RiceHigh's Pentax Blog

Modding a K Body into a R Mount One

2013-05-21T13:34:00.000+08:00

Watch this Video for how to do it:- http://you.video.sina.com.cn/b/102350636-2028510075.html Via: Sina Weibo (all in Chinese, aka "micro blog"). Wow, what a workmanship! :-o Now, all the Leica lenses of that user can be mounted directly without any adaptor needed. Nonetheless, I think the use of a Leica-R to Pentax-K adaptor (widely available) is still preferable, which is simple, not

A "New" Pentax FF Rumour

2013-05-21T13:16:00.002+08:00

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3491706 "Two friends who work at an authorized Pentax dealer told me that there would be a full frame Pentax released by this Halloween. Apparently, the Pentax reps that they are in contact with have passed on the inside information, and they also said that third party lens manufacturers are quietly working on a beginning lens lineup. My friend's exact words

Ricoh GR-ize the "Pentax" MX-1

2013-05-20T17:23:00.002+08:00

With this latest accessory for the MX-1 (made by 3rd party), the DC will become GR alike featuring an automated lens cover and lens shade two in one:- http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20130517_599805.html (in Japanese) The price of this add-on accessory is at 2,480 Japanese Yens (about US$25 as at today). Nevertheless, it is almost ascertained that the MX-1 is an OEM product that made

Telescope Lens, Lens Telescope! :-o

2013-05-15T17:22:00.001+08:00

We all knew that with the DA560, Pentax had given us a telescope as the camera lens! The results are rather unsatisfactory as various reviews and samples have revealed and shown! >:-( On the other hand, as a well-known and "infamous" "anti-Pentax" Pentax user and guy, what I had to do is of course in the opposite direction than Pentax! As a result, I decided to use Pentax lenses as telescope and

Pentax Imaginations - Too Many but Nothing Ever Happened!

2013-05-15T13:20:00.000+08:00

These are the recent imaginations:- 1. Pentax K-02 with an OVF:- Via Mirrorless Rumors But I think a $15 hotshoe-mounted external OVF will do the job anyway, see this of mine:- Btw, last time I polled, there should not be a K-02 anyway, as it is almost well known that the "line" was killed. 2. A Pentax 135 Full Frame, see this weekend humour by the PB, which is well written:- http://

New DA560 Test Review: "Disappointed"!

2013-05-14T18:00:00.002+08:00

http://bbs.dgtle.com/thread-148282-1-1.html (in Simplified Chinese) The reviewer writes that he is rather disappointed about the IQ and usability of this expensive lens of Pentax. Purple fringing is obvious, stopping down is the only mean for better resolution, but then at f/8 using a lens with this long focal is actually impractical and rather difficult to use. The author also writes that this

Pentax UK Summer Rebate

2013-05-12T23:52:00.000+08:00

http://www.pentax.co.uk/cashback Related:- Pentax (US) Lens Prices are Up Again! >:-(

I've Cropped My Pentax 645 Lenses Myself, in 1.6X! :-o

2013-05-07T23:21:00.003+08:00

Since an original 645 lens when put onto an 135 FF body is cropped only 1.6X, I have decided to do this! :-o :-) I suppose the degrade in IQ (in particular, the resolving power of the 645 lenses) would not be too much as this is exactly what Pentax has been doing/forcing us to do exactly the same thing with more or less the same crop ratio for all those K-mount film lenses of us when they are

TIPA Awards 2013

2013-05-07T21:29:00.002+08:00

http://www.tipa.com/english/XXIII_tipa_awards_2013.php "The annual meeting of the Technical Image Press Association to vote for the best photographic and imaging products in 2013 was held on 20 April 2013 in Hong Kong. This year at the TIPA General Assembly 27 member magazines and the Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC) of Japan voted for the best product in each category. The General

A Metabones Speed Booster Clone, in K-mount

2013-05-06T17:29:00.001+08:00

Pentaxians might complain about why Metabones didn't make their "Speed Booster" in K-mount? I think it is just a market(ing) decision after all. Still, if you want to get something similar to use, i.e., to put your old Pentax FF lenses onto the current APS-C cropped body, here is an alternative solution:- http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/

Completely Disassembled and then Reassembled the DA40XS Lens

2013-05-06T13:15:00.000+08:00

This 40XS lens user had his lens dropped from 15cm onto the table. The instant results were an optical element shifted and all the aperture blades came off! Wow, how durable this lens actually is! >:-( Is this the result of over-minimization of this lens? :-o http://www.dchome.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1197120 (in Traditional Chinese) So, he dis-assembled the whole lens down to the

Pentax (US) Lens Prices are Up Again! >:-(

2013-05-02T07:46:00.000+08:00

See the latest announcement by the PF, which is almost official! http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/pentax-usa-increases-lens-prices.html So, here we go:- Lens Old Price New Price Increase / Percentage DA 14mm F2.8 $710 $950 $240 / 34% FA 35mm F2 $400 $600 $200 / 50% FA 43mm F1.9 Limited $585 $750 $165 / 28% D FA 50mm F2.8 Macro $450 $600* $150 / 33% FA 50mm F1.4 $360 $450 $90

DC Watch K-5IIs Vs K-5 Shootout Test, with Large Samples

2013-04-30T12:41:00.000+08:00

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/longterm/20130426_597538.html (in Japanese, but the pictures with quick shooting info underneath speak themselves.) The colour renditions of the two cameras are indeed different. The focus point of the two cameras are somehow different btw. AF or user error? For instance, look at this set of f/8 shots, which should usually be the aperture of an APS-C

De-crippling the K-mount - An Upkeeping Petition at the Pentax Forums

2013-04-30T12:30:00.000+08:00

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/200075-pentax-ricoh-de-cripple-k-mount-petition.html Two hundred and something Pentaxians have signed. But I bet the proposition will NOT be entertained as Pentax has never listened nor made any response of course. So, it's just a waste of time, frankly! >:-( In fact, I have requested this for years now. I think I do have a stronger/

What is/are the Meaning(s) of a Cropped Digital System Now?

2013-04-29T07:28:00.000+08:00

In a recent interview with the Pentax Ricoh China Japanese Head, it was told that the 645D was just a completely different product than the 135 FF Nikon D800E, which is far more differentiated. However, this reminds me of the fact that the 645D, like all other K-mount Pentax DSLRs, is actually also cropped for its sensor. So, I just wonder, how is the 645D different from those 135 FF DSLRs and

The Pentax Coffins! >:-o

2013-04-28T00:22:00.001+08:00

The K-30 is in the Chinese style, for its top/head/front! :-o On the other hand, the K-7/K-5 is in Western style! :-D * All the pictures above are searched via Google Pics and linked directly to their respective web links as posted. Now, I know why Pentax needed to hire Marc Newson to design the K-01! Otherwise, their own designers seemed to get no idea on what to do, so that they

Proof of Existence of Pentax Marketing - Sexy Korean Pentax Showgirls!

2013-04-25T12:57:00.000+08:00

See: http://www.cutekorean.net/2013/03/kim-ha-yul-at-pentax-photo-festival.html Some photos (not all):- (Click to Enlarge.) Note where the Pentax logos are printed! I see that it spells "Porntax"! >:-o ;-D Last Related:- The Pentax Sex Party Continues..

Ricoh GXR is Discontinued

2013-04-24T17:50:00.000+08:00

After three years and some months, the GXR has completed its historical duty. News via Photo Rumors.

FF Officially Confirmed! Latest Interview with the Head of Pentax Ricoh China at the Chinese P&E 2013

2013-04-24T13:04:00.000+08:00

(Left: Mr. Tomoyoshi Shibata, the Managing Director and General Manager of Pentax Ricoh China (Shanghai) Company; Right: Pentax Ricoh at P&E 2013, Beijing, China.) Read this interview, in Chinese:- http://www.pcpop.com/doc/0/900/900149.shtml The key points of what are told by the MD are as follows:- 1. The sales of the MX-1 has been quite good. 2. The sales of the K-01 is actually very

More Watch from Pentax Ricoh! (Now the Q Watch!)

2013-04-23T13:19:00.000+08:00

See: http://www.eprice.com.hk/dc/talk/1442/3660/1/ (in Chinese) Just shortly after Ricoh Pentax has marketed their new K and GR Watches, the Q Watch is now bundled when one buys the custom colour Q10 kit set. So, now I can safely declare that Pentax Ricoh has successfully transformed into a Watch Company for what it markets and sells. Congrats! ;-p

For Those Who Thinks the K-01 is the "Best Pentax Video Camera Ever"..

2013-04-22T07:44:00.000+08:00

(Above: A professional setup for video shooting using the K-01, for details of the parts and accessories used, click here.) "It is close, but not yet there"! This pro-user gave up! No matter how he had tried to make it, but in vain! >:-( http://www.whatblogisthis.com/2012/03/so-close-yet-so-far.html In short, the two killing major technical problems and design limitations:- 1. Focus peaking

Yet Another Late K-5IIs Vs K-5 Comparison Review

2013-04-22T00:13:00.000+08:00

http://info.xitek.com/pzreview/xitektest/201304/15-119843.html (in Chinese) The pictures and crops speak themselves. Whilst the resolution of the K-5IIs images are obvious higher, the very blueish/cold plus dark response of the sensor/camera is also easily noted. Btw, I found that the overall colour response of the original K-5 was somehow blueish already. So, now the K-5II/s is yet even more "

Ricoh GR Size Compared to Other Cameras

2013-04-21T22:56:00.000+08:00

Source: Flickr Or, just compare it freely at the camerasize.com, for instance:- Ricoh GR Vs Pentax K-01 So, we can see the big difference between the GR and the K-01, despite that both are having the same Sony sensor, in the same size of course! :-o In fact, the K-01 is designed to be almost "gripless". So, clever Pentaxians are always much adaptive and like to DIY to tackle those

New Q and K-5II/s Firmwares Released

2013-04-18T18:01:00.000+08:00

The ever shortest-life Pentax firmware of the V1.11 for the Q has been substituted, here comes the V1.12:- http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/q_s.html Changes to V1.12 Corrected --- Tone Expansion of Smart Effect is not effect correctly in firmware version 1.11. Improved stability for general performance. And also a new firmware for the K-5II/s, in V1.04:- http://www.pentax.jp/

Pentax K and Ricoh GR Limited Watches

2013-04-17T13:03:00.000+08:00

See the latest official Japanese Press today:- http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/announce/20130417.html