Web Analytics RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: K-01
Showing posts with label K-01. Show all posts
Showing posts with label K-01. Show all posts

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Why 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, K-5, KP and K-3III, total 10 out of the 29 models produced.

From 2011 to 2014: I bought the original Q and the Q7, hence 2 out of 4.

From 2016 to 2021: I got the K-1, but I don't think Pentax has really produced 2 full-frame bodies as the K-1 II actually is just a mild variant of the original K-1.

From 2010 to 2014: I purchased the 645D, 1 out of 2 for the medium format bodies.

So, I acquired a total of 14 Pentax models out of the 37 that they have produced.

Besides what PP has mentioned about the causes the failure, which I generally agree with, I think from the user's perspective and practical point of view, the K-01 and the Q series failed in two major ways, which are the lack of EVF and fast Wi-Fi support. I consider that these are basic essential features nowadays, especially for mirrorless cameras and for easy social media sharing on-the-go. All in all, the external LCD monitor is really rather difficult to view under bright light environment outdoor. Without an EVF, it is indifferent to shoot blindly and composition and shooting have become rather difficult with such handicapped mirrorless cameras.

Monday, August 25, 2014

More K-s1 Images (with DA40XS and DA40LE) and Size Comparison with K-01 and K-3




Click to Enlarge.

Saturday, March 08, 2014

New Firmwares for Pentax Cameras

http://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info2/support/

To support the new 1.4X Tele Converter.. But as I said before, this method of updating firmwares to support every new lens is actually plain stupid. They should consider to do it in the Canon's way, i.e., to update the software utility that can be used to load the new lens' data into different bodies, of various models.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Thursday, October 03, 2013

K-5II/s New "Urgent" Firmware V1.06

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k-5_2_s.html

It seems that there was a major bug in the last firmware, so an urgent update is needed. The bug is not told, though. I have also seen quite some users of other Pentax models reported about strange phenomenon since the last recent updates for their bodies. So, it would be wise not to do the update if you have other newer model(s) but not yet, until the actual problem is told clearer, my humble advice!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

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.

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Tidbits Today

1. Ephotozine has completed the full review of the K-50, conclusions and comments are quite favourable:

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-k-50-digital-slr-review-22468#Verdict

2. The once discontinued K-01 Yellow Edition (which "was discontinued owing to the too high market demand"!?) is reborn and can be purchased via the following! ;-p



http://e-young.en.alibaba.com/product/572978874-210820225/Klarus_font_b_K_b_font_01_18650_2200mAH_Protected_font_b_battery_b_font_yellow.html

3. Benjamin Kanarek has left Pentax:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3522589#forum-post-51869814

Via: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3523000

Now, Ben is in love his new D600!

4. An unsubstantiated rumour of new Pentax cameras coming by this Christmas:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/232560-new-camera-s-christmas.html

Okay, will these be Ricoh models actually?! >:-o

Sunday, August 04, 2013

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! :-)

Thursday, July 18, 2013

A K-50 Unboxing + Quick Review with Tests on the New Kit Lenses (DAL WR Zooms)

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera-sp-pentaxricoh-k50.html
(in Japanese)

The above is the index page, click on the links to see different test pages. In particular:

1. This is the ISO test for the K-50:

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera-sp-pentaxricoh-k50-04.html

The NR setting from left to right is weak, medium and strong, respectively.

2. These are the lens tests for the new DAL WR kit zooms:

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera-sp-pentaxricoh-da1855alwr.html

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera-sp-pentaxricoh-da50200edwr.html

Distortion, both uncorrected and corrected, and resolution at different apertures were measured.

On the other hand, the other lens tests for the DA18-135, DA50 and DA40XS were made with other Pentax bodies namely the K-30 and the K-01.

Monday, July 08, 2013

K-01 Schtroumpf/Doraemon is not Japanese Home Market Specific

It is also being marketed at the mainland China:-

http://www.pentax.com.cn/NewsFiles/201307/040849165865.html
(in Simplified Chinese)



Btw, this Doraemon colour combination is not anything new. In fact, the K-x was sold like that, see this:-



Via an old DPR news article here.

So, Pentax boys should be really happy for the true and complete reborn of the K-01! Bravo, Ricoh! :-o


Last News:-  

New K-01 Schtroumpf! What the Fuck?!

Thursday, July 04, 2013

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!!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

More K-50 Full Samples (Unofficial)

Here, at the Digital Camera Review:-

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=5346&news=pentax+k+50+image+quality

Click on the images and download the full original images, which were produced directly out of the K-50 without any modification.

As before, I don't like the colour response by the way. All Prime M bodies, including the K-01, K-30 and now the K-50/500 do have a strong magenta cast like that, making images look unnatural and skin tones look especially awful, which is just awkward enough after all! >:-(

Besides, all the images were underexposed somehow and they look a bit dark, which is not normal for those kinds of subjects that are already with a mid-tone reflectance, IMHO.

N.B. The official sample images of the K-50 are NOT yet available at Pentax.jp.


Last Related:- 

K-50 Samples

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

A "New" Pentax FF Rumour

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3491706

"Two friends who work at an authorized Pentax dealer told me that there would be a full frame Pentax released by this Halloween. Apparently, the Pentax reps that they are in contact with have passed on the inside information, and they also said that third party lens manufacturers are quietly working on a beginning lens lineup. My friend's exact words were, "the full frame that is coming is going to completely out do all the other FFs from the other manufacturers""

Well, how is the new camera related to the Halloween? Is it something that will be really horrible? :-o Lol.. ;-p And, as for something that will out-do the existing offers, I have no doubt for that! Actually Pentax had successfully achieved that for many times in the past! For instance, the K-01 out-did all the other mirrorless bodies for being both the largest and heaviest! And the Q out-did all the others for having the smallest sensor for an ILDC and thus in the overall size and weight, as a result!

So, the future of Pentax is really Bright then and let's wait for the Halloween! :-D

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Pentax Imaginations - Too Many but Nothing Ever Happened!

These are the recent imaginations:-

1. Pentax K-02 with an OVF:-



Via Mirrorless Rumors

But I think a $15 hotshoe-mounted external OVF will do the job anyway, see this of mine:-



Btw, last time I polled, there should not be a K-02 anyway, as it is almost well known that the "line" was killed.

2. A Pentax 135 Full Frame, see this weekend humour by the PB, which is well written:-

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/05/11/weekend-humor-pentax-finally-enters-the-full-frame-market/

This is actually not a pure joke. Many of those statements were actually told officially by the senior Pentax officials in their previous interviews, quite recently or before! >:-[

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The Pentax Coffins! >:-o

The K-30 is in the Chinese style, for its top/head/front! :-o





On the other hand, the K-7/K-5 is in Western style! :-D



* All the pictures above are searched via Google Pics and linked directly to their respective web links as posted.

Now, I know why Pentax needed to hire Marc Newson to design the K-01! Otherwise, their own designers seemed to get no idea on what to do, so that they finally decided to copy ideas from something ordinary, which are yet much related to real-life! So, after all, as a Pentax user, would you prefer a "brick" or a "coffin"? Your take! Lol.. ;-p

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

FF Officially Confirmed! Latest Interview with the Head of Pentax Ricoh China at the Chinese P&E 2013


(Left: Mr. Tomoyoshi Shibata, the Managing Director and General Manager of Pentax Ricoh China (Shanghai) Company; Right: Pentax Ricoh at P&E 2013, Beijing, China.)

Read this interview, in Chinese:-

http://www.pcpop.com/doc/0/900/900149.shtml

The key points of what are told by the MD are as follows:-

1. The sales of the MX-1 has been quite good.

2. The sales of the K-01 is actually very good. It is a case that the demand is more than supply. (Oh really? :-o)

3. A professional class APS-C *Pentax* camera is being planned.

4. Pentax will continue to develop new pancake lenses and will develop and evolve the K-mount so as to meet the market needs. (The Head was asked about the latest development of the Pentax *mirrorless* system and this is his answer.)

5. A Pentax FF camera is under development. It will be a type that is different from all the others'.

6. The Pentax 645D is not threated by the Nikon D800/E which is considered to be a camera not targeted clearly for a specific market segment than what the 645D has been. (Replacement of the ageing 645D is not mentioned.)


In contrast, in the last year's interview with the same guy in the P&E 2012 (in Chinese), the Head actually refused to confirm the development and existence of a Pentax 135 FF (what he told was only "studying", but this year it is completely different! :-D

Last but not least, below are some photos of the exhibition. It seems the PR booth is not as popular and crowded as the other brands':-

Monday, April 22, 2013

For Those Who Thinks the K-01 is the "Best Pentax Video Camera Ever"..


(Above: A professional setup for video shooting using the K-01, for details of the parts and accessories used, click here.)

"It is close, but not yet there"! This pro-user gave up! No matter how he had tried to make it, but in vain! >:-(

http://www.whatblogisthis.com/2012/03/so-close-yet-so-far.html

In short, the two killing major technical problems and design limitations:-

1. Focus peaking is not available during video recording (but then this is essentially a MF cam);

2. Video/HDMI video-out works ONLY in PLAYBACK mode, but NOT in RECORDING mode!

So, the Prime M processor is yet helpless. In fact, my ancient NEX-3 does a better job here, regarding the above.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Ricoh GR Size Compared to Other Cameras



Source: Flickr

Or, just compare it freely at the camerasize.com, for instance:-

Ricoh GR Vs Pentax K-01



So, we can see the big difference between the GR and the K-01, despite that both are having the same Sony sensor, in the same size of course! :-o

In fact, the K-01 is designed to be almost "gripless". So, clever Pentaxians are always much adaptive and like to DIY to tackle those original Pentax problems. See this:-

http://www.pentaxfans.net/thread-136325-1-1.html
(in Chinese)



Is it much better (to hold) now? Good job, man!

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Two Reasons to Sell Off a US$125k Set of Pentax Gear!?

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographic-equipment-sale/220345-sale-entire-pentax-collection-4-5mm-2000mm-125-000-a.html

"2xPentax K-5 | Pentax K-01
DFA: 100/2.8 Macro WR
DA: *16-50/2.8, *50-135/2.8, *55/1.4, *60-250/4, 10-17/3.5-4.5 Fisheye
FA: *250-600/5.6, *600/4, *200/4 Macro, *300/2.8, *400/5.6, *85/1.4, *24/2, *80-200/2.8, 31/1.8 EE Ltd, 43/1.9 EE Ltd
A: *1200/8, *400/2.8, *135/1.8, 50/1.2, 28/2.8 | K: 1000/11 Reflex, 2000/13.5 Reflex
Sigma: EX DG 100-300/4, DC HSM 8-16/4.5-5.6, DC HSM 4.5/2.8 Fisheye


As to your inquiry why I'm selling all of my gear, I think there are two key reasons.

Mostly, I'm tired of the recurring rumors about Pentax gear, that get picked up and rebroadcast as facts, so that they can be rebroadcast as rumors, and then as facts sighting the facts as rumors, and then rumors spring out of the facts, over and over.

Additionally, I'm finding that the Pentax Q is where the future is at. Small, Light, and I can attach a 25mm/0.85 lens to it and have every bit the unique look. I think the quality of my images has nothing if not skyrocketed since I started with the Q."
 


So, the two reasons are 1: there are too many rumours about new Pentax stuff but those are not materialised; 2. The Pentax Q and system is really small enough and this is the future of Pentax (So, the K-mount gear should be aborted?)!?

This Pentax user, if is not kidding, is really funny enough IMHO. Either he is just not honest and brave enough to tell the true reason to sell all of his expensive Pentax stuff and has planned to switch, i.e., he thinks that there is no future of Pentax and it's better to leave now! >:-o

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Canon has Taken the Crown Away From Pentax! :-(

..for the smallest and lightest DSLR bodies ever made, wins over both the size and the weight! >:-(

Camerasize.com has updated their database to include the new Canon EOS100D/SL1, in particular, I've checked the following:-

1. 100D Vs K-x:-

http://camerasize.com/compare/#448,229

The overall size of the 100D is a bit smaller, but the weight of the 100D is 30% less!

2. 100D Vs K-01:-

http://camerasize.com/compare/#448,285

The K-01, with the complete omission of the mirror, viewfinder and penta-mirror, has no real edge over the 100D in terms of size and weight. The K-01 is a bit smaller but it is yet 27% heavier than the 100D. The body material used is aluminium+plastic of the K-01 against the aluminium alloy+fibre glass plastic of the 100D. The Canon rules for the materials and technologies for how to cut most weight out of a DSLR body! So, how come Pentax could not give out her crown to some body else?!


Previous Related:-

Canon DSLR Diminished, Leaving Pentax and Others Behind!