AP believes that Pentax believes in EVIL

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/pentax_wont_rule_out_mirrorless_camera_news_297728.html

Well, just believe it or not! Time will tell~


Read Also:-

Interview with the Managing Director of Pentax Europe, Mr. Hiroshi Onoda

My K-Mount EVIL is Here!

Will Pentax Go Micro 4/3? (Very Unlikely, I Bet)

Interview with the Managing Director of Pentax Europe, Mr. Hiroshi Onoda

The original interview is posted here:-

http://www.pentaxeros.com/index.php?ind=news&op=news_show_single&ide=135

(Babelfish translated article for the interview can be read Here)

Our the *Only* "Pentaxian of the Year" (2008), Mr. Lance Blackburn, has posted also some of his comments and guesses over the DPR, most of which I think are quite sensible and it's worth to take a look:-

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&thread=35222396

(N.B. "The other forum post" as quoted by Lance is this one. It seems that Lance has been very careful for not mentioning the PentaxForums at the DPR! ;-) Commercial competition is just so cruel, anyway!)

So, it's Official now! Let's wait for that higher model (above the K-7, or simply a K-7 replacement - the K-7 successor is going to be stronger than the K-7, right?).

Shootout Again! 86 Vs 85s

Well, since I have a K-mount EVIL now, it's time for measurbation!

Candidates:-

1. K-GF1 + FA 43/1.9 Limited: MF with Focus Assist, ISO 100, Nature "Film" Mode with Default Settings, Av Mode, Matrix Metering (No Exposure Compensation), Shot with 2-second Self-Timer;

2. K5D + FA* 85/1.4: MF with Focus Indication, ISO 100, Portrait-Studio Picture Style with Default Settings, Av Mode, Matrix Metering (No Exposure Compensation), Shot with MLU and Cable Release;

3. 5D + EF 85/1.8: Single-mode AF with Central AF Point, ISO 100, Portrait-Studio Picture Style with Default Settings, Av Mode, Matrix Metering (No Exposure Compensation), Shot with MLU and Cable Release;

All Cameras were mounted on a Sturdy Tripod; All Large Samples with EXIF Preserved.

Measurbation A: In-Focus Shots:-

Aperture	GF1 + FA 43 Limited	5D + FA* 85	5D + EF 85
Wide Opened
2	Not Available
2.8
4
5.6
8
11

(Above: Click to Download Large Images. Warning: Very Large Files!)

Measurbation B: Out-Focus Shots (Objects at Infinity but Lenses Focused at about 2m):-

Aperture	GF1 + FA 43 Limited	5D + FA* 85	5D + EF 85
Wide Opened
f/2	Not Available
f/2.8
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
f/11

(Above: Click to Download Large Images. Warning: Very Large Files!)

Well, as usual for my recent mesurbation tests, I won't provide any further comments myself. Go inspect, measurbate, compare, observe yourself, provided that you have the bandwidth and time! ;-D

My K-Mount EVIL is Here!

Are you waiting for a K-mount EVIL? Does someone imagine for a K-mount EVIL? How many of those people actually? Are they old Pentaxians (Yes! Almost for sure! But might be they have already been desperated! :-()

[ Note: EVIL stands for Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens (Digital Camera) ]

Indeed, waiting is actually unnecessary, nor imagination is practical! Act now, just make a K-mount EVIL yourself in Two Steps! It's just so EASY! =V=

The Two Steps to Follow:-

1. First you need to have one of the EVIL cameras in the Micro 4/3 gang..

2. Next, you need to purchase a Pentax K to Micro 4/3 adaptor which is widely available. Find one yourself!



3. Then, Done! You will have A K-mount EVIL camera!



As you might have known and now you can also see it again, I use the Panasonic GF1. Some points to note:-

1. Ensure that you have the newer firmware version 1.1 and up, which can be downloaded and updated from here. If you are unsure about the version programmed in your body, go check the "SETUP" menu for the "VERSION DISP.";

2. Next, do remember to turn on the "SHOOT W/O LENS" which can be found as the last second item in the "CUSTOM MENU" to make it possible to shoot with other non-micro 4/3 lenses via an adaptor;

3. Now, mount on any of the Pentax lenses that you like but they will be 2X multiplied.. (as everyone knows, anyway.) Well, my 43 Limited has become a 86mm portrait lens, my Pentax 100 Macro becomes a 200, my FA 28 is now a 56mm standard and my F*300 with a 3X TC is effectively an 1800mm telescope on a hybrid digital still picture and video/movie camera! :-o Nice!

4. Set the camera to P or A mode, PRESS (Not Turn) the e-Dial to use the "Focus Assist" function, that is, to zoom in the centre part of the Live View image at about 5X as the starting point (the user can further turn the e-dial to zoom in at about 10X and turn reversely to go back). Manual focus with naked eye(s) with the magnified image (either on the back LCD panel or through the EVF), half press to resume and shoot. I found the focusing accuracy is good and operation convenience is still considered acceptable, btw.

5. Go out to shoot still pictures and record videos with the new EVIL, STOP wasting time to search, wait, discuss, argue, imagine and then back to search, discuss, wait and imagine again and again, endlessly and till the end of the days! ;-D (How many much more time of those should be wasted in our lives?!)


See Also:-

AF Lens Matching with the Navy K-x

Standard Zoom Mega Shootout! (DA Vs FAJ Vs DAL Vs SA Vs FA!)

RiceHigh's Subjective Ratings on Pentax AF Lenses on Pentax DSLRs 2010

When Girl Friend Meets Wives! ;-D

Camera Abuse on a Pentax W90! >:-(

Now, this maybe a new method of marketing, abuse the camera, put it to death and then use another one to complete the review and so on. It shows how sturdy such a shock and water resistant camera could be. Well, there should be a basket of camera units of the same model supplied by the camera company! Shouldn't it?

http://www.infosyncworld.com/reviews/digital-cameras/pentax-optio-w90/10924.html

Nonetheless, it is just an utter non-sense for using tsim tongs to break the plastic LCD panel, but that crazy guy still did it! :-( (He is an aggressive marketing executive anyway! :-0)

The world is full of crazy people, I actually hate people who abuse camera gear, see this:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzOLbMPe0u8

For anyone who just don't need any gear, give it to others who need it. Don't abuse anything and don't waste the resources of the Earth under any circumstances! >:-(

645D Delivery Re-confirmed, Street Price JPY 763,200

As previously targeted, it is confirmed lately that the 645D is to be on sales on May 20:-

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20100427_364095.html
(in Japanese)

Also, the new kit lens DFA 645 55mm/2.8 AL[IF] SDM AW (Umm.. What a Loooong Name!) will be delivered at the same time.

And, the latest pre-order street prices at Japan can be as "low" as JPY 763,200 (roughly equals to US$ 8,200):-

http://kakaku.com/item/K0000095422/
(in Japanese)

It seems that the availability is good.


Previous News:-

645D Will be Shipped within Two Months

TIPA Awards 2010 Announced

As you would have known, the TIPA has announced their this year's awards on camera products for 2010:-

http://www.tipa.com/english/XX_tipa_awards_2010.php

Well, the K-x gets the Best Entry Level DSLR prize, whereas other prizes such as the Best Advanced DSLR, Expert and Professional Level DSLRs belongs to the Canon 550D, Canon 7D and Nikon D3s respectively. You can also look at the prizes for other bodies and lenses as well as for those photo and imaging peripherals and accessories if interested.

It is not bad to see Pentax to get a prize and honour with the K-x, although this is the only award they have managed to get anyway.


Read Also:-

My K-x Review is Here! (with Measurbations, Tips and Tricks)

K-x Vs K-7 Night Scene ISO Shootout @ DC Watch

The Japanese Impress DC Watch has published a shootout of the above for a single scene, with quite a number of different combinations of ISO and NR settings, which is quite interesting:-

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/longterm/20100422_362935.html
(Or the English Translated Page Here)

Do note all the differences and compare, measurabate, observe and make up your own conclusions by yourself. I again let you to do your homework and decide yourself and I won't spoil their test and results here (and better to save some of my time, too :-)) Enjoy!

Firmware Updates for the K-m, K20D, K200D and K10D

Just announced at the Pentax Japanese Homepage:-

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/imaging/index.php

Direct firmware update and download pages:-

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/support/download/digital/km_s.html

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/support/download/digital/k20d_s.html

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/support/download/digital/k200d_s.html

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/support/download/digital/k10d_s.html

(All pages in the above URLs are in Japanese)

There is only one change for all the above firmware updates, though. That is, to "improve the stability of SDHC cards for photo recording". It is not really an exciting update with no new functionality after all but it is still good to see Pentax does support their old product to ensure better compatibility with new SD cards even for a really old product like the K10D which was discontinued years ago.

The Power of Back Side Illuminated (BSI) CMOS Sensor (Fuji HS10/11)

A few months ago, I talked about new sensor technologies and the Back Side Illuminated (BSI) CMOS imagers.

Recently, we have a new full review report of the Fuji HS11 (aka HS10) at a popular Chinese photo blog:-

http://blog.pchome.net/article/273827.html
(in Simplified Chinese, Google English Translated Page Here)

Besides, 1001 Noisy Cameras have made a good summary on the recent sample picture tests here.

With the sample photos shown, I am really astonished on the potential for the new BSI technology. If with such a 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor in 10.0 MPs can deliver such acceptable to good ISO performance (and do bear in mind the sensor has super high speed as well), I will be much eager to wait if this new sensor technology could be adopted in an APS-C sensor, or, even a larger one, say, 135 FF! What a new world it will open if it succeeds!

So, maybe some days later, we will have 20MP+ APS-C DSLRs which will have the same performance of the today's 12MP DSLRs, whilst 135 FF will go beyond 40 MP+ with yet the same performance of today's again. By that time, the need of MF DSLRs would really be in doubt but still those might become 100 MP+ cameras and systems but will there be such a real practical need for that super high pixel count by that time??

I think BSI CMOS is an innovation for sensor technologies, whilst some other evolutions may help but the steps in improvement could be minimal (although still existent). Just see the recent Canon 550D, which has the "gapless micro lenses" for its new sensor, when compared against the old 500D. The DPR test pictures and measurbations show us that the results in noise and image data retained are comparable for both DSLRs, although the pixel counts of them are different. This may be the benefit of the gapless microlenses and the evolution. But, the new processing hardware and software may also contribute, nonetheless.

Last but not least, I am not very impressed with the colour response of those sample pics produced by the HS10/11. But anyway it is just a P&S, or a super prosumer if you like (to call it this way).