Size Comparison of the DFA* 50/1.4 against the DFA 24-70/2.8

Source

First Sample Photo of the DFA*50/1.4 (Unofficial)

Source

The new Star, whilst is large, should not look too bulky on the K-1:

Production of Pentax (Star) Lenses has been Moved back to Japan?

Image Source: EXIF shows that picture was taken in late September 2017.

Image Source: This is a new DA*200 F2.8 lens.

K-1 Firmware Version 1.43

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k1.html

Bug fixes again.

1st Hands-on of the D-FA* 50/1.4

https://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/used/2017/10/hd-pentax-d-fa50mmf14-sdm-aw.html
(in Japanese)

72mm filter thread; Nice bokeh, high resolution, mimimal CA, fast focusing.. as commented.

Official Ricoh Announcement of the Two New Star Lenses

http://photoplus.vporoom.com/2017-10-26-Ricoh-Announces-Next-Generation-High-Performance-PENTAX-Star-Series-Lens-Line

New DA* lens, and DFA*50/1.4 to be Launched Very Soon

According to Nokishita Camera (Japanese):

http://www.nokishita-camera.com/2017/10/hd-pentax-d-fa-50mm-f14-sdm-awhd-pentax.html

BREAKING NEWS: Ricoh To Cease Pentax Production In 2018!

https://www.pixelrond.com/pentax-vers-une-production-sur-commande/
(in French)

K-1 Firmware V1.42

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k1.html
For debug only.

Top 26 Best Pentax Lenses 2017 (Selected by ePHOTOzine)

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-26-best-pentax-lenses-2017--25685

Over years, I have bought 13 of those, all brand new. However, I haven't bought the recent and newer "Pentax" lenses for quite a while. It is because they are not attractive enough and are not value for money in my eyes or being too bulky and heavy. Is it only me?

Who Will Buy This?

Metabones Devil's Speed Booster Q666 0.50x

Any market? I just wonder.. :-o

K-70 Firmware V1.11

For debug:

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k-70.html

Photos of K-1 Limited Silver

http://www.nokishita-camera.com/2017/08/pentax-k-1-limited-silver.html

Note that the timestamps of the photos are really old, thus the K-1 Silver should be there long time ago.

K-1 Limited Silver

https://twitter.com/nokishita_c/status/899894719706087424
(In Japanese)

Quoted, "リコーが間もなく「PENTAX K-1 Limited Silver」を発表予定。発売予定日は9月14日。全世界2000台限定。メタルホットシューとバッテリーグリップとバッテリー2個が付属して量販店価格は税込297,000円前後らしい。"

Ricoh Announcing Cost Cuts in Face of Crisis

https://www.dpreview.com/news/3586946955/ricoh-announced-cost-cuts-in-order-to-survive

"At this point it is not clear if and how Ricoh's imaging brands, such as Pentax, the Theta 360 degree cameras or the R Development
kit live-streaming VR camera will be impacted by the cost reductions."

A KP Practical Review (Japanese)

http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/column/15/1059806/032100029/

PC Remote Control Software for Pentax DSLRs (via Wi-Fi)

https://sourceforge.net/projects/pentaxks2wifiremote/

Despite that the software was designed for the K-s2, a Pentax user reported that it worked for his K-1. So, it you try other Pentax models, please report your finding here! :-)

A Nice Pentax Gear Site

http://www.pentax-slr.com/

New TIPA Award for Pentax KP

http://www.tipa.com/awards-en-new/pentax-kp

Full Awards List of 2017 Here

New Firmwares for K-1 and 645Z

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/download_digital.html

Updated tethering features with the Image Transmitter 2.

Image Sync V1.14

Newly added feature on version 1.1.4
･New YouTube authentication support.

K-1 Designers' Stories

http://www.pentax.com/en/k-1/challengers/challengers01.html

Ricoh May Close Down Consumer Camera Business

See what the Japanese Nikkei Business News says:-

http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Ricoh-may-close-shutter-on-personal-camera-business

And, the vague response from Ricoh:-

http://www.ricoh.com/info/2017/0412_1.html

[Fanboyism] Pentax History and Cameras 1952-2017 (Official)

http://www.pentax.com/en/pentaxhistory/archives/

http://s1.media.ricoh-imaging.de/media/7542ab0e4610697f54bd87b2ce2c343e/poster_A1_slr_cameras1952_2017.pdf

Amongst the above, I bought 15 models over years.

So, for my 15 Pentax interchangeable-lens bodies, they can be further categorised as follows:

- 4 Film and 11 Digital
- 2 Medium Format, 4 135 Full Frame, 8 APS-C, 1 Tiny Sensor Format
- 14 Reflex and 1 Mirrorless
- 1 Silver, 1 Oliver, 1 Blue, 1 Gold and 1 White, all Others are Black in Colour
- 10 models can take AA batteries, 4 with adaptors or with grips (which were bought separately at high prices)
- Total cost of these cameras when bought new was huge, present value is minimal! :-(

After all, I must admit that I am a true Pentax fanboy, who bought and supported the brand blindly, over decades! :-((

Updated Pentax K Mount FF Lens Roadmap

Does the New DFA50 Look Like the Sigma Art?

New Lens: DFA* 50mm F1.4

http://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info/2017/20170222_014592.html

First KP ISO Test Shots by the IR

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2017/02/10/pentax-kp-first-shots

Polish Optyczne ISO Sample Sets

http://www.optyczne.pl/10684-news-Pentax_KP_-_zdj%C4%99cia_przyk%C5%82adowe.html

KP Catalogue is Uploaded at Official Website

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/support/catalog/pdf/kp.pdf

Via:  http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/support/catalog/

More KP Samples, ISO 800 to 51200, Official

https://www.facebook.com/RicohImagingCyprus/photos/pcb.598777230317379/598777073650728/?type=3&theater

KP ISO Samples, 6400 to 819200

http://www.ricoh-imaging.de/de/spiegelreflexkameras/bilder/samples/pentax-kp.html

Beta body, full size samples are available.

Selected KP Videos

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

Source: Xitek Forum

Official KP Examples

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/kp/ex/

Full size samples are available.

KP is Now Official

https://www.dpreview.com/news/0516825567/ricoh-announces-pentax-kp-with-new-shake-reduction-system-and-24mp-sensor

1st hands-on: https://www.dpreview.com/news/5120223341/the-k-3-lives-on-hands-on-with-new-pentax-kp

KP Specifications

http://www.nokishita-camera.com/2017/01/pentax-kp_25.html

PENTAX KP

新世代の2430万画素 APS-C CMOSセンサー
画像処理エンジン「PRIME IV」とアクセラレーターユニット
ボディ内5軸手ぶれ補正「SR II」(手振れ補正効果：5段分)
SAFOX 11（測距点27点。うちクロスタイプ中央25点)
ISO感度：100-819200
連写：7コマ/秒
最速1/24000秒の電子シャッター
67点のシーリング部品を使用した防塵・防滴構造とマイナス10℃の耐寒性能
リアル・レゾリューション・システム
視野率100%の光学ファインダー
3型チルト液晶
フルHD動画
DR II
サイズ：131.5 x101 x 76.0mm
重さ：643g

Photos of the KP All Leaked

http://www.nokishita-camera.com/2017/01/blog-post_24.html
(Pictures are now removed in the source link)

1st Leaked Picture of the KP

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59012213

Pentax KP to be Announced This Week

http://www.nokishita-camera.com/2017/01/blog-post_24.html

The Japanese blogger told that the source is from Ricoh. There will be two colours of the KP and the battery grip will be in three sizes. The grip seems to be modular in design and interchangeable for the holding part.

Price of the KP is not cheap, though. It sells for 1099 British Pounds.

BCN Japanese Market Results in 2016

https://www.bcnaward.jp/award/gallery/2017/hard/p2.html

(in Japanese, or Google-translated English page here)

Congrats Ricoh! You've got a 2nd-runner up among 3 players in the DSLR battlefield! Well done! :-P

Btw, it is interesting to note that Nikon has been beaten by Sigma in lens sales. Sigma is really strong nowadays. They had really brilliant marketing, IMHO! Besides, Canon has taken over the 2nd place from Sony for the mirrorless market share, well..

Debug Mode Access to All Pentax Bodies (including K-1)

http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1599238-1-1-1.html

In Simplified Chinese, clear instructions are given, debug mode files are available for download .

New Fast Primes for K-1

Credit: http://i.imgur.com/m6XvbPd.jpg

Since K-1 was marketed last April, we wanted newly designed original fast Pentax prime lenses. But there is not even one Pentax fast prime ever announced nor marketed (of course). Does it sound like that Pentax (actually Ricoh) is no longer be able to design and produce new prime lenses by herself these days? :-(

Japanese CAPA Magazine Jan 2017 Prediction on New Pentax Body

Via: http://asobinet.com/matome-pentax-kp/ (in Japanese)

- APS-C or FF Sensor
- K-mount Adaptor
- Flipped LCD Monitor
- Retro and compact design

The predicted name of the body is not KP, though.


Old but Related: My Idea of a K1000D

New Pentax "KP" Body?

http://www.postel.go.id/downloads/43/RHU-201701.htm

Via: Digicame Info (Translated into English)

It's a DSLR btw.

D-FA Lens Roadmap 2017 Uploaded

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/lens/images/K_Mount_D_FA_Lens_Roadmap.pdf

Pentax Q System is Aborted?

According to this Pentax Rumors article, the Pentax Q family of products have been removed from the Ricoh Imaging US website completely. So, does it mean that the development and marketing of the Q line has come to an end? Possibly it does, I'm afraid. :-(