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.
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):
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?
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.
Steve at Steve’s Digicams has reviewed Pentax K100D Super - latest update for Pentax entry level DSLR line-up. Unfortunately Steve hasn’t got the new DA* lenses (most of the sample photos are made with DA 12-24mm F4) so the most important new feature that differs K100D Super from its predecessor - Supersonic Drive Motor lenses support - haven’t been tested and even mentioned in his review.
Another Pentax K100D Super review is posted by JerryJ at DigitalCameraReview:
Since my day-to-day cameras are a Pentax K10D and Pentax *ist DL, I was curious how the K100D Super would compare. I expected the camera to perform better than the *ist DL but fall short of the K10D. What I discovered was that the K100D Super is much more like its big brother the K10D than I expected. In short, this is one amazing little camera… …the K100D Super is the best value on the market.
Japanese Impress Watch website have tested Pentax DA* 50-135mm F2.8 SDM lens. Automatic translation is close to unreadable but full resolution samples are talking by themselves. By the way, Amazon offers DA* 50-135mm F2.8 for $851.04.
DigitalCameraInfo have criticized Pentax A30 point&shoot digicam in the thorough review they have published recently: “With inaccurate colors, high noise levels, limited dynamic range, and terrible video quality, this camera isn’t worth the $350 price tag.“
