Interview with Hoya's Pentax Top Officials at China P&E

See this latest and exclusive interview report:-

http://qicai.fengniao.com/226/2267506.html
(Simplified Chinese, Google English Translation Here)

So, the main points of the interview are summarised as below:-

1. 135 full frame DSLR is not urgently required for Pentax as there is the 645D, which has better IQ. However, Pentax is not eliminating any possibility for making one whenever market need is there. In the meantime, Pentax will continue to concentrate in the development of the 645D system before a 135 FF one would come.

2. There is no plan to develop 135 FF lens lineup as there is no plan for a 135 FF body and system.

3. A new digital zoom lens for the 645D is under development.

4. Whilst Pentax is making many colours for the new DSLRs, the black colour ones have still been the most popular choices for the market in China, of which the buyers are possibly still being more conservative.

5. The 3-11 earthquake and tsunami at Japan does not affect Pentax and the production much in general, but it is not totally unaffected and the actual impacts are indeed unsure.

6. The spy photos of the new EVIL/ILDC products leaked in the Internet this April are true but then it is only prototypes of new products under development.

Speaking of the new products and the last Pentax teaser, actually even Mr. Blurry Cameraphone, the General Manager of Pentax Shanghai Company, Mr. Jopy Yang (the guy dressed in blue shirt in the above interview photo), does not know what is covered under the black cloth, as it was told! :-o It seems that the Hoya/Pentax Japanese officials have treated that as top secret. Anyway, there may be nothing under the cloth, as possibly it is simply just a teaser, but nothing else! >:-(

"Important" New Pentax Product Is To Be Announced Soon

See this pre-P&E China live report:-

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_628496d60100sg2f.html
(Simplified Chinese, Google English Translation Here)

At the Pentax exhibition booth, it is printed on one of the display descriptions that a new product is to be announced but it is covered. It is further reported that according to insider source, it was told that it would not be a P&S, but just something "more important".

We shall know what it is, very soon! :-o


Related:-

Leaked Pentax NC-1 Mirrorless Photos? (Body w/ Two Lenses)

More "NC-1" (the Pentax Mirrorless) Rumours

Pentax Mirrorless Will be Smaller Than APS-C? (for its Sensor..)

Image Magnification Change Subject to Object Distance

Occasionally, I saw people complained about the change of image magnification when they shot objects at different distances, no matter if the lens in use is a prime or a zoom. Recently, I have come across this quick experiment come with some illustrations, which I found to be clear and useful:-

http://forum.xitek.com/showthread.php?threadid=614523
(Google translation to English Here)

The test was done with a Nikkor 18-70DX zoom lens.

Look at those posted comparison pictures, they are self-explanatory and we should know.. (EXIF preserved.)


(at 70mm, focused to Infinity)


(at 70mm, focused to Close Distance)


(at 50mm, focused to Infinity)

In fact, the effective focal length and image magnification of the "70mm" at close distance is about the same as that of the "50mm" at infinity! :-o Interesting enough? :-)

Fuji and Toshiba both Filed New Layered Sensor Patents

Whilst the Foveon has been virtually death, Fuji and Toshiba has recently filed new patents for their newly designed layered sensors, here and here (Google translated), via Photo Rumors.

(Fuji's design)
(Toshiba's design)

Let's see if there will be any real (IQ) performance breakthrough to come then, provided that these patents are materialised.

Speaking of patents and what's Pentax related, Hoya has also filed a new patent for the correction/debug of their "floating" body sensor-shifted SR system for the inclination problems that may arise.


Related:-

In-Body Anti-Shake Patents Fully Dissected

K-r Camouflage Grips

Pentax strikes again! And very frequently recently! See:-

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/announce/20110420.html

(Google Translation in English Here)



Oh, well..


Related:-

Yet Another New Special Edition K-r

Pentax K-r Rilakkuma Limited Edition

The World's Ugliest Camera!

K-x Rainbow (Limited Edition)

Yet Another New Special Edition K-r

http://tower.jp/article/feature_item/76865




Related:-

Pentax K-r Rilakkuma Limited Edition

The World's Ugliest Camera!

K-x Rainbow (Limited Edition)

Practical Solution to the Issue of Few Colour Options of the K-x outside Japan

Star Wars Stormtrooper K2000W LE ?

Should You Use Intermediate ISO Speeds?

http://terragalleria.com/blog/2011/03/22/best-iso-for-low-noise-on-canon-5d-mk2/

The results are actually well expected, the immediate intermediate ISO right below each "real" ISO has better (signal-to-)noise performance than the immediate intermediate ISO right above each "real" ISO.

Indeed, I had tested myself with my 5D long time ago and confirmed the same, when no Pentax DSLR had any intermediate ISO values at that time..

However, is there any disadvantage to use those lower noise but faster speed intermediate ISOs? Yes, I am afraid. Indeed, there is one point most people have overlooked, even though the noise advantage has been over-emphasized. That is, the highlight headroom will be less with those particular ISOs, as it is just using the technique of expose to the Right. So the lower noise is actually achieved with the trade-off of highlight headroom! So, just beware! And you should know what you are actually doing if you are selecting this option.


Related:-

The Effects of Real and Digital Exposure Compensations on Exposure

What Hoya Thinks of the USA and Europe?

View this post, the original poster has some good observations and insight:-

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&thread=38233873

As for the original Hoya's Q1 report for the investors, read the following:-

http://www.hoya.co.jp/english/investor/d0h4dj00000014ze-att/d0h4dj0000001cj5.pdf

And, the annual worldwide sales figure of Pentax in 2010 was actually very bad and worrisome enough. Now they had only 1.5% of the global digital camera market share, ranked number 10, even after Kodak, Fuji and Casio, just a tiny bit ahead of Vivitar.. :-(


Related:-

The State of Pentax (by Q1 2011)

Excellent Gear Review Site

http://www.juzaphoto.com/eng/articles.htm

via http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&thread=38233338

The quick remarks made by that Pentaxian poster are good, which I quote below:-

"It is not as scientific as other sites, but fro ma practical standpoint provides a great deal of information.

Keep in mind, the author is not a Pentax user, but the lens comparisons are still valid."

In my opinion, the reviews made by the author are easy to read and concise, but yet contain the most useful and interesting information.

Last but not least, I think the site is not only a gear review site, it is also a photo website that contains some great photos, and some useful techniques and tips to use gear are also talked about. An quick example below, via an article about the use of Autofocus and the choice of the right lens(es) (to do the right job):-

And of course, the AF performance of those Canon top guns on Canon top bodies is indeed really very impressive..

Nine Most Special Lenses Built Ever

http://qicai.fengniao.com/190/1904260.html
(in Chinese, Google Translation to English Here)

1. Zeiss Sonar T* 1700mm F4



2. Canon EF 1200mm F5.6L



3. Sigma 200-500mm F2.8



4. Canon 5200mm F14



5. Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm F0.7



6. Canon S 50mm F0.95



7. Leica Noctilux-M 50mm F0.95



8. Nikkor 6mm F2.8 Fisheye



9. Sigma 4.5mm F2.8



There is no Pentax lens included, though. But if you want to see those Pentax oddities, read the following:-

http://www.aohc.it/oddse.htm