"The biggest robbery in the history of this country", says Michael Moore

Today's comment is a short suggestion:

Please visit the comment entitled "The Rich Are Staging a Coup This Morning ...a message from Michael Moore". Loads of food for thinking.

The first sentences alone gives the summary:

"Friends,

Let me cut to the chase. The biggest robbery in the history of this country is taking place as you read this. Though no guns are being used, 300 million hostages are being taken. Make no mistake about it: After stealing a half trillion dollars to line the pockets of their war-profiteering backers for the past five years, after lining the pockets of their fellow oilmen to the tune of over a hundred billion dollars in just the last two years, Bush and his cronies -- who must soon vacate the White House -- are looting the U.S. Treasury of every dollar they can grab. They are swiping as much of the silverware as they can on their way out the door."

Official Pentax info on K-m and other new products for Photokina: it's online

Ok, the cat is definitely out of the bag: Another pentaxian and member of Pentaxforums as me, Pedro Ernesto Guerra Azevedo, noticed that Pentax Germany has put online an official page including all information about the new Pentax K-m (specs, pdf, etc). So here you have it:

http://www.pentax.de/de/product/17300/body/overview/digitale_spiegelreflexkameras.php

The only missing piece by now is the same page in English, for those of us (like me) who don't understand German. :)

And thanks to Pedro for the heads-up!

Update: Also in English:

http://www.pentax.jp/english/news/2008/200819.html

It is worth noting that, contrary to the info leaked by Amazon, it seems that the Pentax K-m is NOT sealed. Maybe there was some confusion with the specs of the K200D, as previously suggested by other readers.

More official info:

The new DA* 55 and DA* 60-250 lenses
The new AF160FC flash
Updated lens roadmap (in pdf)

Full specs of Pentax K-m

Ok, thanks to a nice member of Pentaxforums, I got the copy of the full K-m specs (as leaked by Amazon.uk, before being pulled). I posted them in the previous entry of this blog, since it has been cited in quite a few places. All in all it seems a most interesting product, at a price point which looks just right. I sincerely hope it will get the deserved success and enhance the potential of Pentax in the world of digital photography: Some of us got first introducted to SLR cameras with Pentax, and their legacy and the outstanding quality of their lenses & cameras are unforgettable. A friend of mine always says that the best pictures I have taken were done with a Pentax P30, the first I bought many years ago. I expect, and wish, that many young lovers of photography will also get used to the meaning of photography by using this all new Pentax K-m.

New entry-level dSLR from Pentax: K-m (updated with full specs)

Well, after months of speculations, the official news are out: an entry level body called K-m is being offered, at 499 € together with the 18-55 lens, and at 599 € with the pair 18-55 + 50-200: good business for beginners, taking into account that Pentax lenses are serious stuff, good lenses, not the plastic toys offered by other big brands at their entry level cameras.

A few other interesting news in the lenses, but I think this new camera, and its attractive pricing, might be BIG news for Pentax and its relevance in the world of dSLR. We will see.

In the mean time, and before knowing the specs of the new body, here you have the picture, taken straight from the Pentax Germany website. The page is not available anymore, but similar info can be found here (as of now, 22 h ECT), including lenses etc.

UPDATE: The K-m specs leaked from the web of Amazon.uk, and I copypasted them here this afternoon. However, when I checked later, my original post was unchanged, which is something I can't understand; and besides the leak at Amazon has been removed, as was the original page in the Pentax Germany web announcing the new dSLR and lenses. Anyway, by now it is widely known that the camera bears the Sony 10 Mpixels CCD (which means it has no live view, as apparently this sensor is too power hungry), and shoots ca. 3 fps if I remember right. ISO range is 100-3200. Shake-reduction system: Pentax claims it is "the smallest dSLR camera with shake-reduction system". Processor: same as K200D. I'm looking for a copy of the specs leak to post it here as soon as possible.

I could find some parts of the original specs posted by Amazon. Here we go:

"Focus
Autofocus system: TTL Phase Matching with 5 focussing points (SAFOX) with indication in finder
Operational range: (EV 1 – EV 19)
AF Single with focus lock or continuous AF (as a function of the exposure program)
Focussing point selectable between automatic or manual choice, spot focussing
AF-Assist with built-in flash
Metering
16 segment TTL open aperture metering coupled with AF and lens information, switchable between Multi segment, Centre weighted and Spot metering.
Operational range: EV 1 – EV 21

Weather-proofed body construction with 60 seals protecting against dust and spray"
"Power requirements
4x AA batteries (Lithium, Alkaline, Ni-MH)
Battery capacity: approx. 1,650 images or approx. 1000 images (50% with flash) or approx. 750 min. playback"
"Focus
Autofocus system: TTL Phase Matching with 5 focussing points (SAFOX) with indication in finder
Operational range: (EV 1 – EV 19)

Second update:

This is my second attempt to post the full features of the Pentax K-m, as posted in the leak from Amazon.uk. Hopefully this time they won't disappear by "magic". I got a copy from a very nice guy at Pentaxforums, called Douglas. Thanks a lot to him for the info!

Here you have it:

"Product Features
Technical Details
Built for the tough everyday photography
10.2 Megapixels resolution CCD
ISO100-3200
3.5fps Continuous Shooting
Reliable dust prevention, detection and removal system against dust on the sensor
PENTAX "Shake Reduction" integrated into the camera body is usable with any Pentax le ns
Help function
picture modes and automatic functions set the camera easily for each photograph situa tion
2.7" LCD
Supplied with: DA L 18-55mm and 50-200mm zoom lens
CCD
10.75 Megapixels CrO total
10.2 Megapixels CrO effective
23.5x15.7mm Interline Interlace CCD with primary colour filter
Colour depth: 3 x 12 Bit in RAW, 3 x 8 Bit in JPEG (internal 3 x 22 bit)
Resolution:
- JPEG: (JPEG Baseline in quality steps of Optimal, Better, Good)
10 MP (3,872 x 2,592), 6 MP (3,008 x 2,000), 2 MP (1,824 x 1,216)
- RAW: 10 MP (3,872 x 2,592)
Sensitivity: Automatic, Manual selectable (ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600,3,200)
Lens
PENTAX KAF2 bayonet
Compatible with PENTAX KAF2-, KAF- and KA- lens mounts. Support for KAF2 Power Zoom f unctions
(K-mount lenses CrO with adapters CrO M42 and medium format lenses are mechanically compatible. Due to the high resolution of
camera and lack of electronic contacts on the lenses no general statement can be made regarding full compatibility of functions.)
Viewfinder
Built-in, non-interchangeable Pentamirror finder
Viewing area 96% with finder magnification of 0.85x (with 50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity , -1mCrO1)
Bright non-interchangeable CroNatural Bright IICr focusing screen
Viewfinder indications below image area
Dioptre correction -2.5 dpt. CrO +1.5 dpt.
Monitor
2.7Cr low-temperature polysilicon TFT Monitor with 230,000 dots, brightness adjustment and wide viewing angle (approx. 160tG)
Image previewing with image preview switch (stop down button)
Image view after recording: Single image, double image, Histogram, recording data and Hot Spot Warning, 16x enlargement,
Thumbnail index (4, 9 or 16), slide show, image rotation
Preview
Depth-of-field preview button for focus depth preview, digital preview
Image Formats
RAW (PEF, DNG), RAW + JPEG
JPEG (Exif 2.21), DCF
JPEG compression: JPEG Baseline in quality steps of Optimal, Better, Good
Memory
SD Card, SDHC Card
Focus
Autofocus system: TTL Phase Matching with 5 focussing points (SAFOX) with indication in finder
Operational range: (EV 1 CrO EV 19)
AF Single with focus lock or continuous AF (as a function of the exposure program)
Focussing point selectable between automatic or manual choice, spot focussing
AF-Assist with built-in flash
Metering
16 segment TTL open aperture metering coupled with AF and lens information, switchabl e between Multi segment, Centre weighted and
Spot metering.
Operational range: EV 1 CrO EV 21
Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter
Shutter speeds: Automatic: 1/4,000 CrO 30sec. (stepless), Manual: 1/4,000 CrO 30sec. (in 0.5 EV steps) and Bulb
Flash sync: 1/180sec.
Green Mode, Programmed automatic (Hyperprogram), Sensitivity Priority, Aperture Prior ity, Shutter Priority, ISO Automatic, Manual,
long exposure
Picture Modes (automatic or manual): Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sport, Night portrai t, Flash Off
Scene Modes: Night scene, Surf & Snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pets, Candle light, Museum
Exposure compensation: +/- 2EV (1/3 or 1/2 steps)
Auto bracketing: +/-0.5 EV, +/-1.0 EV, +/-1.5 EV in 0.5 EV steps, or +/-0.3 EV, +/-0. 7 EV, +/-1.0 EV, in 0.3 EV steps
Exposure memory button
Flash
Built-in P-TTL automatic flash with automatic operation in poor lighting conditions
Manual on / manual off
Preflash for reduction of the CroRed EyeCr effect
Flash compensation (tI2 EV)
GN 13 at ISO 100
Hotshoe on camera top for use of system flashes
High-Speed Wireless Synchronisation with appropriate PENTAX flashes
Coverage 28mm (equivalent in 35mm film format)
Power requirements
4x AA batteries (Lithium, Alkaline, Ni-MH)
Battery capacity: approx. 1,650 images or approx. 1000 images (50% with flash) or app rox. 750 min. playback
AC adapter (optionally available)
Connections
USB 2.0 (High Speed)
AV (compatible with NTSC and PAL)
AC adapter (optionally available adapter)
Recording parameters
White Balance: Automatic or manual. Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Neon (W, N, D) , Flash, manual balance, 3 selectable settings
for Kelvin and Mired Value with fine adjust
Digital filters: BW, Sepia, Colour (18 options), Soft filter and Slim Filter, HDR (3 options)
Drive Modes: Single, Series (Hi/Low): 2.8fps. to 4 images in JPEG (Hi), 1.1fps to cap acity of memory card (Low). 4 images in RAW
(DNG). Auto Bracketing, Self-timer with 2sec. delay (mirror up lock) and 12sec. delay , IR Remote Control, series.
Special features
PENTAX developed opto/mechanical CroShake ReductionCr (integrated in camera body). Adds approx. 4 stops to hand-held shots
(for long exposures a tripod should be used).
3 step CroDust RemovalCr system:
1. Special coating of Low Pass Filter,
2. Vibration system to remove dust,
3. Adhesive strip to capture dust
CroDust AlertCr : remaining persistent dust on the sensor is clearly located and the position is indi cated on the monitor
Compatible with ultrasonic lenses
Camera internal file designation switchable between standard files or date
Extended exposure functions via eight Scenes Mode programs
Switchable between digital preview on the monitor or optical depth-of-field preview i n viewfinder
23 individually adaptable camera functions
Metal chassis with fibre-reinforced plastic housing
Weather-proofed body construction with 60 seals protecting against dust and spray
World time for 72 cities in 28 time zones
Menu languages: English, French, German, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Dutch, Spanish, Po rtuguese, Italian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian,
Turkish, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Japanese
Print Functions
PictBridge, DPOF (Digital Print Order Form), PRINT Image Matching III
System requirements
Integrated USB connector
PC: Windows XP, Windows Vista
- CPU: Pentium IV or newer
- Memory: minimum 512MB
- Free hard drive space: 1GB or more
- Monitor resolution: 1,280 x 1,024 or more
Mac OS X 10.2 or higher
- CPU: POWER PC G5 or newer
- Memory: minimum 512MB
- Free hard drive space: 1GB or more
- Monitor resolution: 1,280 x 1,024 or more
Software
PENTAX PHOTO Browser 3/PENTAX PHOTO Laboratory 3 with integrated RAW converter
LENS 1 - 18-55mm DAL zoom Lens
Lens mount - PENTAX KAF-Bayonet
Angle of view - 76 CrO 29tG
Construction - 11 elements / 8 groups
Aperture control - Automatic
Smallest aperture - 22 CrO 38
Metering - TTL open aperture Metering
Minimum focusing distance - 0.25m CrO Cuo
Magnification - approx. 1:2.9 (0.34x)
Filter size - 52mm
LENS 2 - 50-200mm DAL zoom lens
Lens mount - PENTAX KAF-Bayonet
Angle of view CrO 31.5tG to 8.1tG
Construction - 11 elements / 10 groups
Aperture control CrO Automatic
Smallest aperture CrO 22-32
Metering - TTL open aperture Metering
Minimum focusing distance CrO 1.1m CrO Cur
Magnification - approx. 1:4.2 (0.24x)
Filter size - 52mm "

There you have it!

Hopefully the many fans of Pentax out there enjoy this info. And to a professional Pentax basher, whose initials are RH: now you have all the info required to post your usual bullshit about Pentax! Hopefully the objective readers out there will soon realize that your opinions are neither objective, nor reliable, in order to make any kind of judgement about Pentax.

Cheers people!

Prague at night

Just a quick comeback post after vacations, and this time is only to show my favourite picture taken last week in Prague. The beauty of the city does not need introduction, so let's save words and go straight to the picture. Taken with my Pentax K10D and the standard 18/55 lenses. The camera was set to ISO 100 and held on top of a handrail. The JPEG is shown straight from the camera, no tweakings of any kind.

I was surprised by the overall quality of the picture, and found quite pleasant the contrast between the birds and the bridge.
Pictures like this tell me that I did the right choice when buying my K10D.