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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
08-20-2020, 07:05 PM
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The focus patent appears to refer to a stacked sensor where one layer is for focusing and one layer for traditional image capture. Rather than having the "focus pixels" on the same layer as the imaging one. The challenges addressed by the patent include adjusting for the effects of both colour and lens performance on the focussing.
As always the patent leaves out enough detail to ensure some ambiguity remains. But if implemented ideally, it seems a good idea - phase detection autofocus performance with the mirror up ("live view"). This, and the improved pentaprism, shows there is plenty of (meaningful) innovation left in DSLRs.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
08-27-2020, 07:26 AM
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Some quick snaps in the garden today. The lens is the original DA70mm limited. I added an old close up filter from my film days.
  
Shot as JPEG at 6MP, transferred to ipad via Toshiba Air WiFi card, and uploaded.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
08-27-2020, 06:36 AM
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Release date is November 30 in Japan
Amazon Price is ¥5370 (about 20% off list) for the base (without USB-C power supply) for use with your own USB-C cable and charger.
Or you can buy the additional K-BC177J USB-C power supply and cable for another ¥12,530
Supports D-LI90 and D-LI90P
Approximate charging time - USB cable charging: about 4.5 hours, fast charging (when using K-BC177J): about 2.5 hours
Pictures attached
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
08-20-2020, 09:31 PM
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A long series (check sig...) of happy Pentax ownership before I ended up via a massive loop encompassing many Nikons including the D750 and D500, back to a K5.
Last year, I traded my K5 for a KP, and regretted it. The KP can make fine photos but I just didn't get on with the ergonomics. I owned all the grips. The wheels somehow annoyed me too. I realised the K5 (and the K7 I owned before it) fit me better.
Rather than buy another K5, I tried and bought the K-S1. It is very good! I actually prefer its ergonomics and grip to the KP. It works with my Astrotracer too. But eventually, the lightweight build proved a little too lightweight, and I cracked the case.
So that went, and I replaced it with a lovely K3 "Premium Edition" in silver. Found one, boxed including the matching grip and special strap, with ~1800 clicks for under $400. Familiar ergonomics and build quality, excellent images. I have a fast card in Slot 1 for RAWs and a Toshiba wi-fi card in Slot 2 for lower resolution JPEGs. These can be sent to my phone easily for quick checks or sharing.
I really love it.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
08-15-2020, 07:05 PM
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I suspect K-4, based on the serial numbers of the four tested units in the FCC submission. "PP4-2 #196" etc. "PP" being "Pre Production", "4" being the model, and #196 (and the three other numbered units) being the serial.
Regarding one reading of "4" being the same as "death" in Japanese, while this is true, it has many other readings too. And there are many current and classic cameras (and other items) with "4" in the name, some of them quite successful 😁.
Also, after quarter of a century living in Japan, I have never seen a building here lacking a fourth floor...
S
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
05-17-2013, 05:13 PM
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I owned the Pentax K7 and K10D plus about 10 Pentax lenses and a bunch of Pentax accesories. I recently sold the lot. I considered Canon and Nikon DSLRs as replacements. I have no interest in MILC having owned Panasonic GF1, GF3, G1 and Olympus EPL2 and found them all wanting. I have a Ricoh GRD4 for compact, and for me, a DSLR is the right choice as a complement.
I got out of Pentax because on reviewing my photos, I found the ones taken in 2006 with the Nikon D40 I owned previously were amongst my best. I also, if I may be frank, got extremely tired of the online "community" of Pentax users, a core of whom who seem to revel in their own misery and moaning.
I had a good look at the Canons and almost bought a 5D. It's a terrific camera still. I still had some Nikon glass from my D40 and earlier Nikon film days though, so an old Nikon D50 was purchased. It's Nikon's oldest consumer DSLR, with a 6MP APS-C CCD sensor capable of gorgeous images, a 2000-shot battery, and the smallest that has both a top LCD and focussing motor. These features are now reserved only for Nikon's mid and top tiers, which are larger. I'd skip all those though and get a D600 full-frame in the future. All my Nikon lenses are "full frame" so I feel perfectly well set up. Also, unlike the Canon, all the vintage Nikon lenses are compatible and I have ready access to these at good prices in Tokyo. The D50 may be old ( I bought mine used, mint and boxed, for less than US$100 ) but it focusses more accurately than my old K7, exposes more accurately, and has a 1/500 flash sync. It's a great camera. I use it with an old screw-drive AF-D 50mm 1.8 and the famous old Tokina 28-70 2.8 mainly.
No regrets from leaving Pentax. I have as much interest in brand loyalty as a photon :-)
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-15-2013, 07:44 AM
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Has all the makings of an instant classic. With Ricoh's history of superb long term support for the GR, it's a not a leap of faith for potential purchasers either. Have to wonder about Canikon's commitment to such "novelty" items where they pose a threat to their DSLR ecosystems.
( Not sure Ricoh need worry about Pentax DSLRs, this GRD will probably be the model that buys Pentax some time and money to work on those :lol: )
Also interesting seeing the promo video and how recently and close to my house some of those photos were taken. The one below is about 5 minutes walk away from where I am typing this. It can only have been taken in the last 2 weeks, when the cherry blossom was in flower. I was there too once or twice ( with my K7 ) but didn't notice any furtive filming happening :)
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-30-2013, 01:32 AM
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I just did exactly that too, and can report the same outcome. The 10D CCD output is beautiful.
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
10-13-2012, 01:28 AM
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Grigoris
Shinjuku has some excellent used camera shops ( as I suspect you know ! )
Apart from the well known ones ( Lemon, Kimura, Map ) I go to two often, both of which must have over a 100 used Pentax lenses in at any time, mainly manual focus M42 and K mount.
They are : 新宿中古カメラ ( Shinjuku Used Camera ) and Camera Box. Both of these are within 25m of Map Camera. The first is one street down, towards the post office, on the second floor near a shoe shop ( ABC Mart ). Look for a yellow sign. The second is on the same street as Map Camera, on the corner close to the large road, in the basement. I got my recent haul of lenses and accessories at 新宿中古カメラ but there are plenty left !
For what it's worth I also popped into Map Camera Shinjuku today, third floor, and they have a reasonable collection of the more recent lenses. For example they had about a dozen used 40mm Limiteds.
Happy hunting !
Paul
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