Partial Workaround for Body Aperture Block Problem with Lens Aperture Ring

First, you need to enable this in the Custom Function:

 

Second, you need to set the aperture ring of your K-mount lens out of the A position, provided that your lens has it:



Now, your semi-dead Pentax camera will work in the Av and M modes with correct exposure, as long as a non-A aperture position is selected. The credit of this clever method belongs to Mr M R Padmaraju of the DPR Pentax forum, the thread of his original post can be found here.

"There Will be No K-3II Sucessor, but a K-New Body of a New Line"

See what the Japanese Pentax insider Tanaka says:

http://thisistanaka.blog66.fc2.com/entry/1202/
(Google translated to English)

What we shall get is a K-3II based body with new sensor, new image processor, camera menu and much improved image quality as a result. No new feature of any is mentioned, though, e.g. the guessed new-type hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder.

Ricoh Will Release More Info of the New Flagship Soon

A post at the Chinese Xitek forum reveals that Ricoh is going to release more info about their new APS-C flagship via some channels and by phases, subsequent to the cancellation of the CP+, claimed source is from the Japanese Yaotomi Camera:

It is mentioned that Ricoh is still working hard to materialise the launch of the product, although it is delayed.

DFA 70-210 Practical Review at Japanese Yaotomi Blog

https://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/walk/2020/02/hdpentaxdfa70210mmf4,akashi,mikuriya,ume.html

CP+ 2020 Cancelled

Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA; President: Masaya Maeda) has announced the cancellation of CP+2020.

"Given there is no effective treatment or containment measures to deal with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), organizers of CP+2020 have decided to cancel the event due to overall concerns, mainly the risk to the health and safety of visitors and exhibitors. The event was originally scheduled to be held over 4 days at PACIFICO Yokohama from February 27.
CP+ is a trade show for consumers. The main feature of this show is that visitors can actually handle the newest camera and related equipment to get a feel for how they operate. The event attracts around 70,000 unspecified visitors and therefore we cannot completely eliminate the risk of infection. The CIPA believes it is important to avoid such risk at all cost. While it is truly regrettable, we have decided to cancel this year’s show. We ask for your cooperation and understanding concerning this matter."

In conjunction, Ricoh has also put a quick notice at their CP+ webpage:

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/news/cpplus2020/

Measurbated: Psychological Hypothesis with Firmware Upgrade Proven :-D

Since some Pentax users suggested that new K-1 and K-1 II firmwares have improved AF, I have carried out a formal test and measurbation to find out the truth, as a renowned measurbator of camera gear, in particular, Pentax gear. :-P

My test procedures and methodology as follows:

1. A K-1 and DA50 F1.8 combo was selected and used for the test, i.e. same gear setup as claimed by one of the OPs for improved performance. ;-)

2. AF was carried out in a fairly lit room in about 300 lux, two objects were placed at about 1m and 3.5m respectively and AF was made on the two objects to and fro alternatively. This was repeated for more than ten times and the AF sound was recorded:

    (Click to Enlarge)

3. Measurbated the AF starting and completion times, right before the AF motor started to move and before the AF confirmation beep was sounded:

4. Input the times into an Excel table and calculate the AF time required (in second) for ten times of AF operations and take the average time and get the results. Here we go:



Left table contains the results with FW version 1.52 and the right one are those with FW version 1.51. Indeed, I cannot see any real and significant difference between the two. So, it's what psychological effect of people strikes again, case closed! :-D

New Firmwares of K-1/K-1 II Improve AF Performance Significantly?

Two experienced Pentax users at a Chinese Pentax forum reported (here, here and here) that the new firmwares have improved the AF performance and accuracy of their K-1 and K-1 II cameras a lot for their many different Pentax lenses and the difference has been obvious and significant.

Should this again be a hypothesis made owing to psychological effect? I would later on test myself to see if there is really any improvement as claimed. I believe that "measurbation" does help and will tell. Stay tuned. ;-)

Rumour: DFA 70-200 F4 to be Announced on 23rd

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4459297

"From two German sources (dealers): the HD Pentax-D FA 70-200mm f/4 should be announced next week on Thursday the 23rd and available quickly thereafter."

What's Inside the Pentaprism Housing of the New APS-C Flagship?

Quick check of a few Facts:

1. Top of K-3 II, separate plastic top cover on pentaprism, with GPS button (at the left side) and function:

2. Top of K-1, integral top plastic cover, with GPS button (at the right side) and function:

3. Top of the New Flagship, looks like an integral metal top cover but without any GPS button (on any part of the body) and possibly no such function built-in:

So, what's the conclusion and my somehow wild but yet sensible guess? Something new is incorporated inside the Pentaprism housing of this new camera! :-D

And, it does quite make sense to accommodate this new facility with the large space made available:

Patent link: https://ipforce.jp/patent-jp-A-2018-151588

I believe more so it is a hybrid OVF/EVF finder with the existence of a new unmarked secret button at the rear top left (where used to be the playback button on the K-3 and K-3 II) plus a new infrared proximity sensor under the viewfinder, which is a standard design for automatic EVF/LCD on/off toggle switching for mirrorless bodies equipped with EVFs:

I hope it will happen. ;-) With this, it will be a meaningful breakthrough in truly combining a DSLR with a Mirrorless, so as to get the best of both worlds. And more importantly, old Pentax users will NOT need a new mount and the K-mount will continue! After all, we shall know before this Summer!


Last Related:

The New Sony APS-C Sensor

Ricoh Imaging @ the Japanese Twitter

https://mobile.twitter.com/RicohImagingSQ
(in Japanese)

May worth a look for the latest Pentax news and teasers.