Ricoh debuts monochrome camera, four binoculars
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Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. announced the PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome camera, exclusively designed to capture black-and-white images. The only monochrome-specific digital SLR camera currently on the market, it captures high-resolution images rich in gradation, enabling users to express a distinct view of the color-rich world in high-quality black-and-white images.
“The concept of a monochrome-specific digital SLR camera attracted a great deal of attention and interest from photographers who participated in an online fan event held in November 2021,” said Ken Curry, president, Ricoh Imaging Americas. “PENTAX has since conducted extensive research on the development of a commercial product based on this concept and we’re excited to announce it today.”
The new model’s design is based on the flagship PENTAX K-3 Mark III while totally redesigning and optimizing the imaging characteristics by adding a new, monochrome-specific image sensor with approximately 25.73 effective megapixels. A typical color image sensor composes a black-and-white image by converting the color data to monochrome but the custom sensor does not have to convert any data because it can reflect the brightness obtained by each pixel in the image, thus produce extra-fine sharpness in images that only the monochrome-specific sensor can deliver.
The PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome features three Custom Image modes exclusively designed for black-and-white photography. In addition to Standard mode, it offers Hard mode to produce high-contrast images and Soft mode to create high-key, low-contrast images. Each mode allows minute adjustment of parameters such as tone, key, contrast and sharpness so that users can personalize their images with the desired finishing touch.
The exterior design of the camera has also been customized to reflect its monochrome capabilities. Design features include white backlight illumination on the LCD data panel, “Monochrome” lettering printed on the upper-left shoulder of the back panel, a menu screen featuring a black-and-white visual scheme as default, and icons printed on buttons and switches across the camera’s exterior finished in three shades of gray.
The PENTAX K-3 Mark III Monochrome camera body will be available late April at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $2,199.95.
Sample image gallery from Ricoh Imaging Ambassador, Kerrick James.
Ricoh Imaging also announced the addition of four PENTAX binoculars to its sport optics lineup: The PENTAX AD 7×32 ED and the PENTAX AD 10×32 ED (A-series); and the PENTAX SD 7×42 ED and the PENTAX SD 10×42 ED (S-series).
The PENTAX AD 7×32 ED and the PENTAX AD 10×32 ED build on the PENTAX A-series legacy of offering outstanding viewing performance and operability in a compact, lightweight body.
The PENTAX SD 7×42 ED and the PENTAX SD 10×42 ED roof-prism binoculars feature large, 42-millimeter diameter objective lenses and ED glass elements – also a first for the S-series – to deliver sharp, high-contrast viewing, even in lowlight conditions, the company said.
All four models will be available late April at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets for the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices of:
- PENTAX AD 7×32 ED: $329.00
- PENTAX AD 10×32 ED: $349.00
- PENTAX SD 7×42 ED: $379.00
- PENTAX SD 10×42 ED: $399.00