RiceHigh's Pentax Blog

Friendly Reminder: Backup/Migrate Your Google Reader Subscription Data Now! (If Not Yet..)

2013-06-19T13:33:00.000+08:00

The Google Reader will soon disappear and be out of service within two weeks. I have been lazy enough to do my own migration to Feedly just a few minutes ago! As for how to migrate from Google Reader to Feedly, here is a tutorial:- http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/tools/feedly/ In short, just download the Feedly plugin for your browser from feedly.com, run it and you will see this starting page:

First Looks of the Q7 and K-500 at EPhotoZine

2013-06-14T17:24:00.000+08:00

Q7: http://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-q7-hands-on-preview-22178 K-500: http://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-k-500-dslr-hands-on-preview-22177 The K-500 preview reminds me of how Pentax could make "two" new camera"s" by just: One bundled with a lithium battery and then the other with an AA battery holder plus without the installation of the weather sealed rubbers at the factory,

Yet Another Rumour: More Pentax DSLRs to Come This Fall

2013-06-14T13:37:00.000+08:00

Roland Mabo, the long-time Pentax Internet supporter, has recently posted this rumour at the PF:- http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/227880-swedish-distributor-hints-new-products.html This is the key statement that told: "In fall 2010 Ricoh bought the camera division of Pentax, and with this came big resources for development of new products. Now we can see the first fruits

Q7 Official Full Samples

2013-06-14T08:08:00.000+08:00

8 nos.:http://www.pentax.jp/japan/products/q7/ex/index.html Not too bad in general, but purple fringing is obvious and this issue is common.

K-50 Samples

2013-06-13T12:42:00.004+08:00

1. @ DPR (Full Size Available):- http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/reviewsamples/albums/pentax-k-50-preview-samples 2. @ Pop Photo (Full Size *Original*):- http://www.popphoto.com/gallery/sample-images-pentax-k50-k500-dslrs-and-q7-ilc Well, it seems that Popphoto and DPR went to the same press conference and shot the same targets.. Nevertheless, the Pop Photo samples indicate that the

More K-50 and Q7 Stuff at Pentax.jp

2013-06-13T08:18:00.000+08:00

1. The colour simulator (with matching for a few lens models) for the K-50:- http://www.camera-pentax.jp/k-50 Meanwhile, this is the classic desert military colour that I have made:- Note that the DA"L" 18-135 WR lens should be a typo. From the photo of the lens, it should be the old DA 18-135 WR lens, just! 2. Next, there is also a Q7 colour simulator:- http://www.camera-pentax.jp/q7

K-50/K-500 and Q7 are Now Official

2013-06-13T07:57:00.000+08:00

Read the news/press releases/preview over DPR:- http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/06/12/Pentax-launches-k-50-k-500-16MP-mid-and-entry-level-16MP-DSLRs http://www.dpreview.com/articles/7885360476/first-impressions-of-the-pentax-k50-and-k500 http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/06/12/Pentax-announces-Q7-with-larger-1-over-1-point-seven-inch-12MP-BSI-CMOS-sensor As DPR has commented, the suggested

Q7 Specs and There is a K-500 Also (Not K-50)

2013-06-12T23:09:00.000+08:00

Above: Q7 with a "new" 01 prime lens in black colour. - 12.4 MP effective 1/1.7" CMOS sensor - New "Q Engine" image processor - 25 zone AF, improved sensitivity down to EV0 - ISO Sensitivity 100-12800 - Shutter speed 30 to 1/2000s mechanical, up to 1/8000s in combination with electronic shutter - In-camera shake reduction (SR) up to 3 stops approxmately - Full HD video recording at 30fps,

Q7 Vs Q10 Sensor Size Compared (Animated Image)

2013-06-11T18:35:00.000+08:00

With the leaked image from Digicame Info of the Q7 and the old Q10 image from Pentax Imaging, I have made this:- How much "bigger" is the new sensor? Your take! :-) Besides, after almost half a year, the Pentax Q-mount body cap lens will be marketed very soon! Well, they really needed another six months to make it come true since their last/first product announcement?! >:-o Via Digicame

Rumour: Pentax Q-7

2013-06-10T07:36:00.000+08:00

See this latest rumour about the "upcoming" Pentax Q-7:- http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/new-pentax-q7-will-have-a-larger-11-7-inch-sensor/ The new Q-7 will be in Q-mount (of course) but will incorporate a larger 1/1.7" sensor, source of "leaked" information from the Japanese Digicame-info.com (Google-translated), which should be reliable enough for their past track records. Btw, the Q-mount

New Pentax P&S DC Efina and White Colour WG-III

2013-06-09T16:45:00.003+08:00

For details, see the press releases at DPR here.

New K-5IIs Supplement Review at IR

2013-06-08T00:12:00.002+08:00

This is the supplement review by the IR for the K-5IIs:- http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k5-iis/pentax-k5-iisA.HTM The previous original IR review of the K-5II can be found below:- http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k5-ii/pentax-k5-iiA.HTM So, what are the differences, go figure out yourself! Related:- The Much Belated DPR K-5II/s Review

Pentax K-50 Leaked

2013-06-06T08:10:00.000+08:00

http://photorumors.com/2013/06/05/pentax-k-50-dslr-camera-leaks-on-retailers-website-in-france/ How is the "new" camera different from the old K-30, except for now the more traditional appearance and a stereo built-in microphone (still no mic-in socket of any!)? Is it really so difficult for Ricoh to make a true new body? And, where is the compact DSLR body of Pentax? E.g., a K-x successor,

Italian Navy Officer Uses Pentax Gear

2013-06-05T07:49:00.000+08:00

Source: Navy.81.cn (in Simplified Chinese, Goggle-translated English page here.) The body and lens combo seems to be a FA*24/2 on a K-5. Read Also:- Pentax Weapon Used by an US Soldier at Afghanistan

The Much Belated DPR K-5II/s Review

2013-06-04T22:37:00.000+08:00

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-k-5-ii-k-5-ii-s/18 This review finally arrives after 10 months of the original product announcement for this "stop-gap" product! I am afraid that the body have already reached the end of its product life cycle actually! In fact, it has existed just for too long whilst the real gap has become larger and larger! >:-( So, mission failed!! :-o

40mm FF Shootout 2: EF40/2.8 Vs FA43/1.9LE Vs FA645 45/2.8 on 5D3

2013-06-02T00:05:00.000+08:00

Above Left to Right: Pentax FA 43/1.9 Limited, Pentax FA645 45/2.8, Canon EF 40/2.8 STM; Tested on a Canon 5D3 135 Full Frame Body. (Remark: Both my Pentax lenses were Japanese made.) Further to my last shootout test of the same, I've done the test again on a bright day, but on a different scene. Apertures from f/2.8 to f/11 have been tested per lens, at nearly the same time and at the same

Copy 120 Films Using an ILDC/DSLR with a Macro Lens

2013-06-01T23:06:00.003+08:00

First inspired by Petapixel, this is what I have tried and done myself:- 1. These are the tools that I've used: A white fluorescent desklamp at 6000K, two 77mm UV multi-coated filters, a lens hood with outer diameter in 77mm, some "white" milky transparent paper:- 2. Turn on the lamp, mine is a Panasonic with invertor circuitry which enables the lamp operated at a high frequency:- 3. Put

Recent Pentax and Ricoh Gear Reviews

2013-05-28T17:19:00.000+08:00

The Phoblographer has reviewed the K-5II and K-5IIs:- http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/05/21/review-pentax-k-5ii-k-5iis/ I think this review is quite user-orientated, so no detailed measurbations are expected. :-) And just not long time ago, they just made a rumour (which they said themselves was "humour") for a Full Frame Pentax body to come:- http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/05/11/

Ricoh GR DxOMark(s) Published, Worse than the Pentax K-5II/s'

2013-05-26T00:00:00.003+08:00

See the side-by-side comparison here. Despite that the GR and the K-5II/s are both using the same APS-C sized Sony sensor, the scores of the GR in every aspect are just worse. Is it owing to different processing for both hardware and software?

40mm 135 FF Shootout: EF 40 Vs FA 43 Vs FA645 45

2013-05-22T22:51:00.003+08:00

Above Left to Right: Canon EF 40/2.8 STM, Pentax FA645 45/2.8, Pentax FA 43/1.9 Limited; Tested on a Canon 5D3 135 Full Frame Body. (Remark: Both Pentax lenses of mine were made in Japan.) http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RiceHigh/library/5Ds/40mm_Shootout?sort=4&page=1 Apertures from f/2.8 to f/11 were tested per lens, at nearly the same time and for the same infinity scene. Of course the

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://