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Ricoh launches newly designed HD Pentax-D FA Macro 100mm F2.8ED All Weather lens

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Ricoh has announced the new HD Pentax-D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8ED AW (All Weather) lens. This is the first Pentax macro lens to feature all-weather dustproof and weather-resistant construction. Ricoh says that when mounted to a weather-resistant Pentax DSLR, the new lens creates “a highly dependable, durable imaging system that performs superbly in demanding shooting conditions”.

The lens features a new optical design, although Ricoh says it’s almost as compact as its Pentax-D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 WR predecessor. And as well as new insides, it also has a new exterior. The new design includes Pentax’s Quick-Shift Focus System. This enables photographers to instantly switch from auto to manual focus after the camera’s AF system locks on.

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Ricoh Europe is killing off and replacing its EU website – existing accounts will not be transferred

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Ricoh has reportedly sent out an email to customers informing them that they’re shutting down their EU website at Ricoh-Imaging.eu on September 5th. It seems that the singular all-encompassing website is to be replaced by a number of brand-specific websites. This will allow them to target each specific demographic rather than having a single catch-all website for all their customers across all sectors.

According to the email sent out by Pentax, they “are currently creating new exciting websites for you. Our new websites will be brand oriented and will therefore have greater value for you. The first website will be opening soon” but some users fear that this may be Ricoh’s plan to split off Pentax to make it easier to sell off. Whatever the ultimate goal, existing Ricoh customers (in all markets) need to pay attention.

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Ricoh has announced a standalone version of the Ricoh GR IIIx Urban Edition camera

Ricoh’s limited-edition GR IIIx Urban Edition camera, released in March as a kit including some matching accessories now appears to have made it into the regular lineup. Ricoh has announced that the GR IIIx Urban Edition is going to be available to purchase as a standalone edition camera for $1,049.95.

It’s $50 more expensive than the standard Ricoh GR IIIx and $50 less expensive than the limited edition GR IIIx Urban Edition kit that was released in March. And for that $50 reduction, it seems that all you’re really losing out on is the matching leather strap compared to the Urban Edition kit.

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A class action lawsuit has been filed against Ricoh USA (again) over Pentax K-30 and K-50 aperture defects

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Ricoh USA is being sued again, with a class-action suit in Pennsylvania over defects in the aperture mechanism of the Pentax K-30 and K-50 DSLRs. It’s the second time a class action lawsuit has been filed against the company, with the first being filed in 2020 in New York and subsequently dismissed in just February of this year.

The new suit filed in Pennsylvania basically alleges the same as the suit filed in New York two years ago – although the original suit also included the Pentax K-70 in the list of defective models. The defect, as alleged by both suits is that there’s a problem with the aperture mechanism that produces consistently black or very underexposed images, making the cameras unfit for purpose.

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Ricoh’s new rugged and waterproof WG-80 is basically a WG-70 with a slightly redesigned shell and brighter ring light

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Ricoh has announced their new WG-80, the latest in their line of rugged and waterproof compact cameras designed for underwater, outdoor and industrial photography. With the newest iteration, it actually sees a slight (very slight) redesign of the camera’s exterior, although the specifications remain pretty much identical to its predecessor (and its predecessor’s predecessor).

Aside from the slightly modified shell, the Ricoh WG-80 also sees a new macro LED ring light that Ricoh says is twice as bright as that found in the WG-70. They also say it has “enhanced functionality”, but it all appears to essentially be the same as the Ricoh WG-70.

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Ricoh is releasing an “Urban” limited edition version of the GR IIIx with new focus and exposure modes

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Ricoh has announced a new Ricoh GR IIIx Urban Edition Special Limited Kit – bit of a mouthful. As the name suggests, it’s a new limited edition version of the GR IIIx which offers a metallic grey finish with a blue accent around the lens barrel along with some exclusive matching accessories. But it’s not just a pretty face. The GRX IIIx Urban, as we’ll call it from now on, also sports new exposure and focus modes that the standard GR IIIx does not have.

Other than the new exposure and focus modes – which will also be coming to the standard GR IIIx in a future firmware update – the specs are identical to the regular GR IIIx. And despite being a limited edition, the price difference over the standard model isn’t that bad, either. You’re only paying an extra $100 for your bragging rights.

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Ricoh Theta X 360° camera comes with a big touch display, 60MP image capture and real-time stitching

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Ricoh has today announced the new Ricoh Theta X 360° camera. Like the rest of the Ricoh 360° range, the Theta X is an all-in-one camera featuring a pair of lenses and sensors. It seems to represent a pretty big step up from previous Ricoh Theta cameras in terms of user interactivity, thanks to a great big new 2.25″ touchscreen display that lets you preview your shot (a Ricoh Theta first!) and better smartphone connectivity.

As well as the new touchscreen display, the Theta X brings along with it a couple of other firsts for Ricoh – although they are features that the competition has had for a while now. The battery is replaceable, so you’re not reliant on just an internal one. Swap out whenever you need. And while it still features internal storage (~46GB) it also sports a microSD card slot.

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Ricoh announces major restructuring – is Pentax about to be reborn or are they just dying?

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This announcement applies to Ricoh Japan only. For a statement from Ricoh USA, see the bottom of this post.

Ricoh, more specifically its Pentax brand of cameras, seem to have been particularly stuck in the past over the last few years. As every other single surviving camera manufacturer has made the transition to mirrorless, Pentax is still clinging onto its DSLRs. But is Pentax, as well as sister brand GR and parent brand Ricoh in more trouble than we thought?

A new press release from the company seems to suggest that they are struggling somewhat, but that they plan to do something about it, starting on April 1st. They’ve announced a major restructure of the company, stopping the mass-production of cameras and switching to a “workshop like” manufacturing process to strengthen the bond with its customers as well as promoting new Pentax and GR products in the coming future.

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Ricoh files new lens patents – Is Pentax finally considering going mirrorless?

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A few days ago, Ricoh filed a patent application in Japan for three new full-frame telephoto lenses, one of which is for mirrorless cameras. These aren’t the first they’ve filed, either, having filed patents for a couple of other mirrorless lenses a month ago. Could this be a turning point for Pentax, the one company that’s been holding onto DSLRs for dear life while the rest of the world goes mirrorless?

The three new lenses described by the patent aren’t particularly high end. They’re all variable aperture, although the one for mirrorless has a max variable aperture of f/2.8-4, so not too terrible. It’s doubtful, though that Pentax is planning to pursue the mirrorless market. At least, not yet.

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Ricoh’s longer focal length GR IIIx and accessories are now available to pre-order

Since its initial announcement last month, many Ricoh fans have been waiting to be able to get their pre-orders in for the new Ricoh GR IIIx digital camera. Well, now, they can and it’ll cost you around $999. Over the GR III it sees a longer focal length, new face and eye-detection AF, improved in-camera editing and a bunch of new accessories.

The body of the camera hasn’t changed at all, and it still looks and feels largely the same, except when you shoot with it, you’ll have a slightly narrower field of view, going from the 28mm equivalent on the GR III to a 40mm equivalent on the GR IIIx – which is said to deliver “a new, innovative perspective perfect for dramatic, inspiring street photography”.

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