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To start, for Pentax, every product is a very important product of course.
Based on user opinions, we launched something new in every product category (K-, Q-, and 645-mount).
Our lens coatins have been a big selling point, so we are very happy to be launching our HD coating and would like to increase the number of HD-coated lenses in the future.
First of all, we understand that the K-5, our previous model, was very successful in the market and users were happy with it. At the same time, some users claimed there were issues with the AF sensor. 5 00:01:47,0 --> 00:02:05,0 Based on the voice of the users, we developed a new AF module, so this is a brand new system in the K-5 II.
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We are focused on outdoor shooting, which is why we weather-sealed the K-5.
Some users said that it was somewhat difficult to see the LCD in daylight, however, so that's another thing we improved on the K-5 II.
As for the Q10, we adapted a new sensor, a CMOS sensor. This is the biggest change.
Thanks to this new CMOS sensor, we not only improved the low-light noise but also the high-ISO resolution.
Also, we improved the battery life so the user can take more photos. Finally, we improved autofocus algorithms in the Q10.
SAFOX X can now make measurements in -3EV (before it was -1EV). That's the biggest change.
It means that it's good for shooting in the dark as it can make measurements in low light.
We changed the optical components in the AF module to some extent, which will result in more accurate autofocus as well.
Right now there are 11 autofocus points, but we are thinking of increasing the number of points in the future.
The sensor in the K-5 II is a lower-noise sensor than the sensor in the K-30.
We judged that to best handle this different sensor, PRIME II was better than PRIME M.
In some ways, for example for movies, the K-30 is better than the K-5 II.
But as our focus with the K-5 II is the still image, we choose the PRIME II for the K-5 II.
(Shows internal Pentax Ricoh test photos illustrating the difference)
Between these two photos you can see the difference very clearly.
You can see an image that you were never able to capture before with the K-5.
During our internal testing, we were sometimes surprised how well the K-5 IIs could capture images.
You might even discover new wrinkles on faces when shooting with the K-5 IIs!
We used to have the ABC (Aero Bright Coating), but it has one key weakness: the surface can easily be scratched.
But HD coating has much more durability in this respect.
Compared to SMC, HD coating cuts the reflectance by roughly half.
After the interview we can take you to the front stand where we have a demonstration- maybe you've seen it?
We did, and we actually made a post about it. The difference is very clear.
You can see that the reflectance is mostly cut in half,
and actually, the SMC's performance depended greatly on wavelength, while HD coating has much more consistent performance.
(Shows chart with the strengths and weaknesses of each coating)
Here is a comparison with the previous lens coatings, with HD, SMC and ABC.
The reflectance and wavelength dependance of ABC is best.
As for the cost and durability, HDC has an advantage over ABC.
In future lens lineups, depending on the price category, we will choose between HD and ABC. It depends on the price and purpose of each lens.
In future lens lineups, depending on the price category, we will choose between HD and ABC. It depends on the price and purpose of each lens.
We don't think we will stop the SMC coating, but we would like to enlarge the HD-coated lens lineup.
We don't think we will stop the SMC coating entirely.
Right now, we can't say which future lenses will use which coatings.
So as I said, we are going to be replacing SMC coatings, using HD in future lenses, so HD will make its way into the lens lineups.
We are thinking that it's good for landscape and animal shooting, also because it's fully weather-sealed.
So, as I said these lenses are sealed, so the body should be sealed as well. K-5, K-5 II and sometimes K-30 users will be using this lenses.
In the future, we are thinking that we need to launch K-mount cameras for professionals.
(Misunderstands question) This lens is not useful for the 645D, and because it's a DA, it's designed for digital cameras.
So, of course are using the same K-mount so you can put this lens on a film camera, but we can't guarantee perfect performance on film cameras.
First of all, we consider that the improvements are quite important improvements 49 00:18:45,844 --> 00:18:55,8 not so minor because they touch on very essential parts of the camera, because they touch on very important aspects of the camera, like the focusing, low-light conditions
or the sensor [resolution], so in that sense we consider that these are not small improvements
we simply consider that why make a totally new camera when we have a quite-good one, very appreciated,
and where we only needed to have some improvement to make it a real good product. Therefore, we don't consider these to be not suitable for replacement of existing cameras.
As far as the question about development goes,
it's clear that the Pentax Ricoh direction taken is very clearly to develop further the DSLR range, in all directions one might say,
so in that sense yes I can say that we will develop further cameras for Pentax users for sure.
At CP+ we like to get comments from the market/the users- that is out purpose to present those lenses at CP+.
Thanks to the mirrorless structure, this kind of lens would be use for the K-01.
We expected some big response from the market, but currently there isn't so much demand in the market.
Ricoh and Pentax used to be 2 companies, now there's Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, one company.
Engineers are coming from Ricoh already, and technologies are being exchanged.
Ricoh's engineers already participate in the development of Pentax cameras.
We are thinking that you will see both technologies implemented in one camera (technologies from Ricoh and from Pentax).
So among the engineers, there have been ideas such as the Q-mount module or K-mount module for the GXR.
However, we have many things to develop for the future modules, so as of today, we don't have any clear plans to go for this kind of module.
It used to be that aperture was adjusted by aperture rings, but technologies have been development, and we think that aperture rings now have less importance to the user.
However, we understand also the importance of adjusting the aperture by the aperture ring. If the number of “voices” about this increases, we will plan to develop such a product.
So last year we launched the Pentax Q, and we were lacking some telephoto/zoom lenses. That was a disadvantage of the whole Q system.
But today we launched our 06 telephoto zoom lens, and we are going forward with the Q lens system.
We also launched the adapter Q for K-mount lenses, and when using a K-mount lens with this adapter, the magnification is 5.5 times, and you can't get that kind of magnification with competitors' products.
(Shows example tele/macro photos)
With a DA* 300mm the user can take great photos of the moon, and also super-macro pictures with the DA 100mm.
The Q has a lot of potential with this adapter, and also the new 06 lens.
Calculating with the new 560mm lens and the new adapter, you can get more than a 2,500mm lens!
We have to clear up one point- the Pentax Q body doesn't have a shutter, the shutter is in the lens, which is why we can achieve that kind of flash synchronization.
But K-mount cameras do have a shutter inside the body, so that's the biggest difference.
If K-mount lenses had a shutter, technologically and logically we could achieve that concept.
As you know, the K-01 was a totally new direction for a camera maker, this means using a designer to develop the camera.
We had 2 different types of reactions, we had the reaction of let's say
“design freaks” who were actually the first ones who bought the camera. For “photo freaks”, they first had to understand the value of the product beyond the outlook of the product before buying it.
It took some time because many people were at first surprised, and there was a question of taste, because some people liked and others disliked the product.
In other words, the first ones who bought it were not photographers, at all, and the photographers came to it only afterward.
So we had a first peak of interest of customers, then it went down step by step, and now we have a regain of this kind of interest for people who understand the advantage of the product.
So we will keep selling this product for quite some time, and now we have a regain of interest in the product, an increase in sales, if I can say though.
Ok, well you know the letter was telling you that although we did not have specific plans of development,
we were following and analyzing the possibilities to use full-frame.
I would say that we even analyze this more now. 87 00:30:51,967 --> 00:31:07,0 But I still cannot tell you about any concrete plan, but definitely it's of course something which is in the air for the moment, I would say.
First, we would like to thank you very much for the survey you conducted on the forum, and the comments [you gave us] from the users.
Based on the comments from our fans, we would like to launch an attractive product for all of the fans.
Not just based on the response form the market...we'd like to surprise you sometimes.
A change that has happened with the acquisition of Pentax by Ricoh is that the system of product development, let's say RD,
in Ricoh (the company as a whole, not just the camera division), is very much based on users' feedback.
I would say much more than even Pentax was before, because Pentax had enthusiast engineers already,
but let's say the Ricoh system of getting information back from the market, but the market in terms of users,
not from the dealers or resellers only, because from the final single individual user is very much developed in the Ricoh system.
So we really do even more appreciate your contribution to this,
because so far, we could just welcome it, transfer it, and pray for having some return on this.
We know that in the Ricoh system, the feedback from the enthusiast users is a full part off the development of the products, it's totally a part of the system, I would say.
I hope that we will keep and develop further the contact between us!