The Quickly De-coloured 100th Anniversary Hotshoe Cover

A Xitek Pentax user complains about his brand new O-HC171, which was purchased from official Ricoh channel, has turned its colour from silver to black just within two days after he removed the protective film of it:

https://forum.xitek.com/thread-1896215-1-1-1.html
(in Simplified Chinese, Google translation to English here)

And, another Pentaxian in the above forum thread reported that his O-HC171 had also turned dark.

Seems like oxidation took place. What a Quality of Ricoh! :-o

Rumour: Pentax K-mount FF Comes this Autumn, no Built-in Flash but GPS

http://thisistanaka.blog66.fc2.com/entry/945/
(in Japanese)

Btw, the author of the above post is a famous Japanese photographer who is close to the official Ricoh Pentax internal source.

K-mount FF Body Mockup Unveiled at CP+

http://gigazine.net/news/20150212-pentax-35mm-camera-cpplus2015/
(in Japanese)



The new body would not have RTF, i.e., the built-in flash, as seen.

AF201FG Flash

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1117720-REG/pentax_af_201fg_flash.html

K-50 Big Price Cut at Adorama

See what Photocritic refers:

http://photocritic.org/deals-on-the-pentax-k-50-with-adorama/

A free 200FG flash and a 16GB SD card will be complimented. Note that the code you enter during checkout could be either "PENTAXJUNE" or "SUMMERSALE".

Btw, it seems that something new is coming, or the K-mount line is to be discontinued! ;-P

Only Pentax is Not Supported but All Other Major Camera Systems

http://www.nissindigital.com/i40_spec.html

"For Canon, Nikon, Sony DSLR System, 4/3 & Fujifilm mirrorless System"

Ony Pentax is not supported and Nissin had no interest to make a Pentax variant for their products! The reason behind must be sound..

Congrats, Pentax! It is noted that Leica is also not supported and hence Pentax has succeeded to become a Leica! That must be great and a really good news for Pentaxians! :-o

K-3 Flash Issues

1. Unacceptable prolonged shutter delay in P-TTL mode:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/242556-k-3-delay-when-using-flash.html

Some K-3 users reported that the delay was particularly long, noticeably much longer than that of the K-5, which was not that noticeable.

Another thread at the Taiwanese PFC Pentax forum also states the same thing:

http://www.pentaxfans.net/thread-143957-1-1.html
(in Traditional Chinese)

A petition is being raised.

2. EXIF is not stored correctly for whether the flash is turned on or off:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/241800-k-3-flash-issue.html

New Firmwares for Pentax DSLRs Released Today

@ Ricoh.jp (In Japanese Only.)

Support to the "new" HD Limited lenses and the "new" model 360 and 540 II flash units are added. Released firmwares are for K-r, K-5, K-5II/s, 645D, K-01, K-30 and K-50. There is no new firmware to the K-500, though.

Ricoh has Refurbished the Old 360 and 540 Flash Units

See the Press Release at DPR:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/08/27/ricoh-introduces-weather-resistant-flash-units

Weather sealing and a video LED light source are added:

"New" 540II:


"New" 360II:


"The AF360FGZ II and AF540FGZ II will be available for purchase at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and retail outlets nationwide in September 2013 for the suggested retail price of $429.95 and $629.95, respectively."

German IFA 2013: Ricoh Will be On Show

The IFA show  is coming next month, from 6 to 11 September. This show is meant for consumer electronics and digital products. A quick search at their official page found that Ricoh will be on show:



But yet entering key word of "Pentax" in the same search page gives two returns, one Sigma lens and one Metz flash. So, the Ricoh booth above is the only real Pentax related thing that is found, hopefully!

After all, I expect Ricoh will not be there to show photocopiers of theirs. So, what will be shown? K-50 and Q7?? :-o

Ricoh Starts to Sell Off Pentax' Old Patents? (But Yet Another New "Ricoh" Patent Submitted)

See what is recently reported in this PF thread:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/231593-ricoh-selling-off-licensing-pentax-designs-patents.html

The previous Pentax Ricoh patented design now becomes a Vixen's!

If it is true, it is really too bad! And Pentax is doomed!!

Btw, Ricoh has yet submitted a new patent application for a stupid and useless design and thing like this:

http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2013-07-10
(in Japanese)

So, what is this then? If I understand correctly, it is an automatic flash bounce head which will rotate by itself according to the holding position of the camera, horizontally and vertically! :-o Just imagine while the user composes the picture, the flash head has its motor moving, and driving / changing the position of the bounce head..! =_="

Metz 58AF-1 Hotshoe Upgrade (Old to New Version, from Plastic to Metal, plus New PCB)

Read this:-

http://www.pentaxfans.net/thread-138657-1-1.html
(in Traditional Chinese, but posted pictures are self-explanatory.)



So, the hotshoe base material has been changed, from plastic to metal. The PCB inside/underneath has been updated too. It can be seen that the whole circuit board design has completely been revamped.

Speaking of those Metz flashguns for Pentax, last time they released an update of the firmwares for their newer models that enabled the HSS on the newer Pentax bodies but there existed a major bug that caused the A and M modes disabled. They soon released an updated version of 4.1 which contained the bug fix very shortly. For instance, the following link is the firmware download page for the 58 AF-2 flash:

http://www.metz.de/en/flash-units/firmware-download-flash-units/mecablitz-58-af-2-digital/pentax.html

After the above was released, I have checked on the web for the feedbacks from some Pentax users that the firmware update does work for them and there is no other major bug and issue found and reported so far.

New K-01 Schtroumpf! What the Fuck?!

See this at the Japanese homepage of "Pentax" for the current products today. A new body is announced and it is to be marketed on July 25, 2013! So, what is it? It is yet the already officially discontinued K-01 but repainted?!



Besides, browse further into the product page of the current accessories for Pentax DSLRs, it is found that the AF360FTZ flash is still there! Well, wasn't the AF360FGZ II announced half a year ago? Yes, it was a long time ago already!

 

(Above: The Twelve Years Old AF360 FGZ Vs the "New" Paperware AF360FGZ II.)


So, I just want to ask again: WTFFFFF?!! What is Ricoh doing now? They are just unable to make a product real and put it onto the market since it was first announced six months ago and the delay is expected to be longer! And, a discontinued product can be re-marketed by adding new painting and colours onto it? Just?! Are you kidding, Ricoh? You are just a clown, I am afraid! >:-[

Btw, some Pentax fanboys could celebrate the re-born of the K-01! But I am sure that I am not the one with you!!

New Metz Firmware to Support HSS on K-30 and K-5II/s

After more than one year, the solution finally comes! :-o

http://www.metz.de/en/flash-units/firmware-download-flash-units/mecablitz-50-af-1-digital/pentax.html

This is for the Mecablitz model 50 AF-1 for instance. New firmwares for other current major metz models are also available, which is the solution to enable the High Speed Sync when using their flashes on the K-30 or a later Pentax DSLR body.

Update (6-23): Taiwan Pentax K-5 users have reported that after upgrading to the latest version 4.0 of the Metz firmware, their flashes (model 58 AF-2) have started not to fire in both A and M modes! So, if you are a K-5 user, do note the issue and should not upgrade! This story once has reminded us one thing, i.e., if you do not *really need* an upgrade of any firmware, just do not do that, as the latest is not always better. For instance, it is just a matter of compatibility after all! :-o

Q7 Vs Q10 Sensor Size Compared (Animated Image)

With the leaked image from Digicame Info of the Q7 and the old Q10 image from Pentax Imaging, I have made this:-



How much "bigger" is the new sensor? Your take! :-)

Besides, after almost half a year, the Pentax Q-mount body cap lens will be marketed very soon! Well, they really needed another six months to make it come true since their last/first product announcement?! >:-o



Via Digicame Info.

This is actually what I built myself for my Pentax APS-C camera last year, for a true pinhole body cap lens without any glass (in contrast to this Q lens). Besides, the AF360FGZII still haven't seen any light to be marketed soon. So, where has it gone?!

What an efficient company that Pentax Ricoh has been!!

New Product Photos of the AF360FGZII Flash and the Q Body Cap Pinhole Lens

Via: http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/announce/20130130.html
(in Japanese)

Note that the body cap pinhole lens is NOT a REAL Pinhole lens as there is glass/optics inside the hole! It is because owing to the really small-sized sensor of the Q, it is not possible to make a small enough hole to produce a sharp enough image but at the same time to observe the diffraction limit before everything is yet blurred much again! :-o

Last time I tried, I made a pinhole K-mount body cap lens myself, see the photos below:-









And it works, which will give you toy like images that a classical pinhole (film) camera could give! Life is easier with DSLR, though, as I did always set to ISO 1600 or above when used with my pinhole lens, on my K-x! >:-(

DC Watch CES Live Report - Pentax: New Look of the AF360FGZ II

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20130109_581023.html
(in Japanese)

It seems to be a mock up, though. Look at the back LCD panel, there is nothing inside!

Btw, there are some other photos of the MX-1, for a real product.

"New" AF360FGZ II Flash is Coming (And K-01 is Not Yet Dead!)

See the official Press Release here - what are displayed in the CES is also told.

Future Product Concept

• AF 360 FGZ II: Scheduled for a 2013 launch this automatic, external, clip-on flash has a maximum guide number of 36 (at ISO 100) with bounce flash functionality adjustable both vertically and horizontally.

So, it is just a 360 flash with a swivel head now, most probably. What a special "future concept" it really is! :-o >:-(

Btw, the K-01 is also on display. So, possibly it has not yet been discontinued, and would not be in the near future.

The Unbalanced Q - Part 1 (with an External Flash)

(Above: Pentax AF200S put onto the Q - Click to Enlarge.)

Everything has got so unbalanced when the something is attached on the Q. But in order to get rid of the annoying P-TTL of the Q, an external auto flash unit with built-in flash exposure meter and control is required! ;-D

Now, there is no more annoying pre-flash and picture taking is just instantaneous, i.e., without any delay just because of the pre-flash. The exposure is more consistent and accurate, too. The same applies when the same "obsolete" thing is attached on my K-5! Amazing enough?

Look at the above gear photo at the right, you can see a working combination of the settings in both the camera and on the flash, for instance.

But there is a bug of the Q's firmware actually (I have updated to the latest version already). That is, the built-in flash is still firing when an external flash gun is attached. So, I've tried to set the custom function No. 10 of "not discharge flash" when the "flash is retracted". However, by doing so, the external flash will NOT be fired then!? So, what I have to do is to set "no flash" for the built-in flash but with the custom function No. 10 set at default (i.e., discharge flash when retracted) then it finally works! :-o

Even more unfortunately, the behaviour of the Q with the later generation of the Pentax auto-focus dedicated flash units (which are with four pins at the hot-shoe) is even more helpless. It is because the external flash will NOT be discharged even when the built-in flash function is set at "no flash". So, the tiny little built-in flash must be discharged at the same time with the large external flash. The worst thing is that the external flash has to wait the little P-TTL flash to complete its pre-flash before both can fire altogether! Otherwise, in all other circumstances, both flash units are turned off no matter how the user sets the Q and his original *Pentax* flash! >:-(

Btw, for a list of downloadable user manuals of those old and new Pentax flash units, the following official link can be visited:-

http://www.pentaximaging.com/support/manuals-and-literature

Last but not least, as for the flash trigger voltage of my AF200S, it is measured to be +2 Volt with flesh Alkaline batteries inserted. It is also worth noting that it is mentioned in the Pentax Q manual that flash unit with a negative trigger voltage could not be used with the camera. So, mine should be very safe to use! :-)


Related:- 

Which Flash Units are Safe for Pentax DSLRs?

Pathetic Canon's External Auto Saves the Pathetic TTL of Pentax!

Incredible Macro Shots with Pentax K200D and K-x!

Look at these pictures:-

http://www.thomasshahan.com/photos/

And a YouTube video to explain the setup, procedures and techniques to take these wonderful shots:-


URL: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqRn3at0H60

The lens was reversed with adaptor and with extension tube plus flash.

Via DPR Forum Post Here.