News 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 difficulty in sourcing certain components and parts for the new camera.

2. The film camera project is in good progress but further details will not be disclosed. Nonetheless, collaboration with other film product manufacturers will be made for determining a right selling price and marketing strategy.

3. Feasibility for the revival of the Q system is being carried out, subject to the requests made by the Pentax fans in Japan. But considering the limitation of the Q system, it would be unlikely.

4. The 645 system is in its end of development, production of the remaining products will last for a certain period of time.

5. Mirrorless is not a viable option for Pentax.

6. New DFA* wide angle lens(es) and replacement of the DA*50-135 are being considered according to market needs.

The Pentax 645 Digital Lineup is Really Done

See 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. 

When the X-T4 and GFX 100 Produced Images Look the Same

Via FStoppers

I am afraid that same case applies for the Pentax K-New Vs the 645Z, which they have exactly the same APS-C and 44x33mm sensors respectively and that the final conclusion drawn would possibly be the same. :-P

New Firmwares for K-1 and 645Z

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

Updated tethering features with the Image Transmitter 2.

645Z IR

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/645z-ir/

Promotional Information Leaked of the Pentax FF

http://photorumors.com/2015/10/15/new-slide-leaked-with-pentax-full-frame-dslr-camera-details/

Resolution Shootout: K-3 II Vs E-M5 II Vs D810 Vs 645Z

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k3-ii/pentax-k3-iiTECH2.HTM

645Z and K-s2 TIPA Awarded

http://www.tipa.com/english/XXV_tipa_awards_2015.html

Everyone got an award anyway. And, I just wonder why the K-s2 is an "advanced" DSLR whilst the D5500 is an "entry level". They are direct competitors in the same market segment and price tag range afterall!

Btw, here is an YouTube direct comparison review of the two, for those who are interested:

Official Pentax 645Z T-shirt

http://www.uniqlo.com/tw/zh/search?q=pentax

@Uniqlo, 3 colours, two different designs.

The New Standard of the 135 Full Frame!

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/canon-5ds-r/canon-5ds-rA.HTM

The 645Z is also side-by-side compared.

DRP Interviewed Ricoh Pentax

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/6552079527/cp-2015-ricoh-imaging-interview-full-frame-dslr-may-have-something-extra-built-in

IR Interviewed Ricoh Pentax

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2015/03/05/ricoh-interview-placeholder

D-FA 645 25mm Lens Discontinued! :-o

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/lens/index645_list_others.html

What a short life lens! Just wonder what Ricoh is planning to do and why discontinued this lens, which is actually the only ultra-wide lens in the 645 digital line!

50MP Canon FF DSLR is Coming

From reliable source which has never been wrong!

http://digicame-info.com/2015/01/eos-5ds-eos-5ds-r.html

In Japanese, Google English translation here.

So, the 645Z is not unique again, and the upcoming 5Ds should be much cheaper, at half of the 645Z price very probably, but yet provides the same pixel count, and is a much faster camera of which the system has far more lens choices and much better portability.

A 645Z Practical Review

http://philipbloom.net/2014/12/23/pentax645z/

The IQ is unbeatable, I have to say! :-o But the price is almost unreachable, too! ;p

The Camera Store's Best and Worst Cameras of the Year

645Z and K-s1 are mentioned..

IQ Shootout: 645Z Vs D810 Vs 5D3

http://info.xitek.com/product/201411/12-164898.html
(in Simplified Chinese)

Side by side 100% crops on different Field-of-View can be found here, here and here. The lenses used for the tests and respective settings are also remarked.

New HD PENTAX-D FA645 28-45mm F4.5 ED AW SR

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

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.