tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377908112024-03-13T10:56:35.968+08:00RiceHigh's Pentax Blog<i><b>
• News about Products and Latest Company Direction<br> • Summaries of Reported Problems and Potential Issues<br> • Technical Articles on Photographic Gear and Technologies
</b></i>RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.comBlogger2454125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-76025565625012462152024-03-04T00:44:00.000+08:002024-03-04T00:44:01.410+08:00Pentax User Survey https://questant.jp/q/86PT0EYARiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-40804728305356749072024-01-29T07:54:00.008+08:002024-01-29T10:16:05.052+08:00 SDMs DO Require Preventive Maintenance!Owing to the prolonged infamous failure of the SDMs in various Pentax AF lens models, I only bought my first SDM lens, the DA*55 F1.4, back to 2015, which is a SDM-only lens in KAF3 mount (on screw-drive). After that, I bought also another SDM only lens the DA17-70 and then later a DA*60-250 F4 hybrid-SDM/screw-driven lens (which supports also in 2022.Here is my proven experiences with those SDM RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-3404900777838708312023-12-12T22:00:00.003+08:002023-12-12T22:01:57.854+08:00News from Ricoh - K-1 III is Still Under Development and etc.From a latest post in the Xitek Pentax forum, an interview with the Ricoh senior officials (from the product development and planning divisions) in a recent marketing event in Taipei was cited.
The key messages delivered are summarised as follows: 1. The K-1 III is still under development. More time is required with a higher precision aimed on the design as well as owing to the RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-22755882686945435892023-06-29T08:45:00.007+08:002023-06-29T09:58:12.710+08:00The Pentax 645 Digital Lineup is Really DoneSee the official discontinued lens list here, even the DFA 55/2.8 SDM and DFA 90/2.8 Macro SR lenses are now included:So, the Pentax 645 digital lineup is really done, as it is shown and can be confirmed, regardless of any official statement made about this fact. :-( And, those 645 gear of Pentax has become collectors' items now, just like the Q gear. RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-37894962854131513312023-05-12T13:19:00.004+08:002023-05-12T13:26:22.088+08:00Leak on the "New" FA 50mm F1.4 Lenses RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-11354917267446845952023-04-18T08:33:00.011+08:002023-04-18T10:40:39.282+08:00Ned Bunnell's Take on the K-3 III MonoSee his latest posted samples at Flickr:https://www.flickr.com/photos/ned_bunnell/sets/72177720307495920/via his DPR post here.Whilst the photos are nice, they do lack a bit contrast and sharpness. I would expect (much) better IQ for a dedicated B&W machine, honestly speaking. Btw, it seems that Ned does not update his blog anymore.RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-36455630428219852332023-04-14T13:28:00.003+08:002023-04-14T14:33:56.677+08:00More K-3 III Monochrome Samples at the "Pentax Official" Sitehttps://pentaxofficial.com/18527/https://pentaxofficial.com/18482/https://pentaxofficial.com/18512/All in Japanese, but the pictures speak for themselves. Various Pentax original lenses were used for the tests.RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-19327253854732626612023-04-14T08:03:00.029+08:002023-04-14T14:35:25.994+08:00K-3 III Monochrome First Review (with Sample Photos and Video)https://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/walk/2023/04/pentaxk3iii,monochrome-kyoto,sakura.html(in Japanese)My impression is that while the B&W photos do have more contrasts and better tonal representation than normal digital cameras' ones, they are yet not as solid as those images produced with better B&W films, even after they are digitalised via professional-grade film scanners.Besides, there is RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-27051050459223743332023-04-07T20:49:00.001+08:002023-04-07T21:13:46.873+08:00“Pentax Information” on April 13https://www.youtube.com/live/ovA100SWIRQWhat will be announced?RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-88147836695830791582023-03-23T13:03:00.002+08:002023-03-23T17:12:03.136+08:00DPR is DoomedI received this message from the Dpreview Admin yesterday and thought that was a hoax at the first glance but it is actually true:https://www.dpreview.com/news/5901145460/dpreview-com-to-closeSo, the DPR is really doomed, even earlier than Pentax. :-oRiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-14548195570695709632023-03-13T13:09:00.008+08:002023-03-13T15:24:06.205+08:00More "Harubeni" Sampleshttps://pentaxofficial.com/18197/(in Japanese)RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-12408544377459449992023-03-09T12:33:00.009+08:002023-03-09T13:57:02.157+08:00"Harubeni" SamplesSee: https://twitter.com/ricohimaging_jp/status/1633634970702061568?s=20for the newly released firmwares of K-1/II, K-3 III and KF.Btw, "Harubeni" means the red colours of Spring.RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-78856787509883017942023-03-07T07:47:00.012+08:002023-03-07T14:56:59.965+08:00KF Full Review at DC Watchhttps://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/newproduct/1482066.htmlIn Japanese, Google translated page here.RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-71432430403554908702022-11-19T19:24:00.001+08:002022-11-19T19:24:47.593+08:00K-r Hidden Function of Photo ChallengerAccording to a latest Japanese IT news report, it is revealed that the Pentax K-r actually had a hidden function of "Photo Challenger" mode which could be activated via an advanced (at its time ;-)) IR data communication mode with another compatible camera,.(Credit: Japanese Cameota blog)After linking up with the other camera, two photos can be selected for comparison and the computer will give RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-87002130724344149372022-10-20T13:24:00.019+08:002022-10-20T15:42:50.262+08:00More Information about the Priced Gradual ND Digital Filter (for K-1 and K-1 II)Now it is put on sales at the Japanese Ricoh online store (Google English translation of the page Here).It is learnt that Serial Number of the camera shall be provided for the purchase of the license key for unlocking the function. The key is not portable across different bodies and one key is solely for one unique camera body. Besides, it should be noted that product keys for the K-1 and RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-36342031461141069682022-06-23T00:43:00.002+08:002022-06-23T14:12:09.328+08:00Seasonal Firmware Updates for K-1 bodies and K-3 IIIhttps://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k1.htmlhttps://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k-1-2.htmlhttps://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k-3-3.htmlAnd, according to Pentax Rumors, further updates with new custom images by theme will be delivered quarterly.But what I really can't understand why any Pentax user needs to have particularly lenses in RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-82081327656667797182022-05-19T13:11:00.061+08:002022-05-19T16:19:13.310+08:00Why Pentax Has Failed at Mirrorless?See what PetaPixel says about the failure of Pentax in the mirrorless market, despite the efforts paid in the past two decades.By the way, for what PP has listed out for the 37 interchangeable lens digital cameras wich Pentax has ever produced, I have bought more than one-third of all the models as follows:From 2003 to 2021: My Pentax APS-C bodies acquired: *ist D/DS/DL2, K-100D, K-m, K-x, K-r, RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-65157658793833083402022-03-17T18:11:00.002+08:002022-03-17T18:11:00.217+08:00K-3 III and GR T-shirts (by UNIQLO)by UNIQLO..
RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-71974282016293708942022-03-17T08:22:00.013+08:002022-03-17T16:37:02.473+08:00Ricoh Imaging Business Strategy Update (March 15)Ricoh Imaging Japan gave a briefing about their latest business strategy on cameras and products on March 15. The following presentation screenshot refers:All in all, the interchangeable lens business will be "re-launched" whilst the 360 business will fade out. Ricoh will focus more in industrial / professional optical and related products and components in more areas such as those in the RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-16717824131139836362022-03-15T17:51:00.004+08:002022-03-15T17:51:00.191+08:00DA*300 has Become the Lens of a Mini-satelliteSee this official press release:https://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info/2022/20220311_031667.htmlThis Pentax lens was chosen because of its full metal barrel construction as well as its high resolution but yet compact size. By the way, the lens contributes to almost half of the size of the Japanese mini-satellite named "Kitsune", which was launched to the space via an US rocket in February thisRiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-8417314390432589982022-01-21T08:33:00.003+08:002022-01-21T11:35:08.083+08:00Ricoh to Abandon Sales Distribution and to Stop Mass Production for PentaxSee what PetaPixel reports. And, their quoted official Ricoh source is here (in Japanese, Google English translation here).After all, it seems that Pentax the brand is diminishing.. :-(RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-37046222293978420982022-01-14T12:44:00.002+08:002022-01-14T14:56:38.767+08:00Interesting Comparison of Different Pentax Custom ImagesAt the Malificent Images..The new Custom Image "Satobi" is compared side-by-side against "Flat" or "Vibrant" which is also known as "Miyabi" as mentioned in the above blog post. The camera body used is a K-3 III.It seems that Satobi is a colour tone that one would not use normally, but only for creating an aged and nostalgic mood and feel.RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-64009858139452565932022-01-05T13:23:00.004+08:002022-01-05T17:30:13.856+08:00Digital Camera Utility 5.9.3 UpdateDownload for Windows: https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/dc_utility5_win.htmlFor Mac: https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/dc_utility5_mac.htmlNew features / improvements and debugs are made. In particular, glad that Pentax / Ricoh are still supporting the *ist D cameras, for what they mention in one of their fixed bugs. That's really nice! :-DRiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-67559386359113898302021-12-21T12:37:00.005+08:002021-12-21T15:47:36.463+08:00K-r Service ManualSomeone at the PF forum uploaded the manual in two parts and it is available for download here and here.For your reference and use just in case. And, it can be appreciated that how sophisticated a DSLR could be, for all those adjustments that required or provided.RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37790811.post-86191060720873529482021-12-01T13:04:00.018+08:002021-12-01T17:17:11.272+08:00The K-3 III Variants Accordingly to this "confidential" diagram, there are six variants of the K-3 III to come. The first one is a deep-black coloured body, the second one is with a modified shutter release button for a different touch, the third one is a monochrome model, the fourth one is a MF model (maybe with a MF focusing screen?), the fifth one is a gun-metal coloured body, and the last one is an RiceHighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12174156471696420785noreply@blogger.com0