Pentax 17 - An Olympus Pen after 60 Years?

The vertical 135 half frame, the purely-guessed manual zone focusing, manual winding and rewinding, automatic electric-eye metering, a slow fixed wide-angle lens, the very limited speed of shutter.. Now I believe that Pen stands for Pentax in 2024. ;-p And recently, I have been able to find two excellent condition Pens (of different models) each of which only costs me about 1/4th the cost of a brand-new Pentax 17, should I still need to go for the 17? :-D The Oly Pens could select the aperture which is impossible for the Pentax. In the mean time, it's time for me to pick my Canon 17 to shoot again shortly. Thank you, Pentax (Ricoh)! At the end of the day, the Canon 17 is a much more precise rangefinder anyway.

K-r Hidden Function of Photo Challenger

According to a latest Japanese IT news report, it is revealed that the Pentax K-r actually had a hidden function of "Photo Challenger" mode which could be activated via an advanced (at its time ;-)) IR data communication mode with another compatible camera,.

(Credit: Japanese Cameota blog)

After linking up with the other camera, two photos can be selected for comparison and the computer will give marks to the photos in three aspects. The loser will have his photo displayed in a cracked glass window at the end.

A demo YouTube video could be found below:

Official: More Technical Information about the K-3 III

 

Claimed new improvements or new features include: 

- New viewfinder optics with a higher magnification factor of which the displayed image is also brighter, with the addition of a new condenser lens and with an overlaid LCD information display, too 

- New metering system with 307k colour pixels which has better metering accuracy and also helps the tracking of moving objects

- New high-speed mirror and shutter driving mechanism 

- New PRIME V processor and high ISO performance which is better than that of the K-1 II in terms of noise/details as well as reproduced colours (but that the ISO performance of the K-1 II is really rather outdated by today's standard, nonetheless). New Fine Sharpness II setting option is also made available for in-camera JPEG sharpening.

- New SAFOX 13 AF module of which the layout is shown in the below diagram

Legend: Red squares = Crossed AF sensors (25 nos.), Red and Blue squares = Selectable AF points (41 nos.), Deep Blue "circled" sensors = -EV4 low light capable and F2.8 lens aperture compatible (9 nos.)

:

DC Watch's Hands-on of the K-3 III

https://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1296875.html (Google English translation here)

https://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1297078.html (Pentax' brand statement with the K-3 III, Google English translation here)

And, the below video recorded the shutter sound and demonstrates the burst modes of the K-3 III:

 

(https://youtu.be/Pmfrk038Go4)

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.

Too Much Bullshit about the K-New by Ricoh Pentax Recently

The talks by Ricoh Pentax become more and more absurd recently. This time they argue on keeping the old body design without any flipped monitor.

This move again disappointed many Pentaxians. Live viewing and framing will become difficult on quite some occasions. Even worse, it is widely believed that the K-New does not even have any GPS module built in. And, they compared the thickness of the K-New against the K-1, which is utterly nonsense.

A Pentaxian at the Chinese Xitek quickly compared the thickness of the K-new and KP and he proved that the two cameras actually measure similarly, even the KP equips with a flipped monitor.

 

 

So, the fact is simply that Ricoh Pentax has been too lazy and too mean to build a newer and better featured body but opted to modify the old K-3/II's one in a very moderate way. Period.

When the X-T4 and GFX 100 Produced Images Look the Same

Via FStoppers

I am afraid that same case applies for the Pentax K-New Vs the 645Z, which they have exactly the same APS-C and 44x33mm sensors respectively and that the final conclusion drawn would possibly be the same. :-P

New Video about the New APS-C Flagship, on July 22

Again at 1900 hours Japanese time. Congrats to Pentax/Ricoh for becoming a YouTuber or a KOL online!

What is the Value of Pentax Cameras in Future?

Ricoh Imaging Japan writes at Twitter that they will put online a video on 16 July (at 1900 hrs Japanese time, or 1000 hrs UTC) for briefing us about the future of Pentax cameras and their value. So, stay tuned.

p.s. They haven't published the URL of their upcoming video, though. Please look at their above twitter page or official Japanese website by then.

Yaotomi's YouTube Tests of the D FA* 85

K-New Development Video Will be Put Online This Friday

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/event/2020/cp_ref/
(in Japanese)

In short, the video was originally planned to be played at the CP+2020 which was cancelled and now it will be put online, at Tokyo time 1200 hours on 13 May. So, let's see what happens and will be told.

Limited Lens Production Video (Official)

https://youtu.be/NzuGZlFqz8A

Yet Another K-1 VS M2 IQ Comparison (Youtube)

https://youtu.be/JQKu972nvU8

I blog, you decide.

Selected KP Videos

Best and Worst Cameras and Lenses of 2016

Well, Pentax K-1 is the second best and the rebadged DFA15-30 is the only worst! :-o Btw, where are the originally designed Pentax lenses? Any prime?! :-(

K-1 Vs K-3 Sounds (Mirror/Shutter Action and AF)

K-1 Viewfinder in Action (Youtube Video Demo)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=128&v=CvCxb17LIwo

Official K-1 Promotional Video (11 Clips)

645Z and K-s2 TIPA Awarded

http://www.tipa.com/english/XXV_tipa_awards_2015.html

Everyone got an award anyway. And, I just wonder why the K-s2 is an "advanced" DSLR whilst the D5500 is an "entry level". They are direct competitors in the same market segment and price tag range afterall!

Btw, here is an YouTube direct comparison review of the two, for those who are interested:

Ricoh Image Sync YouTube Demo (w/ K-s2, Unofficial)