Ricoh has announced a ‘Limited Edition’ GR camera, which features a ‘high-end’ design plus bonus accessories. The Limited Edition GR’s magnesium-alloy body comes in a ‘metallic vintage green wave-tone finish’ and features a ‘marbleized ebony grip patterned in burl wood’. To sweeten the deal, Ricoh is including a lens hood as well as a leather case and strap, all of which complement the camera’s color scheme. Click through for a closer look.
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Ricoh has launched the HD Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR, a telephoto zoom that’s weathersealed to complement the company’s recent SLRs. It also gains Pentax’s latest ‘High Definition’ coating to minimize flare and ghosting. Aside from that, the specifications are practically identical to the existing smc DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED. It’ll be on sale in November 2013 for a suggested retail price of $ 449.95 / £399.99.
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Ricoh has announced the Pentax K-3 – a 24 megapixel enthusiast APS-C DSLR. In addition to the higher pixel count, the range-topping camera gains a 27-point autofocus system and a more advanced 86,000 pixel metering sensor, compared with the K-5 II. Rather than offering versions with an without an optical low-pass filter, the company has found a way to selectively use the image stabilization system to mimic its effect. It also offers twin SD card slots and USB 3.0 connection. Click through to find out more.
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Ricoh has released firmware v2.03 for its GR enthusiast compact. The list of updated features includes support for Raw file transfer via Eye-Fi card, the ability to use 1/2500 sec shutter speed with maximum aperture and a 47mm-equivalent crop mode. Also new is a ‘Maximum Aperture Priority’ setting available in Program and Manual exposure modes. Click through for a link to download the latest firmware version.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Ricoh has unveiled their new Theta digital camera, which can take 360-degree panoramas with its two ultra-wide-angle lenses. The stylish and thin Theta can be controlled via your iOS device after you’ve downloaded the appropriate app. There’s no live preview of the photo you’re about to take, so you have to cross your fingers and hope for the best. If you’re using your smartphone to capture the image, the photo will be automatically downloaded to your mobile device. Click through for more details – and samples – on connect.dpreview.com.
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Ricoh has announced the Ricoh HZ15, a 15x compact superzoom that will only be sold in Europe. Though it isn’t sold under the Pentax name, it bears a striking resemblance to Optio compacts of recent years. It features a 16 megapixel sensor, 24-360mm equivalent zoom lens, 720p HD video and sensor-shift ‘SR’ shake reduction (terminology definitely borrowed from Pentax cameras). Click through for more details.
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Ricoh has announced the AF540FGZ II and AF360FGZ II Pentax-branded flash units. Both are updates to existing models, now boasting weather-sealed construction to match Pentax’s line of weatherized DSLRs. The new flash units also feature built-in LED lights, intended for video recording. The AF540FGZ II offers a guide number of 54 at ISO 100/ft (178 ft) and the AF360FGZ II has a guide number of 36 at ISO 100/m (118 ft). Click through for the full press release.
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Ricoh Imaging has announced an updated set of Pentax DA Limited primes, with improved lens coatings and circular aperture diaphragms. Based on the existing 15mm F4, 21mm F3.2, 35mm F2.8 Macro, 40mm F2.8 and 70mm F2.4 designs, the ‘HD’ versions gain Pentax’s multi-layer HD (High Definition) coating, promising reduced flare and ghosting, and include diaphragms that are completely rounded at large aperture settings to give attractive background blur. The lenses will all available in September 2013, in a choice of silver or black. Click through for more details, including pricing.
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Ricoh has released firmware v2.30 for its GR Digital IV enthusiast compact. The latest update is the fifth for the GRD IV, and adds a couple of features, slightly modifies the camera’s behavior and fixes some minor bugs. The latest update brings the white balance options of the GRD IV into line with the more recent, large sensor, GR model, for which Ricoh has also said it will provide function-enhancing firmware.
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Hot on the heels of Carl Zeiss’s decision to become simply Zeiss, Pentax Ricoh has decided that from August 1st it will be known simply as Ricoh. It’s not all bad news for Pentax fans though – the brand name will continue to be used on the company’s SLRs and interchangeable lens cameras. Meanwhile the Ricoh name will be used for compact cameras and, cryptically, ‘new technological innovations’.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)