RP Closes Canada Sevice Centre and Outsources Service

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3706129

New HD PENTAX-D FA645 80-160mm F4.5 ED AW SR

http://digicame-info.com/2014/07/pentax-64528-45mm-f45-1.html
(in Japanese)

A New Q is Coming

http://digicame-info.com/2014/07/pentax-q2.html
(in Japanese)

Will be called a Q2 or Q-S1.

Sigma Art 18-35/1.8 K-mount Version Field Tested with Full Samples

http://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/used/2014/06/sigma-18-35mm-f18-dc-hsm--art--review.html
(in Japanese)

Ricoh Pentax has Got a New Colour!

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/1093365305/ricoh-announces-pentax-k-3-prestige-edition

"Note: The camera body’s features and specifications are identical with those of the standard model, except for the firmware"

Well done, Ricoh! Bravo, great job!! Please keep it up and give us more colours of the K-3!!! >:-(

K-3 New Firmware 1.10 Diffraction Reduction Before Vs After Test

http://www.nphoto.net/news/2014-07/17/1eacb1337aaccb89.shtml
(in Simplified Chinese)

The test picture crops are with f-stops marked. Left side ones are with new firmware, with diffraction reduction enabled. Right side ones are with the last firmware of version 1.03.

It seems that at very large apertures, image sharpness is affected somehow. But reversely, at mid to small apertures, sharpness does have been improved. Anyway, I blog, you measurbate and then decide! ;-)

Nonetheless, if you are a K-3 user and would like to update and try, the official firmware download link is as follows:

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k3_s.html

New Pentax XG-1, 52X Zoom, 1/2.3" BSI Sensor

http://photorumors.com/2014/07/14/pentax-xg-1-camera-to-replace-the-previous-x5-model/

645Z Sand+Water Test

New K-3 and 645Z Firmwares Coming

See: http://digicame-info.com/2014/06/k-3-12.html

The above page is in Japanese, Google translation into English can be found here.

In short, new firmwares will offer new software function on "diffraction elimination", like which already implemented by the Fuji for their latest X-series bodies, In addition, the effect of the so-called "occasional" K-3 mirror-flapping issue is minimised, for what is told.

A HD 1.4X Unboxing and Test with Cropped/Comparison Samples

http://www.pentaxfans.net/thread-146196-1-1.html

By a Taiwan Pentax user and the above post is in Traditional Chinese.

Most of the test pictures posted are self-explanatory, though. Just browse through the page and inspect yourself and find out all the differences, if you can see any!

Btw, I am impressed with the IQ of this converter, at least on a cropped sensor. This TC is rather expensive, anyway. If it is confirmed to be FF compatible, I would not hesitate to invest. But as all the other Pentax stuff nowadays, not to even mention about their rareness and the lack of new models (there are only a few each year), the problem to buy is only about the lack of faith, frankly. It is all because we cannot see the future nor the direction of the brand, which has been rather unclear for years now! >:-(