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Pentax posts

Pentax's K-7 DSLR now shipping via online retailers

by Ross Miller, posted Jul 6th 2009 at 9:29PM

Resoundingly positive reviews can't be a bad way to start a product cycle, and that's just what the Pentax K-7 has, and now lo and behold, it's on sale via Amazon and JR We're not seeing any bundles at this point, just a body-only listing, but we can't imagine those are far off if you want to be patient.

[Via Electronista]

Read - Amazon
Read - JR

Pentax K-7 review roundup

by Vladislav Savov, posted Jul 1st 2009 at 12:27AM

We've been nothing if not comprehensive in our coverage of this new Pentax shooter, and early reviews are showing why. Photography Blog praised the K-7 for its weatherproofing and for having "one of the best LCD screens" they've ever seen on a DSLR, while ePHOTOzine were impressed by the image quality and Wired found the package of features and specs exceedingly robust given the $1,300 asking price. Some shortcomings were found, such as the slightly unintuitive interface and noise levels at higher ISO settings, but impressions were overwhelmingly positive. If you've been looking for a solid alternative to Canon's 50D or Nikon's D300, check out all the thoroughly detailed analysis in the read links below.

Read - Photography Blog
Read - Wired
Read - ePHOTOzine

Pentax's Optio W80 point-and-shoot shrugs off water, haters

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 24th 2009 at 6:00PM

While Canon's PowerShot D10 has been hogging the spotlight in the waterproof point-and-shoot arena, Pentax is dropping in a formidable opponent this evening with the Optio W80. Said shooter measures in at just one inch thick and features a 12.1 megapixel sensor, a 5x internal optical zoom, a wide-angle 28mm lens and a SuperProtect coating that helps repel water, grime and finger marks from the len's crystal cover. The chassis is built to handle submersion in water up to 16 feet deep, not to mention extreme cold, dust and drops of one meter or less. There's also a 2.5-inch rear LCD, a 720p movie mode, face detection and shake reduction. It's slated to ship next month for $299.95; now you've just got to decide between Cardinal Red, Azure Blue and Gunmetal Gray. Tough call, right? The full release is just past the break.

Gallery: Pentax's Optio W80 point-and-shoot shugs off water, haters

Continue reading Pentax's Optio W80 point-and-shoot shrugs off water, haters

Sample shots and video emerge from Pentax's K-7 DSLR

by Darren Murph, posted May 28th 2009 at 1:42PM

As with Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GH1, a few lucky folks who have managed to spend a few moments with Pentax's new 14.6 megapixel K-7 have stopped to host up the results for us to drool over. Early stills are rather impressive, with images being sharp, crisp and generally delightful to stare at. As for video, it's tough to judge the real quality based on a YouTube rendition, but feel free to glean what you can just after the break. So, if you weren't sold already, are you now?

Read - Pentax Forums
Read - DPReview

Continue reading Sample shots and video emerge from Pentax's K-7 DSLR

Pentax gets official with 14.6MP K-7 DSLR: HD movies, HDR mode

by Darren Murph, posted May 20th 2009 at 10:00AM

After digesting loads of scuttlebutt here lately, we're elated to see that Pentax has finally come clean with its new K-7 DSLR. The 14.6 megapixel shooter packs a rugged magnesium alloy body and arrives with an HD movie mode that captures video at 640 x 416, 720p (1,280 x 720) or 1,536 x 1,024 -- all at 30fps. Needless to say, that's more than the D90 and D5000 offer (both top out at 720p), and while Canon's T1i does 1080p, it does so at just 20fps. There's also an HDMI port, a 3-inch Live View LCD, in-camera lens correction, shake reduction and an improved dust reduction system. The real kicker, however, is the High Dynamic Range (HDR) capture mode, which snags a trio of images, then combines them in-camera to widen the exposure gamut. The body alone should ship in July for $1,299.95 -- which is notably more expensive that recent wares from Canon, Nikon and Sony -- and you can peek the full slate of specifications just past the break.

Gallery: Pentax K-7 DSLR

Continue reading Pentax gets official with 14.6MP K-7 DSLR: HD movies, HDR mode

Pentax K-7 hands-on shots leak out

by Nilay Patel, posted May 19th 2009 at 12:47PM

Poor Pentax. The company's just three days away from the much-hyped May 21 launch of the K-7, and here we've already seen specs and press pics, and now we've got a whole slew of hands-on shots. Just as we'd heard before, the K-7 will pack a 14.6 megapixel sensor with a 720p movie mode and a 3-inch VGA display in a body just a hair smaller than the K200D. Of course, we're really wondering how this guy'll be priced -- if it comes in around $1000, it'll be a solid competitor to the Canon Rebel T1i and the Nikon D5000. Guess Pentax still has one surprise in store, eh? Tons more pics at the read link.

[Thanks, Rye]

More Pentax K-7 details, pictures leak out ahead of launch

by Donald Melanson, posted May 18th 2009 at 1:01PM

If the earlier reports are accurate, Pentax's latest K series DSLR should be getting official real soon now, but there's still a few days left before that rumored May 21st launch date, and that means more leaks. One of those comes in the form of a seemingly authentic ad (pictured after the break) that all but confirms that the K-7 (or K7D) will be a 14.6-megapixel DSLR, and will boast a new Prime II imaging engine, along with the increasingly standard HD video recording that we had heard about earlier. As if that wasn't enough, a whole slew of images of the camera have just surfaced on RiceHigh's Pentax Blog, along with a complete (but not exactly verifiable) spec list, which offers such details as a 3-inch VGA LCD, continuous JPEG shooting at 5.2 frames per second, a viewfinder with 100% image coverage, a new 77-Segment Multi-Pattern metering system, a built-in AF assist light, and an integrated HDR mode, among countless other features. Unfortunately, the one thing still up in the air is the price, although there's still room for one more rumor before Pentax removes all the mystery.

Read - RiceHigh's Pentax Blog
Read - PentaxForums, K7 ad

[Via Electronista]

Continue reading More Pentax K-7 details, pictures leak out ahead of launch

Pentax Optio E75 compact is perfect for capturing giraffes in the air or water

by Tim Stevens, posted May 15th 2009 at 9:50AM

In the cutthroat world of compact cameras it takes a certain something special to stand out -- and we're not entirely sure that Pentax's new Optio E75 has it. The 10.2 megapixel shooter offers a CCD sensor with an ISO range of 80 - 1600 tucked behind a perfectly average 3X, 32 - 96mm equivalent, non-stabilized zoom. It has room for a 2.7-inch screen, shoots video in good 'ol VGA, has all the de rigueur face and smile detection modes, and will cost €120 (about $160) when it drops in Europe this July. No word on a domestic release, but perhaps we'll find out more next week.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Pentax teases a new K-series cam for May 21

by Nilay Patel, posted Apr 23rd 2009 at 2:39PM

Looks like those ultra-blurry photos of a new Pentax cam weren't just a Sunday morning fever dream -- the company's now teasing the release of a new K-series DSLR on May 21. Obviously official details on what's alleged to be the K7D are incredibly light, but there are already some rumored specs floating around -- a square sensor with a 1.3 crop factor that may or may not be related to the one in the K20D, 1.0x viewfinder, new AF system, 3-inch screen, and 720p video are the highlights, but honestly, it's all conjecture at this point. We'll keep our ears to the ground -- and our fingers crossed that this thing comes in white. Check a non-blurry pic of... something we were sent on Sunday after the break.

[Via Electronista]

Continue reading Pentax teases a new K-series cam for May 21

New Pentax DSLR shots blur the boundaries of Mr. Blurrycam

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 19th 2009 at 3:13PM

Trust us, we've seen some significantly distorted sneak peeks before, but the three Pentax DSLR shots in the links below are certainly amongst the blurriest to ever tease our retinas. Obviously, it's next to impossible to glean anything other than the brand (Pentax) and style (DSLR) from the shots, though we will say that the mode dial's copious amount options has our interest piqued. Give 'em a look if you're not susceptible to motion sickness, and feel free to dish out your wildest accusations in comments below.

Update: Could these be non-blurry pics? Or just meaningless renders? You decide. Thanks, Andrew!

Read - First sneak peek
Read - The other two

Pentax douses K-m in olive, K20D in titanium

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 25th 2009 at 1:52AM

We know, you're a firm believer that there's evidence of thaumaturgy splattered all over here, but believe it or not, all it takes to create a camera in a new color is powerful signature and a little paint. As Pentax has done so often in the past, it's pumping out new editions of old cameras with fresh hues. The latest duo to don new Springtime wardrobes is the K20D -- which is now outfitted in titanium -- and the K-m, which now sports an absolutely peculiar olive shade. Both models are being limited to 1,000 in quantity, and while no price is mentioned, we get the feeling a ticket to Tokyo may be your only shot at acquiring one.

Read - Olive K-m, via PhotographyBLOG
Read - Titanium K20D, via PhotographyBLOG

Pentax's 30 megapixel 645 Digital on track for 2010 release

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 24th 2009 at 3:24PM

Got an itch that only a 30 megapixel shooter can scratch? Not really kosher on anything offered up by Hassleblad? For those odd, eccentric souls who somehow managed to answer "yes" to both of those inquiries, you'll be elated to know that Pentax's long awaited 645 Digital -- which was once rumored as canceled altogether -- is on track to be released next year. According to an update on the company's Japanese website, the device will boast 30 megapixels and will play quite nicely with the FA645 55mm f/2.8 lens that should launch simultaneously. Start saving those tax credits right about now -- we can say with absolutely certainty that you'll need every spare dollar you can find to afford this sucker.

[Via DigitalCameraInfo]

Gallery: Pentax's 30 megapixel 645 Digital on track for 2010 release

Pentax's $399.95 X70 megazoom up for pre-order

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 13th 2009 at 7:41PM

Oh sure, you've got plenty of options when it comes to selecting a shooter with zoom for days, but what's the harm in having one more option to comb over? The X70, which we saw peek out ahead of PMA, is finally up for pre-order on the outfit's own site. In case you've forgotten, this 12 megapixeler boasts a stupendous 24x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD monitor and an SDHC card slot. Worth four Benjamins? Depends on how bad you want to see that blade of grass way over there on the 30 yard line.

Gallery: Pentax's $399.95 X70 megazoom up for pre-order

Pentax X70 leaks out in full ahead of PMA

by Donald Melanson, posted Mar 2nd 2009 at 1:09PM

Well, it looks like those intrigued by that Pentax bridge camera that turned up yesterday didn't have to wait too long to get the full scoop on it, as the camera has now produced yet another leak ahead of the big PMA show, this time with complete specs and a name: the X70. Among the stand-out features here is a 24x optical zoom, along with a more than adequate 12 megapixels, a 2.7-inch LCD, and a number of reasonably high-end features, including "reliable shake-reduction," 720p video recording, settings from ISO 50 to ISO 6400, and a high-speed shooting mode that'll let you capture up to 11 images per second. What's more, while Pentax still isn't saying anything official about the camera, it has already turned up on B&H's website with a price of $399.95, though there's no indication of a release date just yet.

Update: Pentax has pushed out the official presser, with an April release date.

Read - PentaxForums.com
Read - B&H

Pentax bridge digital camera image leaked ahead of PMA?

by Ross Miller, posted Mar 1st 2009 at 5:28PM

It appears the folks at Colorfoto.de have erred in our favor. In an article for the Olympus E-620, a seemingly random image has popped up of a currently unknown Pentax digital camera. What makes it especially interesting is the appearance of an EVF / LCD option -- which so far the company has not use for any of their models. It also bears a striking resemblance to a DSLR-esque "bridge" camera, which would make it Penny's first in that category. Looks like we've got another reason to anticipate next week's PMA.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]