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

Comparison Test of Four Different Production Units of the FA 43 Limited

Found this interesting article (in Traditional Chinese, Google English translated page here) that's worth a read.

Side-by-side comparison tests were done with the MZ-S for film and the Fujifilm GFX50S digital cropped medium format body. To view the test pictures in their original size (which can be enlarged), just right click and select to view the pictures in a separate/new tab in browser.

Besides the comments made by the author of the article, you may find other differences by yourself. As for years, I blog, you decide. :-)

Monster Adaptor (Pentax K to Sony E) Pre-production Reviews

 1. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/4ekKr7wJePbjEOcf01lWaA

(in Simplified Chinese, Google English translated page here - but there will be no picture nor video as the Weixin server has disabled hot-linking from other websites)

The video clips for the AF tests with the FA31 are dead links anyway.

2. The below YouTube video tested the Monster Adaptor with the DFA*85/1.4 lens, it seems that the new SDM motor as well as the KAF4 electromagnetic aperture are both well supported by this version of the adaptor:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz_5huMytRo)

The AF speed and response of the combo looks good.

Ultimate Savior for Pentaxians who Had been Hoping for a True K-mount Mirrorless (with Eye-AF etc.)

 A Chinese adaptor manufacturer has announced (Google translated English here) the world first full function K-mount to Sony E-mount adaptor, which will be made available by the end of this year 2020 (and is earlier than the launch date of the upcoming K-3 III)!

This adaptor will have screw-driving AF motor and aperture motor built-in and will support full auto functions of all K-mount lenses (possibly without any aperture block problem ;-P). The manufacturer states that the adaptor will first support A/F/FA/DA/DFA lenses which are screw-driven for the AF and will support SDM/DC/PLM AF function at a later stage via firmware upgrade.

They also mounted the three FA limited onto a Sony A7 III body via their adoptor, of which the combos look really tempting! :-D

And, their also shown a "video" to show the AF in action with the FA77 Limited, which the AF speed seems reasonably good enough, as long as the animated gif was not accelerated. ;-)

After all, I will almost certainly buy this adaptor (as I bought my A7 III two years ago) and still own more than three dozens of the Pentax or K-mount lenses (and most of them are AF ones). Possibly I shall skip and not buy the K-3 III as I found my KP is actually better for my use and shooting style. :-(

Related:  My Pentax Lenses are Given Completely New Lives!

Yaotomi Camera Speaks More about the K-New (aka K-3 III Now)

Japanese Yaotomi Camera has just twitted yesterday and disclosed more information of the K-New, now tentatively named as the K-3 III.

And the launch/marketing date will be delayed to the year end, but should be within 2020.

Yaotomi originally also wrote about the expected price tag of the K-3 III but it was deleted shortly after that. Their explanation is that it was their own "guess" only so it was improper to write about it.

Nonetheless, Yaotomi still keeps their guess that the K-3 III is positioned between the D500 and D7500 if Nikon DSLR bodies are compared. Hence, we can expect the price should be somehow in between but closer to that of the D500, as it was normal that the Pentax new bodies were selling at higher prices than the competitors' comparable offers.

Last but not least, Yaotomi also disclosed that another two announcements would be made before and after the K-3 III announcement, for the K-1 II Silver body and also the three silver DFA lenses, respectively, in their original twitter post.

Direct Comparison of D FA*85/1.4 against Zeiss Otus 85/1.4 (Tested in the Field)

A Pentax user at the Chinese Xitek Pentax forum shares his friend's sample photos for a direct side-by-side comparison made between the Pentax D FA* lens (put on a K-1 body) and the Zeiss Otus 85/1.4 lens (put on a Panasonic S1R). Here we go:

(Left: Pana+Zeiss, Right: Pentax; Click to Enlarge in around 2000 to 3000 pixels in width)












EXIF data are partially preserved in the original samples in the original post. Despite that the Pentax pics tend to be darker (and the tester also made some exposure adjustment by himself for some pics) and that the Pana pics tend to be over-exposed a bit, the resolution of the Pentax lens seems to be better when the lenses are wide-opened but yet the Pentax Star lens does exhibit some obvious purple fringing at large apertures, however.

Btw, I prefer the colour rendition of the Pentax gear over the Zeiss on Pana combo. :-)

For other standalone samples of the D FA* lens (with key EXIF), they can be found in this post in the same forum thread. I just downloaded them all and have re-uploaded them here for fast and easy viewing:

(Click to Enlarge to around 2000 to 3000 pixels for the longer side, without EXIF)

New K-mount APS-C DSLR Flagship is to be Announced

http://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info/2019/20190920_027962.html

(English Google Translation Here)



Exhibit is to be put on show starting Sept 21, i.e. tomorrow. Nice. :-) But the real product is to be marketed in 2020 - not ideal but still better than none!

Highlight on (possible) new features:

- new proximity sensor under finder, hinting at least automatic switching of the rear LCD or even an optical/electronic hybrid finder?

- new joystick for AF navigation, hinting a new and improved AF system with more AF points?

- an updated and better APS-C sensor?

- re-designed new GUI

Well, I have thought that Pentax has been dead these months but today it's good to see there is yet something new and meaningful, although it is actually rather late already.

Size Comparisons of KP (against K-1, D500 and 80D)

Source: Xitek Forum

Colour Tendency of the LCD Monitor of K-1 Vs Canon 5Dlll's

http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1633920-1-1-1.html

(in Simplified Chinese)

Related:  Tuning the LCD Display of the K-1

DA*55 F1.4 Vs Carl Zeiss Planar 50 F1.4 Vignetting Test

https://flic.kr/s/aHskARK2YN

K-1 Size Vs 5D3 & D810

K-1 Vs 5D3: http://camerasize.com/compare/#659,312

K-1 Vs D810: http://camerasize.com/compare/#659,557

Size Comparison Again! Pentax FF Vs Canon 5D Mark III

This is what I have compared with the images got from the camerasize.com. Here we go, the Pentax FF image has been accurately resized:

Shootout Again! 645D Vs A7R

I think I have been for long not posting shootout test and here it is, for my old cameras! ;-)

Measurbate and discover by yourself, for all the differences! Original photos are available for viewing by clicking the "Download" option per photo under album! :-D

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48733800@N06/sets/72157651768054944

EXIF data is available for all photos. Pairs of test shoots were taken at almost the same time for the same scene.

Lens used for A7R is a Canon EF35mm F2 (AE and AF adapted) and a FA645 45mm F2.8 for the 645D, for almost identical FoV.

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

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.

Re-birth of the Film KS-1, aka Ricoh XR-6! :D

Source: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ricoh/ricoh_xr-6/ricoh_xr-6.htm

FA31 Limited on A7R Samples with Crops (and A Rumour about the Three FA Limiteds Ceased Production)

http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1289422-1-1-1.html
(in Simplified Chinese, Pictures are self-explanatory!)

At the other side of the web, it is rumoured that the three FA Limited lenses have already ceased production and the remaining stocks are being cleared:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53451224



Well, just believe it or not, but I am almost sure that Ricoh will continue to remove anything that is Pentax symbolic including the colour scheme and the look of their old lenses. And yes, very possibly a new Ricoh and Canon like red ring will be circled to the new "Ricoh" lenses some days later when they are revamped (but if and only if!).

This is What the Limited Lenses Should be Put Onto 2!

http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1275234-2-1-1.html
(in Simplified Chinese)


Last Related:

This is What the Limited Lenses Should be Put Onto!

Size Comparison Re-visited: 5D3 Vs D800/E Vs 645D Vs A7/R

1. 5D3 Vs D800E:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#312,291

2. 645D Vs D800E:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#211,291

3. 645D Vs A7R:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#211,488

4. 5D3 Vs A7R:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#312,488

K-3 User Test Under Cold Weather at -16C

http://www.pentaxfans.net/thread-142928-1-1.html
(in Traditional Chinese, Google English Translation Here.)

It is told that the cold weather resistance of the K-3 is really good, which is yet better than that of the A7R which the user also owns, despite that the water resistance of both is good enough, as commented by that user.

So, a bulkier body could help for better cold resistance. And, an all-metal body could be inferior, also a compact body as well.