Not far from the Nikon booth is Ricoh, which has a cool waterfall at the front that can show various designs. As you can see, there wasn't a long wait for the K-3.
These lights will eat powers--you can not take to jungles--animals will be alert as they will see these lights!&moreover--Ricoh turns a camera from serious to comedy due to the green lights!
Personally I don't support colourful cameras with bright colours since they can fall you in danger in jungles--so black is good for hiding!
It's available in black, and you can disable the LEDs. LEDs in any case use hardly any power at all. Any digital camera's LCD is likely to be more of a distraction, and definitely much more of a power drain, by orders of magnitude. You are welcome.
What? Degraded? Pentax makes fantastic cameras. Both in customary black and in all the colors you can think off. And actually, those frivolous colored things are real cameras. Nothing has degraded.
If you want to look at degradation, search for minox and rollei mini digital cameras. That is a shame.
DPR has missed to present the 645Z and its new lenses because the 645Z is a professional camera setup for people who care about the ultimate in image quality. That, perhaps, doesn't fit DPR's audience in their opinion.
Instead, you have pages after pages after pages of 7D Mk 2 coverage from every angle. Wait for the new front page thread soon, "7D Mk2 — How it feels when you plant citruses with it around your neck", which is a followup of "7D Mk 2 – Planting and photographing azaleas in our winter garden".
Shame indeed this report doesn't include the professional stand, which included some nice spotting scopes and a DA560/5.6 that could be tried next to the 645Z with the impressive new 28-45 lens. It was the busiest part of the Ricoh stand BTW (both in front and behind the counter), and you actually had to wait for your turn to try out the gear, which was much less the case at the other counters in the stand. Not many new lenses indeed (except for the impressive looking mock-ups), but looking at the entire setup it has gotten *very* complete over the years. Since this is contrary to the often repeated reputation of Pentax lacking lenses, I heard a lot of surprise from other visitors to the stand concerning the lens setup.
Ricoh's Pentax interchangeable lens cameras continue to march to their own quirkily distinctive beat, and I think long term that's a very good thing. Keep it up Pentax!
Where is the report of the 645z stand? Don't tell me the professional photographers of dpreview missed that, it's probably just one of, if not the camera with best image quality on market. But probably not a deal at Amazon or the gearshop, so I understand the ignorance ;-)
Give us the 150-400 4-5.6 zoom as soon as you can laser print the numbers & name on it!! Only wish AF-C was better on the K5II(for birding) otherwise hard to find a better aps-c,except the Samsung if it does what they say
I am still hoping for an interchangeable lens Pentax auto 110 sized digital camera with the same tiny lenses. Those mirrorless cameras have lenses that are anything but tiny.
The Pentax K-S1 costs $750. For that money, you get a really small, non-sealed camera with some good specs. (The full dpr review should be forthcoming sometime in mid-2015).
The only thing that comes close is the one-and-a-half year old Canon EOS 100D (at about $600, now).
I'll bet this finds a market, flashing lights, or no.
" As you can see, there wasn't a long wait for the K-3."
Sorry - was that humour? True I see no people, but I don't think anyone climbing the waterfall would get to stay long - assuming you are serious. And if you're being funny it's rather sad. Why does Pentax continue to get a disproportionate number of dismissive throwaway lines from DPR staff?
Because despite being an Old Skool camera company and despite making good cameras they have relatively small market share now.
in other words, the bleeding obvious.
I have a feeling other manufacturers may be looking to put out a slightly lower cost medium format digital fairly soon and when they do I think the benefits of MF will become far more widely known and then I think maybe Pentax will find itself with more limelight with a more technically capable product for slightly more money. BTW this is all speculation - I have no industry contacts, just noting synthesising what people who do have industry contacts have been writin..
They have small market share because they don't make cameras people want and because their cameras aren't cheaper or better than the competition's. The *ist D was the last time Pentax was competitive with the competition.
I'm not a pentax buyer and never have been. When I spent money on a camera I bought a Nikon, because I thought Nikons were the best, based on what I now look on as pretty thin (and even then very dated evidence).
I think most people are the same, and these days Nikon and Canon are the brands most associated with pro shooters, so most people think they are the best and are not equipend to assess cameras by another criteria other than megapixels.
People may not want pentax cameras, but I don't think that's about the camera, that's about reputation and marketing.
"The *ist D was the last time Pentax was competitive with the competition," you claim.
Sorry, but looking back on a whole sequence of highly competitive DSLRs in the mid- to expert-level departments alone (K10D, K20D, K-7, K-5, K-5 II/IIs, K-3) I beg to differ. At least, if competitiveness means anything beyond sheer AF speed.
There're (some) photographers who do value rugged construction, weather sealing, great ergonomics, accurate 100%-OVFs, compact yet capable lenses, in-body shake reduction (maybe a little less effective, but stabilizing pretty much *any* K-mount lens you may want to use), and highly usable, often gorgeous RAW output, and all that without breaking the bank.
Admittedly, these are boringly photography-related merits. And how do you argue with the following (just a selction):
"It's not what the guy behind the counter showed me." "It's not what the pros use." "It's not what my friends have." "It doesn't say Canon or Nikon on the camera strap." ...
I'm using K20/K5 with DA18-135WR and Sigma lenses mostly.. I'm served well.. All I want now is some tuned K3 body without flaws.
Usually I use these Sigmas: 8-16 17-50/2.8 17-70/2.8-4.5 70-200/2.8 50-500/4-6.3
Ricoh should replace DA*16-50 and create some 50-200/2.8 and some long 500mm beast and WR wide-angle 8-16 or 10-20 lens, otherwise there is no reason to change my setup. Also those SDM lenses troubles.. slow focusing DA*60-250.. optically interesting lens killed by AF speed.
Although I also have DA12-24/4, DA18-55WR,FA*24/2, F28-80, FA28-105/3.2-4.5, FA35/2, FA50/1.4, DA55-300.. they are less and less used. Sigma won this lens match by range and image quality. Ricoh should think about their current lens lineup.
And PLEASE get rid of those DA-L lenses. They don't deserve PENTAX label! Build proper DA-WR models only.
For me K3 is too little improvement over K5, not worth the investment. Its a great body for people without camera or with old model like K10D/20D/K7. But compared to K5/K5II the difference is not radical enough. That new AF module needs to be tuned for much better AF-C performance. Contrast detection can always be better. Video also has several options to be desired (like putting back SR during video).
Still no signs of the FF (rumored) 24MP K-3? I sincerely loved my K-5 but I'm afraid body color choices are more important than camera horse power. Sort of glad I switched to Nikon when I did. Sorry, Pentax.
Pentax is apparently determined not to make a full frame. That is unfortunate, because they are masters at miniaturization. They made the MX and ME, and the wonderful LX. They showed people a pro camera does not have to look like a brick or weigh as much as one. They could have showed people how compact a full frame camera can be.
I have been waiting for the new standard zoom since it was mentioned in the K-mount lens roadmap for the first time (and that is some tima already). Despite the line indicationg the focal length was not clear (it could have meant anything from 15-85 to 17-75mm), I hoped for a 16-85mm, with HD coating, weather sealing and constant f4. Such a lens would have been a natural succesor to the aged DA 17-70mm/4 lens (and partially to the discontinued DA 16-45/4). Because I have a very fast zoom (constant f1,8) for lowlight shooting, I didn´t need a f2,8 zoom and would be happy with f4 (but constant speed), but because of short FL of my Sigma 18-35 I wanted both a wider and also longer lens. Such a lens would nicely complement my Sigma. When I fisrt saw the picture (over at PhotographyBlog), I was raptured when I saw 16-85mm, HD and WR designation. But a second later I noticed the f numbers and the dream was over.
cont.: Why the h.ll Ricohmust have spoiled this lens with variable aperture and the slow speed of typical cheap kit lens? I had some variable aperture zooms and told myself: never more, it´s really irritating when you have no control over aperture since it changes as you zoom in. 85mm would be a perfect FL for portraits, but man, portrait af f5,6? So after cca. 2 years of waiting for this lens I experience such a letdown. :-( Why, Ricoh?
That's funny. Had a good laugh. It's innovation. not sure to what degree? But the consumer keep using this word innovation and the manufacturer is hoping around to be or looking innovative.
Not that long ago, a man holding a water nozzle (he was watering his garden) was shot by police. They thought he had a gun in his hand. Does that make you have a good laugh too?
just feel the urge to point sth out: colour combinations are a matter of taste. Ricoh is not producing ugly colour combinations to be sold, they merely offer the possibilities. It is CUSTOMERS who WANT those colour combinations who can order them, customised. I don't see why there is anything negative about that.
I personally think some look really cool. Though admittedly most beautiful is a combination of different colour options beside each other, as in pic 11 – very 'Parapluies de Cherbourg' ^^
"And yes, we'll bring a polarizing filter next time."
:-)
Also, "large diameter zoom" is probably really "large aperture zoom", i.e. F2.8 constant aperture or similar. I can see how that got lost in translation.
Well I have expected a more thorough coverage of Pentax/Ricoh, but at least there is something. But maybe DPR could have concentrated less on different colours and more on important stuff like new lenses or fullframe (being admited by Ricoh representative for the first time). Especially the lenses deserved more attention: the two big lenses are supposedly fullframe lenses.
The only indication that one of these lenses *might* be fullframe is in the K-mount lens roadmap: both lenses omit the DA nomenclature on the roadmap. In Pentax land, DA = crop. Therefore, the rumours that the 16-85 could be fullframe borders on rediculous, as the 16-85 is described as "DA zoom" on the roadmap. Yes, some DA lenses actually cover the fullframe image circle, but none of them are standard zooms. And besides, if a 16-85 is feasible on fullframe, why doesn't anyone else make it? I know I'd very much like viewing angles like that. But so far it hasn't happened, and there's probably a reason for that.
I didn´t talk about the DA 16-85mm, this is clearly a usual APSC lens (not only it is clear from the designation DA, but also from the size, shape and focal length). I was talkinga bout the first two chunky lenses and some Ricoh manager admitted they are FF lenses. P.S. I am the last one that would bet on FF comming soon, after all the rumours in the past that didn´t fullfill. But I see a ray of light that the FF might eventually come just because after all these "maybe...", "we are concidering..." now there is an admission by Ricoh people that they are developing FF. And that´s a difference.
That would be the "Pentax Professional" zone/stand. Several 645Z, with lenses and accessories (including the slide duplicator). They also had the tethering software on a computer. I didn't ask for the 28-45, I don't even know if it was available for "testing".
Also missing - the "history" wall, where several Pentax and Ricoh models were displayed.
Did you see them in real life? Colours are quite good and finish fin. However, not all possible colour combos make sense, but you can choose a combination that fits your shoes.
PENTAX execs: Recall KS-1, please! Say that the battery circuit causes led malfunction, or that the flash light turns reddish in anger when the "leds" are on. Something.. just get this "thing" out of production, now!
K-S1 is one of smallest DSLRs ever, and by all means is more advanced and sophisticated than any similar DSLR in the market today. However, I could not say the same for your comment; small yes, reflects a similar sized worldview, and as sophisticated as a cat in rubber boots.
Z Tosic, I was referring to the design, not performance, and I'm pretty sure my sentiment is widely shared amongst many photographers. Perhaps, you neither have reached the intellectual level to make the distinction nor have the maturity to confine your ego within your "personal space". At any rate, your idiotic bitterness is noted.
actually, same statement has been split out by pentax representatives in different countries for several years. Every year statement is same: we are developing full frame technology, the release date hasn't been decided
Great for theft protection. Just tell the police the color combination of your stolen camera, and it will for sure be the only one in the world sold. :)
They put the DA 18-55 AL WR on the KS-1. It will not be sold with this lens. The Ks-1 is not weather sealed. But it looks better than with the plastic DA-L, which is ancient.
Hmm, 'in stock' means 1-2 months for amazon re. K-s1? The grammar police need look no further than the advertisers at this stage.
I will enjoy being one of the 3 people worldwide who carry a 20MPxl, no-AA K-3mini camera; I'll be out shooting while the forums fill with laughter... many reviews included. "Star Trek", "Christmas Tree" and other headline-crafters are basking in their remarkable humour.
Dear Ricoh people: please give the Pentax brand the mercy shot. The brand formerly known as Asahi Pentax, which gave us spot metering, does not deserve being subjected to so much ridicule. Just call every camera "Ricoh". It's OK. Ricoh has a nice reputation for great cameras too. I'd rather never see a Pentax-branded camera again than see gold point and shoots (and DSLRs with LED lights on the handgrip) with an once prestigious name on it.
Dear ignorant person look at the Pentax K-3 and K-50. Both best in their class. Ignore the K-s1 as it is a desperate attempt to draw hip youngsters. Just wait for the full frame that will put the D610 and 6D to shame and give de 750D a run for its money.
@D1NO. You mean the Full frame thats 'supposed' to have come out ever year for the past 10 years, ever since the k-10 was the flagship? Yeah ok. keep wishing. I gave up on that pipe dream long ago(along with most other photographers who wanted to advance beyond the 'hobbyist' level). Every year the "Pentax full frame is coming" rumor would circulate, and every year we got the same thing- nothing. What we did get: Pentax fired their best lens designer. Pentax head haunchos laughed out loud & would say things like "we're looking into it", "its something we're considering" "perhaps down the road", etc, everytime a reporter asked about a Full frame model.
My advice to you: don't get your hopes up for a pentax FF & pro level lenses".
Get your facts straight samhain. 2004 we're talking about the Ist Ds http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxistds not the K10D (2006). The first prototype the Pentax MZ-D was shown at photokina 2000 (when you were playing your Nintendo gameboy) http://www.dpreview.com/articles/2734370763/pentaxdigitalslr
Dear person who hides under the D1N0 nickname: your reply is just a foolish remark from a bitter, ill-bred person. I can't understand why people like you allow themselves to delve that low. It's certainly a matter of education.
I'm not gonna lie, it will be very interesting to see a FF pentax, since like canikon, it too uses a mirror. It could be something to compare against Nikon, or sony's A99(m2 too, unless it manages to be 49mpix). Maybe eventually fuji will join board too??
@D1N0 Regardless of how many years it has been, the fullframe rumors have been circling for a long time without any product releases. That's the point samhain was making. Besides, if the current products are so great, why comment on that fullframe at all?
Oh, latin... I'm so impressed! Did you expect me to enter a serious debate with someone like you? What would it be like? Something childish like "I know more about cameras than you do?" "My sensor is bigger than yours?" Sorry if I disappoint you, but I'm not going to waste of time with someone like you. You're grotesque.
@starbase I did not comment on the full frame. I brought it up. He ridicules it. I tell him to get his facts straight. You tell me I shouldn't because you think your K-3 sucks. Sell it!
@ignorant person a debate Someone like me? You are not equipped to as you so aptly demonstrate.
The truth is that Pentax have been delaying the release of a full frame DSLR but let's not forget that the company changed top executive route several times in its recent history (Samsung partnership, Hoya merger, Ricoh merger). At the same time, they have indeed, managed to release a number of award winning DSLRs including the classic K10D, the K-5 series and the APS-C king K-3. I do believe they are now under way to produce, at last, the long-awaited full frame. Long live Pentax. :-)
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Hey D1N0, walk away! You are arguing with a troll. You made the most cogent comment in response to his ignorance re the K-3. He's just taunting you now. No reason to argue with idiots.
Asahi Pentax never gave us spot metering. Spotmatic cameras had center-weighted metering. It was either Yashica or Miranda that introduced spot metering.
I'm sure you think you are funny, but for someone so upfront about their knowledge of Pentax history, you sure sound ignorant. Pentax did gold (as in real gold) and croc skin back in 1981 with their limited LX release and loo and behold, they still were a reputable company. Keep trying, though. Practice makes perfect.
@D1N0 He does not ridicule the fullframe camera, because it does not exist yet, and you can't ridicule something that doesn't exist. Makes sense, right? He may ridicule people who wait year after year for a hypothetical fullframe, and I actually agree somewhat on that point. Not that I ridicule people, because their choices are their own. But that doesn't mean I understand people who wait year after year for a fullframe camera with the name "Pentax" on the front. If you nitpick on whether that's 8 or 10 years, I think you're missing the point.
You also assume I write all of this because I think my K-3 sucks. I would advice you to read my comment again and take it for what it is, keeping your assumptions to yourself. I like my K-3, but I wouldn't like waiting 3 or 5 or 8 years for something I could have bought from another manufacturer.
I just don't think you are doing Pentax any favors by writing these posts.
And yeah, I meant "brought up", not "commented on".
You so do not understand me Starbase218 I was trying to show that Samhains reply was based on assumption and hear say. Affordable Full frames are only about 2 years old. Introduced at Photokina 2012. I am not the idiot waiting for 8 years, I've been waiting for two years. I do think you telling me I am not Doing Pentax any favours with my posts. (as if that's why I am posting) is pretty presumptuous of you. Please refrain from correcting my style.
@D1N0 You assume I think my K-3 sucks, call people who have been waiting for a FF Pentax camera for 8 years idiots and claim that that Pentax FF will put other FF cameras to shame, yet I'm presumptuous when I just tell you - with the best of intentions - how I think your posts come across? Whatever, I'm outta here.
You are twisting my words or just too stupid to get them. You implied the K-3 sucks because I want a Full frame. WRONG. But I turned it back on you. I said I was not an idiot. I didn't call your imaginative Full frame waiters idiots. You did! Quote: "He may ridicule people who wait year after year for a hypothetical fullframe, and I actually agree somewhat on that point." Don't try to shove that in my shoes.
MX-1 is a very capable compact camera and, if a bit chunky and heavy, it has style and substance. It has a subtle brick-like design slightly reminiscent of the singular K-01.
I had an MX-1 and it was a really great camera. That said, when there are options like the APS-C Ricoh GR (which I recently received) then the MX-1 leaves a lot to be desired.
I always for the MX would of made a great name for a Mirrolass APSC camera which could use the lovely limited range of primes as well as the rest of the Pentax range. hmmmm just image a retro styled MX with digi view finder built into the hump.
A spare but fair (i.e., not gratuitously snarky) report. DPR could only mention what Ricoh brought to the event, so it is what it is. My only observation would be on the point "As with all Pentax DSLRs, [theK-S1] optical viewfinder is very large for its price range." Since all Pentax DSLR viewfinders are still high-quality pentaprisms, even the entry-level OVF's are better than most viewfinders from other makers, in any price range. Viewfinder quality resonates somewhat with mention that DPR forgot a polarizer to eliminate glass case reflections (oops!). One of the finer qualities of those nice, bright Pentax viewfinders is the ability to dial in polarization quickly and precisely (when you don't forget the filter). Not just inability to see most mirrorless screens in bright sunlight, but the added difficulty of clearly seeing polarization remains a big drawback to mirrorless, IMHO.
the ill conceived Nikon 10-30mm that comes with the new V3 & J4 models doesn't have a filter thread. never underestimate how low a camera maker can go.
I call them and gave them my idea of the best compact ever. 24-50mm, f2.8-4.0. They said "sounds like a good idea!" and hanged up............. PS. APS-C sensor of course...
The 'high magnification super zoom' and 'large diameter zoom' are being developed for a full frame Pentax camera, also in development. The 16-85mm may be for FF aswell.
Well, that would cause a rash of self-immolations among Pentax fans who insisted FF is stupid and will never happen. You know, kind of like what Nikon fans did until Nikon introduced FF.
Yes indeed. I'm waiting for the reviewers to get out their in-depth review of that one. Canon will sell a bazillion of those. I'm concerned about the 70D-ish sensor. Maybe Canon can do a deal with Samsung for their next crop sensor? Wait, this is about the Ricoh stand - K3 has an excellent sensor, btw.
Uh, I guess this wasn't a popular read but I have a small typo correction on slide 10. The Q-S1 doesn't use a 5.6x crop factor (1/2.33" sensor Q10 did) it uses a 1/1.7" sensor which has a massively smaller crop factor of a scant 4.7x
Yes, I know, nobody cares. Something is wrong in the internet and I should ignore it.
Wow, apparently 4 entire people care! That's vastly more than my initial estimate. I also apologize for improperly rounding 4.64x to 4.7x. I'm clearly conspiring to sell the Q-S1 short and will flog myself accordingly.
You know, it occurred to me DPR is arguing with itself on these crop ratio things. I didn't calculate 4.7x on my own, I got it from your Q7 spec sheet: http://www.dpreview.com/products/pentax/slrs/pentax_q7
DPR is a rumour site? :) In the forum there is a rumour section where rumours are repeated, discussed and perhaps spread. Here we are talking about the biggest photographic show in the world. You get what you see. The Ricoh stand wasn't without interest considering it features the recently released 645DZ and the updated Q. The new KS is also interesting if not from a design point of view. But it's clean that ever lasting FF hen saga was expected to finally lay an egg in the form of a Pentaxi FF. I get the impression that there is a mass of Pentax users who really want this and are just holding on to lenses in order to finally satisfy their frustrations. It isn't really about photography, it's something else. I really don't understand why RICOH don't just come clean and say yes or no to the question..
All they can do is hum and haw about it and in different ways to different people. Then they expose lengths of tubes which are supposed to be prototypes for a possible FF body but they are looking further into future market conditions..........it's follow the yellow brick road stuff..........it might lead you to your desired wish but nobody really knows yet.....!! I can understand why certain are pulling their hair out. It's really exciting fiction......Bon assez, that means right enough. Time to look for the light. Great it's raining again. Cheese....
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