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dpreview releases super in-depth review of the k20d

Posted by admin under equipment

check out dpreview’s REVIEW OF THE THE K20D

here is their conclusion:

The Pentax K20D could be seen as a K10D Mk2, a camera that attempts to move on while putting right the minor flaws in its predecessor. And in that respect, it’s a huge success. The K20D builds on the strengths of its forebear and corrects for the issue that plagued us most. It offers a great on-paper specification that is backed-up by a level of customization that allow you to tailor the camera to the way you want to shoot.

There are a couple of black marks against it, which should direct photographers with specific needs away to look at more specialized models. The live view mode is neither as seamless as Sony’s implementation nor as useful for tripod-based work as Olympus’s and consequently feels like a feature that has been added purely to make the camera more marketable. But, before deciding whether this puts you off, it’s worth thinking hard about what you’d use it for. Likewise, the continuous shooting rate looks pedestrian by contemporary standards, so sports shooters should look elsewhere.

The autofocus, while never breathtakingly fast, is also never intrusively slow for general shooting. Using enthusiast-level lenses (16-45mm f/4 or 35mm f/2.8 Macro), its performance, even in low light, has been at least comparable with similarly-priced cameras, if not quite up to the standards of the more expensive, similarly-specified cameras from other brands.

The Samsung co-developed sensor may well prove to be a turning point for Pentax, giving the company a little more control over sensors it uses and, in general terms, it delivers high resolution images with noise levels that are comparable with its competitors (and presented with a commendably hands-off approach to noise reduction that allows the user to decide how they wish to deal with noise, rather than smearing it all away). However, the hot pixel problems, combined with the sample-to-sample variability (in this instance ISO 3200 banding), represent the sorts of problems we haven’t seen in DSLRs launched in the past few years. Which makes us wonder whether Samsung has over-reached itself with such an ambitious design. This is reflected in our image quality score that without these niggles would have been even higher.

In short, the K20D is a great stab at making a photographers’ camera - a camera for people who love taking images, are happy to invest in lenses (perhaps the primes that can make the most of those 14.6 million pixels), but aren’t going to be recouping the cost of their equipment through regularly selling images. It offers a very pleasant, near pro-level, photographic experience at a reasonable cost and in a body that feels solid, well built and as if it was designed by someone who used one themselves.

Because the K20D offers so much that the enthusiast photographer would enjoy, it would be churlish to let the sensor-based flaws, which have little impact in real-world shooting, prevent us giving the camera our highest award. This isn’t to say it’s a faultless camera or one that’s suited to everybody but one with only minor drawbacks that should only dissuade a small number of potential buyers.

great job guys!

pentax finally announces their new 17-70mm f/4 AL [IF] SDM lens!

Posted by admin under news

check it out, in all it’s hotness:

it’s about time you guys, jeebus! rumors have been floating around the intertoobz for months it seems!
here’s the official press release from Pentax Imaging Company’s website:

GOLDEN, CO. (June 3, 2008)…PENTAX Imaging Company has introduced the smc PENTAX DA 17-70mm f/4 AL [IF] SDM lens designed for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras. This standard lens with extra zoom offers outstanding, well-balanced handling, and covers the most frequently used focal lengths between wide-angle and telephoto making it ideal for a variety of shots including scenery, snapshot and portraiture.

Previously shown in February at PMA 2008, this lens features a 4.1X zoom ratio covering wide-angle to moderate-telephoto ranges, and covers a focal-length range from 26mm wide angle to 107mm telephoto in the 35mm format.  When mounted on a compatible* DSLR camera body, the PENTAX-original SDM system driven by a built-in supersonic motor, offers exceptionally smooth, quiet autofocus.

* This lens is compatible with the K20D, K200D, K100D Super and K10D (with Ver. 1.30 or later firmware installed) and later PENTAX DSLR camera bodies. When mounted on other camera bodies, the focus mode is automatically switched to manual.

Developed specifically for PENTAX digital SLRs,** this 17-70mm lens also features PENTAX SP (Super Protect) coating that protects the exposed lens elements and repels dust, water and grease. It also features a Quick-shift Focus System that allows instant switching from auto to manual focus with a turn of the focus ring.

**SDM-only focusing lens may  be used with non-SDM PENTAX DSLR bodies in manual focus mode.

Other important features of this lens include:

Exceptional Image Clarity

Incorporating two hybrid aspherical (AL) optical elements, this zoom lens assures exceptional image quality while effectively compensating for various aberrations.

Maximum Aperture of f/4 Over Entire Zoom Range

With a maximum aperture of f/4 over the entire zoom range, the lens allows photographers to use higher shutter speeds to minimize camera shake (especially in telephoto applications) or reduce the depth of field to intentionally throw the background out of focus.

Close Minimum Focusing Distance

This lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 11 inches (0.28 meters) over the entire zoom range, and an Inner-Focus (IF) optical design that eliminates lens extension and retraction during focusing operation.

Digital SLR Optical Design

From lens coating and curvature to the positioning of optical elements, the lens optics are meticulously designed to optimize the lens’s digital imaging characteristics. The image circle is perfectly proportioned to a PENTAX camera’s image-sensor size.

SPECIFICATIONS

Lens mount: PENTAX KAF3 mount

Lens construction: 17 elements in 12 groups

Angle of view: 79° - 23° (with PENTAX D-SLR camera body)

Number of diaphragm blades: 7

Minimum aperture: F/22

Minimum focusing distance: 0.28m (0.92 ft.)

Filter size: 67mm

Maximum magnification: 0.31X

Dimensions (diameter x length): 75mm x 93.5mm (3.0 inch x 3.7 inch)

Weight: 485g (17.1 oz.) without hood; 515g (18.2 oz.) with hood

This PENTAX lens will ship in July 2008 at US $599.95.  The PENTAX press image gallery is available here:  http://www.pentaxtech.com/press/pressfiles.html

PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of digital SLR and compact cameras, lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces.  For more than 80 years, PENTAX technology 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.

# # #

Contact:

Michelle Martin

michelle.martin@pentax.com

303-728-0224

Consumers:

1-800-877-0155

customer.followup@pentax.com

PENTAX and smc PENTAX are trademarks of HOYA CORPORATION.

Design and Specifications are subject to change without notice.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Why does the DA 17-70 only include the SDM focusing system?

A: With the DA17-70, we decided to use our SDM lens-based focus drive only due to concerns over size, weight, cost and development timeframe. The advantages of the SDM focusing system, such as silent and accurate AF, make this an ideal lens to be used with our latest DSLR bodies including the K20D, K200D, K10D and K100D Super.  Plus the DA 17-70 is still usable with older DSLR bodies in manual focus mode.

Q: Will PENTAX continue to develop DSLR bodies with the older body-based focusing system?

A: Yes. We will continue to develop bodies that support the body based focus system in addition to the SDM system.

Q: Will PENTAX be developing SDM-only lenses from now on?

A: No: Despite the great advantages of our SDM autofocus systems, we will continue to develop both SDM and body-based focus systems. In fact, different types of lenses have different requirements. For example, our unique Limited lenses are often so compact that there is no space for an SDM autofocus motor. Until time and technology present other options, we will continue to develop both types of autofocus systems.

Remark: Current DA* lenses (16-50mm, 50-135mm, 200mm and 300mm) contain both SDM and body-based focusing. While we will continue to develop lenses for each type of autofocus system, we will also phase out lenses that support both types of focusing simultaneously. Due to issues of cost, development timeframe and other factors, in the future, PENTAX lenses will either support SDM focusing or body-based focusing, but not both.

Q: How can I tell if a lens is SDM-only?

A: To determine if a lens is SDM focusing only, check the mount specification. If it describes the mount as “KAF3” then the lens is SDM-only.

a link to the article on the Pentax site can be found HERE

sounds pretty sweet guys!

DGO v1.0 lite wedge is here!

Posted by admin under dgo bags

here’s the latest DGO creation, the v1.0 lite wedge, which shares the same demensions of the regular v1.0 wedge just made with a more lightweight material for über stealthiness whilst wearing. the material used is an amazing black 200d oxford that’s coated with a SUPER flashy florescent orange rubber on the inside for maximum weatherproofing properties.

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

w00t! pentax summer rebates are out!

Posted by admin under news

just released today, pentax’s new “gear up” rebate program which are AWESOME this time around!

the rebates are good for purchases until 7/26/08 but the items ALL NEED TO BE ON THE SAME RECEIPT to qualify for the uber-rebate of $375. here’s a quick and dirty breakdown:

• BODIES: K20D, K200D - $100
• LENSES: smc DA 16-45mm f/4.0 ED/AL, smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM, smc DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 ED (IF) SDM - $100
• FLASHES: AF-360GZ, AF-540FGZ - $50
• GRIPS: BG2, BG3 - $25
  

CLICK HERE for rebate details

CLICK HERE for rebate .pdf

hrm…perfect timing for those stimulus checks everyone has been getting!

more DGO inserts, finished and ready for shipping!

Posted by admin under dgo bags

alright guys, check it out…these are the latest round of DGO inserts made with black 1.9oz rip stop and 1/4″ polypropylene foam for AWESOME, crush/pack free padding. these were made for Colby Brown at Colby Brown Photography for a DIY camera bag he’s been working on.

you’ll see i packed my gear into the inserts just as a general guide for the sizes and scale. the actual demensions from left to right are: 5″x6″x8″, 4″x6″x8″, 3″x6″x8″ (the two on the right are the same demensions)

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

as you can see, this general “set” is perfect for a 6″x16″ bag that’s at least 8″ deep. my pentax k100d body with sigma 15mm f/2.8 FE fits with about 1/2″ of room in the largest compartment, so it’ll accommodate most modern d-SLR and SLR bodies out there, but of course a larger one can be made to fit the larger bodies or a camera with a vertical grip.

so, pentax…are you going to sue these guys or what?

Posted by admin under news

apparently Patriot Aigo, a chinese company is releasing a digital slr camera in co-op with carl zeiss (which will be china’s first leica-m mount) under the name k-1.

here is where it gets REALLY weird though, this is the pentax MZ-D which was an slr built in the early 2000’s

this is the Patriot Aigo K-1 being released:

look familiar? yeah…weird.

HERE is the story translated (roughly) to english via google translator from the original article on engadget found HERE

k10d and gx-10 firmware hacks, FINALLY!

Posted by admin under news

check it out:

k10d and gx-10 firmware hacks!

it sounds like it’s only good for the k10d and gx-10 so far. i’ll download the program and report back, hopefully it’ll work on my k100d!

DGO inserts are here!

Posted by admin under Uncategorized, dgo bags

after much planning, plus some trial and error, the first round of DGO camera bag inserts are here! below are pictures of the first round i just finished last night and are still awaiting 1/4″ polyethylene closed cell padding that will be here at the beginning of next week. the materials used are a 1.9 OZ ripstop fabric in two colors plus my standard z46 nylon thread.

these will be available in a variety of sizes and orientations, plus different colors and a choice of material (either this 1.9 OZ ripstop or 200d oxford cordura!) for maximum customization. this first round i built with 2″ of velco® brand hook & loop tape so the included padded dividers (see earlier post) can be moved to accommodate different lenses, bodies and accessories. i may actually sew in the dividers on future designs, but i’m digging this style so far.

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

the k10d wins pop photo’s editor’s choice award!

Posted by admin under news

way to go pentax, crawl out from under that rock and show the world you’re no longer a “third party” camera maker!

check out THIS article over at pop photo detailing the pentax k10d’s win of their editor’s choice 2007 award for best advanced dslr!

good job guys, keep up the good work!

DGO dividers are here!

Posted by admin under dgo bags

here is the first round of add-in dividers for use with any yet-to come dgo inserts or existing camera bags. they’re constructed with heavy duty 1.9oz ripstop, 1″ velcro® brand hook and loop strips and 1/4″ closed cell foam padding. they’re extremely lightweight, durable and come in a wide variety of sizes to accommodate any bag.

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

stay tuned for full inserts (not just dividers) in the upcoming week!