RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: New Ricoh Patent - Adjustable Translucent Mirror

Saturday, November 29, 2014

New Ricoh Patent - Adjustable Translucent Mirror

http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2014-11-27
(in Japanese)

Light transmission rate is adjustable from 50 to 100%, i.e., reflective rate is from 50 to 0%.

Comments (19)

Logging you in...

Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout

Logged in as

+1 Vote up Vote down

zosX · 538 weeks ago

Pentax cameras without pentaprisms just seems wrong but this might be an OK compromise. People really want EVF and this is kind of the best of both worlds.

1 reply · active 532 weeks ago

0 Vote up Vote down

kadajawi · 532 weeks ago

Is it? You are still forced to use big lenses (at least bigger than they can be made for proper mirrorless (not K-01) without sacrificing anything optically, the body is still big and heavy, it's noisier, you don't have an EVF (unless there's 2 viewfinders next to each other... riiiiiight), ...

This tech would be great for Sony's SLT cameras... unfortunately the market has moved on already. SLTs were needed to provide an EVF AND good AF (and AF that works during video), but these days you can get good AF on the sensor itself. They were a solution to a problem that ceased to exist. And so is this Ricoh patent.

-10 Vote up Vote down

sony camera do mundo · 538 weeks ago

It sounds like Ricoh/Pentax is trying to make a Sony Alpha. Why not just get a Sony A7II, comes with 5 axis IBIS.

5 replies · active 538 weeks ago

+14 Vote up Vote down

Arn · 538 weeks ago

Because i want a camera who can make more than 300 shots with a battery (i make timelapses, i need a lot of autonomy)
Because for my style of photography (contre-jour aka hi-contrast scenes) E.V.F. are the worst solution.
because E.V.F. are still a pain for the eyes in case of extensive use.
Because sony's image processing is below average.
Because sony is evil http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protec...
and because you are constantly pushing for sony on a Pentax site, i don't like than people tell me what to do.

-2 Vote up Vote down

zosX · 538 weeks ago

Its true. Sony is evil. :)

-2 Vote up Vote down

flomat · 538 weeks ago

and not to forget:
because sony has got worst built quality you can buy

0 Vote up Vote down

Mel · 538 weeks ago

Ah, but Sony takes risks, Sony innovates, Sony puts out products regularly that create controversy and excitement, Zeiss makes lenses for Sony. Sony sensors are a big part of what makes Pentax cameras great, so you are already a Sony customer.

-1 Vote up Vote down

6BQ5 · 538 weeks ago

You may be correct. Ricoh is making their own version of the Alpha series. The translucent mirror looks to be a good improvement over Sony's original concept. I would be very interested in seeing if this comes to market. Sony's A7 series is a very intriguing camera and I would love to have one. Besides the high prices (which are coming down), the other turn-off for me would be the inability to use my collection of wondering K-mount lenses with AF and automatic aperture control.

+2 Vote up Vote down

A Reader · 537 weeks ago

Adjustable Translucent Mirror.... Using sensor shift to achieve phase detection AF.... seems like Ricoh/Pentax is hard at work bringing new ideas into the area of autofocus. I wonder what sort of camera they are cooking up...

10 replies · active 536 weeks ago

-6 Vote up Vote down

RiceHigh 110p · 537 weeks ago

Paperware… ;-P

+5 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 537 weeks ago

And here's our little miss sunshine, as always looking on the bright side of Pentax life ...

0 Vote up Vote down

foton · 537 weeks ago

Rice has always pretended allegiance to Pentax. Probably, not really. No hope. "Paperware".
Now I have been testing my Sigma 18-35 1.8 on my Pentax K5 II for a week. Astounding lens!!! Many guys have expressed doubts about its autofocus performance. I will summarize my own experience. I entered -5 AF correction in the camera and the lens is extremely good. Its autofocus is now COMPLETELY accurate at all distances and apertures. Also, it is COMPLETELY consistent. In view of differing opinions on this lens, I have not hoped for this result even in best dreams. Amazing lens, and, paradoxically, best focusing lens I own.

0 Vote up Vote down

foton · 537 weeks ago

Forgot to mention. Good by full frame! Especially, if Pentax releases something close to Samsung NX1 with K mount in future. That is an amazing camera also.

+1 Vote up Vote down

unbiased opinion · 537 weeks ago

You do realize you're talking about a third party lens available for ANY system??? It is not exclusive to the K5II's manufacturer.

0 Vote up Vote down

foton · 537 weeks ago

No. I am just saying that FF cameras are not a necessity, when lenses such as 18-35 1.8 and cameras such as NX1 are available. I do not care about who is the manufacturer.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Madpet · 537 weeks ago

I agree, 18-35 is a great lens (mine also needed focus correction in-camera), it completely turned down my need for fullframe: it acts as a 27-55mm f/2.8 on fullframe. Even if the size of the kit is close to fullframe kits but still smaller. Fullframe cameras are no magic: bokeh and handling more light is what you can get. A constant 1.8 lens like the 18-35 can get you close to this, too, on a smaller sensor.

Some photographers may prefer fullframe because many manufacturers tend to build better quality bodies and optics for fullframe as that is treated as the (semi-)professional market. But again: no magic about fullframe cameras.

-1 Vote up Vote down

foton · 536 weeks ago

On the other hand, if Sigma introduces the 24-70/2, as the rumors go, this should be a very nice machine on FF for shallow depth of field, albeit an expensive one. (Or, maybe not so expensive. The 18-35/1.8 also turned out to be much cheaper than expected.)