Ricoh has launched the Pentax 645Z, a medium-format camera with a 51.4 megapixel CMOS sensor. Boasting an articulated 3.2-inch LCD, top ISO of 204,800, 3 fps continuous shooting, and 1080/60i video, the 645Z is cold-resistant, dustproof and weather-resistant with 76 weather-seals. It’s also compatible with the Pentax FluCard, offering wireless remote control and image sharing from the camera to a smartphone, tablet or computer.
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Ricoh Imaging will soon be offering a limited edition Pentax Q7 Premium Kit. The kit includes a black Q7, four lenses (standard prime, standard zoom, tele zoom, wide zoom) plus four hoods, a polarizing filter, and a camera bag that will surely be noticed. Only 1000 kits will be available worldwide, and those in the U.S. can pick up one later this month for $ 1199.95.
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Ricoh Imaging Company has announced an advertorial feature on cnn.com called ‘Spherical Report 360’, where 360 people will be selected to receive a free Ricoh Theta spherical camera to shoot local news and events. Images taken with the Theta will then be judged for a Pentax K-3 grand prize. To be considered for a free Theta camera visit the Spherical Report 360 website for application guidelines. Applications will be accepted between March 27, 2014 through April 10, 2014. Learn more
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Ricoh Imaging has announced it will be showing four ‘reference products’ at the forthcoming CP+ trade show in Yokohama, Japan. The company’s Pentax brand has previously shown early prototypes of future models at the show. This year’s products include a CMOS-based 645D medium format camera with tilting LCD, scheduled for launch in Spring 2014, along with an ultra-wide-angle zoom for the 645 system. Also on show will be a telephoto macro prime lens for the small sensor Q-mount system and a DSLR accessory for making digital captures from slide and negative film.
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Ricoh has announced the HD Pentax DA AF 1.4X AW Rear Converter – a weather-resistant 1.4x teleconverter. It’s designed to maintain autofocus both with lenses that use built-in focus motors, and those which are driven from the camera body. It’ll be available in March 2014 for a price of $ 599.95 / £379.99. See full details, including a list of compatible lenses
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Ricoh has announced the WG-20, an inexpensive rugged compact that’s waterproof to 10m/33ft, freezeproof to -10C/+14F, and able to survive a 1.5m/5ft drop. Sporting a 14 megapixel CCD sensor, it provides a 28-140mm 5x optical zoom lens and 720p HD movie recording. It’s a continuation of Pentax’s WG-line (minus the ‘Pentax’ logo), and presumably a WG-10 replacement, though the cameras appear to share the same sensor, lens and rugged specifications. Available in March, it will ship in red or white for $ 199.95. Learn more
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The Ricoh WG-4 and WG-4 GPS update the previously Pentax-branded rugged WG-series as step-up models featuring a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor, 25-100mm equiv. F2-4.9 lens and sensor-shift image stabilization. The two models are nearly identical with the exception of the WG-4 GPS’ built-in location tagging capability and front-facing display, and are introduced with a number of mount accessories for action videography and photography. Both cameras are waterproof to 14m/45ft, coldproof to -10C/+14F, crushproof to 220lbf and shockproof from 2m/7ft. The WG-4 and WG-4 GPS will sell for $ 329.95 and $ 379.95 respectively. Learn more
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Ricoh has updated the suite of apps provided with the Theta spherical image camera, to allow users to post images from the Theta to Google Maps and Google+. According to Ricoh, these new abilities are a result of collaboration with Google to make the Theta’s images compatible with Photo Sphere XMP, Google’s standard for panoramic images. Click through for more details.
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Ricoh has released firmware version 3.00 for its GR compact camera. The list of updated features includes two options for folder name settings, ability to develop RAW images in different aspect ratios, and customization to assign various AFL Focus Settings to the AF button when the AF function switching lever is set to AEL/AFL (previously only Spot AF was available). Get the update
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Ricoh has announced the PENTAX-08 WIDE ZOOM lens for Q-mount interchangeable lens cameras. The ultra-wide-angle compact weighs in at 75g and when mounted to the Pentax Q7 provides an equivalent focal length of 17.5mm to 27mm (in 35mm format). The lens also comes with a built-in neutral density filter. Click through for the full press release and details.
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