RiceHigh's Pentax Blog
• News about Products and Latest Company Direction
• Summaries of Reported Problems and Potential Issues
• Technical Articles on Photographic Gear and Technologies
Monday, March 04, 2024
Pentax User Survey
Monday, January 29, 2024
SDMs DO Require Preventive Maintenance!
Owing to the prolonged infamous failure of the SDMs in various Pentax AF lens models, I only bought my first SDM lens, the DA*55 F1.4, back to 2015, which is a SDM-only lens in KAF3 mount (on screw-drive). After that, I bought also another SDM only lens the DA17-70 and then later a DA*60-250 F4 hybrid-SDM/screw-driven lens (which supports also in 2022.
Here is my proven experiences with those SDM lenses and my tip to prevent them from malfunction before it would be too late, as follows:
I observe that all those lenses did require regular use of the motors. If they were left un-use for a period of time, the AF motors would first become difficult to move. In that case, first of all they were moving rather slowly and with some clicks of odd sound coming out when moving, rather not smoothly. So, more exercise with the lenses could improve thing. After they had (been) moved smoothly, then it would work flawlessly for a couple of months again. This first happened with my DA*55 of which the first SDM problem appeared after about one year of purchase of the lens. (I bought that lens from the Biccamera in Japan brand new.)
Same thing happened with my DA*60-250 but the symptom exhibited, which was even worse. This lens was bought from the Amazon.jp brand new and was manufactured in 2021 as shown in the document in box, which was supposed to be of the rumoured "newly designed" SDM, but which IMHO has actually been non-existent. Eventually, I needed to bring out my old screw-driven AF Pentax DSLR to turn and smooth out the operation of the SDM, which is rather hilarious indeed. After that, the SDM turnsed flawlessly, i.e. quick and smooth, but only after my prevent maintenance work carried out for about ten minute, and turnings of both the SDM and the screw-drive mechanics were required.
Another observation of mine is that the SDMs would slow down in cold weather when the temperature was cold. Hence, despite the "cold-proof" specification and feature of those AW SDM lenses, those lenses equipped with SDMs are in fact vulnerable to cold weather and to work properly under low temperatures unless they do enough "exercises" from day to day.
So, if you have those evil Pentax SDM lenses, do remember to mark your calendar and carry out periodical PMs before they are to die, which will be too late to save by then. My humble advice and true experience shared.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
News from Ricoh - K-1 III is Still Under Development and etc.
From a latest post in the Xitek Pentax forum, an interview with the Ricoh senior officials (from the product development and planning divisions) in a recent marketing event in Taipei was cited.
Thursday, June 29, 2023
The Pentax 645 Digital Lineup is Really Done
See the official discontinued lens list here, even the DFA 55/2.8 SDM and DFA 90/2.8 Macro SR lenses are now included:
So, the Pentax 645 digital lineup is really done, as it is shown and can be confirmed, regardless of any official statement made about this fact. :-( And, those 645 gear of Pentax has become collectors' items now, just like the Q gear.
Friday, May 12, 2023
Leak on the "New" FA 50mm F1.4 Lenses
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Ned Bunnell's Take on the K-3 III Mono
See his latest posted samples at Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ned_bunnell/sets/72177720307495920/
via his DPR post here.
Whilst the photos are nice, they do lack a bit contrast and sharpness. I would expect (much) better IQ for a dedicated B&W machine, honestly speaking.
Btw, it seems that Ned does not update his blog anymore.
Friday, April 14, 2023
More K-3 III Monochrome Samples at the "Pentax Official" Site
https://pentaxofficial.com/18527/
https://pentaxofficial.com/18482/
https://pentaxofficial.com/18512/
All in Japanese, but the pictures speak for themselves. Various Pentax original lenses were used for the tests.
K-3 III Monochrome First Review (with Sample Photos and Video)
https://www.yaotomi.co.jp/blog/walk/2023/04/pentaxk3iii,monochrome-kyoto,sakura.html
(in Japanese)
My impression is that while the B&W photos do have more contrasts and better tonal representation than normal digital cameras' ones, they are yet not as solid as those images produced with better B&W films, even after they are digitalised via professional-grade film scanners.
Besides, there is a side-by-side comparison against the original K-3 III, look this:
Lastly, DC Watch reports that the Ricoh has stopped to receive pre-orders of the K-3 III Mono as the tailor-made sensors have already been out-of-stock owing to the overwhelming demand. Besides, Ricoh also said that their production capacity on the Mono units was indeed rather limited.
Friday, April 07, 2023
“Pentax Information” on April 13
https://www.youtube.com/live/ovA100SWIRQ
What will be announced?
Thursday, March 23, 2023
DPR is Doomed
I received this message from the Dpreview Admin yesterday and thought that was a hoax at the first glance but it is actually true:
https://www.dpreview.com/news/5901145460/dpreview-com-to-close
So, the DPR is really doomed, even earlier than Pentax. :-o