Using Dual Card Slots of K-3 Means Half Writing Speed (i.e., 2X Slower)

See this quick test:

http://www.pentaxfans.net/thread-144953-1-1.html
(in Traditional Chinese, Google English translation here.)

The two SD cards used by that K-3 owner is a high-speed Sandisk Extreme SDHC UHS-I 32GB, both are of the same model and identical.

Bad Colour Response of the K-3 (and my Possible Solution)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-k-3/12#Colour

DPR couldn't find an acceptable better setting even though they had tried their best to fiddle around with many in-camera colour settting parameters but in vain.

However, there might be a workaround I previously found out and proposed. I don't know if it could work for the K-3 or as it is notorious that the K-3 had even worse colour response than the K-5. But if you are a K-3 user, you can try anyway and tell me your results when my settings are applied:

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

As for that crappy JPEG engine and sharpening issue, I think there is not much to do and deal with unless RAW is shot.

645Z Announced

http://www.camera-pentax.jp/645z/en/sp/

http://www.camera-pentax.jp/645z/en/sp/passion.html

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/645z/spec/

645Z Specifications

• 52.99MP CMOS without AA filter (51.4Mp effectively, 8265 x 6192 pixel)
• ISO 100 - 204,800
• SAFOX11 AF system, 27 point (25 cross type), LW -3 - +18
• 3.2" LCD screen: 3:2 ratio, 1,037,000 dots
• LiveView, contrast AF, focus peaking
• TTL metering with 86k RGB sensor
• 3fps in JPEG L up to approx. 300 frames
• Full HD video (1920x1080), 4K in intervall mode
• USB3.0
• Official announcement on April 14th
• US price: $8,496.95

Via: Photo Rumors

645Z Appearance

Via: Digicame Info (in Japanese)

A pair of stereo built-in microphones can be seen. So, it must have the video recording function.

K-3 Mirror Flapping User Survey (A Common and Serious Issue is Confirmed)

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/254464-k3-crazy-mirror-sickness-mirror-flapping-lockup-report-yours-here.html

As we can see, there are so many K-3 users, in a total of 71 numbers, reported the same mirror sickness problem. It is concluded that the issue is simply not isolated and it is just  serious and common enough.

Some K-3 users are really pissed off and they are much disappointed/upset/angered. Look at this recent example and detailed user report:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3652110#forum-post-53460592

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

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!).

Q7 Premium Kit Limited

http://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info2/2014/20140403_004972.html

・PENTAX Q7 camera body (Color: black x black)
・PENTAX-01 STANDARD PRIME (Color: black)
・PENTAX-02 STANDARD ZOOM (Color: black)
・PENTAX-06 TELEPHOTO ZOOM
・PENTAX-08 WIDE ZOOM
・MH-RB40.5 Metal Hood for 01 (Color: black)*
・PH-RBB40.5 Plastic Hood for 02
・PH-RBA40.5 Plastic Hood for 06
・PH-RBF49 Plastic Hood for 08
・PENTAX -100 PL Polarizing filter**
・O-CB133 Camera Bag
・Special kit box

645Z to Come in Twelve Days

http://www.camera-pentax.jp/new2014apr/en/pc/

and http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/645z/

Very possibly using the new Sony 50MP CMOS sensor in 44 x 33mm, with the following key specifications:

• High sensitivity  ISO100 to ISO6400 (compared to max ISO 800 for most digital backs so far).
• 14 f-stops dynamic range
• 50 megapixel CMOS sensor – 44 x 33mm (68% larger than a 35mm sensor).
• Responsive Live view (20-24 fps).
• 1.2 fps (interestingly not much faster than CCD based products).

According to the above counter, the announcement will be made in 12 days counting from tomorrow. It will possibly be named as the 645Z. However, Z is not a lucky name for Pentax as it usually meant the last thing that existed right before the whole lineup disappeared, like their Z and MZ families of the K-mount film AFSLRs! :-o

Well, the outlook of this "new" camera:




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