I haven't bought the 17, but got this instead

K-3 III and GR T-shirts (by UNIQLO)

by UNIQLO..

Three New Pentax/Ricoh Cameras in the Pipeline?

Source: e-Sertifikasi Portal (in Indonesia) via Nokishita @Twitter (in Japanese)

The models R02020, R03030 and R05010 are new, which should be under development. Whether they are in the Ricoh or Pentax brand is yet unknown, though. Furthermore, I list below the recent registered R-numbered camera models by Ricoh for your better wild guessing. ;-p

R01010: Pentax K-1 Mark II

R02010: Ricoh GR III

R03010: Pentax K-3 Mark IIIkey

CIPA Reveals that Total Shipments of DCs and ILCs are Only 27.4% of Those in 2019

CIPA has published figures about the digital camera shipments, which are both only 27.4% of the quantities in 2019, as in May 2020, for both Interchangeable Lens Cameras (ILCs) and Digital Still Cameras (DSCs).

After all, in view of the rather poor sales of cameras in this year, would it be really wise (or unwise) for Pentax (Ricoh) to launch their new flagship in September as rumoured? :-(

Green Ringed GR? :-o

The New Ricoh Theta is to be Announced on April 13

http://pentaxfans.net/thread-151089-1-1.html
(in Traditional Chinese)

Frustrated Pentaxians

Go read yourself for those frustrating stories..

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3743352

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54699218

Ricoh Announces WG-30W and WG-30 Rugged Compacts

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/9007370912/ricoh-announces-wg-30w-and-wg-30-rugged-compacts

The "W" version has the built-in WiFi, the first "in-house" (non-OEM) Ricoh camera that have it, still good because very late is better than none! :-) NFC is still lacking, though, unfortunately. Moreover, do also note that the WG-30s do not have any GPS receiver built-in, which is really not good for an adventure camera which it is meant to be.

New Ricoh WG-M1

http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/digital-camera/WG-M1_orange

The monitor is way too small IMHO, it is of the same size of my ancient Optio 330, i.e., in 1.5"?! :-o

It *seems* to have built-in WiFi connectivitiy, though, as the specifications does not mention this but just in the product highlights. That is, the first camera of Ricoh Pentax that have this useful and handy function, and a Fuck-card should not be required anymore! :-D

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/

The PENTAX Name is Gone! >:-[

Via Photo Rumors.

Yet Another Inteview with Ricoh Official Published Today! (by DC Watch)

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/interview/20131225_628900.html
(in Japanese, Excite English Translation Here.)

The machine-translated English article is quite readable, although the content of the interview itself is not so meaningful and it is most consisted of pure sales talks for what we already knew or things that are trivial, e.g, the SR system is still improving (as it always should!).

Possibly This is the New Ricoh "Ground Breaking" Thing that is to be Announced Later Today! >:-L

Which was posted accidentally at Ricoh US website a few days ago! See the Google cached snapshot below:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:sbNlzCW43nYJ:m.us.ricoh-imaging.com/medium-format/Theta_360+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&lr=lang_en|lang_de

So, below are the product highlights:

A new way to take pictures
The RICOH THETA is lightweight and small enough to carry with you anywhere. Unlike a normal camera, the RICOH THETA captures everything around it. It is ideal for spontaneous moments since there is no need to compose your shot.

The next best thing to actually being there
Where you would normally just look at a picture, the RICOH THETA lets you explore and become part of your images. You can move through the image left and right, up and down and experience details you didn’t see with your eyes.

Start sharing the world around you
The RICOH THETA takes pictures like nothing you’ve ever seen before—stunning spherical images of everything around you. The RICOH THETA sends images over Wi-Fi to your iPhone and with one tap you can share them on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr.

Hey, Pentaxians, are you excited? >:-L

And also, does it produce the image quality that could come close to this and this? I don't think so! ;-p


Related:

Ricoh New Product Launch Event: 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tomorrow, Pre German IFA Show

Ricoh Files Patent for Their Dumb Bell Camera

Pentax Dumb Bell Camera is Now a Ricoh

Shootout of Six Tough DC 2013 Models (XP60 Vs AW110 Vs TG-2 Vs TS5 Vs WG-3 Vs TX30)

http://www.mobile01.com/newsdetail.php?id=13603
(in Traditional Chinese)

A Latest Interview with the Japanese Ricoh Head

The Chinese Fengniao editors interviewed the Ricoh head who is in charge of the Pentax camera business just a few days ago, when he came to China for something:

http://qicai.fengniao.com/387/3874303.html
(in Simplified Chinese, Google English Translation Here.)

I've opted to translate some key excerpts of the interview and putting aside all the other marketing bullshits (although many things are still bullshiting, which I can't help and avoid!), as follows:


Q: With the integration of Pentax and Ricoh, will the brand Pentax be removed in the end?

A: No, we have no plan to do so. For those products which are special enough, they will continue to carry the Pentax badge, like the Q and WG series. Otherwise, some adjustments would be needed.

My comment: Did he mean that only mediocre products should carry the Ricoh badge? ;-p And do note that the K series is not mentioned! :-o


A: The ex-Pentax and Ricoh staff of the development team are now working together as a team and at the same place. They can complement each other for the shortcomings amongst them. Because of the integration, some staff are now travelling in longer distances. An Hi-end product is being developed by the team. (But what it actually is was not disclosed.)

My comment: I do not believe in what he said for that "hi-end" thing, according to his past tracking records! :-o 


Q: Now, what's going on for the Pentax Full Frame thing?

A: Our development team is still working on it and the project is not aborted.

Q: What Pentax is to do to tackle with the higher pixel count and new generation of sensors with new functions by the competitors, like the newly developed one used in the Canon 70D?

A: To be a responsible company, we are not chasing only the pixel count, as higher pixel count means worse noise and high ISO performance. That's the reason that we did not follow blindly.

My comment: I have only two words to say: BULL SHIT!

 
Q: All the 16MP Pentax cameras are with the same architecture?

A: No. They are different and the newer is better. If one is going to disassemble the cameras, the differences can be seen.

My comments: Bull shitting again, as usual. Is he going to tell us the K-30 and K-50 are much different, putting aside the body shell?! He forgot that there are also official specifications of the cameras?! Actually, Pentaxians are good at disassembling cameras and lenses! And my Blog has documented many of those, here.


Other things that told by the Ricoh Head himself:

- The K-01 Blue White (Smurfs) edition was endorsed by Marc Newson for the colour combination.

- The K-01 was not discontinued owing to the low demand. But it was discontinued owing to the higher demand than that the production could meet. 

My comment: Man, are you serious? Are you kidding? You are a LIAR!!


Oh, I've really given up at this point. This guy is really helpless and the replies are mostly junk. I do appreciate the direct and acute questions that the Fengniao editors have asked for us, for what we all Pentaxians have been concerning most, though! Thanks, guys! :-)

The Name PENTAX is Dismissed from the Cyber Space! >:-(

The name of PENTAX was a history of the past since August 1st 2013. Look what Ricoh has done to destroy the name Pentax! >:-{ For instance, click the following, i.e., the old Pentax Japanese homepage:

http://www.pentax.jp/

It will be forwarded to the following page immediately:

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/moved/

It is told that the old webpage does no longer exist, visitors should click on the link to Ricoh Imaging web domain directly, here.

However, in the main page of RICOH, whilst we see the K-50, Q7, GR, K-5II and WG-3, we do not and cannot see the name of Pentax along with them! For instance:



I think a Ricoh K-50 and a Ricoh Q7 as it appears it entirely not correct and is actually rather disgusting!

In particular, I think only this is correct for the make and model amongst the five!



After all these happenings, I think Ricoh heads are actually having their brains grown under their asses! I feel obliged to say this but had to air it out! Even Hoya opted to keep all Pentax websites and domains and of course back to the old Asahi days Pentax.something was used all over the Internet. This is for the first time in the history of Pentax the name of "Pentax" was completed removed in the whole Internet! >:-o It is really a stupid move which is only meant to show sovereignty but no benefit of any but all disadvantages instead!

The intention of Ricoh is now very clear, what they wanted to do is to remove and destroy Pentax the name step-by-step and eventually Pentax will be absorbed and completely removed! I did hope that Ricoh should do good things to Pentax and improved many things by hard working for what Hoya had not yet done. However, the reverse is true for the reality.

After Ricoh's takeover for two years now, Pentax' product development is ever slowest and the name is now even destroyed. Damn Ricoh! If you just want to destroy Pentax, just did NOT buy it even it was dirty cheap for the deal! It is just all stupid and nonsense, even solely in commercial sense!

My last word, if some days later the name Pentax is completed removed and all new cameras and lenses are marked Ricoh, I will not buy anything from the company anymore, and NOT EVEN ONE! >:-[

Update: Now the Pentax Online Camera Store has also disappeared and it is now called "Ricoh Imaging Online Store" but for 99% of the goods it is selling are Pentax items! Funny but ridiculous enough?!




Related:

Change of Company Name: From "Pentax Ricoh" to "Ricoh" Only

Customize and Colorize the Ricoh GR, Pentax Q7 and K-50!

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/support/customize.html
(in Japanese)

Update (8-5): The above picture link is dead because Ricoh has changed the domain name of their website. I just won't bother to correct that as it's the sole fault of Ricoh!

Well, the main point of those RP cameras is now colours, not the colours of the images they produce, but the colours of the camera shells! Well done, Ricoh! >:-(

Recent Pentax Tidbits

1. An original Leica-made Pentax 645 lenses to S body adaptor:



Via: http://info.xitek.com/news/201307/17-128176.html (in Chinese)

Now those FA 645D lenses can be operated on the Leica S body with AE and AF, for compatible lens models, my beloved FA120/4 Macro lens is excluded, though! :-(

2. An original lens case for the Pentax Q 02 and 06 zoom lenses:



Via: http://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/used/2013/06/pentax-q-o-cc1332.html (in Japanese)

According to this Japanese shopping site, the price of this lens case is about $44 US Dollars equivalent, in average.

Speaking of buying Pentax accessories at Japan, the official Japanese Pentax online shop contains some of the old Pentax accessories that you would never imagine before that something are still available and could be purchased!


For instance, this little rubber cap for covering the cable release socket of my MZ-S (and also for the 645NII, but not the 645D, which uses the cheap CS-205 which is just the Canon RS-60 clone) melted over time and deformed, I think I would need to buy a new one!

3. New Ricoh GR Review at the IR:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/ricoh-gr/ricoh-grA.HTM

Well, it can be noted that the Image Quality of the camera is not really that good, note the red colour smear and loss of details of all the test samples and crops, even at the lowest ISO speed of 100! :-o

4. New DxOMark results for the K-50:

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Pentax-K-50-review-attractive-performance-but-is-there-any-improvement-on-earlier-iterations/Pentax-K-50-versus-competition

Well, it is proven that the K-50 is just the K-30 inside. As we all knew, the K-50 is simply a repackaged K-30 with a stereo microphone but nothing more! >:-(

DPR MX-1 Full Review Published

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-mx-1

And the Conclusions and Samples:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-mx-1/11

Shootout of the Five APS-C DCs: X100s Vs X2 Vs Coolpix A Vs GR Vs DP1M (Portraiture and Scenery Tests)

http://www.mobile01.com/newsdetail.php?id=13633
(in Traditional Chinese)

I think the test pictures speak themselves and the differences in results are obvious. There is simple footnote for the camera in use with shooting information under each sample picture.

My overall impression is that for skin tone reproduction: Fuji is better than Leica > Nikon > Ricoh > Sigma. Well, it seems that the camera order in the review has already hinted us something!

As for the other IQ aspects of these cameras, just go figure out yourself! :-)


Related:-

Yet Another Ricoh GR Review with Full Samples

New Ricoh GR Review at DPR