Ricoh, who owns Petax’s imaging division, has a rich history of creating distinct cameras for serious photographers and enthusiasts alike. Since we have been taking a peak into the past for the best cameras created by companies, we decided to look at Ricoh and Pentax‘s history as well. Here is a collection of a few cameras that photographers love which you may consider investing in.
Ricoh GRD III
Not to be confused with Ricoh GR III, the GRD III was originally launched in 2009, making it almost 20 years old. It features a 10MP sensor, f1.9 apertured lens, and a maximum ISO of 1600. The camera is small and thin, and thanks to its old sensor, it is perfect for capturing dreamy, grainy photographs. Since the camera has a lower ISO, you are likely to get blurry images, which, when used correctly, will make your work stand out.
Pentax K-30
Launched in 2012, the Pentax K-30 is a 16MP APS-C DSLR that is perfect for hobbyist photographers. It offers several creative filter modes, 12-bit RAW files, 9 fps continuous shooting speed, a PRIME M image processing engine, and a 3-inch LCD, and it is weather-sealed. It offers some great image quality, good colors (especially in the evening), and great image stabilization. The only drawback is the slow autofocus. If you can get past that, it is a powerful camera.
Pentax K-5 II & K-5 IIs
The K5 Twins cameras were launched a year after the K-30. The cameras feature the same 16MP sensor, ISO range of 80-51200, 11 autofocus points, and 7 fps of continuous driving speed. Between the two, the only difference is the lack of an Anti-Aliasing filter on the IIs. In addition, both cameras have excellent button layouts, impressive image quality at a high ISO range, and a weather-resistant body.
Pentax Q7
This colorful mirrorless Pentax Q7 features a 12.76MP CMOS sensor, 12-bit RAW, HD video recording, and a burst rate of up to 5 fps at 12 MP for up to 5 frames. Some of the things this camera is great at is its lightweightness, details in images, and how its JPEGs do not really need any post-processing. There is also a shake reduction built-in mechanism, will be helpful to video creators as well. It’s a camera you don’t want to keep down so easily.
Pentax K3
The Pentax K3 is a flagship APS-C DSLR featuring a 23.35MP sensor and PRIME III image processor. It comes with an anti-aliasing filter, can shoot up to 8.3 fps continuously, has in-camera shake reduction, and is also weather-sealed. What we liked about the device is its build quality, improved autofocus, bright viewfinder, and size. Furthermore, the image quality is sharp and detailed, even in low light. So, if you are an outdoor shooter, you will like it.
Ricoh GR II
Launched in 2017, this Ricoh GR II has a 16MP 23.7 x 15.7mm sensor, a continuous shooting speed of 4fps, HD video record capability, and weighs 251g. The camera boasts excellent performance and colors, a great lens and autofocus capability, and a fantastic battery life. The image quality is so good you don’t need to edit it as such. This is a perfect choice for street and travel photographers and bloggers.
Pentax 17
The Pentax 17 has broken the mold. The device offers a 24×17 frame size, 1/350th max shutter speed, ISO 50 up to 3200, a manual film advance, and a magnesium alloy top and bottom plate. Designed for beginners, the Pentax 17 uses half frame, allowing one to get more images on film. It is also small and lightweight, with the retro aesthetics working in its favor.
Pentax K1000
Launched in 1976, the Pentax K1000 is a fully manual camera designed for professional photographers. It has a shutter speed of 1 second to 1/1000, a center-weighted metering method, and a 1/60 sec flash sync speed. The camera offers simple operation for digital-first photographers learning film, double metal build, flexibility in image quality by using different films and lenses, and is affordable. It is a perfect camera for anyone who wants to dabble with film photography with all manual modes.
