Now that FF is here and what do we do with the cropped DA lenses?

**clackers** · 04-10-2015, 02:15 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by drypenn

The beta unit sent to me by Ricoh was quite huge, and will be using the Betamax cartridge to save files. This, they hope will take the retro impact several notches higher. They're just having problems with Sony, as Sony plans to revive the Betamax format. They're not much into VHS format, I can tell.

Terrible if you find that your wedding shoot's been taped over by last night's Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

**jbondo** · 04-10-2015, 10:21 AM

The Beta unit sent to me by Ricoh has a plastic outer shell that looks exactly like the printed plastic prototypes. In fact it *IS* a plastic shell. The shell opens like a clam, and inside is the REAL camera. (It's actually just a protective case. Inside the real camera looks exactly like a K-01, but with a modular removable ovf.)

SpecialK · 04-10-2015, 11:58 AM

The Beta unit sent to me was returned unopened as I no longer have any Pentax lenses to put on it.

jonby · 04-10-2015, 12:04 PM

I wonder if the one sent to the OP has a faulty wi-fi module tuned to a frequency known to kill off brain cells?

stevebrot · 04-10-2015, 12:46 PM - **1 Like**

I don't know what planet you people are on, but the beta units (yes two!) I received yesterday are not like what was described earlier on this thread. There are two levels, labeled maxy and midi (36 mpx and 24 mpx) and both are similar in shape and size to an iPad only with a K-mount at center. I know, I know...the prototype was very conventional looking, but that was just a diversion to feed the rumor mills. The cool is that the camera is not only super thin, but it is flexible! The included soft case resembles a small shipping tube. More at a later date once I get the solar batteries fully charged.*

Steve

* Could take awhile...gray day here in the Portland area...

bilybianca · 04-10-2015, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by zzeitg

Please share just few shots of your beta unit with us poor guys here on the forum which haven't received even one single beta unit (not even the blob) for testing

What? Have you missed the thread in the FF forum where Ricoh gives a beta version FF to everyone on the Forum? Using my wife's and two son's names I got four!

**jatrax** · 04-10-2015, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

The cool is that the camera is not only super thin, but it is flexible! The included soft case resembles a small shipping tube.

So you just roll it up when done? Cool. Do you have to take the lens off first?

redrockcoulee · 04-10-2015, 04:26 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

So you just roll it up when done? Cool. Do you have to take the lens off first?

No need have asking silly questions in a serious thread. Of course the lenses fold up too, but only after you able firmware 1.01 to DA lenses, 1.02 to AF lenses and use the USB port on your older manual focus lenses.

**jatrax** · 04-10-2015, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by redrockcoulee

No need have asking silly questions in a serious thread. Of course the lenses fold up too

Sorry should have known. Obvious after you mention the firmware update. Do you known if USB 1.0 is supported? I'm not sure my Takumars will work with the newer USB specifications.

cheesehead · 04-10-2015, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

So you just roll it up when done? Cool. Do you have to take the lens off first?

There is no lens. You just hold it up towards the subject. Kinda like the ipad.

waterfall · 04-10-2015, 05:54 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by normhead

I'll vote for you as president of this organization if I can be vice-president. Our first chore should be to find intermediate care givers willing to look after these lenses until we find them forever homes.

Am willing to be a Forever Home to orphaned DA Limited and DA* lenses. Please send them to me.

drypenn · 04-10-2015, 06:32 PM

Silly Ricoh! How will they decide if they keep on sending different models of Beta unit? Ahhh... this must be the reason why FF took so long. They made several iterations. Maybe it'll take a couple more years for them to finalize which Beta will make the Alpha stage...

Bryce K · 04-10-2015, 06:39 PM

both of my Betas were eaten by my Jack Dempsey

stevebrot · 04-10-2015, 09:38 PM

Originally posted by cheesehead

There is no lens.

It has a mount, but you can also use it without a formal lens. It is hard describe, but by warping the flexible body it will act as a concave focus device of sorts. The entire front is a matrix of microlenses and the degree of warp approximates various focal lengths.

The whole process of evaluating the betas is much more involved than I ever would have dreamed.

Steve

stevebrot · 04-10-2015, 09:39 PM

Originally posted by Bryce K

both of my Betas were eaten by my Jack Dempsey

Bettas! Bettas!

Steve

04-10-2015, 10:21 AM	#47
jbondo Loyal Site Supportaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Texas Photos: Albums Posts: 503	The Beta unit sent to me by Ricoh has a plastic outer shell that looks exactly like the printed plastic prototypes. In fact it IS a plastic shell. The shell opens like a clam, and inside is the REAL camera. (It's actually just a protective case. Inside the real camera looks exactly like a K-01, but with a modular removable ovf.) Last edited by jbondo; 04-10-2015 at 10:54 AM.

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04-10-2015, 02:15 AM - 1 Like	#46
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by drypenn The beta unit sent to me by Ricoh was quite huge, and will be using the Betamax cartridge to save files. This, they hope will take the retro impact several notches higher. They're just having problems with Sony, as Sony plans to revive the Betamax format. They're not much into VHS format, I can tell. Terrible if you find that your wedding shoot's been taped over by last night's Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

04-10-2015, 11:58 AM	#48
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	The Beta unit sent to me was returned unopened as I no longer have any Pentax lenses to put on it.

04-10-2015, 12:04 PM	#49
jonby Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 161	I wonder if the one sent to the OP has a faulty wi-fi module tuned to a frequency known to kill off brain cells?

04-10-2015, 12:46 PM - 1 Like	#50
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	I don't know what planet you people are on, but the beta units (yes two!) I received yesterday are not like what was described earlier on this thread. There are two levels, labeled maxy and midi (36 mpx and 24 mpx) and both are similar in shape and size to an iPad only with a K-mount at center. I know, I know...the prototype was very conventional looking, but that was just a diversion to feed the rumor mills. The cool is that the camera is not only super thin, but it is flexible! The included soft case resembles a small shipping tube. More at a later date once I get the solar batteries fully charged.* Steve * Could take awhile...gray day here in the Portland area...

04-10-2015, 01:43 PM	#51
bilybianca Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hassleholm, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 334	Originally posted by zzeitg Please share just few shots of your beta unit with us poor guys here on the forum which haven't received even one single beta unit (not even the blob) for testing What? Have you missed the thread in the FF forum where Ricoh gives a beta version FF to everyone on the Forum? Using my wife's and two son's names I got four!

04-10-2015, 02:32 PM	#52
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by stevebrot The cool is that the camera is not only super thin, but it is flexible! The included soft case resembles a small shipping tube. So you just roll it up when done? Cool. Do you have to take the lens off first?

04-10-2015, 04:26 PM	#53
redrockcoulee Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 2,306	Originally posted by jatrax So you just roll it up when done? Cool. Do you have to take the lens off first? No need have asking silly questions in a serious thread. Of course the lenses fold up too, but only after you able firmware 1.01 to DA lenses, 1.02 to AF lenses and use the USB port on your older manual focus lenses.

04-10-2015, 05:01 PM	#54
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by redrockcoulee No need have asking silly questions in a serious thread. Of course the lenses fold up too Sorry should have known. Obvious after you mention the firmware update. Do you known if USB 1.0 is supported? I'm not sure my Takumars will work with the newer USB specifications.

04-10-2015, 05:40 PM	#55
cheesehead Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin Posts: 26	Originally posted by jatrax So you just roll it up when done? Cool. Do you have to take the lens off first? There is no lens. You just hold it up towards the subject. Kinda like the ipad.

04-10-2015, 05:54 PM - 1 Like	#56
waterfall Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,812	Originally posted by normhead I'll vote for you as president of this organization if I can be vice-president. Our first chore should be to find intermediate care givers willing to look after these lenses until we find them forever homes. Am willing to be a Forever Home to orphaned DA Limited and DA* lenses. Please send them to me.

04-10-2015, 06:32 PM	#57
drypenn Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 963	Silly Ricoh! How will they decide if they keep on sending different models of Beta unit? Ahhh... this must be the reason why FF took so long. They made several iterations. Maybe it'll take a couple more years for them to finalize which Beta will make the Alpha stage...

04-10-2015, 06:39 PM	#58
Bryce K Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Richmond, TX Posts: 93	both of my Betas were eaten by my Jack Dempsey

04-10-2015, 09:38 PM	#59
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by cheesehead There is no lens. It has a mount, but you can also use it without a formal lens. It is hard describe, but by warping the flexible body it will act as a concave focus device of sorts. The entire front is a matrix of microlenses and the degree of warp approximates various focal lengths. The whole process of evaluating the betas is much more involved than I ever would have dreamed. Steve

04-10-2015, 09:39 PM	#60
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Bryce K both of my Betas were eaten by my Jack Dempsey Bettas! Bettas! Steve