SLR-Gear reviews the Pentax 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited SMC DA lens and after analyzing it recommend it. The lens produced extremely sharp images and chromatic aberration was negligible. However according to the reviewer, the wide-angle lens produced soft images at times and the macro performance was disappointing
Curious about the newly announced Pentax K-7 DSLR? Then head over here to see the official sample images taken by the DSLR. The images have been taken at ISO 100 and from the following lenses; with three different lenses, the smc PENTAX-DA 55mmF1.4 SDM (pictured), the smc PENTAX-DA 50-135mmF2.8ED[IF]SDM and the smc PENTAX-DA 12-24mmF4ED AL[IF].
The Pentax K-7 digital SLR is official now. Touting a 14.6-megapixel resolution, the K-7 supports Live View and also features 720p movie recording capability. Other features include; a newly developed DR (Dust Removal) II mechanism, PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) II imaging engine, optical viewfinder featuring approx. 100% field of view and new 11-point wide-frame AF module with 9 cross sensors. For the body alone, one will have to shell out $1.299.95.
According to a teaser on the Pentax German website, the imaging giants will unveil their new K series Pentax DSLR on May 20th at 4pm CET. No further information is available as of now.
Canon is not the only one with a new rebate programme. Pentax has also announced one which is effective between May 1 to May 9, 2009. The instant savings consist of a $30.00 USD instant rebate on the PENTAX X70 Megazoom camera and a $ 50.00 USD savings on the PENTAX K2000 digital SLR single lens kit.
A new firmware update is available for the Pentax K20D DSLR. Version 1.03 improves the on board Shake Reduction (SR) apparatus and also improves the overall functionality. Download it from here.
Pentax Imaging has announced a new Instant Rebate Program on select digital cameras. Effective till April 11 instant savings range from $20.00 to $50.00 USD on three compact digital cameras and one digital SLR kit. More information about the program and these products is available at www.pentaximaging.com.
The nightmare continues for businesses all over the world. Due to the global recession, Hoya which has merged with Pentax will cut the Japanese workforce in its digital camera operations to less than 400 employees from the current 800. According to the financial daily Nikkei:"It has yet to decide how many of the roughly 300 targeted employees will be let go,"
The Pentax X70 is now available for pre-order. According to the Pentax website, the camera will ship within the next ten days. The Pentax X70 is retailing for US$400.
The smc PENTAX-DA15mm F4 ED AL Limited is a new ultra-wide angle lens for Pentax digital SLR cameras. The lens offers the equivalent to a 23mm angle of view in the 35mm format, making it ideal for architecture and landscape photography.
Specifications
Focal Length 15mm
(Equivalent to 23mm in 35mm format)
Aperture F4
Minimum Aperture F22
Lens Construction 8 elements in 6 groups
Angle of View 86° (with PENTAX D-SLR camera body)
Minimum Focusing Distance 0.18m (0.59 ft.)
Maximum Magnification 0.15X
Filter Diameter 49mm
Diaphragm Control Fully Automatic
Number of Diaphragm Blades 7
Lens aperture ring None
Tripod adapter None
Lens Hood Built-in Flower-Shaped Lens Hood
Lens Cap Screw-in Lens Cap
Lens Case Lens Case DA-70
Maximum Diameter & Minimum Length 63mm x 39.5mm (2.5 inch x 1.58 inch)
Weight 212g / 7.47 oz.
Remarks * Quick-Shift Focus System
The newly announced Pentax X70 marks the imaging giant's entry into the ultra-zoom market. Equipped with a 24x optical lens (26-624mm) lens, the X70 the 12-megapixel shooter also features sensor-shift image stabilization technology. The Pentax X70 will cost £369.99.
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's white K2000 DSLR is now in stock and if you fancy this white beauty then head over here to purchase it. It ships in one day and is retailing for $679.95.
What's In The Box:
* DA-L 18-55 Lens
* DA-L 50-200 Lens
* USB Cable I-USB17
* Strap O-ST84
* Hot Shoe Cover FK
* Eyecup FQ
* Body Mount Cover
* 4 AA Energizer Lithium Batteries
* Software CD-ROM S-SW84
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.
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.
If the white Pentax K2000 caught your fancy then head over to the Pentax store to pre-order it. It’s retailing for $679.95 and should be available by mid February. The limited edition camera comes bundled with a white smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens, and a white smc PENTAX DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6 AL lens.
DigitalCameraReview.com reviewed the Pentax K2000 DSLR recently and their analysis can be read on their website. The entry level DSLR was found to be snappy and the in-camera processing options are a great addition according to the reviewer. The user interface was also considered intuitive however the continuous shooting performance mode and the lack of manual DOF preview disappointed the reviewer.
Firmware version 1.10 for K-m / K2000 SLR DSLR is now available for download. The update adds the following functions:
1) Added selection of area (Square) to Cropping in the Playback-1 menu
2) When Digital Filter is assigned to the Help button in the [Rec.Mode 3] menu, Digital filter can be set by pressing Help button in playback mode.
3) Added [Custom] to Digital filter in Capture mode. Digital filter can be customized and saved a filter to your own preferences.
Pentax has announced a white version of its entry-level K2000 DSLR. The limited edition camera comes bundled with a white smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens, and a white smc PENTAX DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6 AL lens. The limited edition white PENTAX K2000 kit will be available in February 2009 however there is no word on pricing.
The Pentax K-m DSLR, which is also known as the Pentax K2000 has been reviewed by the folks over at Photography Blog. The DSLR scored brownie points for its great image quality and extremely intuitive interface. The camera ‘s rear LCD screen , its dedicated Help buttons and logically positioned controls further enhance the photography experience.
Conclusion:
“With an aggressive launch price of £399 / $699 with 18-55mm kit lens (and flash in the US), the K-m continues the recent Pentax tradition of producing well-thought out DSLRs that offer great image quality. The new Pentax K-m may not feature any great surprises, but it does offer an easy path into the often-confusing world of SLR photography.”
The Pentax K200D, which hoped to capture the entry-level DSLR market, has been discontinued in Japan. No official reasons have been cited by the company however many see the release of the new Pentax K2000 as the main reason.
There is a new Pentax Christmas cashback promotional offer. Applicable to only UK Pentax users, the offer entails a cashback on all on the Pentax digital SLR cameras and lenses bought between 1 November 2008 and 31 January 2009.
· £30 cashback is available on the brand new Pentax K-m
· 50 cashback is available on the K200D
· £100 cashback is available on the K20D
· The cashback on Pentax’s wide range of lenses range from £25-£50
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.
The newly announced PENTAX AF160FC dedicated auto macro flash has been designed for Pentax DSLR cameras. The flash utilizes the automatic exposure-control system of PENTAX digital SLR cameras and is ideal for advanced close-up shots.
Main Features
(1) Uniform lighting on the subject to minimise unwanted shadows, making it ideal for close-up shots;
(2) P-TTL auto flash system to consistently ensure correct exposure levels, by measuring the flash’s pre-discharge with the camera’s image sensors and assessing the subject’s lighting condition with the camera’s multi-pattern metering system;
(3) Maximum guide number of 16 (at ISO 100/m);
(4) User-friendly operation with a single control dial on the back panel to simplify flash-mode changes and discharge-level adjustments;
(5) Advanced flash applications, including contrast-control auto flash and independent switching between two flash bulbs.
Tim Barribeau from DCI got a chance to play with the Pentax K2000 DSLR at Photokina 2008 in Cologne. You can catch the First Impressions Review here, which talks about the K2000 intuitive interface and solid body. For the uninitiated, the K2000 kit will debut in November 2008 for $699.99.
The Pentax smc DA-L 18-55mm and the smc DA-L 50-200mm are two new DA L-series interchangeable zoom lenses which also got unveiled by Pentax recently. The compact smc PENTAX-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6AL lens has focal lengths from 27.5mm to 84.5mm (in the 35mm format) covering wide-angle to medium-telephoto ranges. The smc PENTAX-DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6ED lens is a super compact telephoto lens with focal lengths from 76.5mm to 307mm (in the 35mm format). The K-m will retail at £399.99 with smc DA-L 18-55 or £499.99 with smc DA-L 18-55 + 50-200mm.
The smc PENTAX-DA*60-250mm F4ED[IF] SDM and the smc PENTAX-DA*55mm F1.4 SDM lenses are two new interchangeable lenses. Both lenses are dust/water-resistant and feature the Pentax Quick-Shift Focus system for instant switching to manual-focus operation.
The smc Pentax-DA* 60-250mm F4ED[IF] SDM is a telephoto zoom lens with a high zoom ratio (92-383mm), where as the smc Pentax-DA*55mm F1.4 SDM is a compact medium-telephoto lens having a large maximum aperture and a focal length of 80mm. The smc PENTAX-DA* 60-250mm F4ED[IF] SDM will retail at around £899.99. Price to be confirmed on the smc PENTAX-DA*55mm F1.4 SDM Lens.
Pentax unveiled their new DSLR at the Photokina 2008 in Cologne. The Pentax K2000 digital SLR is a 10.2-megapixel camera that comes equipped with features like; RAW Support, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, built-in sensor-shift image stabilization and a sensor-shaking dust removal.
Targeted at beginners, the K2000’s kit lens is the smc Pentax DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL and Pentax has also included the AF200FG external flash in the kit. No word on pricing or availability.
The Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 lens which is available in Pentax and Nikon mounts was recently reviewed by SLR Gear. The lens managed to impress since sharpness was found to be “excellent” and it performed really well after ƒ/2.8. While the manual focus control was smooth the lens disappoints at its widest aperture, the 50mm ƒ/1.4.
Excerpt from conclusion:
“The problem in recommending this lens is that there wasn't anything wrong with existing solutions for Pentax and Nikon, which means the Zeiss would have to be something really special to justify the higher price point and lack of autofocus. I'm not convinced the Zeiss 50mm ƒ/1.4 quite reaches ''that'' level of lens; certain aspects of it are very nice, such as its smooth manual focus control and performance after ƒ/2.8.”.
DigitalTrends reviewed the Pentax K20D DSLR and straight away liked it for its weather-resistant body. The K20D may not be the fastest DSLR on the block but redeems itself by producing good images and by using AA Batteries. Calling it a “perfect camera” for the amateur photographer, the K20D is given a thumbs up by DigitalTrends.
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Curious about the newly announced Pentax K-7 DSLR? Then head over .png)
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The nightmare continues for businesses all over the world. Due to the global recession, Hoya which has merged with Pentax will cut the Japanese workforce in its digital camera operations to less than 400 employees from the current 800. According to the financial daily Nikkei:"It has yet to decide how many of the roughly 300 targeted employees will be let go,"
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Pentax unveiled their new DSLR at the Photokina 2008 in Cologne. The Pentax K2000 digital SLR is a 10.2-megapixel camera that comes equipped with features like; RAW Support, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, built-in sensor-shift image stabilization and a sensor-shaking dust removal.
The Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 lens which is available in Pentax and Nikon mounts was recently reviewed by
