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Ricoh may be considering killing off the Pentax brand

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UPDATE: Ricoh are denying the report. For the full update see the end of the post

Just when Pentax seemed like it might be starting to pick up, Nikkei Asian Review are reporting that Ricoh may be dropping the brand. There’s no doubt that smartphones are continuing to eat into camera sales, and Pentax has become a “money-losing” business.

Nikkei say that Ricoh plan to “radically review” a production and manufacturing strategy targeting the Pentax and GR brands. One of the options includes withdrawing from the segment completely.

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New Pentax KP has ISO 819,200 and it’s now available for preorders

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Ricoh has introduced their newest DSLR camera, Pentax KP. On the first sight, it’s just another DSLR. But it has a unique feature: ISO of 819,200. Yup, you read it right. This tiny titan can see in the dark. It’s equipped with 24.32MP APS-C CMOS sensor, and features 5-axis in-body image stabilization for maximum sharpness.

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Ricoh’s new Theta SC 360VR isn’t the Theta S upgrade some had been hoping for

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As 360° VR cameras go, the Ricoh Theta S has been up there amongst the most popular. In fact, it may be the single most popular 360° camera out there. It has a very loyal fanbase, and if you’re shooting stills it’s a great little camera. For me, though, it always seemed to fall over when it came to video. It’s what always put me off buying one.

Those, like myself, who were hoping for a meatier version with 4K video might feel a little disappointed at Ricoh’s announcement today for the new Theta SC. It isn’t so much of an upgrade as a slightly crippled version of the Theta S. It does cost $50 less, though, and the changes only really affect the video you’ll never record anyway.

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Ricoh’s new 4K Theta 360° VR camera announcement expected soon

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With the Ricoh Theta m15 showing as discontinued for a couple of colours on B&H, and the demands of VR and 360° camera users already increasing far beyond the 1080p limits of the Theta S, now would be a great time for Ricoh to announce a new 4K VR camera,

According to Pentax Rumours, that’s exactly Ricoh are preparing to do, and are expecting an official announcement could be made during Photokina in September.

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Pentax’s new film duplicator lets you digitise film from 35mm to 5×4 with your DSLR

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The resurgence in film’s popularity in the last few years has been a wonderful thing.  Large format photography is only just starting to see the the kind of reawakening that 35mm experienced, but it is definitely making a comeback.

For those that are already shooting 4×5, your life might be about to get a little easier (although it may not once you realise the cost).  The newly announced Pentax Film Duplicator 4×5 lets you digitise your film from 35mm up to 4×5 negatives using a simple DSLR.

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Canon Breaks Own Patents Record; Samsung First Among Foreign United States Patent Holders

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2015 was a good year for Canon. Not only did it release the record-breaking 50MP 5Ds and 5Ds R DSLR cameras, it also broke its own record for the highest number of patents the company was granted in one year.

Canon also maintained its top spot among Japanese companies, and has marked its 30th consecutive year as a top five U.S. patent holder.

Samsung Electronics held on to 2nd place, despite the continued rumors about it shutting down its camera business.

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Pentax Cameras Could Soon Offer Built-in Star Tracking for Astrophotography

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Astrophotography is becoming more accessible than ever. Not only have manufacturers made cameras specifically designed with celestial photography in mind, they’ve also started work on built-in star tracking that will use sensor-shift technology to account for the movement of celestial bodies in the sky during a long exposure.

While Canon might have been one of the first to show off its star-tracking technology, a new patent from Ricoh shows they’re looking to the skies as well.[Read More…]

Ricoh GR II Specs Leaked; Expected to Be Announced Tomorrow

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Ricoh’s high-end fixed-lens compact camera is due to be replaced shortly and Digicame-Info say the GR Mark II will be announced tomorrow.

According to the leaked specs the camera will include a few features which have become industry standards, and while the full list of features has not been made available we can make a few educated guesses based on the incorporated lens.

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Pentax Unveils The Pentax K-3 II Declaring It To Be The Sharpest APC To Date

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Ricoh just announced the Pentax K-3 II. The camera is the successor to the popular Pentax K-3. The camera has some similarities to the prior K-3 and some new features.

The K-3 II has the same magnesium alloy casing, metal chassis as the K3, and a sensor featuring 24.35 effective megapixels.

As far as focus is concerned the camera has a 27-point AF system and it can shoot up to approximately 8.3 frames per second.

One of the raved additions to the camera is an improved 4.5EV stop shake reduction system. Ricoh claims that it will be the sharpest APC to date and also included a selectable anti-aliasing filter, which can be turned on or off to either garner the highest resolution and sharpness possible or provide enhanced protection against moiré.

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