Japanese Best DSLR/ILDC Sellers in 2013

http://bcnranking.jp/news/1312/131227_27056.html
(in Japanese, Google translation to English Here.)

So, Pentax K-30 is on the list, ranked no. 11 amongst the best DSLR sellers of the big 20. As for ILDC, the three Pentax Qs are all on the list, namely no. 7 for the Q10, no. 15 for the Q and no. 18 for the Q7. Not bad results indeed.

New Q Body Firmwares Released

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

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/q10_s.html

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/q7_s.html

Well, will there be a new firmware upgrade, whenever a new lens is released and marketed? :-o

20 Millions of Pentax Cameras in 2013

See the posts here, here and here by Pentax PH.

So, for what is told, the 20 million-th Pentax camera has just been manufactured at Cebu's Pentax factory in Philippines this year, which has happened only after 32 years when their 10 million-th camera was made back to 1981. It is interesting to note that the first Pentax camera, the Ashaiflex I was first created and marketed back to 1952. So, Pentax was able to make and sell their first 10 millions of Pentax cameras in 29 years last time, and then for another 10 millions of cameras in another 32 years. But since cameras have become widely popular and they have been just domestic products in recent decades, the above figures have just proven and witnessed clearly about the decline of this once Giant in the camera industry and history.

For what I have just counted, I have bought 16 models of Pentax cameras these decades, for both film (5 models) and digital (11 models), SLR or not, since I first bought my Pentax SFX in 1988.

Nonetheless, as for that mentioning about the gold/brown coloured Q10 against the LX Gold Limited Edition, I think that yet once again hurts the weak sentiments of we long-time Pentaxians! :-( It is because the LX was just the last real professional grade camera body and system of Pentax whilst the Q10 is just a toy. Compare a Q10 with the LX is really rather inappropriate after all, IMHO! Btw, I have my gold/brown coloured K-r myself, which I think is still way better than a toyish Q10, isn't it?

When the Wrong Lens Hood is Used for the Same Lens..

Then vignetting or even dark corners will happen, for the case of the same Q 02 lens that is used on a Q/Q10 versus a Q7, see the following test:

http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/K0000264454/SortID=16353126/?Reload=%8C%9F%8D%F5
(in Japanese, Google translation to English Here.)

So, the new flower-shaped lens hood must be purchased separately for the old lens owners, otherwise the old lens hood cannot be used, since it is incompatible.

It seems that Pentax had no good planning in changing the sensor size, so just causing this problem.

Btw, according to the test results, the dark corners are even larger in area when the automatic lens correction is turned off. Do note also the serious barrel distortion of the 02 lens that actually produced, which is terrible:



When it is corrected, it looks somehow better, see and compare:



So, nowadays, the trend of those camera and lens manufacturers are giving us junk lenses, and then images are corrected by software. Of course, there is no free lunch after all, some IQ must be lost and the correction would never be perfect.

A Latest Interview with the Japanese Ricoh Head

The Chinese Fengniao editors interviewed the Ricoh head who is in charge of the Pentax camera business just a few days ago, when he came to China for something:

http://qicai.fengniao.com/387/3874303.html
(in Simplified Chinese, Google English Translation Here.)

I've opted to translate some key excerpts of the interview and putting aside all the other marketing bullshits (although many things are still bullshiting, which I can't help and avoid!), as follows:


Q: With the integration of Pentax and Ricoh, will the brand Pentax be removed in the end?

A: No, we have no plan to do so. For those products which are special enough, they will continue to carry the Pentax badge, like the Q and WG series. Otherwise, some adjustments would be needed.

My comment: Did he mean that only mediocre products should carry the Ricoh badge? ;-p And do note that the K series is not mentioned! :-o


A: The ex-Pentax and Ricoh staff of the development team are now working together as a team and at the same place. They can complement each other for the shortcomings amongst them. Because of the integration, some staff are now travelling in longer distances. An Hi-end product is being developed by the team. (But what it actually is was not disclosed.)

My comment: I do not believe in what he said for that "hi-end" thing, according to his past tracking records! :-o 


Q: Now, what's going on for the Pentax Full Frame thing?

A: Our development team is still working on it and the project is not aborted.

Q: What Pentax is to do to tackle with the higher pixel count and new generation of sensors with new functions by the competitors, like the newly developed one used in the Canon 70D?

A: To be a responsible company, we are not chasing only the pixel count, as higher pixel count means worse noise and high ISO performance. That's the reason that we did not follow blindly.

My comment: I have only two words to say: BULL SHIT!

 
Q: All the 16MP Pentax cameras are with the same architecture?

A: No. They are different and the newer is better. If one is going to disassemble the cameras, the differences can be seen.

My comments: Bull shitting again, as usual. Is he going to tell us the K-30 and K-50 are much different, putting aside the body shell?! He forgot that there are also official specifications of the cameras?! Actually, Pentaxians are good at disassembling cameras and lenses! And my Blog has documented many of those, here.


Other things that told by the Ricoh Head himself:

- The K-01 Blue White (Smurfs) edition was endorsed by Marc Newson for the colour combination.

- The K-01 was not discontinued owing to the low demand. But it was discontinued owing to the higher demand than that the production could meet. 

My comment: Man, are you serious? Are you kidding? You are a LIAR!!


Oh, I've really given up at this point. This guy is really helpless and the replies are mostly junk. I do appreciate the direct and acute questions that the Fengniao editors have asked for us, for what we all Pentaxians have been concerning most, though! Thanks, guys! :-)

Q7/Q10 Designers' Stories (Interviews)

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/interview/20130719_607368.html

The above article is in Japanese, an Excite machine-translation to English can be found here.

Actually, there is not much useful information that we do not know, but if you still want to read it further, just click the above! ;-)

Q7 Complete Set Unboxing and Basic Measurbations for All Q Lenses

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera-sp-pentaxricoh-q7-all.html
(in Japanese)

via PFC (in Traditional Chinese)

Different ISO settings are measurbated. It is worth noted that NR does have effect at the base ISO of 100 already, if "strong" is selected.

And, there are more measurbations for all the Q system lenses, including distortion and resolution measurements. For instance, here are the 01, 02 and 02 test pages, respectively:-

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera_special_pentax01.html

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera_special_pentax02.html

http://www.monox.jp/digitalcamera-sp-pentaxricoh-06.html

Furthermore, a side-by-side comparison against the Q10 is also made:-

http://www.monox.jp/pentaxricoh-q7-1.html


(Above: Left Q7, Right Q10)

And this is the actual sensor size difference:-




Related:-

More K-50 and Q7 Stuff at Pentax.jp

New Q and Q10 Firmwares

Q FW Version 1.13: http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/q_s.html

Q FW 1.02: http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/q10_s.html

What's new then? In short, the new 07 body cap toy lens will be supported plus some unknown general debugs. Do note that for Q users, the firmware update will reset the camera and all the current user settings in the camera will be erased.

Updated Q Lens Roadmap to Show Effective AoV with Different Sensors

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/products/lens/images/Q_Mount_Lens.pdf

01 to 07 lenses on Q/Q10 against Q7 are shown. The crop factors / multiplying factors of the 3 toy lenses are complicated, as they are all different on the Q7!

Q7 Vs Q10 Sensor Size Compared (Animated Image)

With the leaked image from Digicame Info of the Q7 and the old Q10 image from Pentax Imaging, I have made this:-



How much "bigger" is the new sensor? Your take! :-)

Besides, after almost half a year, the Pentax Q-mount body cap lens will be marketed very soon! Well, they really needed another six months to make it come true since their last/first product announcement?! >:-o



Via Digicame Info.

This is actually what I built myself for my Pentax APS-C camera last year, for a true pinhole body cap lens without any glass (in contrast to this Q lens). Besides, the AF360FGZII still haven't seen any light to be marketed soon. So, where has it gone?!

What an efficient company that Pentax Ricoh has been!!

Pentax UK Summer Rebate

http://www.pentax.co.uk/cashback


Related:-

Pentax (US) Lens Prices are Up Again! >:-(

More Watch from Pentax Ricoh! (Now the Q Watch!)

See: http://www.eprice.com.hk/dc/talk/1442/3660/1/ (in Chinese)

Just shortly after Ricoh Pentax has marketed their new K and GR Watches, the Q Watch is now bundled when one buys the custom colour Q10 kit set. So, now I can safely declare that Pentax Ricoh has successfully transformed into a Watch Company for what it markets and sells. Congrats! ;-p

MX-1 DxOMarked

Just see what happens for what it is compared against the Olympus XZ-2 and the Q10:-

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/(appareil1)/854|0/(brand)/Pentax/(appareil2)/841|0/(brand2)/Olympus/(appareil3)/828|0/(brand3)/Pentax

Well, it tells that the XZ-2 and the MX-1 are actually the same camera inside, as most of the marks are just so close, or just identical! :-o

As to compare with the Q10, the MX-1 actually doesn't have a real edge over that little "crappy" ILDC with a smaller 1/2.3" sensor! ;-)

Evangelion (EVA) Q10 Versions

Via: http://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/used/2013/01/pentax-q10-1.html
(in Japanese)

N.B. EVA stands for Neon Genesis EVAngelion, a Japanese popular science fiction cartoon series back to 1995.

Update (1-31): More official information about these special versions of the Q10 can be found at the Japanese EVA online store link below:-

http://www.evastore.jp/pc/index.php?toid=PC_ARTICLE&fromid=PC_ARTICLE&article_id=11500&category_id=top&toid=PC_ARTICLE&fromid=PC_ARTICLE#item

Pentax Offers 100 Colours of the Q10 for the US Market

Further to what has been offered in the Japanese home market for the Q10, now custom ordering is also available for the customers in the US market. See what Engadget reports:-

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/pentax-offers-100-different-custom-color-options-for-its-q10-ilc/

As for the Q10, last time I tried, it feels too plasticky than my like, especially when it is compared to the original Q.


Last Related:-
 
100 Colours Q10 - Real Dummy Units!

100 Colours of Q10 are Available for Ordering Now

100 Colours of the Q10

"New" AF360FGZ II Flash is Coming (And K-01 is Not Yet Dead!)

See the official Press Release here - what are displayed in the CES is also told.

Future Product Concept

• AF 360 FGZ II: Scheduled for a 2013 launch this automatic, external, clip-on flash has a maximum guide number of 36 (at ISO 100) with bounce flash functionality adjustable both vertically and horizontally.

So, it is just a 360 flash with a swivel head now, most probably. What a special "future concept" it really is! :-o >:-(

Btw, the K-01 is also on display. So, possibly it has not yet been discontinued, and would not be in the near future.

Q10 Watch!

Pentax Ricoh is entering the market of watches! Look!



http://www.pentax.jp/japan/news/2012/20121130.html (Japanese)

DC Watch Q10 Quick Samples (Side-by-side Against the Q for Two Sets)

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/longterm/20121130_576137.html
(in Japanese)

The pictures speak for themselves, just read the EXIF to check.

The Mirrorless Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO7rxitFLZg

The K-01 wasn't at the party, but he was passing by the house and "collected" the EOS M. The Pentax Q/Q10 had never appeared, though!

Prime M Cameras Have Only Electronic SR for Video Recording

Two weeks ago, Blog reader "daedbird" first reported that the video recording quality of his K-01 was greatly degraded when the SR was turned on against off. When the SR was activated, obvious rolling shutter effect was seen.

Yesterday, another Blog reader "kadajawi" has responded and writes that it is all about the electronic SR that is actually adopted for all those Prime M Pentax cameras for the Movie mode, K-30 and K-01 inclusive. On the other hand, the K-5 cameras which have the Prime II processor use the hardware SR, i.e., sensor movement, to compensate for the hand shake during video recording.

To verify this, I have checked the online user manuals of the K-30, K-01, K-5 and the K-5II/s as well. It is found that the SR for Movie is defaulted to On for the K-30 and K-01 whilst for the K-5 and K-5II, it is default to be Off instead. So, the supposition of "kadajawi" seems to be true for that "coincidence". Nonetheless, no Pentax manual has ever told anything about the actual SR method and the working principle of it, which yet looks like top secret of their cameras but which we users should actually know about.

Yes, the electronic SR is noiseless but it sacrifices video quality. The mechanical SR is noisy but this problem can be overcome by mounting an external microphone with a shock mount. So, all in all, this is not a real problem and better sound reception quality is gained with the use of an external microphone (and with stereo sound recording possibility too). In practice, my own experience that is the body sensor SR is very useful for handheld video recording to stabilise the video and this feature is still useful when monopod is used.

After all, I think Pentax should give all the Prime M users an option, in the firmware and user menu, for the choice of the SR method via electronic (software) mean or yet the conventional mechanical one, then that would be the best.


Related:- 

Definite Guide on External Video Microphone Selection for Supported DSLRs (Brand Regardless)

A Not-so-common K-30/K-5/K-01 Comparison of Mine