First off, I would like to say that I think this is a wonderful contest and completely generous of you to do this. I do not have a large post history here on the Pentax Forums, however I spend a lot of time here reading and have found this site extremely invaluable to me. So thank you!

In the fall of 2012 I decided to make a big change in my life. I resigned from a position that was going nowhere and decided to take a journey that has changed me in many ways. As an introvert, a creature of habit and comfort, someone who is used to shying away from the unknown and unfamiliar, I took a chance to do something completely out of my comfort zone both psychologically and photographically.

13 Comments |   Read more..

In Western France, a few miles from Nantes, there is a conflict between the people and the government; between the people and a multinational - Vinci - which try to build a useless airport.

5 Comments |   Read more..

I love an adventure. That's why I bought Pentax to begin with. 

Pentax DA 18-55mm WR

I also enjoy cross country skiing. Although I don't compete anymore, I still love going fast downhill, especially through sharp turns and steep slopes. Even for experienced cross-country skiers, this is difficult at best and downright dangerous at worst. The skis are very thin and flimsy, and the tracks are usually just between 2 and 4 meters wide with trees very close, passing at 30-45 mph, giving a great sensation of speed. I've tried to capture in that in the first shot. Simultaneously holding the camera steady just above the ground while flying down a winding slope added to the challenge. Even though I went at reduced speed, I almost lost control in one sharp turn where a lot of people had "braked" leaving only very hard and icy snow.

5 Comments |   Read more..

We're happy to announce that over the course of the coming weeks, we will regularly be posting  a new series of Pentax-specific photographic tutorial videos on our Youtube channel.  Don't forget to subscribe to stay on top of the latest videos!

In our first tutorial, we take a look at how you can turn any lens into a perspective-correctiion shift lens using your Pentax's built-in Shake Reduction system.  Pentax calls this feature "composition adjustment", and it is found on their high-end DSLRs including the K-7, K-5, K-5 II, K-5 IIs and K-30.

We hope you enjoy this video and the upcoming tutorial series!

39 Comments  

Pentax has just released a new v1.12 firmware update for the original Pentax Q.  This update fixes an issue with the "Tone Expansion" Smart Effect found in the camera.  As usual, it also includes the latest minor bugfixes.

We believe that this bug was introduced by firmware v1.11, which was taken down by Pentax shortly after being made available.  We recommend that everyone running v1.11 update to the latest firmware version, even if you don't plan on using Tone Expansion.

For those of you still running v1.10 or earlier, this new firmware update will improve your camera's autofocus, so we recommend installing it.

Click here to download firmware 1.12 for the Pentax Q, and read on for installation instructions.  Please note that this firmware will reset all your camera's settings once installed.

10 Comments   Read more..

13 Comments   Read more..

Pentax Ricoh have just officially announced the new Ricoh GR, the latest in Ricoh's lineup of high-end compact digital cameras.  The new GR incorporates an APS-C sensor in a an elegant, pocketable body that is styled just like its GR-series predecessors.

Based on the official specifications and the accompanying product information, we feel that the GR is going to be a true "photographer's camera" for those who demand the best in image quality but can't always carry around a bulky DSLR.  The Ricoh GR is the world's smallest and lightest APS-C compact camera. Its small size will allow professionals and enthusiasts alike to carry it everywhere that they go!

If this alone isn't good enough, then we'll add that the GR is also going to be one of the cheapest APS-C compacts, available in the US for just $799. The camera is designed to embody four core values which are of key importance to Ricoh: compactness, superb image quality, fast performance, and being a joy to use.

At the heart of the GR is a 16.2-megapixel APS-C sensor that does not incorporate an anti-aliasing filter. Thus, some might describe the GR as a pocketable version of the Pentax K-5 IIs! Combined with a specially-designed 18.3mm F2.8 lens (28mm equivalent on film), it is inevitable that the GR will deliver stellar image quality no worse than that of the similarly-specced Nikon Coolpix A, which has already received very favorable reviews.  Pentax Ricoh states that the GR's lens was meticulously designed to maximize sharpness and minimize distortions and aberrations, and internal tests show that it is consistently better than the lens of the GRD IV, and that it can outperform a Pentax DSLR with the 18-55mm kit lens.  In addition, Pentax Ricoh claims that the GR's lens is superior to that of the Coolpix A in terms of MTF; we will of course perform tests to confirm these claims in practice.

If marketed properly, the GR could prove to be some serious competition for the Coolpix A, or any high-end compact, for that matter. This is thanks to the GR's low price ($300 less than the Nikon), and because the GR may turn out to be better in terms of general performance, handling, and autofocus speed, which has been exceptional in previous Ricoh cameras.

While you're probably more interested in the specifications of this camera, what especially caught our attention about the GR is the fact that it's the first camera to show clear evidence of collaboration between Pentax and Ricoh, now known as Pentax Ricoh Imaging.  A feature formerly unique to Pentax cameras has made it into the GR: TAv mode. This shooting mode allows you to set the desired shutter speed and aperture while the camera chooses the appropriate ISO.

Official Ricoh GR Specifications

Read on for more details and photos of the GR!

51 Comments   Read more..

I wouldn't call myself fearless, but I do travel a lot and always keep my camera with me.

Above: A relaxed bedouin in the Jordanian desert near Petra during the summer of 2009. Rock climbing up there was really hard, and when we got to the top, this bedouin was talking on his cell phone like if he was in the sofa, it was like 40ºC! That's fearless. Pentax DA 17-70mm F4

4 Comments |   Read more..