HD 16-85 Measurbation Reviews

Both are done by measurbators, but one with real-world scenes as the shooting targets and the other with test charts in a "lab":

http://digiphoto.techbang.com/posts/7658-pentax-16-85mm-f35-56-ed-dc-wr?page=1
(Tested with K-3, in Traditional Chinese)

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/903-pentax_1685_3556
(Tested with K-5 II)

The lens model seems to be fairly good. However, it arrives just too late, Canon and Sony had similar models many years ago, when APS-C DSLRs still shined. Nonetheless, I myself feel that the DA17-70 F4 would still be a better lens optically, because of its constant aperture but only a slightly shorter reach. For size and weight wise, the HD 16-85 is not a compact lens anyway.

Sigma Art 18-35/1.8 K-mount Version Field Tested with Full Samples

http://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/used/2014/06/sigma-18-35mm-f18-dc-hsm--art--review.html
(in Japanese)

Pentax FA31/1.8 Limited Vs Sigma 35/1.4 Art Shootout (Tested on K-5IIs)

http://info.xitek.com/product/201404/09-149487.html
(in Simplfied Chinese, but test pictures and crops with captions are all self-explanatory.)

As usual, I blog, you decide! :-D

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.

Pentax Won Best Cameras of the Year 2013 for Some Recent Elections

1. http://www.dpreview.com/news/2014/01/02/best-gear-of-2013-the-results-are-in/11

Pentax internet fanboys are in action again! But the poor K-50 and K-500 received nearly no votes at all! :-o But everytime when the fanboys played hard to win a poll but then those Pentax models still won't sell well, what is the real meaning??

2. http://www.neocamera.com/article/best_cameras

It is elected that the K-50 and K-5IIs are the best DSLRs in the entry level and advanced categories.

DxOMark of K-3 is Out

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Pentax-K-3-versus-Pentax-K-5-IIs-versus-Pentax-K5___914_830_676

Despite the high pixel count multiplying factor, the K-3 still loses the game against the old K-5, and the other K-5II variants as well.

Update (11-30): Shouldn't we compare the K-3 to the recent hottest FF like A7R and D610, and see what happens?! :-o

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Sony-A7R-versus-Pentax-K-3-versus-Nikon-D610___917_914_915

Pentax -> Pentax Ricoh -> Ricoh Pentax -> What's Next?

A Taiwan Pentaxian unboxed his new Ricoh K-3 has taken a shot together with his old K-5 and K-5IIs for the boxes and bodies, as follows:

http://www.pentaxfans.net/thread-141437-1-1.html
(in Traditional Chinese)



So, as clearly seen in the above, the path of brand naming goes down like that: Pentax -> Pentax Ricoh -> Ricoh Pentax -> What's NEXT?? :-o

I bet most primary pupils will guess the answer should be RICOH Only, which is much sensible enough. Yes, that's my bet too! The trend is really too obvious but again, it is SO SAD! Not even to mention it is rather disgusting afterall! >:-[


Last Related:

That's Really Disgusting! New RICOH>>Pentax Branded Stuff! >:-(

Recent Pentax Tests with Full Samples (HD Limiteds and K-3)

After years of inactivity, Photodo has lately done more lens tests and here are some recent tests with the "new" HD Limited lenses of 70/2.4, 35/2.8 and 15/4:

http://www.photodo.com/topic_1126.html?page_num=0

http://www.photodo.com/topic_1127.html?page_num=0

http://www.photodo.com/topic_1128.html?page_num=0

Some high resolution full samples are also posted per test, the body used was a K-5IIs.

Btw, the new colour scheme and look of the lenses are really ugly! All the marks and scales are now in white "colour" only and the markings and fonts look cheap indeed, reflecting completely bad taste of the Ricoh guys!

Besides, DPR have published their first sample gallery for photos taken with the K-3 and mostly with a much better looking DA18-135 of the ex-Pentax. Just go figure yourself if you like the samples or not. Of course, for the sake of measurbation, full samples are always available at DPR. :-)

http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/reviewsamples/albums/pentax-k-3-samples-gallery

If you are impressed, just go buy the green ring Pentax lenses as far as they are still available of which a red ring variant with all white printings will replace them sooner or later, nonetheless! >:-(

That's Called Persistency!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOagAADH_M

Wow, what a high performance camera!

Another HD Limited Lens Review with Samples (K-5IIs and HD DA21)

http://news.mapcamera.com/KASYAPA.php?itemid=22519
(in Japanese)

Samples are downsized but yet not too small. Sharpness is good as seen but I am not fond of that cool and purplish colour rendition and tone. It maybe just a K-5IIs issue that is well known and thus nothing can be concluded about the new HD coating and glass regarding this! ;-D


Related:

My Best Optimal Custom Image (Colour) Setting Combination for the Later Pentax Digital Bodies

A Quick SMC Vs HD Flare Control Comparison Test

http://ganref.jp/m/f-47gallery/reviews_and_diaries/review/5552
(in Japanese)

Well, the Sigma zoom performs the worst, which is indeed well expected. It shows that the HD lens of the "same" DA35 Macro lens yet performs better than the old SMC version, despite the stupid name of it.


Speaking of the "new" HD limited primes, DC Watch has posted some new full samples that were made with the new version, in particular, the HD DA21 lens was tested:

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/lens_review/20131010_618866.html
(in Japanese - just click and download the full samples, everything is self-explanatory.)

New Product Images of the "Ricoh" K-3 and A "New" Red Ring DA HD 55-300 WR Lens

Source: Digicame Info Here and Here.

So, it once again proves that my first leaked specs of the K-3 dated back to Sept 22nd is correct and there is a new phone jack but not only the mic jack against the previous K-5 series.

Nonetheless, I am disappointed with an once-again refurbished lens by Ricoh and the new red ring and colour is indeed awful and just makes the lens looks ugly and worse! >:-(

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!

Removing AA Filters is a Mistake for the Industry, Said IR

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-m1/olympus-e-m1A.HTM

Via Image Sensors World

Quoted:-

"Low-pass filters, the lack thereof, and moiré

There's been a strong move in the camera industry lately to remove low-pass filters (aka anti-aliasing filters or LPFs) from cameras, in pursuit of greater image sharpness. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is one of the latest camera models to join this trend.

At IR, we feel strongly that eliminating low-pass filters is a bad idea, and a mistake for the industry. While the vast majority of natural subjects aren't subject to aliasing and moiré issues, many man-made objects have the sort of regular patterns that trigger the problem.

The real problem is that once you've got moiré or color aliasing in your images, it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to remove."

"As noted above, these examples don't point a finger at Olympus alone: The same or worse can be found in the output from virtually any high-end camera built without an LPF."

They have their daily life example images to prove that they are right. Of course, as the most basic thing for digital sampling, the Nyquist theorem should NOT be violated!

AF Fine Adjustment: "Apply All" and "Apply One" Fully Explained

Quite some time ago, I explained how to focus adjust a K-5 camera using Live View. However, there are some confusions amongst Pentax users over time for the meanings and effects of the "Apply All" and "Apply One" settings. So, I opt to explain more this time. Well, the user manual tells nothing useful about these once again, just see page 126 of the K-5 user manual! >:-(

For a camera like the K-5 and K-30/50/500 which lacks a f/2.8 sensors, this "AF Fine Adjustment" is crucial so as to compensate the spherical aberration that exists on all lenses when stopped down against wide opened, which causes the camera to mis-focus depending on the amount of differences. It is because the AF system actually measures the more central part of the lenses optically for those f/5.6 AF sensors.

So, here we go, we have four scenarios:

1. Nothing is Set:



This is essentially the same as to set in the Custom Function that the "AF Fine Adjustment" is Turned Off / Disabled.

2. "Apply All" is Set but "Apply One" Not:



So, All lenses will use the "+5" setting as shown in the above example which is obvious. Do note that a +ve setting is meant to instruct the camera to focus fronter (to compensate back focusing) and vice versa for a "-ve" value to instruct the camera to focus backwards (to compensate front focusing).

3."Apply All" is Not Set and "Apply One" is Set (for Individual Lenses):



This is also obvious, the "Apply One" setting will take effect when individual lens is mounted of which the lens identity number is detected (for a Pentax F AF lens or later). So, I now know why the official user manual just tells you "Apply All" means apply all, "Apply One" means apply one or something like that but no more! ;-p

Choose this only if your camera does not contain any AF error primitively by itself, like my own K-5 unit which is a perfect copy already! :-D

4. Both "Apply All" and "Apply One" are Set:



Well, what does it mean under this case? Is it actually +2, +5 or +7?? What do you think? :-o For what I checked, it is actually +2, that means that the "Apply One" setting overrides the "Apply All". Whilst this does make sense somehow but however, the "Apply One" is not applied on top of the "Apply All" as many Pentax users wished!

Btw, if you have a copy of your Pentax camera which needs some slight adjustment by itself for *all* lenses, i.e. sample variations with some system errors, set both and remember to individually calibrate all your lenses unless the "Apply All" already works for all your lenses, i.e. scenario #2! Frankly, if you have more prime lenses like me, calibrating each lens is inevitably unavoidable!

Last but not least, some people would be puzzled for what to do with a cheap DAL or even "DA" lenses which does not have a focusing mark (namely, the DA35/2.4, DA50/1.8 and the DA40/2.8XS lens). Well, what you need to do is to put on a sticker and make the mark yourself before doing any further calibration! See the following example. :-)



Besides, some people would still wonder, do the K-5II/s need such "AF Fine Adjustment"? My answer is Yes, if you are using really Fast Prime like the DA*55/1.4 or just an old FA50/1.4 and etc., of which spherical aberration still occurs in between the widest aperture of f/1.4 down right to the f/2.8 aperture where the AF is detected and measured. So, the above techniques do still always apply! And also don't forget that not every copy of the K-5II/s is perfectly quality controlled when it was produced from the Pentax' (and now Ricoh's) factory.

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.

Amazon.jp is Selling the K-5IIs at US$730! Replacement Model Coming Very Soon?

See:



@ Amazon.jp

Although the product pics are of a K-5II, detailed product descriptions below and the page heading confirms that it is just a K-5IIs!

Btw, I am happy to see this stop-gap model will soon come to an end, after one year and something, possibly! :-D


Related:

Breaking News! Pentax "K-3" is "Weeks Away" to Come, Said Adam Oest of the Pentax Forums!!

How to Order a Custom Coloured K-x from Japan by Yourself?

My New K-r Gold Limited & Kit! :-D

Five Reasons Why Choose Pentax? (Official, and then for Five Reasons NOT!)

Read: http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/whypentax/index.html

But as the top "Pentax hatred site" on Earth, I have to write five of the most updated reasons for why not Pentax now so as to make the balance, namely as follows! ;-p

1. Pentax is not Pentax anymore, its name disappeared from web and on lens (the name plate and marking was removed)! And, there is no SMC anymore! >:-o Now comes the HD, yes, it is 720p only, not even 1080p! ;->

2. There is no Full Frame Pentax which never comes true even after twelve years since the old MR52 prototype in K-mount was first created! Non, there is never any concrete plan of a FF that is official!

3. There is no REAL new Pentax DSLR body nor REAL new lenses for more than two years now! For instance, the K-50 is identical to the old K-30 of the last year. The K-500 and K-50 "are" also essentially the same camera body! K-5II is just a K-5 of 2010 with no significant improvements. Yes, they changed the LCD monitor, add one and only one f/2.8 AF sensor. But so what? Could the development of two years only give those?! As for the lenses, there are only repackaged ones with new colours. Yes, colour variations, their strongest point for long!

4. Pentax colour rendition is no more Pentax by now and indeed, worse than the current Canons', IMHO!

5. There are more problems with Pentax and actually Ricoh for their camera business and strategy (if any). But since I have to be concise and confine points to five, the last point is that the Ricoh named Pentax will probably soon to be doomed and has no future. So, should you buy and invest into such a dying and eventually dead system? Don't blame me on my this point but which is 100% valid. What Ricoh has shown us for their plan(s) and give us faith on the future of the brand?? Name changing!?

Pentax TidBits 8-19

1. DA50/1.8 is on sales, for the US users only, at $120:

http://www.pentaxwebstore.com/product/31909

Btw, is it really cheap? Just compare it with the similar offers from Canon and Nikon! One thing is for sure anyway, the original set price of $249 is just ridiculous!

2. DC Watch has reviewed the DA560, with various full samples posted, taken with a K-5IIs:

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/lens_review/20130819_611192.html
(in Japanese)

I am really not impressed with the IQ of this combo. The colour rendition is terrible. Images lack contrast. The broken pixel "sharpness" of the K-5IIs images also look rather odd to my eyes.

3. A Pentax joke posted at the Pentax Forums:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/general-photography-industry/234141-ricoh-imaging-promises-new-hi-end-rumours-possible-another-company-name-change.html#post2477691

Guys, let's take some humours! :-D

4. Making your own Pentax digital FF DIY:

http://digiphoto.techbang.com/posts/5156-film-camera-in-conjunction-with-cross-generation-smart-phone-low-cost-diy-digital-backs
(in Traditional Chinese)

Now, the Pentax FF dream finally comes true! ;-p


Old Related:

New DA560 Test Review: "Disappointed"!

DA560 Lens Review Published at PF

When Did Pentax Forget about a Compact DSLR Body?!

First look at my old *ist DL2:



Do note that the above is already loaded with batteries and memory card and is ready to shoot.

And then a K-5 with the same compact DA pancake lens of mine, also loaded and ready:



In fact, the K-5 body alone is just heavier than the DL2 with the 21mm pancake lens! :-(



Yet I bet Pentax fanboys will again defend that the K-5 is not a low-end body and thus it should be larger and heavier. But let's compare further the following:

1. K-5IIs Vs Canon 6D Full Frame:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#373,380

Well, it is measured that "Pentax K-5 IIs [760 g] weights 1% (10 grams) less than Canon EOS 6D [770 g] (*inc. batteries and memory card)."! I can't believe that a FF body is lower end than the cropped APS-C K-5 by all means! And also:

2. K-50 Vs K-5:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#462,372

The K-50 also weighs 650g loaded and ready, which is just 20g lighter than my *ist DL2 with the DA21 pancake lens mounted with the metal lens hood attached as shown above! For what I have also measured, the lens hood weighs 12g. So, the weight of the K-50 body alone is just about equal to that of the DL2 together with the DA21 lens without the lens hood!

After all, I think Ricoh has completely lost direction for what to make and market and the brains of their heads were and are yet non-functioning, completely! When the new entry level cameras created by them is so big and heavy, what's the point? Have they also forgot about their really compact and lightweight line of the DA pancake lenses? Do they still really want to sell more of these?! >:-(

At the end of the day, I bet over 90% of the potential entry-level DSLR buyers would want a compact plus lightweight body like the Canon's EOS100D rather than a bulky and heavy K-50/K-500 with a so-marketed 100% coverage viewfinder, which they really don't care much about or just even don't know what it is! :-o