One of the oldest brands on the market, Pentax was bought by Ricoh back in 2011. Now, although Ricoh manufactures all of the models, some of them are branded with Ricoh, others with Pentax.
Generally speaking, it is DSLR and medium format models which continue to bear the Pentax name, presumably in a nod to the company’s heritage.
In this round-up, we’ll be taking a look at the models which are available from either brand, starting with basic point and shoot models and ending at top-end medium format cameras.
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Pentax cameras explained: point and shoot compacts
Although the company isn’t really concentrating on low end compact cameras at the moment, there are still a couple of older models which you can pick up for good prices, ideal if you need something to chuck in your bag for holidays and nights out.
Point and shoot compacts: Pentax Optio VS20
Price: $139
This camera is only available in the States, and features a 20 million pixel sensor accompanied by a 20x optical zoom lens. It’s an old model but it’s got a good range of features – if you can pick it up for a cheap price it’s a good idea for holidays and travel.
Point and shoot compacts: Pentax Optio i10
Price: £130 / $200
If you’re a fan of vintage or retro looking cameras, keep an eye out for the cutely styled i10. Again it’s an old camera, but you can still pick it up in some places. It’s got a 12.1 million pixel CCD sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens.
Point and shoot compacts: Ricoh Theta
Price: £299 / $348
The Ricoh Theta is unlike pretty much any camera currently on the market. It can capture 360 degree photos which you can look at on your computer, taking them with just one press of a button. It’s ideal for not having to worry about composition, and for capturing moments on holidays or at events – but it’s quite a pricey camera for something that is quite gimmicky.
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Pentax cameras explained: Rugged compact cameras
If you need something sturdy and designed to last for your adventure time, such as skiing, swimming and just plain old family life, Ricoh’s range of tough cameras could be a good choice for you.
Rugged compact cameras: Ricoh WG-M1
Price: £152 / $129
This action camera is waterproof and shock resistant and is designed to capture video, but you can also record stills with it it. There’s a bright f/2.8 lens with a 160 degree maximum angle of view and 14 megapixels. The big name in the action camera market is Go Pro, but this makes for a good alternative at a good price.
Rugged compact cameras: Ricoh WG-30
Price: £197 / $175
This simple tough camera is waterproof, shockproof and freeze proof, making it ideal for family and adventure holidays. It doesn’t offer a huge amount of flexibility in terms of shooting modes, but if your main concern is capturing shots then that’s not something you need to be worried about too much. It has inbuilt Wi-Fi and can also capture full HD video too. The sensor inside features 16 million pixels, and is a CMOS device.
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Rugged compact cameras: Ricoh WG-5
Price: £241 / $279
If you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, the WG-5 offers even tough waterproof and shock proofing credentials, as well as giving you the option to control some key elements of the camera’s settings, such as shutter speed. It’s got a 16 million pixel CMOS sensor, and offers 4x optical zoom.
Weirdly, there’s no inbuilt Wi-Fi in this model, but you can create full HD videos. The lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.0 and there’s other interesting features such as super macro mode and some digital filters.
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