Pentax launched the new medium format DSLR!!

A good news for Pentaxian!

The spec is not bad, but very pricy!! Luckily I don't use Pentax in the medium format, so no temptation for me to 'upgrade'.

A new camera 'system' design from Ricoh: smart or dumb?

Ricoh announced the new GXR camera 'system', with a whole new concept of interchangable lens... the camera is actually a I/O interface, and the 'lens module' actually includes lens, focusing mechanics, and image sensor.

IMHO, this is a dumb design and this system is doomed. Immediately after I read the news, I came-up with a lot of problems for this idea:
- Cost: every lens module is another digital camera without the I/O. Don't think that will come cheap
- Choices of lens: Only Ricoh is making the lens module. How many choices do you think Ricoh will offer you?
- Reliability of the mount: The mount is slide-in type, with a lot of electronic connections for the LCD viewfinder, memory cards... etc. When dirt gets into the lens mount of a traditional DSLR, you may get a dust mark in your photos. But if dirt gets in the GXR module mount, you may get a card writing error.

Honestly, I can't see any point with this product. I am very happy with my Pentax and DA Limited lenses.

New Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 3.1

Released by Apple last week, support for K7 is included. Recommended for Mac x Pentax users.

Casuality of the digital camera revolution...

The Polaroid.

I never owned any Polaroid camera, but the uniqueness of the 'instant' photo really rules the special niche in the photo industry for over half a century. By instantness, digital cameras are certainly better than Polaroid. But being instant, Polaroid is also "FINAL"... you can't alter a bit of a Polaroid image; and there is only ONE copy of the image. The INSTANT + FINAL + THE-ONLY-ONE combo has it's own philosophical interpretation to snap-shoters: an image attract your attention / interest, at that particular moment. When the moment passed, what you seen was also changed... there is only ONE image, and nothing else.

With Polaroid, you capture THE IMAGE. Thou I never owned a Polaroid, the news break my heart as well.

K20D

A very attractive package... maybe it's time to retire my old friend istD....

K10D Grand Prix Package

Looks nice, but, what for?

I actually hide the brand logo and model no. of my cameras (with black electrical tape). I hate nosy pass-by around to peek which model / brand I am using.

New DA* lens

The 2 new large aperture DA* lens will be available on the market very soon, according to a Japanese site.

I, however, do not have any interest in these 2 lens whatsoever. If I like to use large aperture zooms, I'd been using Nikon now. Sorry Pentax fans, but Nikon has done a very good job in it's full-line of zoom lens. Pentax is very good at prime lens, and very good in the small overall system size, but not the zooms.

Pentax AP 50 anniv.

Reported by DC Watch.

Are the Pentax management still dreaming about their glorious history? Come on, old man! Wake up and put-up something really matches the modern day demand..... PLEASE!

Pentax deal

Pentax finally accepts the buy-out offer from Hoya.

Good news is they will continue the DSLR business with Pentax brand. So there should be no worry of no support in the near future. My biggest concern, however, is that good engineers in the Pentax may depart from the new set-up. 2 areas are specifically important: DSP and the optics design.

Let's hope for the best!

Hoya and Pentax merge!

Hoya and Pentax just annouced their merger.

I havn't go into the details of the merger, but I do believe the Pentax brand name will be continued for the cameras and lens. If this will be the case, it's definitely a good news for Pentax (camera) users, because that means the production capacity of Pentax cameras and lens can be increased if needed, and it should be easlier to buy new Pentax lens. The R&D for new lens can be speed up too, if there is sufficient demand.

To the lease, we Pentax userrs no need to worry whether Pentax will bankrupted in near future, and we can continue to buy the K mount cameras and lens for many years, whatever the brand name will be.

My worry is, neither Pentax nor Hoya has do a good job in consumer electronic market. They may not be able to play a good game in the marketing of Pentax (or Hoya-Pentax) cameras / lens, and the K-mount system might continue to decline...

Let's cross our finger about this merger.