Pentax Life

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?

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)

One of our fellow readers suggested that Pentax could roll out fixed lens entry level DSLR in the nearest future. Something very compact with built-in DA 40mm Limited pancake.

Well, ultra-compact DSLR undoubtedly will face a warm welcome at the market, and one of the upcoming Pentax cameras will be pretty compact (not “ultra” though), but:

1. Even if it will be fixed prime lens digital SLR, it more likely will be built on 21mm lens rather than closer to short telephoto on the 1.5x sensor 40mm.

2. Back to the 80′s, Pentax released world’s first fully automatic zoom compact camera – Pentax IQ Zoom. Since that time, almost all Pentax point & shoots were equipped with zoom lenses. So, if Pentax will decide to make fixed lens SLR, it will be equipped with zoom lens too.

3. Not so long ago Pentax have showing interchangeable lens point & shoots prototypes. Also, DA and DFA lenses line-up is growing fast. So, it’s not likely that Pentax will make digital SLRs with fixed lenses, even if it will help to built something really small.

• 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.

The rumors about upcoming Nikon D3 with a Sony’s 1.13x crop 18.7 Megapixels sensor are spreading over the Internet. Rumors says that some D3 engineering samples are already exists, Nikon have the exclusive rights to use this sensor for a one year and there is another 1.5x 12 Megapixels CMOS sensor from Sony soon to be announced. To prove that these rumors are not groundless there is publication at C|NET Newsblog. Also Benjamin Kanarek has confirmed that Pentax France guys knows about it.

What does it means for Pentax? First of all, no 18 Mpix 1.1x K-next-D till the end of 2008 at least. Second, two upcoming Pentax DSLRs could be built on 12 Mpix 1.5x CMOS sensor. Nikon D3 was promised to be released in the end of this June, so it’s not much time to wait for the mystery to be revealed.

What do you think about it? Share your thoughts on our forum.

According to the letter received by DPReview forums user Richard Day from the Technical support of German flashgun manufacturer Metz, they will introduce Pentax / Samsung digital SLR dedicated flash unit Metz Mecablitz 58 AF-1 P/S digital in the end of July, 2007 approximately.

It will be guide number 42 flashgun with full P-TTL support and wireless capabilities. Its reflector could be rotated 270 degrees horizontally and -7/+90 degrees vertically in any combinations. A unique feature is USB socket for updating flash firmware remotely over the internet. It’s expected to be cheaper than the Pentax 540 FGZ.

According to Hoya’s spokespersons, Japan’s biggest optical glass manufacturer expect to hear the final decision from Pentax at the meeting on May 31. After the takeover agreement Pentax will become a full subsidiary of Hoya Corp. till the end of the year. Also TOB decision will mean the end of the short presidency of Takashi Watanuki as he and seven more Pentax board of directors members are planning to resign after the takeover.

The new board will consist of five members: one outside director, two representatives from Hoya and two from Pentax. According to Bloomberg, the major Pentax shareholder Sparx Group Co. promotes Nobuaki Tanishima from the Pentax’s corporate planning department and Ko Torigoe from the Imaging Division to be two new board members.

Assignment of Ko Torigoe, who has given interviews about K10D at the last year live shows in Japan (along with Hisashi Tatamiya), as a board member is undoubtedly a good sign. As well as answers that were received by Benjamin Kanarek, Don Douglas and, I guess a lot of other Pentaxians who have sent their concerned emails to Hoya. Here’s some very optimistic quotes:

As you already know, Pentax is one of Japan’s best-known camera makers with worldwide brand recognition and a nealy 90-year history, and HOYA respects it very much. We appreciate Pentax’s excellent technology, products and brand. We believe that two companies are the best partners and by integrating both companies’ skills and technologies, we can grow much bigger. That’s the reason why we are offering tender offer.

Hoya is a manufacuturer, not investors or fund managers. We do M&A in order to strengthen our business, not to chop them up and sell. HOYA believes Pentax will be able to continue inventing excellent products to meet its customer needs, and we can support in many ways.

During a meeting in Tokyo between Hoya and Pentax CEOs, Hiroshi Suzuki and Takashi Watanuki respectively, a basic agreement was reached on a friendly takeover bid. According to The Japan Times, Hoya buying Pentax’s stock for about 770 yen a share and is likely to approve the candidates for board of directors proposed by Pentax on condition that two executives from Hoya Corp. become part of the new board. Watanuki asked Hoya to allow Pentax to manage its business on its own for some time to balance its bottom line after it comes under the umbrella of the maker of optical glasses and lenses.

But a top Hoya official said Monday the appointments of board directors to be decided at the shareholders’ meeting will be “temporary” until the camera maker is turned into its wholly owned subsidiary.

So it’s nothing clear as yet. Probably more information would be available in June 25 when the next general meeting of shareholders is planned.

According to Korean forum SSdslr.com, battery grip for Samsung GX-10 digital SLR is ready and should be available by the end of April. Good news for GX-10 owners, present or future, since the Pentax D-BG2 battery grip for K10D doesn’t fit Samsung GX-10 due to slight dimensional differences.

PentaxLife Forum user 1r2R1 shared photos of Pentax D-BG2 battery grip attached to Samsung GX-10 camera body by Michaël Matiwejko:

As you can see on the pictures above, Samsung’s grip is slightly larger than the Pentax’s one. Michaël had to cut some plastic off his D-BG2 to install it. Happily, the problem is mostly cosmetic and can be fixed at your convenience. All the buttons and dials are fully functional. A little surgery shouldn’t damage battery grip’s all-weather seals. But I’d recommend you to wait for Samsung genuine part.