Pentax Announces 35mm Half-frame Film Camera

Coming in summer with manual film winding and a lens based on the Espio Mini

By cjfeola in Pentax Announcements on Mar 1, 2024

The first half-frame camera in Pentax's storied film history will ship this summer, according to Film Project Designer Takeo "TKO" Suzuki. The camera will feature manual film winding and rewinding, an electronic shutter, automatic exposure control, and a lens with the same 25mm field of view of the Ricoh Auto Half, with the optical design based on the Pentax Espio Mini.

TKO made the announcement in a new video dropped on the Pentax Film Project web page early March 1 (Tokyo time). 

As in previous videos, TKO started by thanking everyone for the outpouring of worldwide support for The Pentax Film Project. He said the project has a working prototype, and he'd been out shooting with it. "I was so overjoyed with this camera that I kept shooting a photo one after another. I’m not sure if I’m actually allowed to talk about this at this point. But it was so much fun that I cannot help it. What’s more, every photo came out very nicely."

Pentax high-performance spotting scope coming in February

The PF-85EDA has dust, water-proofing

By PF Staff in Pentax Announcements on Jan 26, 2024

Ricoh has announced the Pentax PF-85EDA, a compact waterproof spotting scope that will be available in February for a Manufacturer’s Suggested List Price of $1,299.95.

The PF-85EDA has a large-aperture 85mm objective lens, and utilizes Extra-low Dispersion optical elements and the latest multi-layer coatings. The roof prism optical design keeps things compact.

The scope uses a dust-proof glass element, and has waterproofing equivalent to JIS Class 7, with water resistance to a depth of 3.2 feet, making it a dependable companion even in mist or rain. (Ricoh specifies, however, that the Pentax PF-85EDA cannot be used underwater.) The scope is filled with nitrogen gas to prevent fogging, ensuring a clear view even in challenging conditions.

The scope will also be available in a kit with the Pentax Zoom 8-24mm Eyepiece for an MSRP or $1,599.95. The eyepiece mount features an American-standard 31.7mm/1.25 inch sleeve, making the scope compatible with a range of eyepieces, including the XF series for Pentax spotting scopes, and the XW series for astronomical observations.

Pentax PF-85EDA wZoom Eyepiece

You can preorder the Pentax PF-85EDA by itself or in the kit with the 8-24mm Eyepiece on the Ricoh website here. Both will be available for purchase next month on the Ricoh Imaging website and at authorized Ricoh retailers.

Pentax WG-90 point and shoot camera announced

New rugged and waterproof adventure camera in the WG series

By PF Staff in Pentax Announcements on Nov 19, 2023

On November 15, 2023, RICOH announced a new incarnation of the WG series of rugged point and shoot cameras, the Pentax WG-90.

Pentax WG-90

The technical specifications are identical to its predecessor, the Ricoh WG-80. The only difference appears to be the branding. The WG-90 is branded Pentax as were the initial cameras in the WG series up until and including the WG-3 and WG-10.

The WG-90 is available in blue and in black. It is water proof down to 14 meters (45 feet), and drop, dust and crush proof within limits. Besides the built-in flash it features a built-in macro ring light for macro shooting like its predecessors.

The camera has a 16 mega pixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor paired with a 5-25mm zoom lens (approximately 28-140mm in 35mm format equivalent). The lens is also capable of extreme close focusing, with a macro mode getting as close as 1cm, and 10cm across the entire zoom range.The camera interface is designed to be both easy to use as well as very versatile, with 25 shooting modes and many creative digital filters. There are specific underwater still and movie modes designed to get pleasing color and contrast in underwater captures. There are also various features to assist with portraits and selfies; such as smile capture, which automatically releases the shutter when the subject smiles, blink detection, which helps prevent shots with the subject's eyes closed, and a self portrait assist mode that illuminates one or more of the six front LEDs to indicate where in the frame a face or faces are located.

As of the time of writing the launch price is unknown.

Pentax KF Price Permanently Reduced

$150 price drop in the US and Canada

By PF Staff in Pentax Announcements on Nov 3, 2023

Ricoh Imaging Americas has implemented a permanent $150 price drop on the Pentax KF, the entry-level DSLR offering that replaced the Pentax K-70 from November 2022. 

The updated pricing is $699 USD for the body only (down from $849), and $799 for the 18-55mm WR kit (down from $949).  In Canada, a similar price drop will take effect: the price of the body is dropping from $1099 CAD to $929 CAD.

According to our deal finder, the updated pricing is already reflected across major US merchants.

Despite its recent release, the Pentax KF is largely identical to the K-70.  Notable differences in the KF include a higher-resolution LCD screen, expanded firmware features (including all of Pentax's special custom image modes), and a USB-powered battery charger.  It is also believed that the KF resolves the infamous "aperture block" issue that affected some K-70 bodies.

The new pricing brings the KF much closer to the historical pricing of the K-70, and below the cost of many old stock offerings.  It will thus help maintain the KF as a compelling, affordable option within the Pentax lineup.  Flagship models such as the Pentax K-3 III retail for approximately $1000 more.

For more details on the KF, please refer to the press release or our K-70 review.  We plan to release a hands-on review of the KF in the near future, alongside a supplement to the existing K-70 eBook.

Ricoh Imaging now an official Kenko distributor for the US

Ricoh signs deal with Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd.

By cjfeola in Pentax Announcements on Oct 13, 2023

Ricoh Imaging is now an official US distributor for Kenko lens filters and photo accessories, according to a Ricoh press release. “KENKO is a top Japanese brand of lens filters and photo accessories and we’re excited for the opportunity to collaborate with them to bring their exceptional offerings to the U.S.” the press release said. The move took effect Oct. 1.

Kenko ZXII-the flattest filter ever

The move is interesting for several reasons. First, Ricoh has made it a point in recent earnings reports to single out photography as a profitable performance vertical. This move expands Ricoh’s photography portfolio.

Second, the Kenko corporation merged with Tokina in 2011. The merged Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd owns Cokin filters and Slik tripods, and is also, ironically for Pentaxians, the worldwide distributor for Hoya filters, as well as its namesake Kenko filters and Tokina lenses. The natural question this deal raises is whether it is the harbinger for further cooperation between the companies, such as new Tokina K Mount lenses.

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