My first stop at PMA 2009 Sneak Peek Luncheon was Pentax booth, I knew something was up when a small group Japanese reporters gathered at the rather disappointing pre show event. I was told to return couple hours later, and there it was. Empty spots now filled two new bodies, not the new hybrid standard I was hoping for, but a 12Mp ultra zoom with 24x optics dubbed X70. It drew crowd nevertheless, and the show actually peaked for a minute there.
A white finish DSLR is not my favorite cup of tea, though I do own a few white optics from Canon, but I can’t say the same for millions other Pentax photographers, or it’s only thousands left these days? Back in December, Pentax surprised the photography communities with the announcement of a white-alternate K2000 bundled with two zoom lenses kit, but left the guessing works on pricing information; today, they have made it available.
Pentax prime junkies will have to stick with consumer FA 50 just a little longer, Pentax Japan has postponed the long overdue professional build quality SMC PENTAX DA Star 55mm F1.4 SDM to next month (February 20, 2009), parts procurement delays were to blame.
Creative or when Marketing goes wrong? Pentax shows the holiday spirit, announces a limited-release of a White Christmas version Pentax K2000. Wrapped in a brilliant white body with black trims, the K2000 kit is available in a bundle kit with two-zoom lens (Pentax DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL and Pentax DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6 AL). Camera specification remains the same except for the body finish.
Rumors are circulating that Pentax are preparing to announce a GPS-enabled version of their K20D DSLR. Greek site FullHD have published details from what they claim to be a leaked press release, officially expected later on today; the K20D is a 14.6-megapixel waterproof camera and, with the GPS accessory, would be able to automatically geotag each image taken.
The formerly leaked Pentax K-M is formally introduced in US as K2000, an entry level Digital SLR with rather bizarre bundles – kit with an external flash on a built in flash body. Who cares as long as it’s affordable right? The Pentax K2000 features a 10.2-megapixel APS-C CCD, 2.7-inch QVGA screen, in-body Dust Removal and Shake Reduction in compact and lightweight stainless steel chassis. Liveview and video mode are not featured in this entry-level model.
A brief introduction of Pentax novelties preps for Photokina was leaked- shown an entry Digital SLR and several new gears at its German site, but was later removed by the offical. A Pentax fan has reported similar act revealed at Amazon UK site with detail of the new Digital SLR, a lightweight and plastic 10 megapixel Digital SLR bundled with a all-around 18-55mm or 50-200mm.
Pentax has been teasing its medium format fans, showcasing an 18 megapixels prototype then another 31.6 megapixel digital CCD medium format sensor since the introduction of digital version of medium format 645 back in 2005, but none of them ever made it to prime time.
Competing in the cutthroat Digital SLR market if you don’t have lens selection with the size of Amazon’s tropical forest like Nikon or Canon. Having the state of art body isn’t going to sell unless you have full line-up of lens from amateur to professional market. Pentax brought us their newly K20D body yesterday together with 5 new smc PENTAX-DA Lens ranges from a prime Tele to wide angle, I say that’s quite an announcement from them!
Pentax newest high end DSLR K20D uses the same body design based on previous 10Mp model, k10D. The replacement features a newly developed 14.6 MP CMOS image sensor made in conjunction with the company’s partner in digital SLR development, Samsung. Additional new features including Live View and expand dynamic range function.
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