Recently, DSLR cameras have become the most popular models for astronomical photography. Intended for serious amateur photographers and all types of shooting, DSLRs have several key features that make them particularly desirable for nighttime photography. First and most important, their large sensors offer much lower noise and cleaner images than do compact point-and-shoot digital cameras, especially at ISO 400 and higher. DSLRs feature interchangeable lenses— or direct attachment to a telescope’s focuser —making them by far the most versatile cameras for all forms of astrophotography, from panoramas with wide-angle lenses to deep-sky close-ups through a telescope. Alan Dyer from SkyNews compared the three commonly available DSLRs in the market today for astronomical photography - the Canon Digital Rebel XTi (400D), Nikon D80, and Pentax K10D. Here’s the conclusion:

“At the end of the testing, Canon emerged victorious. Its low noise and lack of other artifacts make it the most suitable for long exposures. Nevertheless, the Nikon and Pentax put up a good fight. Both produce fine results at ISO 400 and 800 settings if exposures are kept short. If you’re looking for a camera that’s compatible with existing hardware and planning to use it for only casual short-exposure astrophotography, the Pentax K10D and Nikon D80 will work very well.

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Hoya Corp succeeded in its offer to acquire Pentax Corp., Tokyo, bringing to an end its months-long bid for control of the camera maker, reports The Wall Street Journal. Hoya said results of its tender offer, which closed Monday, showed shareholders tendered a total of 122.7 million shares. Hoya will buy all of the shares offered for ¥94.48 billion (US$793.3 million), bringing its stake in Pentax to 90.58 percent in terms of voting rights. Hoya was aiming to buy a minimum 50 percent stake in Pentax.

Hoya, which is especially interested in Pentax’s expertise in medical equipment, will pay ¥770 for each Pentax share. In a further bid to accelerate growth strategies through the use of each other’s resources, Hoya said it aims to buy the remaining Pentax shares and make Pentax a wholly owned subsidiary, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Pentax in December agreed to merge with Hoya but in April scrapped the plan and replaced its president, Fumio Urano, a major proponent of the deal. Hoya transformed the merger deal into a tender offer in April, but Pentax was seeking to stay independent. Pentax eventually bowed to pressure from shareholders who strongly favored a tie-up with Hoya, says The Wall Street Journal.

Website :  Hoya wins control of Pentax

On the Pentax Japan website, Pentax apologize for running out of stock for the newly released smc PENTAX-DA 50-135mmF2.8ED [IF] SDM lens. Pentax has received large order of lens that far exceeds the original expectation of the company and the production of the lens cannot meet demand.

Pentax promise to increase production to meet the high demand of the lens from the consumers.

This smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF]SDM telephoto zoom lens is a new high performance lens that was previously announced in February 2007. The new 50-135mm lens is designed for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras. The PENTAX-DA* series lens features a tightly sealed, weather-resistant and dust-resistant construction to enhance durability for use in rain or dusty conditions making each a perfect companion for the weather-sealed PENTAX K10D digital SLR.

This new lens also features the PENTAX KAF2 mount, which incorporates additional electrical contacts to drive a built-in supersonic motor used in autofocusing operation.

Website : Pentax apologize for the lack of stock with the new 50-135mm Zoom lens

In the first half of 2007, Nikon sold more DSLRs than Canon in Japan. Nikon Corp., buoyed by the popularity of its D40 model, clinched a 47.5-percent share of the domestic market from January to June, surpassing Canon’s 36.5 percent, according to Tokyo-based market research firm BCN Inc.

It was the first time that Nikon has held the top spot over a half-year term, although it had done so on a monthly basis before. Nikon and Canon have long been the dominant players in the domestic SLR camera market, but Nikon appeared stuck in second place for digital SLR camera body sales.

Comparing that to the first half of 2006, Canon led at 46.4 percent to Nikon’s 31.9 percent, and at 42.9 percent to Nikon’s 35.5 percent in the second half.

Competition for third place has also been fierce. In the first half of this year, Pentax Corp. came in third at 6.7 percent, followed by Sony Corp. at 4.5 percent and Olympus Corp. at 4.3 percent. In May and June, however, Olympus moved up to third, led by its E-410 model, which it claims is the world’s “smallest, slimmest and lightest” digital SLR camera. The model, released in April, weighs 375 grams.

Website : Nikon tops Canon in DSLR sales in Japan

Pentax K10D was selected as the winner of the Camera Grand Prix 2007 award in Japan. Pentax is celebrating this award by releasing a limited edition Pentax K10D DSLR camera.

The Camera Grand Prix is held annually under the sponsorship of the Camera Journal Press Club (CJPC), a group of photography writers from Japan’s 11 leading photo and camera magazines. This is one of the most prestigious camera awards in Japan, as it recognizes what the group sees as the most distinguished of all new still cameras introduced to the Japanese market from April 1 to March 31.

This Limited Edition Pentax K10D has a limited production of 5,000 sets worldwide, which includes:

• PENTAX K10D Camera Body
• PENTAX Battery Grip D-BG2
• Grand Prix Strap O-ST55

Website : Pentax announced Limited Edition K10D

According to the analysis of user trend in Japan for the most popular camera sales ranking from 5/21 to 5/27. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3 took the number one spot for a continuous of 4 weeks. This camera is the latest members of the award-winning Lumix TZ family of digital cameras, which is renowned for packaging a remarkable 10x optical zoom in a compact, stylish body. To further add to their appeal, the TZ3 go one step further to feature a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera) for wide-angle shooting.

The Olympus Camedia SP-550UZ camera stays the same at number 2 position as last week. The Camedia SP-550UZ is a digital camera with 18X optical zoom (28-504mm equiv.), a 7 Megapixel CCD sensor, 5.6x digital zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD display, ISO up to 5000 and anti-shake protection.

Number 3 is the Canon IXY Digital 900IS, US name of Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH, stays the same as last week. This camera offers a focal length range of 28 – 105mm (35mm equivalent), and a 3.8x optical zoom lens allows photographers to capture wider panoramas, architectural photos and group shots. The lens incorporates Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer to counteract the effects of camera shake for steadier performance in low light, at full zoom or when shooting from moving vehicles.

The number 4 rank Canon IXY DIGITAL 10 (US name Canon Powershot SD1000) is the first entry to the top 10 ranking. This is a successor model of the Canon IXY DIGITAL 70 (US name Canon Powershot SD600). The Canon IXY Digital 10 has a 7.1 Megapixel CCD image sensor, DIGIC image processor and 3x optical zoom. Other features include a 2.5-inch LCD screen, ISO up to 1600, Face Catch Technology, PictBridge support and a SD card slot supporting also SDHC. Here’s the top 10 ranking between 5/21 - 5/27 in Japan:

1. Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ3
2. Olympus CAMEDIA SP-550UZ
3. Canon IXY DIGITAL 900IS
4. Canon IXY DIGITAL 10
5. Kodak EasyShare V705
6. Nikon COOLPIX P5000
7. Olympus μ770SW
8. Fuji FinePix Z5fd
9. Fuji FinePix F31fd
10. Ricoh Caplio R6

Website : Japan Most Popular Camera Ranking - May 21 to May 27

For photographers using long-heavy tele-zoom and telephoto lenses such as the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens, gravity is a problem. The lens puts stress on the lensmount and camera body as it pulls the camera in a downward direction–unless it is supported. Typically, this has meant photographers simply would hold the lens by its to take stress off of the camera body (if they remembered). Dowell Enterprises has come up with a clever solution: the Lens Cradle.

The Lens Cradle is designed to fit any lens with a tripod mount. It supports the camera and lens horizontally by utilizing the tripod mounting ring on the lens. Thereby, substantially reducing if not eliminating, the damage and stress that occurs to the camera body at the lens mounting junction. The Lens Cradle gives horizontal balance and stability that a camera strap alone does not provide. You no longer need to support the weight of a large lens with your hands. The natural horizontal position keeps the camera poised to be ready for the next elusive shot and prevents lens creep on push pull lenses. It is selling for $25.

Website :  LensCradle Support for long DSLR lenses

Pentax Corp., Tokyo, Japan, agreed to a takeover offer by worth up to about ¥105 billion (US$864 million) by rival Hoya Corp. on Thursday, a move that underlines the growing influence of shareholders, says The Associated Press.

Hoya is offering ¥770 (US$6.34) a share for the Pentax shares, and plans to start the tender offer to shareholders in early June, with the goal of making Pentax a wholly owned unit, both sides said. Details, including the deadline for the offer, will be announced later, the companies said in a joint statement.

Pentax management had resisted a stock-swap offer last year from Hoya, a Tokyo-based optics and glass maker, which had coveted Pentax’s medical equipment expertise, says the AP.

The companies originally agreed to merge in December 2006, but Pentax scrapped the plan in April. Under pressure from shareholders, Pentax released a mid-term business plan, but that failed to convince investors and analysts, and the latest announcement ends more than a month of wrangling.

Hoya President and Chief Executive Hiroshi Suzuki said the tender offer is Hoya’s biggest acquisition ever. Suzuki said he plans to make Pentax a wholly-owned unit by November, and will maintain Pentax’s camera operations. The tender offer will be a friendly one, but a hostile takeover had been a possibility had the two companies failed to agree, he continued.

The offer comes amid increasingly tough competition as more traditional camera makers, including Pentax and Nikon Corp., are struggling against electronics companies such as Sony Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. to gain the lead in digital cameras, says the AP.

Download : Pentax agrees to $864 million takeover offer by Hoya (PDF Joint Statement)