Pentax puts medium format DSLR on hold

Insiders are doubting whether Pentax's medium format DSLR, the 645 Digital, will ever be released. The model has been declared "no longer a priority for Pentax" by Hiroshi Onoda, European general manager for Imaging Systems. Only a dummy version of the camera has been shown to the public. Since its unveiling at the Photo Imaging Expo Show in 2005, Pentax has boasted features such as a Kodak 31 megapixel sensor and compatibility with Pentax 645 SMC lenses. Now it seems highly unlikely that this SLR will ever be released, perhaps because of a strategic realignment at the company.

From The Amateur Photographer:

"Speculation over Pentax's camera policy has been rife after Tokyo-based newspaper Nikkei reported yesterday that Pentax plans to 'abandon the development of medium format single-lens reflex cameras designed for professional photographers and specialise in digital offerings for new and intermediate users.' It is not clear whether this implies the cancellation of the 645 Digital..."

Pentax's planned merger with Hoya, first announced December 2006, has also been stalled, the terms of which were rejected by Pentax shareholders in May of this year. The board ended up removing both the President and Chief Financial Officer of Pentax.

As part of a new agreement, both companies will continue to use their existing brands, and Pentax will retain the makeup of its three major branches: optical components, medical equipment, and digital cameras. And the board will resign: a complete turnaround from the company's prior position. It makes one wonder if the recession of SLR emphasis, in favor of entry-level products, is another result of this turbulent merger.

Pentax opens part gallery showcase, part photo sharing website

Pentax has unveiled a new Photo Gallery website. Fully original in layout and design, built from scratch by in-house imaging professionals, this commerical-free site is intended to educate budding photographers about the creative capabilities of individual camera bodies and lenses. There is also a voting system, reminiscient of sharing sites like SmugMug, to gauge the popularity of photographers and their images.

Having launched August 6, 2007, the site features 2,500 selected works from more than 300 photographers of ages ranging from 16 to 80. More than 40 countries are depicted in these images, throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, Africa, and the Pacific Rim. Biographies of each photographer are also posted.

Images are searchable by camera bodies and individual lenses as well, so surfing Pentax's galleries become much more than an elaborate ad for the company. The site has the potential for budding photographers looking to learn more about what kind of images can be shot with what cameras, or long-term professionals trying to make the leap into digital.

For photographers interested in being featured in the gallery,email Pentax for more information.

A flash demonstration of how the gallery works is also available here.