pentax

Pentax W60 likes it wet

Pentax has been making waterproof compact digital cameras for years now. While they used to have a strange square shape, the new Optio W60 could easily be mistaken for any compact camera. It includes a 10-megapixel sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens that covers an equivalent of 28-140mm. The wide 28mm end of that lens will come in especially handy when shooting underwater. Since you can use the camera down to 13 feet underwater for up to 2 hours, you can even take it snorkling with you. Interestingly, the camera's waterproof seals also make it dust- and sandproof, … Read more

Pentax 8MP V20 zooms ahead

Pentax has just announced a new addition to the company's V-series of compact cameras. The Optio V20 includes an 8-megapixel CCD sensor and 3-inch LCD screen, much as last year's V10 did. However, the V20 sports a 5X optical, 36-180mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens--a major step up in zoom from the V10's 3X lens.

The V20 also has a robust face detection system--Pentax calls it Face Recognition--which can find faces when they're in frame and use them to focus and set exposure. Like some other cameras on the market, it has a Smile Capture … Read more

Pentax shows off three future lenses

LAS VEGAS--Lenses are as important as camera bodies in the SLR market, and Pentax is trying to keep its customers' appetites whetted by showing off three new lenses still under development at the Photo Marketing Association trade show here.

First up is the smc Pentax-DA*55mm F1.4 SDM, a model with a 55mm fixed focal length and wide f/1.4 aperture for low-light shooting or pictures with soft, undistracting backgrounds. Availability is undetermined so far.

Next is the smc Pentax-DA*60-250mm F4ED SDM, a wide-range telephoto zoom that should be available in the summer.

Third is the smc … Read more

Pentax plan calls for higher-grade SLR

LAS VEGAS--Pentax just announced its new flagship SLR camera, the K20D, but the Japanese company has plans on the drawing board for a higher-end class of camera in 2009.

On the Pentax roadmap for 2009, the SLR quality arrow jumps up "much higher" above the K20D--a bigger step up than the one from the K10D to the K20D--said John Carlson, Pentax's product manager for imaging systems.

"That would be a new category" of SLR for Pentax, he said, but was mum on further details.

Obviously, that statement leaves a lot of room for maneuvering and … Read more

Underexposed blog: Links of the day

VueScan Scanning Software - Software for getting more out of your scanner, including high bit depth DNG images. A useful thing if you want to use your scanner as a camera. Naked Light 1.0 beta due this week - The programmer behind this Mac-only image-editing application seems a little taxed, but he says the 1.0 beta will ship this week. He's on a leave of absense to write it now, though. YouTube - Pentax K20D - A useful video intro to the Pentax K20D from Pentax. I wish my camera had a built-in intervalometer. YouTube - Pentax K200D intro … Read more

Pentax 14.6-megapixel dSLR leapfrogs competitors

You've gotta admire feisty little Pentax. Undeterred by a dSLR market dominated by Canon and Nikon, plus the deep-pocketed relative newcomer Sony and tireless veteran Olympus, Pentax continues to refine and innovate its offerings rather than just trying to sell cheap models built from off-the-shelf parts. This year sees the first tangible result of the company's alliance with Samsung, a 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor, which makes its way into Pentax's new midrange model, the $1,300 K20D (body only). Pentax's other new model, the entry-level $799 K200D (a kit with the new smc PENTAX DA 18-55mm … Read more

A Pentax lens quintet

No dSLR launch is complete without a gaggle o' glass to accompany it. Here are the lenses Pentax announced in conjunction with its 2 dSLRs. (All photos courtesy of Pentax Corp.)

smc Pentax DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM; March; $1,099.95

smc Pentax DA* 300mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM; May; $1,299.95

smc Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED; May; $399.95

smc Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited; April; $599.95

smc Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II; ships with K200D in … Read more

Pentax reveals three new Optio cameras

Pentax just unveiled three new digital cameras in its Optio line of point-and-shoots, the Optio S12, M50, and E50. They run the gamut from budget-priced, simple shooter to high-resolution ultracompact.

The Optio S12 stands out as the smallest and most advanced of the three new cameras. At just 0.9 inch deep, Pentax claims the S12 is the smallest 12-megapixel camera of its class. We'll have to see for ourselves; according to Pentax's measurements, the S12 seems to be a hair or two smaller than the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 and the Olympus Stylus 1200, though it might be … Read more

Poll: Best SLR rivals to Canon and Nikon

Update 8:12 a.m. PST: We added Fujifilm to the poll.

Canon and Nikon dominate the SLR camera business, but if you're entering the market or buying a new camera, it would behoove you to look at other options, too.

One interesting question, though, is who's got the best alternatives today. It's a relevant question for someone buying a first SLR or deciding whether to stick with an existing brand or change. From another perspective, who should Nikon and Canon be fretting about most among competitors?

I'd love to see your vote and hear your … Read more

Rumors: Pentax K20, K200 debut in January

The latest rumor has it that Pentax plans to announce two new SLR models, the K20D and K200D, on January 24, a week before the Photo Marketing Association trade show that begins.

A now-defunct discussion thread on a Chinese Web site, helpfully archived at DCHome.net and supplemented by postings at Bigbigcar.com and PhotoMalaysia forums, includes a few supposed details about models that would presumably replace the K10D and K100D:

The alleged K20D has a 14-megapixel sensor of the smaller APS-C size, a 14-bit analog-to-digital converter (for better tonal gradations than typical 12-bit converters but leading to larger raw … Read more