Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
The Pentax D FA MACRO 100mm f/2.8 WR lens features a weather-resistant construction, which works hand-in-hand with weather resistant DSLRs like the Pentax K-7.
The new lens will ship in January 2010 at an initial retail price of $849.95. Check availability on Amazon.com.
More details in the press release below.
Sigma has announced the 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM lens for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax and Sigma mounts. The addition of optical stabilization and HSM focus motor will make the new 17-70mm an attractive carry-around lens for crop-sensor DSLRs.
No word on price or release date yet. Check availability on Amazon.com.
More details in the press release below. [Read more…]
Pentax has issued a firmware update for the K-x DSLR. The firmware update version 1.01 address the following issues:
To download or learn more about the firmware update, visit Pentax’s website.
UPDATE 12/3/09: Image scans from the Pentax 645D manual have been removed by request and as a courtesy to those involved. However, it wasn’t like this was Pentax’s best kept secret in the first place, given the Pentax 645D patent application filed in 2008.
The Pentax 645D has been in the rumor mill for a long time; however, the buzz over this camera has grown over the course of this year.
It looks like part of the camera manual has leaked online, along with rumors of an early-2010 appearance, perhaps around PMA 2010.
Rumored specs include a 39.5-megapixel sensor, and you can see from the manual scan that SD cards and the DNG raw format are in the mix.
[xitek forums via Photo Rumors]
Pentax is offering a $100 prepaid VISA card when customers purchase a qualifying lens with the 14.6-megapixel Pentax K-7 DSLR.
You can buy up to 5 lenses with a new Pentax K-7 and receive a total of (5) $100 prepaid VISA cards. Obviously, you can buy more, but only 5 of them will qualify for the rebate. This promotion is set to expire January 15, 2010. The rebate form can be downloaded here.
The qualifying lenses are listed below. [Read more…]
RitzCamera.com (not the bankrupt brick & mortar stores) is clearing out some Pentax stock. I checked on a few of the prices and it seems like a pretty good deal for those of you Pentax shooters out there.
There are DSLRs (the K20D seems to be discontinued at most retailers), point and shoot cameras, lenses, flashes, batteries, grips, etc. in the clearance. Here’s the link.
The Pentax K-x DSLR is geared toward entry level users. It has a 12.4MP CMOS sensor and a large number of higher end features. Additionally, the camera will come in black, white, red and navy.
The K-x continues on the for the Pentax K2000. The K-x has a one-handed shooting design is targeted to users stepping up from a point and shoot digital camera to their first digital SLR. Along with the 12.4MP CMOS sensor, it has a 2.7 inch LCD screen, Live View, face detection, 720p HD video capabilities shooting at 24p, HDR bracketing, 4.7 fps, 11 point autofocus, and uses AA batteries.
Check availability for the Pentax K-x at the following online retailers:
Along with the K-x, PENTAX announced the smc PENTAX DA L 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED super-telephoto zoom lens. This lens will be exclusive to a K-x Twin Lens Kit package consisting of a K-x body, this new lens and the smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens.
The K-x will ship in October with three kit options:
Photography Bay (hands-on)
For now, it looks like Pentax has a real winner on its hands. If the K-x tastes as good as it looks (although the jury is still out on the red version), the K-x will definitely deserve some consideration on everyone’s entry-level DSLR shopping list.
Small and light, the Pentax K-x seems like a well-built, no-nonsense digital SLR, with perhaps only one flaw: the lack of visible AF points.
The Pentax K-x is a worthy competitor for the major manufacturers out there, and is probably in line for the third best with the other smaller camera companies.
Image quality was very good, if not remarkable. And the AF system was largely on track, especially when it came to action photography.
The new Pentax K-x occupies the sweet spot between the entry-level K-m and prosumer K-7 cameras, combining the ease-of-use of the former with many of the advanced features of the latter.
Digital Camera Review (hands-on)
12.4MP, 720p video recording, live view, great build quality and access to some great fast primes, all for under $650? Not bad.
PENTAX ANNOUNCES AFFORDABLE, NEW PENTAX K-x WITH HIGH-END FEATURES INCLUDING HD VIDEO AND LIVE VIEW
GOLDEN, CO (September 16, 2009)… PENTAX Imaging Company redefines the entry-level digital SLR category with the introduction of the K-x digital SLR. This latest PENTAX camera offers high-end features including Live View and HD video. And, since there’s no rule that SLR cameras must come in black only, the K-x will be available in a choice of white or black, as well as special, limited edition red and navy.
Priced at $599.95 USD (for body with DA L 18-55mm lens), the extremely compact and lightweight PENTAX K-x forges ahead on the trail initiated by the popular PENTAX K2000. With a one-handed shooting design and simple, easy-to-use operation, the K-x is perfect for users stepping up from a point and shoot digital camera to their first digital SLR.
The PENTAX K-x offers photographic performance that challenges higher class DSLR models and offers several features that set this camera apart in the entry-level category:
All combined, the PENTAX K-x is the perfect camera for new digital SLR camera users as well as an ideal backup camera for more experienced photographers.
Along with the K-x, PENTAX announced the smc PENTAX DA L 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED super-telephoto zoom lens. This lens will be exclusive to a K-x Twin Lens Kit package consisting of a K-x body, this new lens and the smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens. The lightweight design of this zoom lens offers the exceptional optical performance found in all PENTAX lenses for super-telephoto photography with the K-x and other PENTAX digital SLR camera bodies.
The PENTAX K-x is now available for pre-order in black or white on www.pentaxwebstore.com. Limited edition colors of red and navy will become available at select locations to be announced.
The PENTAX K-x (in black and white) will ship in October 2009 in three configurations: options:
Complete information is available here: http://www.pentaximaging.com/about-us.aspx?p=press
Product images are available here: www.pentaximaging.com/press/pressfiles.html
An informational video is available here: www.youtube.com/Pentaxian1
PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of a variety of digital cameras including weather resistant digital SLRs and compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. For 90 years, PENTAX has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc.
Now that you’ve read about 50mm lenses, lenses to help you learn and how camera lenses are made, the time has come to check out what telephoto lenses are possibly best for your system. Every photographer should have at least one just in the case the situation arises where you need a longer piece of glass to get that shot. Of course, some systems do telephoto zooming better than others. If you want to switch from one system to another system you’ll learn that some systems may give you the actual results you want in a different package. As a paparazzo in training, I’m learning this first hand.
Here’s a list of those great lenses are your system. [Read more…]
Yesterday, I talked about changing camera systems if you were interested in Nikon, Canon or Sony. But what if you don’t want one of those? If you’re interested in Panasonic, Olympus or Pentax then this article is for you. [Read more…]
