Ricoh has announced two new zoom lenses for Pentax K-mount DSLRs, the HD Pentax-D FA * 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW and HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW. Both are designed to cover a full-frame sensor and are built to withstand exposure to dust and moisture. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
And so it was written that since the beginning of recorded time, Pentax shooters have predicted the release of a full-frame K-mount DSLR. Today, their prayers have been answered, as Ricoh has announced the development of exactly that. The company didn’t share a whole lot of detail, other than to say that it will be compatible with DA lenses via a crop function and that it will be available by the end of 2015. Click through for (very little) additional information
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Sigma has acknowledged a problem that Pentax users are suffering from when the company’s 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro HSM Contemporary lens is used on Pentax DSLR bodies with in-camera image stabilization activated. To rectify the issue the lens manufacturer has promised a firmware update for the lens, but hasn’t yet specified a release date. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Thanks to a beta firmware version, Promote Control adds support for the Pentax 645Z. The remote shutter control connects to compatible cameras via USB and offers a variety of shooting features including HDR bracketing of up to 45 images, timelapse and long exposure shooting. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Pentax owner Ricoh has released very limited details of a DSLR and a collection of three lenses that it says it will launch in the future. Reference images that accompany the announcement appear to show a mid-range APS-C DSLR that the company says will feature a CMOS sensor. This may arrive in stores in spring this year. The camera is shown with a new 18-50mm f/4-5.6 collapsible zoom lens attached – which will be available at about the same time. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
The Pentax 645Z is a highly sought-after camera, offering 50MP resolution from its medium-format CMOS sensor, and a range of features closer to those of a 35mm DSLR than a traditional digital MF camera. We’ve been working with the 645Z for a little while, running it though our studio tests to see what it’s capable of. As part of this process we handed the camera off to David Wentworth, a local Seattle studio photographer, for his opinion. Our very own Sam Spencer – DPReview studio manager – provides another perspective. Click through to read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Ricoh’s Pentax 645Z offers a level of consumer-friendliness previously unseen in its class. The 50MP CMOS medium format sensor is complemented by a number of features from the K-3 DSLR, including a 27-point AF system with 25 cross-type points. We’ve added it to our studio scene tool so you can compare its results to the likes of the Nikon D810. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Ricoh Imaging is set to introduce three new colors for the company’s Pentax K-S1 DSLR camera in what it calls the ‘Sweets Collection’. Already available in 12 different main body colors, the 20-million-pixel APS-C camera will now also come with a white body featuring cyan, yellow or magenta colored panels. The company has named these Strawberry Cake, Blue Cream Soda and Lime Pie, and each features the trademark colored light strip on the handgrip of the original K-S1 that was launched back in August.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
The night sky holds wonders for photographers. If you live near or have access to a site where there are dark skies; dark enough to see the Milky Way, it’s possible to explore our galaxy with your camera.
In Pentax 645z Astrophotography Using the iOptron SkyTracker I describe how to produce extreemly high quality deep-sky images. There are many approaches to this. I chose to use the new Pentax 645z with its very high image quality as well as extreemly clean high ISO capability. A moderately priced tracking accessory and a sold tripod and clear skies are otherwise all that’s needed.
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The Luminous Landscape – What’s New
Ricoh Imaging has released new firmware for its Pentax 645Z medium format camera to make it compatible with the latest version of the company’s IMAGE Transmitter software. Firmware version 1.10, which is available to download by users via the Ricoh website, allows Pentax’s second digital medium format camera to be controlled when tethered to a PC via USB cable, so images can be saved directly from the camera into a chosen folder as they are taken. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)