C digital SLR cameras development. Also, these rumors could be interpreted as the Pentax’s intention to roll out full frame DSLR in the future.

Source in Japanese (auto translation)

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

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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 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?

Thanks to one of my kind readers I was pointed on the weird picture of a Pentax DSLR camera with battery grip, old “Limited” lens and a brown strap with a “PRO” label. The camera itself is looks like K10D with D-BG2 grip. Nothing new in silver FA Limited as well. But the “PRO” label on the camera strap is used to say that this is upcoming pro-level (above K10D) camera.

While image doesn’t look phony and camera strap doesn’t look hand-made, camera on the picture is too similar to K10D. Also if the new pro-level DSLR was demonstrated somewhere it has the new DA* lens mounted on. What do you think?