The PENTAX K20D digital SLR just got a little cheaper. PENTAX announced that effective immediately, the K20D boy, and two K20D lens kits will be reduced by $200 dollars. This means the MSRP for the K20D will now be $799.95 while the K20D with DA 18-55mm II lens kit will go for $879.95 and the K20D with DA 16-45mm lens kit will be $1199.95.

In addition to the price reductions, PENTAX will extend their free three year warranty (one year standard, and two years extended) to March 31st, 2009.

In case you forgot, the K20D features:

• 14.6 megapixel resolution
• Dust-proof and weather-resistant body
• PENTAX developed shake reduction
• 2.7 inch LCD monitor with 160 degree field of view
• PRIME image processing engine
• Custom image nodes with six preset options
• Advanced white balance
• 36 custom functions with 96 individual settings
• Expanded dynamic range
• 16 segment metering and 11 point AF with 9 cross sensors

Technorati Tags: PENTAX K20D price reduction

In an effort to spur sales, PENTAX has announced a series of price cuts for its K series digital cameras. Here’s a rundown of how the price cuts will work and how long they’re effective for (provided via the PENTAX press release).

• Effective February 1, 2009, the PENTAX K20D digital SLR body alone and all other K20D body and lens configurations will have an in-store instant $100.00 Consumer Rebate.  This is for a limited time only and ends February 22, 2009.  PENTAX is also extending the K20D FREE Three Year Warranty (one year standard, two years extended) on all K20Ds purchased by March 31, 2009.
• PENTAX also reduced the price of the PENTAX D-BG3 Battery Grip to $19.95 ($129.00 value) when combined with the purchase of the PENTAX K200D digital body and any PENTAX lens by March 31, 2009.
• Purchasers of the PENTAX K2000 flash kit (PENTAX K2000 body, smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens, and the PENTAX AF200FG Auto Flash) will benefit beginning February 1, 2009 from a price reduction to $599.95 on this kit and three new configurations shipping to dealers in February 2009.
  • PENTAX K2000 two lens kit (PENTAX K2000 body, smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens, and an smc PENTAX DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6 AL lens) will be $649.95.
  • PENTAX K2000 single lens kit (PENTAX K2000 body, smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens) will be $549.95.
  • PENTAX K2000 body only is $499.95.
• The Limited distribution white PENTAX K2000 DSLR system with a double zoom kit (PENTAX white K2000 body, white smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens, and a white smc PENTAX DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6 AL lens) will be offered at $679.95.

A quick check on PriceGrabber shows the K20D body to be available for as low as $742.95 at OneCall.com (on the “Featured Sellers” list) – though it’s not clear if the $100 dollar price reduction is already included in that price..

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: PENTAX, PENTAX K20D, PENTAX price reductions

If you haven’t seen PENTAX’s website recently, you might want to drop on by as the company launched a new rebranding campaign on Friday entitled “BE INTERESTING”. Developed by ad agency RPA, the new brand strategy centers around the following positioning – “independent spirits who see the world through a different lens.”

According to Jim Real, the Associate Creative Director/Copy at RPA, “The ‘BE INTERESTING’ direction came from a deep consumer insight we gained while getting to know the PENTAX brand and their loyalists. PENTAX users, and people who are naturally drawn to the brand, truly are independent spirits. They don’t follow. They decidedly beat their own drum. The campaign’s idea is to celebrate that independent spirit. And tie that spirit directly into PENTAX products”

Interesting concept – let’s see if this helps drive customer awareness and sales for PENTAX imaging equipment.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: PENTAX, BE INTERESTING

PENTAX has announced their new K2000 entry level digital SLR system designed specifically for consumers. The K2000 features easy to use Auto Picture modes, a small, light body, a 10.2 megapixel CCD, a 2.7 inch wide-view LCD display, and an ultra-compact design that “facilitates one handed operation”

Additional specs and features include:

• Compact, lightweight stainless steel chassis
• Redesigned camera grip
• Newly designed control system which positions most buttons and levers on the camera’s grip side
• PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) imaging engine
• high speed continuous shooting at approximately 3.5 frames per second
• Five point wide-area AF system
• Up to ISO 3200
• Shake Reduction technology compatible with more than 25 million PENTAX lenses
• Auto Picture Mode selects from Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, and Night Portrait modes
• Dust Removal System
• Bright, clear viewfinder
• Built-in digital filters (14 in total)
• 10 scene modes
• Energy-efficient power supply
• Choice of 16 segment multi-pattern metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering to accommodate various photographic applications
• Simultaneous recording of RAW- and JPEG-format images
• Supports SD/SDHC memory cards

The new PENTAX digital SLR is known as the K2000 in the U.S. while the rest of the world knows it as the PENTAX K-m.  The K2000 will ship in two kits – the PENTAX K2000 Lens Kit with the smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL lens and the PENTAX K2000 Double Zoom Kit with the smc PETAX DA L 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED lens.

PENTAX also announced two high performance interchangeable lens – the smc PENTAX DA Star 60-250mm f/4 ED[IF] SDM telephoto lens, and the smc PENTAX DA Star 55mm f/1.4 SDM compact medium telephoto lens. Finally, the company announced the PENTAX AF160FC Auto Macro Ring Flash.

Here’s what you need to know about pricing and availability:

• The PENTAX K2000 digital SLR system with smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL lens and PENTAX AF200FG flash will ship in November 2008 at US $699.95.
• The PENTAX K2000 digital SLR system with smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm and smc PENTAX DA L 50-200mm lenses will ship in early 2009.
• The smc PENTAX DA Star 60-250mm f/4 ED[IF] SDM lens will ship in January 2008 at US $1499.95.
• The smc PENTAX DA Star 55mm f/1.4 SDM lens will ship in January 2008 at US $799.95.
• The PENTAX AF160FC Ring Flash will ship in November 2008 at US $499.95.
• The smc PENTAX DA 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited lens and 1.4X Rear Converter SDM price and availability are to be announced.

Technorati Tags: PENTAX, K2000 Digital SLR