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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 10-04-2010, 07:19 AM

Pentax K-5 Officially Announced
Posted By youky63

Replies: 533
Views: 187,236

Here are the official prices in Japan for the different kits (10% can be removed of all prices by using the Shop Points Card). Prices are given for Japan only and cannot be extrapolated to any other country.

K5:

-K5 body only: 139.800 yens (= 1.679 USD = 1.225 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-5 [???]

-K5 + 18-55mm WR: 154.800 yens (= 1.859 USD = 1.357 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-5 [18-55WR??????]

-K5 + 18-135mm WR: 189.800 yens (= 2.280 USD = 1.664 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-5 [18-135??????]

K5 is expected to be released end of october.

Kr:

-Kr body only, any of the 120 colors: 74.800 yens (= 898 USD = 656 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-r [??? ????]

-Kr + 18-55mm (any body color): 79.800 yens (= 958 USD = 699 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-r [030 ?????? ????/???]

-Kr + 18-55mm + 55-300mm (any body color): 99.800 yens (= 1.199 USD = 875 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-r [055 ????????? ????/???]

Kr and the different kits will be available between October 7 and October 10.

DA18-135mm WR:

Available middle of November for 59.800 yens (= 718 USD = 524 euros)
????.com- ?????? DA18-135/3.5-5.6ED AL[IF]DC WR

DA35mm f/2.4:

Available middle of November in any color (Japan only) for 24.800 yens (= 298 USD = 217 euros)
????.com-pentax 35mm-????

Just for information, the K7 (body only) is actually sold at 88.800 yens (= 1.067 USD = 778 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-7 [???]

As you can see, prices in Japan are going to be the most expensive in the world. Thanks to the economical situation leading to weak dollars and euros.

Then a few more informations. Last weekend was held a hands on preview in Akihabara (Tokyo). People were basically able to see what was already held in Photokina.
A few others exhibitions will be held during the next weeks. The next one will be in my city (Osaka) on October 16th from 12:00 to 17:00 in the 3rd floor of Umeda Sky Building. I will try to go there. During the following day/weeks they will move to Nagoya, Sapporo and Fukuoka. Informations here.

Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 09-26-2010, 08:58 AM

Pentax at Photokina coverage by Falk Lumo!
Posted By youky63

Replies: 549
Views: 137,483

I think you mistaken here. We are talking about Falk, the most respected poster of this forum. I can understand this news donesn't please you, but, I don't think it please Falk more than you. He is also a huge Pentax supporter, and more closer to them than anybody having "good relationship with a pentax rep.". Falk is a major contribution to this forum, one of the only guys giving good values to PF. He NEVER announced anything as for which he didn't get real and confirmed informations. He has a reputation and keep it good by acting well. Then, as suggested by someone else above, I would suggest to look at it again, think about who he is, and apologize. Because if he decide to leave this forum after this violent and frontal personal offence, it would be a big lost for PF.
By the way, I also would like to remind that if Pentax Germany get bad infos relayed on this specific forum, so what? Is it not the "Pentax News and Rumors" thread? :o

Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 08-23-2010, 06:50 AM

K-5: 16MP, ISO25600 and 7 FPS worth the upgrade?
Posted By youky63

Replies: 418
Views: 100,667

Reading all the posts from the whole forum is quite interesting.
I didn't know there were so many Pentax fanboys deeply thinking that Pentax "has the best bodies" and "made the better glasses" and "so much cheaper" than any other brand, excepted maybe Leica for the quality (sic).
So Pentax/Hoya must not be worried about its future, its products will continue to sell "well".
Now, my opinion, first about bodies (and I clearly don't ask you to think the same, anyway, I already know you don't):
Pentax did a wonderful job with the K10D. This body was miles ahead of its competitors on ergonomics and possibilities. But not without any flaw. For example, the jpeg engine was just crap. Same for AF and WB. Still, a very impressive job from that "old forgotten brand" that was Pentax.
Then, the big ones understand people were ready to pay more for more functions, possibilities, performances. In my mind, Nikon was the first to counter-attack with the D90, still the affordable APS-C reference today. Then Nikon replyed with the 50D and it's high resolution sensors. And they continued to improve their bodies, AF, sensors, IQ, in new models such as D300s and 7D (not talking about FF here, that is another debate).
What was the answer of Pentax to that? The K20D was basically a K10D with a new sensor. Don't misunderstand me, I like my K20D, but AF sucks, and high isos also.
Then, came the K7. Presented as "the new hope" for all pentaxists, most have been disappointed. Not because of the body, a new piece of art. But the sensor, the body masterpiece for IQ, was almost the same than in the K20D, maybe even worse! No way to spend 1200 dollars to get a body with (at most) the same images than the previous body. Add to that the "shutter blur crysis" and a cheaper model (Kx) with "higher" IQ. Then you understand why it is difficult to advice this body for new photographers, and why even the oldest Pentaxians upgraded from their old bodies to the small one, not to the flagship one. During this time, the AF was improved, but basically, it remains the poorest AF of the APS-C market, far far behind SoNiCanon. And image stabilization is still very much not convincing to me (my Panasonic FZ50 was performing way better than Pentax SR, was a chock to me when I bought K20D!)
Now let's talk about the lenses:
I read here very often than Pentax lenses are the best of the world. Really? Which one? The one which are as expensive as a Canon L lens? Without fast and silent USM AF motor? Nor being fast ones?
While Pentax situation was quite OK 2 years ago with many new DA lenses coming out, today's situation is in my opinion extremely serious! When Kx was released, I was happy to tell new comers they must take a look at it. Very good IQ, low price. But today, if I was one of them, I would feel trapped. Where are the lenses necessary for any beginner to grow? WHere are the cheap primes? Where is the choice in non too much expensive telezoom? Pentax is the only one to not offer any opportunity to get cheap prime. And I really don't think a "beginner" will start with a 500 dollars one. Especially the old outdate plastic look FA35 and FA50mm. Manual focus ones? Come on, we are in an "all automatic" world...
So I stopped to tell people they must check at Pentax body(ies?). Even for advanced users as you and me. Are you happy to pay that amount for lenses DA only compatible, with the terribly noisy AF? Or a "doubtful" and very slow SDM AF?
Pentax must wake up and open its eyes on the actual catastrophic lenses line up they try to sell compared to other brands. Like the bodies, they don't even offer half of the references that you can find in C/N, and there you have silent ultrafast AF in most of their lenses coupled to the high-end body AF module.

Yes, I am sorry my post is a bit nasty (I terribly lack sleep), but it is what I exactly think of the present situation. Actually I do not leave Pentax for the lack of FF. APS-C is becoming better and better, even if still far from present FF bodies, maybe I don't need a soooo big improvement. But what I cannot support anymore is the lack of lenses and features that any other brands can offer to their costumers. I need silent AF because sometimes I have to shoot during scientific meetings or classical music events (and the driller sound of my K20D is not welcome), I need fast AF because Pentax ones was good enougth when I started, but now I am much faster and need it to follow me, I am tired of the poor SR sytem (maybe it is a personal problem, maybe my shaking is specially unadapted to Pentax SR system, still, it seems almost useless to me) and I definitely need more lenses choices.

If actual Pentax products suit all your needs, good for you. But please stop to say again and again Pentax is better than anybody else. That is totally wrong, that is fanboy discussion (just like on sony's forum). And if it was true there will not be so many (almost all of them) threads asking for so many improvement for the next generation. Some things are good in Pentax, but many have to be improved by a lot to catch up at the bigger companies (and they are not bigger for any reasons).
Lets see what will Pentax announces in Photokina, and people staying in Pentax must accept they have to do with what they have, without trying to auto-persuade themselves they have "all the best of the world".

Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 08-14-2010, 07:04 PM

Photokina 2010, Pentax and the full frame mystery
Posted By youky63

Replies: 727
Views: 130,974

Right, sorry for the digressions.

So, in my mind (and seems you have inside infos confirming the fact), FF will and can NOT be released this year. It would have make sense to make a FF K7, but they didn't. Even if my heart say "do it now Pentax!", my head conclude they missed the train and must catch another one.

The mirrorless camera train

I am living in Japan, and from the Japanese point of view, mirrorless camera is THE must have for camera company in 2010. I don't know if it will continue for many years, but right now Pana, Oly and Sony sell their EVIL things like hot cakes! They have the most crowded shelves in giants camera shops and attract many photographers (from my observation, mainly young for Pany and Sony, and mainly old for Oly. Difference of design I guess).

Annoncements

So, what Pentax/Hoya must announce in the next 2 years... For me, mirrorless camera is the absolute priority (:() and must (will?) be done this september. They must make it very compact, but keep the "Pentax style" (SR, WR). If I was Pentax chief designer project, I would have made like a NEX camera, with a new very short mount but wide enough for a potential FF sensor (who knows what will happen in 5 or 10 years?). Also, I would put IS in the lenses, to reduce the size, weight and price of the camera, but will put a build in flash (pop up or not? Good question... Probably not for WR, but maybe no choice because of the size of the lenses). Or, option number 2, a m4/3 system. Maybe not so good for IQ, but with a so big potential for lenses sales that it is probably very appealing!

At the same time, as expected, I would also announce a new flagship camera (will be the K5) with one of Sony's sensors. But I would also keep all the actual models! Because 2 cameras are really and definitely not enough to attract people.

The minority dilemma

Look at the other brands (from official french websites):
-Olympus: 9 cameras (E-3, E-30, E-420, E-450, E520, E-560, E-PL1, E-P1, E-P2)
-Panasonic: 5 cameras (Lumix G2, DMC-G1, DMC-G10, DMC-GH1, DMC-GF1) + many many good compact/bridge cameras (world leader)
-Sony: 9 cameras, and soon many more (a290, a330, a450, a500, a550, a850, a900, NEX-3, NEX-5)
-Canon: 9 cameras (european names: 1000D, 450D, 500D, 550D, 50D, 7D, 5DMkII, 1DMkiV, 1DsMkIII)
-Nikon: 10 cameras (!!!) (D60, D3000, D5000, D90, D300, D300s, D700, D3, D3s, D3x)

Pentax is offering good products, but the choice is so small compared to other companies that people have more chance to find what they "exactly" want in other brands. And one more time, when you buy the bigger one (k7, equivalent of middle class in other brands), then you feel "trapped" because you cannot upgrade to any better machine. I do with my K20D.

Glasses

Since I expect a brand new body with a new mount, of course I expect them to release a semi-dozen of new lenses during the next year. People will want choice from Pentax, more than from Sony (P&S photographers, they just need a zoom to be happy). Which means at least 2 zooms, and a few primes.
Also I would announce this year a good wide angle for 645D camera. And make clear it will be released world wide soon (so people can start to save money).

And then?

With a new system, they must push in this way for a while, at least 2 years. That means I would not introduce a FF camera before 2 years, probably when Nikon will announce the D900. Instead, I would announce middle of next year a new 645D body, expend the model for worldwide distribution, and keep the 2nd one specifically for Japan. Higher or lower spec? I don't know. Maybe lower, to attract new amateurs. Or higher, if their is a need from professionals for such product.

Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 08-06-2010, 05:01 PM

Photokina 2010, Pentax and the full frame mystery
Posted By youky63

Replies: 727
Views: 130,974

I have read many arguments in this topic, but no one from "anti-FF" people convinced me.

-First of all, stop to argue that pentaxian crying for FF can go to 645D, that can offer an even better quality. This is a non sense sentence. Since 645D in not the same system as any K camera. Then, they also can go to Hasy or Mamiya. No difference. They will need new body AND new lenses. Furthermore, did you ever touched a 645D? I did. Last week. And believe me, it is clearly not the same way to take photography. Not only it is much more heavier. It is also so big that you would not want to keep it with you all during the day.

-Then, stop to make reference to Sony's a850/a900 sells as a reason to not go FF. Nobody (or at least not as much people as expected) buy Sony's FF camera, because they are... crap! Sure, they have plenty of pixels. But the noise is so strong, even at 400 isos, that you just cannot use this very high definition possibility. Also, who know the real sales in the world for these FF camera? In Japan, there is an other problem: the a850 doesn't exist. Making Sony FF option the most expensive option, with the most expensive body (compared to D700 and 5DMkII) and the most expensives lenses (most of them are called "zeiss", maybe a beginning of explaination). Another point is that nobody knows if Sony will continue to support his actual DSLR market, at least high end one. Alpha 700 is very old, and no replacement yet. FF doesn't sell well (I also guess). So, will Sony stay in the game? This is clearly not the recent release of 2 FF lenses that will tell us (since one is Zeiss, they would probably never design for APS-C, and the 2nd one is a 85mm, which seems to be very easy to design for FF and not much expensive than an APS-C design).

-then, the "FF has not many advantages compare to APS-C" arguments. People, stop to compare 2 year olds sensor design (FF) with the just released APS-C ones. Next generation of FF will be another big step forward. And I disagree when people say that Kx is already close to D700 in iso. Maybe image looks nice, but many details are gone (already true a middle iso setting, much more at high iso) and when Kx is set at high iso, do not check DR or you would cry compared to D700/5DMkII

-I would also like to add that a FF is not a Pro camera. D700 and 5DMkII are very popular, but not for pro. They shoot APS-C (big crop), APS-H (crop) or high end FF (comfort), but not that nuch with "affordable" FF bodies. They are design for enthusiasts. The one that want the bigger sensor possibly used on there actual lens system. And in a handy body. Many Pentaxian stopped to buy lenses because now they want a FF sensor.

Then, I have another question to people that always say FF is useless: do you know many people that went FF and were so disappointed by the IQ (or the non improvement of the IQ) that they decided to come back to APS-C bodies? On my side, no. No one. Never. All people that switch to FF were amazed by the quality they get. And don't even think one day to come back to APS-C. Maybe buy an APS-C body in complement for bird pictures, but not as a general purpose body. So, do you think all these people are so blind user that they just believe it is a better camera?...

I would like to thank FalconEye for this very nice article. And yes, I definitely think you must send it to Pentax, if possible some high rank marketting people (they are the ones that can decide to change the way, where the "market" is). But even if there is an effect, I will not enjoy it. End of year, as suggested by the FF opponents, I am switching to Canon to get many pixels + higher isos + higher DR. And also fast and silent AF system. Even if Pentax announce a FF for Photokina, it will not change anything. I don't see clearly the future of Pentax, and much less the future of a potential FF line up: what would happen if 1st body is a failure? I am planning to spend about 5000 dollars for a whole new system. Staying in Pentax do not let me save any dollar, since I don't have high end FF Pentax lens. So it would be the same price for other brands, where I know I can get a FF body, even in 10 years.

I think I will not be the only one to move. So I wish good luck to all of them.

PS: not only old people that started with FF film bodies want a digital FF camera. I started my dSLR life only 2 years ago. But now I want a better system. As many enthusiasts. And not just a small jump as any other APS-C camera can offer to me for the kind of pictures I am taking.

Forum: Pentax News and Rumors 07-27-2010, 08:39 PM

Potential ka-bosh on Pentax FF in the near future due to Sony rumor?
Posted By youky63

Replies: 235
Views: 39,197

They could even give it to be sure that everyone get one. But then, where is the profit? ;)
High end model of caamera are expensive to develop, because they are the ones introducing new thecnologies. When the price difference between a FF and an APS-C sensor will be close enough, camera's price will not be that much impacted by the kind of sensor inside. I guess that is Aristophanes's idea. And I totally agree with him.
Durng the last 2 years, DSLR market has evolved a lot. First by the release of small compact camera (Panasonic and Olympus m4/3, Sony NEX, Samsung NX). Then by the introduction of FF camera (canon 5DII, Nikon D700, Sony Alpha 850/900) that any enthusiast photographer can buy (today D700 cost less than 2000 dollars, the exact same price than D300s, in Japan).
And in the middle of that, Pentax is the only one to stick exclusively to APS-C. It is commonly said that a company that is not moving on is a dying company. I believe Pentax has (had, because probably revealed at Photokina) to do a choice. Are they going mainstream with a micro thing, where is the money today. Or are they going FF, where will be the money within a few years. They can't do both (alone, not talking about potential alliance) at the same time, each of them requesting new lines of lenses. Their choice to attack the MF market, let me think they are thinking to go FF. Many people say FF is a niche market with only 2% of global sales. Right. MF is even a much smaller market. And they make a lot of money with their cheap MF, simply because they developed it in parallel to their high end APS-C model (K7). Same electronics. They can do exactly the same for a FF body. Development cost would be really reduced compared to C and N. Then, of course do not expect to beat them on their strong points (AF, burst speed). But they can compete on IQ quality, which is, for me, the basics of... photography. :)

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