Well I think it is good news. Hoya bought Pentax for the medical and scientific sides, the photographic side was just an addition. Now we know Hoya wer'nt interested in the camera division. So it can only be good to sell it to someone who IS interested, and that is Ricoh.

Now what do I want to see?

Well, Ricoh have announced the main reason to buy, is for the interchangable lens cameras (read DSLR's) and this would fit well in the combined camera range.

So what I would want.

1. Invest in the DSLR side more, bring yet more Camera's and lenses for the format.

2. Combine the best of the compacts, meaning the user control of the Ricoh's and the image processing of the pentax models.

3. The "pro" range of Ricoh compacts - the GR and GX range. They are as good if not better than the Panasonic LX and Canon G series models. Maybe even bring out the new ones as "Pentax" cameras.

4. Don't, for goodness sake, call the new cameras "Ricoh-Pentax". It won't work, and it did Konica-Minolta more harm than good (they went bump and sold the DSLR side to Sony, and look at them!). Ricoh now own the Pentax name so it is best for Ricoh to call all their cameras Pentax, and leave the Ricoh name to everything else.

5. Sit back and review the non-DSLR interchangable lens cameras (the Ricoh GXR system and the new Pentax Q) Are these the best way to go? They both have their merits, but are probably too specialised for the market. Better to go with the flow and bring out a "normal" CSC with an APS-C sensor, yet have the impact of the excellent Pentax glass.

Is it April 1st already?

It's a tough choice really, I have been thinking the same thing, and still I have not got either - yet.

The 70 is a lovely small lens with cracking bokeh and sharpness, but I already have the mighty 50-135, so would an extra 1/2 stop be worth it
On the other hand the 77mm is faster still and has a legendary reputation, but it is so much more in price.

If it was me and I chose the 70mm, I would still think if I saved a bit more, I could have the 77mm, if only for the speed and the A ring for use on my MZ-5n.

On the other hand the 70 is a great price for a great lens, and if you don't use film, then might be a better choice....

Like I say, a tough decision.

Robin is probably the best person to answer this question at the moment.

I went for other lens.

Mainly the Sigma 300mm F2.8 EX DG

Yes it's non SDM (we will have to wait for the mk2 for that) but will give you closest to the best of both worlds of sport and nature. Although I prefer the 500m reach of my old 170-500 for nature, the 300mm is a lot faster and sharper. I have tried one once it it is excellent.

It is a shame that:-

1. Sigma have currently chosen not to produce the 120-300mm F2.8 mk2 with a Pentax mount at the moment (they said they were when it was announced)
2. There is no eqv 200-400mm F4 like Canon and Nikon for Pentax.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss Joe, these people should be found and......Well you get the picture.

Having been to plenty of places (but not enough) I agree that there is a certain trepidation about London, not only from opportunists, but from trumped up security/police who don't know the rules about photography, and make you feel like a criminal. Manchester is very similar, as are most UK cities.

As for feeling safe, eastern europe is great. Having been to Prague, Tallinn, Gdansk, Dubrovnik, Krakow and Budapest, I have never felt insecure in any of them. Maybe there are plenty of togs around with DSLR's, but they feel just right.
Even places like Toronto, Lima and Cusco felt safe.

can I have the 77 zone meter from the K-7 on my K-5 please? I don't know why they went back to the 16 zone for the K-5, it seems odd.
Also, 1/250 flash sync.

Oh, and the rather wonderful 51 point fast AF from Nikon in my K-5 too.

Finally a far bigger buffer, as if I am shooting 7fps, it takes an age to transfer to the (already class 10) card.

apart from that, I am happy with what I have got (apart from I want a 645D, but thats another matter.......:wink

Agreed with womble. New for old, and like for like means the K-5

I just don't know who they are aiming this at.

Yes, it is the smallest CSC, yes it will probably have the best optics for the sensor, but, I am not sure. It is too expensive, not much smaller that the NEX-C3 and GF3, and that sensor! If it was based on the 1/1.63" of the fuji and panasonics of this world, then maybe. But the sensor is what you get in cheap P+S cameras!

Unless Pentax know something that we don't, then this camera will bomb big time.

I only hope that the rumoured "proper" CSC camera has an APS-C sensor that we can all think about getting as a backup to our mighty Pentax DSLR's.

In the meantime, we shall see.

Tough one really, especially as I have got two beauts in the last 6 months.

But I will give it a go

1st (by a margain) - SMC-P DA* 50-135mm F2.8 SDM
2nd(just) - SMC-P DA 16-45mm F4
3rd - Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG
4th - Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX Macro
5th (probably) - SMC-P FA 50mm F1.4

bubbling under are
6th - SMC-P DA 35mm F2.4. Ive only had it 6 months but get used a lot.

And

Sigma 170-500mm, Sigma 10-20 and SMC-P DA 55-300. All more specialist, and the last one I have only had for less than 3 months, and is perfect for when the 170-500 is just too big.

That is true Stefan, so no control. However having the unused MZ-50 sat on the shelf, unloved, might bring it back into use with certain lenses.