Pentax Q 100-Pound UK Rebate

Save on the Pentax Q through December!

By PF Staff in Pentax Announcements on Nov 2, 2011

On November 1st, Pentax UK announced a rebate program for the Pentax Q single lens and twin lens kits in the amount of 100 pounds (110 euros), valid for all new Q purchases in the UK through the end of the year (December 31, 2011).

Simply purchase your Q from an authorized retailer and you'll be able to save 100 pounds with no further strings attached!

• Pentax Q Cash Back Form
• Full Terms and Conditions

Pentax 645D Limited - Orders Being Accepted

Special orders to start shipping January, 2012

By PF Staff in Pentax Announcements on Oct 31, 2011

Retailers in the US have now started taking pre-orders for the limited edition of the Pentax 645D, which was announced this July. 

The camera is available for special order and in limited quality for about fifteen thousand dollars.  Please visit Adorama Camera for details on how to place an order.  Orders are expected to start shipping in January, 2012, and will be fulfilled on an individual basis.

Learn more about the 645D by reading:

• Our In-depth 645D review
• 645D limited announcement
• 645D specifications and user reviews

Pentax Optio RZ18 Has Hit the Shelves!

Compact camera with 18x zoom

By PF Staff in Pentax Announcements on Oct 26, 2011

Announced this September, the Pentax Optio RZ18 has already hit the shelves!

This fantastic compact digital camera features a high-resolution 16-megapixel sensor combined with an 18x zoom lens, bringing you the equivalent of a 25-400mm F3.5-5.9 lens on film.  It also has built-in sensor-shift Shake Reduction, a large 3-inch LCD screen, and HD movie recording.

If you need a versatile compact body and don't want to have to spend $800, you should definitely put this camera on your wish list.

Get yours now or read more about the RZ18!

Pentax and Full Frame

A letter from the president of Pentax in Europe

By PF Staff in Pentax Announcements on Oct 20, 2011

Last month, we joined forces with the spanish Pentax community Pentaxeros and wrote a letter to Pentax proposing that Pentax should expand the K-mount DSLR system by introducing a full-frame DSLR.  We also listed several reasons why doing so would be a good idea (below is a brief summary):

1. We believe that if Pentax were able to deliver a complete full-frame system, many more Pentax users would remain loyal to the brand.
2. The gap between the 645D and the K-5 is too large, and resolution isn't everything.
3. Having a complete DSLR lineup will bring more respect to the brand and attract the attention of new potential customers.
4. Modern high-resolution APS-C sensors may soon start out-resolving most of the current lenses on the market and becoming subject to diffraction.
5. Considering the success of the K-5, future APS-C bodies, won't give current users as much of an incentive to upgrade as a full-frame body would.
6. Thousands of Pentax users has been awaiting a full-frame for years. If Pentax were to produce such a camera, not only would these users be satisfied, but sales would be through the roof. Futhermore, there are many users with older Pentax bodies (*ist, K10D, K20D) who aren't upgrading to the current models simply because they're not enough of a leap forward.
7. Pentax users need to be able to continue trusting in the brand and know that the DSLR division is moving forward.
8. Pentax currently has a number of available-full-frame lenses (FA Limiteds) and has produced a complete autofocus film lens lineup in the past. This means that a modern full-frame lineup will not have to be developed from scratch.
9. Even users who have invested extensively in the Pentax DA (APS-C) lens lineup could consider upgrading to the full-frame body if it were to support APS-C format lenses (as Nikon DSLRs do).
10. A number of Pentax users who shoot professionally are use two brands in order to gain access to a full-frame body. If Pentax were to bring a full-frame DSLR, those users would invest more in Pentax products instead.
11. The Pentax system is unique in that it allows users to take advantage of thousands of legacy K-mount and M42 mount lenses. A full-frame body would continue to be compatible with these lenses, and users would be able to take full advantage of their fields of view.

Below is the reply from Andre Dierickx, President and Managing Director of Pentax in Europe.

Pentax Q Mini-preview

A miniature wonder

By PF Staff in Pentax Announcements on Oct 4, 2011

PentaxForums has just received a Pentax Q for review with the 01 Standard Prime kit lens, the 03 Fish-eye lens and the 05 Toy Lens Telephoto. So far we have only been using the 01 Standard Prime.

The Pentax Q impressed us right out of the box: It is very nicely finished with a body of metal, the design is attractive and clean but functional and yes, it is small, but not overly so. It handles well thanks to the built-in grip, the non-slip leatherette surface on the front, and the well-placed controls. Thankfully, the camera has a command wheel (e-dial in Pentax terminology), and the user interface and menu system is very much like that of the current Pentax DSLRs, so you feel at home at once.