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Posts Tagged ‘pentax’

Hot on the heels of the consumer-level K-r released yesterday, Pentax’s K-5 is making an appearance, though not quite as officially. Some unethical retailers leaked the specs, and Lens Tip found the leaked pic, though they appear to have taken it down. Chances are this thing is right around the corner, probably set to be released next week.

The K-5 costs $1699, and while you can scope the full details over at the Pentax forums, I’ll limit myself to the high points.

16.2 megapixels (1.52x cropped sensor)
ISO 200-12800, expandable to 50/25600
HD video: 1080p, 720p, VGA at 25 or 30 FPS
Weather-sealed magnesium body
Penta-prism viewfinder
Dual SD slots

I’m guessing it’s also got the new high-res LCD that’s in the K-r, if not a superior one. We’re missing burst speed and a couple tiny specs, but that seems to be the full picture. They mention a translucent LCD displaying focus points and framing grid in the viewfinder. I wonder how they have the ability to do this without darkening the image?

Anyway, the K-5 looks like a real solid camera. I’m not sold on the K-r, but this seems like a pretty good match for the other options at the $1500-$2000 price point.

[via Photography Bay]

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Quite appropriately for a camera, all we have in this here leak is the one image above. It shows a purported K-5 DSLR from Pentax, whose body looks almost a carbon copy of the well loved, but now aging, K-7. The biggest (only?) difference we've been able to spot between the two is in the jog dial on its top left shoulder, which now looks quite a bit taller. Also making the transition from the K-7 is the 18-55mm Weather Resistant lens, which should make the K-5 another well fortified shooter from Pentax. Now if we could only know what's inside the shell as well, we'd be as happy as our jaded souls can be.

Pentax K-5 DSLR leaks out, leaves us guessing at the specs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sure, you can buy compact cameras in dozens of garish and offensive colors, but what if you are the sort who craves a different garish and offensive color each day of the week? You need the $150 Pentax RS1000, a 14.1 megapixel shooter with a 4x optical zoom, 720p video recording, and faceplate that's just four screws away from getting lost. Using the Personal Skin Designer app you can craft your own custom cover (the first one is free), meaning you could be just a few clicks away from having that brick of a camera look like a real brick. Far more exciting, however, is the identically spec'd NB1000 and its Nanoblock connectors, which are a lot like Lego but smaller and presumably cheaper to license. With that you can truly shape whatever you want, like the above safari scene, which makes this model particularly pocket unfriendly. Both cameras are set to release later this year, though the Lego-esque NB1000 is tragically destined only for kids of all ages in Japan.

Pentax announces customizable cameras, faceplate-swapping RS1000 and Lego-loving NB1000 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When a DSLR screams "colorful" in the headline of the press release, you can usually guess the target audience. Sure enough, the multicolored Pentax K-r brings a compact, lightweight body to the entry-level DSLR market. Specs include a 12.4 megapixel CMOS sensor, a PRIME (Pentax Real Image Engine) II imaging engine, claimed 100-25600 ISO range, a 6fps high-speed mode, an 11-point AF system, Pentax's own Shake Reduction and dust removal mechanisms, a 3-inch LCD monitor with Live View mode, and the option to source power from four AA batteries once you exhaust the rechargeable. As a modern DSLR it also records 720p video at 25fps and even offers some obscure IrSimple high-speed infrared data transmission capabilites for all those IrSimple-compatible devices you don't own. The K-r body lists for $799.95 or as much as $999.95 when bundled with an 18-55 and 55-300 lens kit. Ships in October.

Continue reading Pentax's K-r entry-level DSLR looks like a toy

Pentax's K-r entry-level DSLR looks like a toy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax just announced two new budget P&S cameras, both of which are quite reasonably priced and ready to go into your purse or pocket for taking snaps of the kids. The RS1000, is customizable based on the color or design you chose, with a removable face plate and free Skinit gift card. The RZ10 is a little more serious camera, with a choice between four different colors: black, white, lime, and violet, and a 10x optical zoom.

The RS1000 is a 14 megapixel, 4x optical zoom, ultra-compact camera with 720p video. Roughly the size of a credit card, the RS1000 is quite obviously aimed at the casual snapshot shooter. MRSP is $149.95 – If you want one, I say go for it, but keep in mind that the picture quality may not be the best.

The Optio RZ10 however, is aimed at a slightly more discerning audience. The RZ10 has a 14 megapixel sensor was well, and it has a much more reasonable 10x optical zoom, 720p video, shake reduction, and support for the Eye-Fi wireless memory card. The RZ10 also has some built in art features, allowing you to make changes to the image before you upload it to you computer. MSRP on the RZ10 is a quite reasonable $219.95, and you’ll be able to pick one up this fall.

Pentax has updated its DSLR line with the new K-r, successor to the K-x. The improvements are modest: you’ve got improved ISO range (up to 25600 expanded, but I wouldn’t), a better burst rate (6FPS, which is sweet), and a much-improved LCD (3″ at 640×480). You’ve still got the same 12 megapixels and the 720p video is limited to 25 FPS, which is likely what I’d choose anyway (well, 24, but eh).

I’m just not sure it’s competitive — the improvements aren’t very serious, and considering what’s come out in the meantime, it’s not looking so hot any more. The stellar Canon T2i and new Nikon D3100 are nothing to laugh at.

That said, you also have Pentax’s excellent lens selection. To that end, they’ve also released a new 35mm F/2.4 lens for $220, which sounds like a pretty decent buy to me. Also, it comes in storm trooper colors.

The body-only kit will cost $800; adding an 18-55mm kit lens will put it at $850, and a few other lens options bump the price further. Both the camera and new lens will ship in October. Here’s the full press release:

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PENTAX ANNOUNCES K-r DIGITAL SLR AND NEW 35MM LENS

GOLDEN, CO. September 8, 2010…PENTAX Imaging Systems Division has announced a new digital SLR line with color accents that allow owners to choose one that matches their personal style. The colorful PENTAX K-r DSLR camera offers advanced yet simple to use features at an attractive price.

The compact, lightweight PENTAX K-r is easy to use with Auto Picture, Scene, and Custom Image Processing modes that take the guesswork out of shooting stunning images while still offering a high degree of manual and priority control. The K-r offers a variety of new and improved features including a fast framerate, high ISO sensitivity, responsive autofocus, an improved 12.4 megapixel low-noise sensor and widescreen HD video capture that take it a step above an entry-level DSLR camera.

Key features of the PENTAX K-r that are new or have been improved upon from the most recent entry to mid-level PENTAX DSLR models include:
• Three stylish color choices include traditional black, the new classic white, and PENTAX red reflect any owner’s personal style.
• Large 3 inch LCD with 921,000 dots of resolution.
• Faster high speed 6 FPS framerate that captures 25 images in a single sequence.
• A maximum 1/6000 second shutter speed.
• Viewfinder focus point indicator.
• Improved in-camera HDR image capture including a Night Scene HDR mode.
• High sensitivity 100-25600 ISO range with improved noise performance from the new 12.4 megapixel CMOS sensor.
• Versatile dual-power-source design, which offers the choice of either a rechargeable lithium-ion battery or four AA-size battery power (using optional AA Battery Holder D-BH109).
• Infrared data transfer compatible with the IrSimple™ high-speed infrared data transmission system for wireless data transfer to the web or other IrSimple-compatible devices (includes a match-game between two PENTAX K-r’s).

Other important features of the new K-r models include:
• Widescreen 720p HD video at 25 FPS.
• PENTAX-original Shake Reduction mechanism for sharp, blur-free images that works with every PENTAX lens ever made
• Dust Removal mechanism, to shake dust off the CMOS image sensor.
• Highly responsive and accurate 11 point SAFOX IX autofocus system with dedicated AF assist lamp.
• Wide range of in-camera image processing and special effects filters.

With a highly portable, compact and lightweight body in a choice of colors, the K-r holds appeal for busy parents, family memory-keepers, travelers and anyone who reflects personal style in all their pursuits including their journey into photography or videography as a skill or hobby. The PENTAX K-r digital SLR will ship in October 2010 for as follows:
K-r Body Kit $799.95 USD
K-r Lens Kit w 18-55 $849.95 USD
K-r Double Lens Kit w 18-55, 50-200 $899.95 USD
K-r Double Lens Kit w 18-55, 55-300 $999.95 USD

PENTAX also announced the smc PENTAX DA 35mm F2.4 AL, standard lens designed exclusively for use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras. This new lens is versatile enough to be used with a wide range of subjects and applications for high-resolution images with edge-to-edge sharpness.
It is a perfect choice for digital SLR beginners to familiarize themselves with the basics of using interchangeable lenses.

The PENTAX DA 35mm F2.4 AL lens also will ship in October for $219.95 USD.

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Well, well -- what have we here? Oh, four more K-x hues? Who would've guessed. Just months after Pentax introduced the latest round of colors to hit its long-standing entry-level DSLR, along comes a new foursome to consider: chocolate, beige, olive and pink. We actually witnessed the last one there back in mid-February (go on and guess, we'll wait), but now the whole group is up for sale on the company's webstore for $649.95 each. Too bad Pentax seems more interested in pumping out more exterior variations than a bona fide K-x successor, eh?

Pentax K-x introduced in four new colors, double rainbow now fully complete originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Pentax K-x might be the most colorful camera on Earth. It’s already available in a bunch of colors including a rainbow color scheme and “robotic colors” in Nippon. Now, the US version is getting a few new color options in pink, chocolate, olive, and beige. Who said cameras are boring. [Pentax via Photography Bay]

Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we've got our optical viewfinders set firmly on digital cameras -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!

Time for us to open up chapter two of this year's Back to School advice compendium. Up for discussion today are digital cameras, which have been in the gym all year working on their processing prowess and return today with 720p HD video as an almost standard feature. We've got a good cross-section of young pretenders and finely aged veterans for your perusal, so why not give your mouse a little exercise as well and click past the break?

Continue reading Engadget's Back to School guide: Digital cameras

Engadget's Back to School guide: Digital cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The power of an SLR with the ease of a compact. That's what Pentax would like you to believe its Optio X90 offers and, according to a Photography Blog review, that's about what you can anticipate. The 12 megapixel, 26x superzoomer's lens offers astounding flexibility without doing the lens-swap shuffle, and image quality was stated to deliver very good with "striking colours" (it's a British site, mind). This is definitely a camera with a focus on helping users, but there are controls for setting shutter and aperture priority, and you can go fully manual if you like to work it, work it. Pentax's shooter doesn't score a perfect suggestion, with an inability to optically zoom while filming being a definite bummer, but the X90 earns high marks for its combination of performance and usability -- and at $399 it's something of a good deal, too.

Pentax Optio X90 superzoom reviewed, trumps many newbie SLRs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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