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The International Consumer Electronics show starts tomorrow in Las Vegas, and Pentax will be there with all their latest cameras and lesnes on display. This is the largest electronics tradeshow in the US, though it's probably not as important to Pentax as the upcoming CP+ show in Japan, which starts on January 31st. We will be covering the CP+ show live, with the possibility of a Pentax interview.
Here's what's new at CES since Photokina:
- A prototype AF 360FGZ II+ flash
- Pentax MX-1 retro camera
- New color options for the Pentax Q10
Could there be more at CES? Given that the recent press release only mentions the above 3 things, we don't believe so, but you never know! We think that more Pentax news will be announced at CP+.
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As we've already covered the MX-1 in a separate article, let's take a look at the flash and the new Q10 color options. On display at CES will be a AF 360 FGZ II+ flash concept, which is essentially going to be an updated version of the current AF 360 FGZ, adding swivel functionality in addition to tilting. Many Pentax users have been complaining about the lack of swiveling in the current 360 flash, so this sure is welcome news! Pentax expects this new flash to go on sale later this year; tentative specifications and photos have not yet been released.
At launch, the Pentax Q10 was only available in silver/black and red/black in the US. Now Pentax is giving customers the opportunity to special-order the Q10 in any color combination (there are 5 grip colors and 20 body colors, for a total of 100 possible combinations), which will then be produced based on your request. Pentax is proud to announce this as an option, as no other camera manufacturer lets you do this.
Here's what John Carlson, US Sr. Manager of Marketing, has to say about this news:
"Offering the Q10 in 100 color combinations is a unique way for PENTAX to showcase its commitment to supporting photo enthusiast’s creative self- expression. Having the ability to customize your camera to match your mood, your alma mater or even your favorite sports team is an offering unequaled in the industry and we are happy to support our customers as they strive for new ways to express themselves.”
You can special order your Q10 directly from Pentax here. The MX-1 is now also available for pre-order for $499.
@rae2 You don't live in Japan.
Frankly, the faithful here at pentaxforums (and other similar online communities) are just not nearly enough to financially drive pentax/ricoh forward. Stuff like the color options are actually really desierable, especially for younger kids. I'm a teacher and two years ago a bunch of my students who wanted cameras really wanted a fun colored k-x. Did they get one? No. Because walmart, and target, and best buy, etc, don't sell pentax cameras (or at least not slrs). So I think that these moves are good - drive consumer interest, get themselves into more of the chains... Just because pentax hasn't announced a FF camera doesn't mean they won't. Just because pentax announces rainbow cameras doesn't mean they aren't still serious about serious cameras.
I own both the K5 and 645D as well as a 645n that I've owned since it was first introduced back in the late 90s. I realize Pentax needs sales and the profits from the general consumer market to provide a significant amount of it's core business but these introductions are truly disappointing. Coming on the heels of Photokina and the new versions of the K5, the lack of a FF DSLR or a second edition of the 645D, is truly disappointing. The multicolored Q10s smacks of something dreamed up for the Japanese home market but also brought to the US market to be thrown at the wall in hopes it sticks.
I must be from some other planet. I can't believe ANYONE, American or not, would be influenced in the slightest to make a camera purchase based on the COLOR of the body. I can't think of any feature LESS important to either the camera or photography in general.
I'm so glad to hear that they are finally making improvements to their flashes. Adding swivel to the AF360 is huge. I have the existing model, but don't use it very often because of the lack of swivel. I never use direct flash, always bounce, so not having swivel is way to limiting. I instead use a Sunpak or Nikon flash in Auto mode. For off camera manual use, there are plenty of cheaper options. Here are my hopes for this flash:
1) Don't get crazy with the price
2) Please fix it so that when it comes out of sleep mode or when you turn it back on it comes back on with the settings you had set.
3) Allow the time out period to be adjustable, or at least be turned off
4) Fix it so it communicates better with the camera. Like zooming and knowing camera settings. I don't remember exactly right now, but there are things in this area that Sigma and Metz actually set better than the 360.
5) Make improvements to the displays and interface. It would be nice if things were bigger, clearer. It's not very intuitive to use. Just last week, I could not figure out how to make it work in dumb slave mode. Please do as much as you can here without sending the price up.
I have not had problems with the battery door, but it seems like a simple thing to beef that up a little. As far as weather sealing goes, that would be nice, but not if it sends the price up. I would think you could save that feature for when they upgrade the 540 model. My hope would be that they keep this upgrade simple to keep the price down, do the same with the 540, and then come out with a new much improved model that works with in-camera improvements.
I'm really looking forward to the details of this upgrade!
Wouldn't it be nice if (unlike most manufacturers) they could put some of the quality of construction from their SLR bodies into the flash design & construction?
Pentax sells a lot of relatively compact cameras, so it makes sense for them to have a compact full-featured flash. Adding a swivel to the pretty good AF-360FGZ unit is a good move that should have been done 4 years ago. I actually think they should also offer a 2AA battery version (like Oly/Panasonic) that's even smaller & lighter at the expense of slower recycle.
New battery door and the ability to use an external power pack would be great.
Will be very interested to see the specs and price on the new flash. I need a new flash, so I may end up buying one of these! As for colors on the Q10 - whatever... doesn't interest me, but colors are Pentax' thing, so if it helps them sell a few more cameras, go for it.
I am pleased that Pentax continues to develop new products. I love my K-5 which I bought about a year ago when I sold my Sony Alpha gear. I feel confident that Pentax will introduce new cameras to provide a solid growth path for both DSLR to follow the K-5, K-5II and K-5IIs. I also feel confident that new lenses will be introduced and the lens pricing policy will be tuned to be competitive with other lens manufacturers. I still don't know if I would be a higher end APS-C camera or a FF camera. A lot would depend on the use of my existing lenses, including the DA*16-50 which I have been pleased with so far.
It would be great to have everything now but Pentax/Ricoh has shown me that they plan to stay in the business and offer solid products with the same price performance differentiation that led me to buy my K-5.
I understand little need to use a flash in a downpour, but one that can take some abuse would be a must have for me, rough country calls for rugged gear. K-30
New flash, by adding swivel to the 360? Really? Sounds like an embarrassing slap in the face to me.
WR would be nice for reasons other than photographing while walking in the rain (although that is often a nice effect, especially with snow)... but since Pentax won't warranty their WR products when they get wet, it is hardly worth the effort anyway, is it?
What would be nice is more power, and better remote capability along the lines of what competitors are doing. Stocking and supporting a battery pack for faster recycle and longer battery life would also be nice.
This is just a disappointment.
I echo the call for a more robust flash unit, one you can drop and not worry about. Otherwise I'll keep buying Metz, which already have all the Pentax features plus more. But the same weak build unfortunately.
A flash in the rain doesn't reflect on drops if you keep it away from the camera.
Regarding WR for a flash... what would be the point? If you're in rain or snow (or even a halfway dense fog) and you use a flash, you'll wind up with lots of nice reflections off the rain or snow or fog for a photo rather than a shot of your subject.
Kind of wish the Q10 color option was cheaper - I'm not certain but it looks like that's for a body-only purchase.
I use a 360 for interior architectural photography and it is plenty powerful enough. The other features of the flash is what makes it a great flash.
I've just replaced my first AF540 with another, identical, unit. I don't regret that - the AF360 isn't really powerful enough for anything but the shorter focal lengths, but yes, all the flash units would benefit from being more robust. I still have an old AF280T with a broken battery door. A WR version to match the current bodies and lenses might be useful, but how often is flash needed outdoors on rainy days?
LOL at GoldenArrow and the duct tape for the door.
I should hope that the new flash has an unannounced new PTTL-2 protocol hidden in it
that will be unleashed when the k5 replacement comes out. I hate to say it in public
as I try never to be negative, but a flash exposure that was accurate would be a welcome
IMHO
Does it come with a roll of duct tape for the battery door???
At least they are looking at the flash system, this is a start. The move to do all the colors in the US is brilliant! That is one of the things that got Pentax the most coverage in 2010ish - the colors of the K-r.
Heres to hoping they changed the battery door. I already have 2 AF360s with broken battery doors.
They need to update the AF540 with WR and better overall quality. I've had two fail on me and I'm a very light user of it.
100 colours? Oh boy!
Drat. I just got an AF540 for Christmas. Still, if this new flash had WR to match the camera body and lens, it might be worth it. But it doesn't, does it?
What's cool is once they add the swivel/tilt to the flash, it will overexpose in PTTL mode just like the 540!
I'm a little disappointed, but if the new 360 has a better battery door, I'll be happy.
Yay new flash. :) +1
Fingers crossed for a decent battery door.
Yay new flash. :)