ArticlesShow ReportsPhotokina 2012: Pentax Ricoh Stand Report

Photokina 2012: Pentax Ricoh Stand Report

By Lars Rehm | Published Sep 18, 2012 | Show Reports

This is the first Photokina for Pentax Ricoh as a unified company and the Pentax and Ricoh products are on display alongside each other at the stand in hall 2 of the show. The biggest new product is the new Pentax K-5 II alongside its sister model K-5 IIs that does away with the anti-aliasing filter for maximum pixel-level sharpness. Also new is the Q-10. Despite the Pentax Q-system now having been available for a while, as the currently only small-sensor system cameras the Qs still draw a lot of attention at trade shows.

Ricoh's GXR cameras with interchangeable lens modules are on display at the Ricoh section of the stand but no new product has been announced for this product line at this Photokina.


The Pentax Ricoh stand can be found in hall 2 this year's Photokina.	Like most other manufacturers Pentax Ricoh has dedicated an area of its stand to show off photographs that have been taken with its cameras.

The K-5 IIs and the K-5 II are the two major new models at the stand this year.	Both offer an upgraded AF-system (SAFOX X) that works in very low light levels. The 's' version comes without an anti-aliasing filter.

The mid-level dSLR K-30 is also available as a shiny blue version.

The Q10 is Pentax Ricoh's newest addition to the Q-line of interchangeable lens compact cameras.

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Total comments: 42

We're missing photos of the X-5, the new HD lenses, and the 360 degree panoramic camera prototype, not to mention 645D and the K-mount adapter for the Q. Why are other camera makers being given so much more space in this publication?

2 upvotes

Hello,

Thanks for covering Photokina! For Pentax I would appreciate seeing images of the new DA 560mm lens! Also would like to see the new Q Adapter mounts to see if any electrical contacts exist as well as to see what the general configuration of the adapter looks like. How does the adapter and Q camera look attached to the DA 560 btw :-) There's more new stuff we've not seen from the Photokina. Thanks! I know that you've already posted images from press releases, but I'd like to see what you guys get to see :-)

thanks!

0 upvotes

Nothing interesting to be see here. As a Pentaxian I'm hoping they'll get something good out next year.

0 upvotes

How about a Full Frame GRD?

0 upvotes

Even if Pentax-Ricoh's offerings are a bit lack luster or attention grabber (except for that DA 560mm f5.6) compared to what the other brands are offering, it is undeniable that the K5/K5II/K5IIs with those Limited primes are a beautyand has class leading IQ

4 upvotes

K-5's image quality is not much different than any other DSLR/mirrorless camera using the same 16 MP sensor. Even entry level Nikon 3200, with a 24 MP sensor, scores within one point on dxomark of K-5.

I have seen these exaggerated claims about "class leading" several thousand times, but there is no truth to that claim in real life. Most modern APSC cameras have similar level of image quality.

5 upvotes

Benchmarks are actually different in real world practice.

So if you claim that this modern 24mp of the D3200 have a similar level of IQ vs the 16mp of the K5 are you saying you liked those burned image samples of the D3200?

Comment edited 8 minutes after posting

7 upvotes

Maybee you heard about that a lens' optical quality influences picture quality too. So tell me which dedicated aps-c prime lenses should one use on an entry level Nikon / Canon body what reaches the quality of Pentax limiteds (for example, 15/4, 31/1.9, 70/2.4 - nice setup, isn't it?). Please take size and weight into account. :)

3 upvotes

I am pretty sure D3200/D7000/A580/D5100/5N/Nex-7/Fuji XPo1 with cheap lenses like 35mm F1.8 and 50mm F1.8 also have class leading image quality for APSC cameras, both in benchmark, studio shots, and in real lie.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

1 upvote

^ its pretty easy to just type that but where are the actual samples? Regardless the price, lets say class leading against fellow APSC K5 + FA31/FA77/DA70?

Nope, not really.

Comment edited 7 minutes after posting

1 upvote

fakuryu, you are truly strange. Are you saying you have never seen good images from Canon, Nikon, and Sony APSC cameras? There are billions of samples all over the internet, taken all the way by professional photographers, journalists, wedding photographer, and every day mom and dad too.

Samples from Canon and Nikon cameras? This is really weird.

There is no evidence for "class leading" exaggeration .. All APSC cameras with good lenses take similar quality images as K-5

Comment edited 3 times, last edit 4 minutes after posting

1 upvote

I think fakuryu is right. Pentax prime lens sets them apart. I'd rather have an older Pentax dSLR body with one of their superduper prime lens than just about any new-ish entry level dSLR with cheap stock kit zoom glass from anyone else.

0 upvotes

Looking at the photozone reviews, the pentax "prime" lenses aren't better than most prime lenses from othe brands. Ad most of Pentax pancake prime lenses are slower than competition. They are smaller yes, but slower too.

0 upvotes

@ET2

While I believe every good camera is a great camera if handled by a good photographer, it seems interesting that Pentax chose to make "slower" lenses to make them smaller. Does this mean Pentax is leaving out IQ to minimize size? Doesn't seem like it.

The fact may remain that they're probably a half stop slower than competition, but then again - performance wise - are they less too? I don't think so. Pentax has a long history of making cameras comfortable to users who like bringing their cameras for a long time - which are, I believe, photographers.

0 upvotes

ET2 me? Strange? Yes, I've seen a lot of good images from other APSC DSLRs except from Sony's SLT system and also w/ their excellent primes and actually shot with them too.

Since you like throwing online reviews a lot, how about one from imaging resource?

All APSC cameras w/ good lenses take as good IQ as the K5? Like a D3000 + DX 35mm f1.8g vs K5 + FA31 f1.8? Are you kidding yourself or you had too much Kool Aid again? You can even throw your D3200 argument in that comparison.

0 upvotes

I agree with you. All these people citing DXO numbers as if they mean anything. The only thing that means anything is the quality of the actual images the camera produces. I am not a Pentax owner but am going to spring to the K-5 II s. After looking at hundreds of images the K-5 has superior results....much better than the Nikon 5100/7000 (that i have), etc. So I agree with your statement re: IQ. We need more artist on this board and fewer tech spec followers.

1 upvote

@ET2: The K-5 is over 18 months old now, so others may have managed to catch up - that still makes Pentax the pack leader. Now, where's the dislike button?

1 upvote

the k5 may have similar sensors to other entry level dslrs but its the image processor that splits them apart. k5 handles noise very well straight out of the camera and even competes with the full frame dslrs!

check it out here! the k5 up against the nikon 3200, d800 & the canon 5d mark III. images in RAW @ iso 3200

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/studio-compare#baseDir=%2Freviews_data&cameraDataSubdir=boxshot&indexFileName=boxshotindex.xml&presetsFileName=boxshotpresets.xml&showDescriptions=false&headerTitle=Studio%20scene&headerSubTitle=Standard%20studio%20scene%20comparison&masterCamera=pentax_k5&masterSample=imgp3870.acr&slotsCount=4&slot0Camera=pentax_k5&slot0Sample=imgp3870.acr&slot0DisableCameraSelection=true&slot0DisableSampleSelection=true&slot0LinkWithMaster=true&slot1Camera=nikon_d3200&slot1Sample=dsc_0016.acr&slot2Camera=canon_eos5dmkiii&slot2Sample=5d3_5215.acr&slot3Camera=nikon_d800&slot3Sample=dsc_0254.acr&x=0.30835820895522387&y=1.245371105535618&extraCameraCount=0

0 upvotes

I would think they would at least show the 645D and the new lens at the show. Why no photo of them?

2 upvotes

Wish Pentax Ricoh could ally itself with one more strong company. Is there another electronics firms (i.e. Sony or Panasonic) that would like to get into cameras?

1 upvote

What Pentax needs is to clean house. Fire all those executives who vetoed Samsung's plan to introduce a full frame K mount DSLR, causing Samsung to go its own way and go into the mirrorless market. If Pentax had gone along, we would have Samsung and Pentax FF DSLR cameras. Right now, Pentax is still just entertaining plans to go full frame.

Nikon was a lot more decisive. Nikon fired all those executives who said FF was not needed. The young turks came in and within less than 2 years, they had the D3. The rest, as they say, is history. If Pentax does not release a full frame soon, it too will be history, but the wrong kind of history.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

7 upvotes

Anastigmat

Fully agree with you. Now I just hope Samsung will do own mirrorless FF. Sony wont do it and Leica "M" is quite expensive.

Sigh really hoped for K-3 this year..

1 upvote

Sony won't do it? VG900 is already a full-frame mirrorless camera (same sensor as in D600) that shoots RAW still images too

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

1 upvote

Don't like mixing and matching...

0 upvotes

I'm not so sure Pentax-Ricoh need to have another merger but an alliance may help them. At the moment I feel they are just finding their feet from the merger between the two companies or rather Ricoh taking over.

I think their prime lens are the big selling point and it really gives them a measureable edge over the APS-C competition so to errode the gap many see between not having that FF sensor as yet. I think the quality of their prime lens helps immensly to make up for not having FF body yet and helps them stay within touching distance and punch above their weight. Pentax have become a niche system that has its passionate advocates especially for their glass. The K-5 body is the cake under the icing. A FF body would be the cherry on top.

If there were any other company to buy out or merge with and completely overhaul it would be Olympus but after their troubles I don't think Ricoh-Pentax would have resources and money to do that? Or would they want to clean up their house too?

0 upvotes

I'm agree with you,

maybe the way pentax-ricoh executive think is to have FF camera we have to provide FF lens as well, I think we're not ready yet for such big changes

my two cents

0 upvotes

Where is the Pentax 645D2?
I was waiting for the new MF...

0 upvotes

Well, they still make them, still sell them. Frankly its pretty good camera, no reason to update it I think.. (maybe AF).

0 upvotes

Total absence of anything Ricoh !?
No GRX news, no GRD .. ?

6 upvotes

What he^ said! Pentax Pentax Pentax. Really sad.

0 upvotes

Pentax is "better" brand than Ricoh. More ppl know it, even tho they both are in corner of world..

0 upvotes

I wouldn't say Pentax is better,

I was hoping we might see a GX300 finally, my GX100 died the other day and would love an up to date version.

0 upvotes

Agreed. I'd of liked to see Ricoh put something on the table, an advanced compact to make people sit up and take note. Something to throw into the mix with the LX7, RX100, G15 (now a compact again after going on a diet!), DP2M/1M, and so on.

Pentax and Ricoh two different offerings and areas of expertise. Shame both could not have put out stuff this time to make eyes pop out.

0 upvotes

Pentax K-30 looks very nice, and very compact for a camera with full features. No new Ricoh GXR cameras (or modules)?

0 upvotes

I have a black k-30 and I absolutely love it. It's not too large, is weather sealed, and it has some killer features, the 100% Pentaprism VF being my favorite.

1 upvote

Yea 100% VF and pentaprism for that class is quite something. And few other things which usually belong to much higher league.

1 upvote

Both camera have new SAFOX X AF system

0 upvotes

.... left out the ... K3-FF ... :-)

1 upvote

No, Pentax did.

4 upvotes

Uhm, you make it sound like the K-5 IIs doesn't have that upgrdaed AF-system the II has. Is that correct?

1 upvote

The AA filter has nothing to do with the AF. Both cameras share the same phase-detect AF module. The IIs does away with the AA filter, resulting in a slightly sharper image but one with higher chances of moire artifacts.

Comment edited 24 seconds after posting

1 upvote

Come on Pentax, a full frame please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
were is the MZ d spirit.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 42