Pentax recently announced a new limited edition version of the K20D. The Pentax K20D Titanium Colour Premium Kit includes the K20D body and a D-BG2 vertical grip that have been finished in a shade of titanium. No word on pricing or availability and for now the limited edition will be available only in Japan.
Nikon should take a page out of Pentax’s book. Instead of hiking prices (like Nikon) , Pentax has been slashing the prices of their products. Effective immediately, the MAP price of the PENTAX K20D body and two K20D lens kit configurations have been reduced by $200.00 USD. The new MAP pricing is as follows:
Pentax has announced a significant price drop on their K Series. The PENTAX K20D digital SLR body alone and all other K20D body and lens configurations will have an in-store instant $100.00 Consumer Rebate. PENTAX is also extending the K20D FREE Three Year Warranty (one year standard, two years extended) on all K20Ds purchased by March 31, 2009.
The new prices:
* PENTAX K2000 two lens kit (PENTAX K2000 body, smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens, and an smc PENTAX DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6 AL lens) will be $649.95.
* PENTAX K2000 single lens kit (PENTAX K2000 body, smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens) will be $549.95.
* PENTAX K2000 body only is $499.95.
The PENTAX K20D digital SLR camera body has dropped to $999.95 and the company also dropped the price of PENTAX Optio W60 digital camera to $299.95. More details are available at www.pentaxslr.com.
A new firmware update for the Pentax K20D is available for download here. Version 1.01 minimizes the noise when taking picture with 2 seconds self-timer mode. For more information visit the download page.
Recently Imaging-Resource posted some test images from the Pentax K20D SLR and noticed “hot pixels”. This bug has been now confirmed by Pentax USA who attribute this phenomena to the latest firmware and say it only occurs when the 2-second self-timer is employed. They are working on it and for more information head over here.
Silkypix Developer Studio 3.0 which is a RAW converter software now ships with support for the newly released DSLR’s like Canon Digital Rebel XSi / EOS 450D, Pentax K20D and Sony A350. The Version 3.0.18.3 is available for both Windows and Mac platform and is retailing for $149.00.
New Features in Version 3.0
Many new features are included in Developer Studio Version 3:
* Differences in Image Quality: Improved development engine
* Differences in Tone: The nonlinear processing components of output gamma and tone curve levels have changed.
* Differences in Highlight rendering: The new development engine uses high graduation sequencing to aid silky smooth highlight recovery.
* Differences in Parameters: Sub controls, sharpness controls, noise controls, highlight controls and colourspace have changed.
Pentax recently 
Silkypix Developer Studio 3.0
