Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
The very popular (and colorful) Pentax K-x has received another series of color treatment updates, and is now available in pink, chocolate, olive and beige.
You can see the entire lineup of the K-x rainbow at the Pentax US webstore ($650 for body and lens).
Although, if you can live with black, you can get the K-x with lens for under $500 now.
Is a Pentax mirrorless camera just around the corner to compete with the lineup from the likes of Panasonic, Olympus, Sony and Samsung?
If CitiGroup’s recent report on Pentax’s parent company, Hoya, is to be believed, then the answer is: Yes.
The following quote appeared in the CitiGroup report at issue:
“Hoya plans to release a mirrorless camera under Pentax brand that is distinct from models already on the market.” – CitiGroup
With Photokina 2010 just around the corner, we could see this new camera sooner rather than later.
[Mirrorlessrumors via Photo Rumors]
In perhaps some of the most exciting news of the week, the Pentax Optio W90 is now available in orange (in addition to green and black). While Pentax’s press statement failed to reveal the reasons for the delay of an orange camera, rumors continue to circulate that the long wait for an orange W90 was due to an actual shortage of the color orange, which was in turn caused by a less than stellar year on the color wheel, along with the fact that it is no longer receiving compliments from blue.
Additional sources cited fears that UT Vol fans would lose such a camera in or around the checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium. Local Best Buy stores in Knoxville, Tennessee report that consumers are already forming lines outside for the anticipated July release of the orange W90 at $329.95. You can also check availability on Amazon.com.
In other news, your refrigerator is running.
Sigma has announced that its 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM lens will now be available for Sony and Pentax DSLRs. The lens should be available for both mounts later this month.
Check availability on Amazon below.
Sigma 120-400mm DG OS HSM for Sony DSLRs
Sigma 120-400mm DG OS HSM for Pentax DSLRs
More details in the press release below. [Read more…]
The Pentax K-x has become a hit entry-level camera, and has been available in black, white, red and navy blue since its US release. However, it’s also been available in a ton of colors in Japan. Now, it seems US shooters will get a few more color options for the Pentax K-x – 4, to be exact – bright blue, orange, green and purple.
I’m generally not a fan of a DSLR in any other color but black; however, that orange camera is drawing me in. Go Vols!
What about you? Which color? And why?
In any color, the K-x will continue to retail at $649.95 as a kit with an 18-55mm lens. The new color options aren’t available on B&H Photo, Amazon or Adorama at the time of this post; however, you can get a pre-order at Pentax USA’s website if you can handle the wait.
Pentax has issued updates for four of its DSLRs – the K-m/K2000, K20D, K200D and K10D. The new firmware is designed for “Improved stability of recording image for some SDHC Memory card.”
You can download the firmware at Pentax’s website via the following links.
Pentax K-m/K2000 Firmware Ver. 1.11
Pentax K20D Firmware Ver. 1.04
Sigma has announced the availability of its APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM lens for Sony and Pentax DSLRs. The lens has previously been available in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts for around $1000.
More details in the press release below. [Read more…]
The Pentax 645D is a medium format, interchangeable lens camera. It features a 40MP Kodak CCD image sensor measuring 44mm x 33mm, and a 14-bit A/D converter. The 645D offers a sensitivity range of ISO 200-1000, which is expandable to ISO 100 and ISO 1600. The 645D also features an 11-point AF system with 9 cross-type sensors positioned in the middle, and a 77-segment multi-pattern metering system. The 645D’s optical viewfinder offers 98% frame coverage. Additionally, the 645D features a 3-inch LCD with 920k dot resolution. The 645D stores images via dual SD card slots, which accept SDHC cards (but not the newer SDXC cards).
Initially, the Pentax 645D will only be available in Japan at an initial retail price of ¥850,000, which is a bit under $10,000 USD at the time of the camera’s official announcement.
While the Pentax Optio W90 has just been announced, I had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with a preproduction model of the new camera at CES 2010 last month. For my first impressions on the 12MP deathproof camera, keep reading. [Read more…]
The Pentax X90 is a 12.1MP superzoom point and shoot camera. The X90 features a 26x optical zoom lens, sensor-shift Shake Reduction and a 2.7-inch LCD.
The Pentax X90 should be available in April 2010 at an initial retail price of $399.95.
More details in the press release below.