PENTAX Imaging Company has announced a reduction in the minimum advertised price (MAP) of the award winning PENTAX K20 digital SLR. Effective immediately, the MAP price of the PENTAX K20D body and two K20D lens kit configurations have been reduced by $200.00 USD. The new MAP pricing is as follows:

• PENTAX K20D body only: $799.95
• PENTAX K20D with DA 18-55mm II lens kit: $879.95
• PENTAX K20D with DA 16-45mm lens kit: $1199.95

“With this price reduction, PENTAX now offers consumers the highest resolution on one of the most fully-featured DSLRs priced under 800 dollars,” said Bill Zani, vice president sales and marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company.

Along with the price reductions, PENTAX is extending the K20D FREE Three Year Warranty (one year standard, two years extended) on all K20Ds purchased by March 31, 2009.

Highly rated by several consumer magazines, the PENTAX K20D digital SLR camera with 14.6 megapixels is equipped with advanced features including a dust-proof, weather-resistant body, PRIME image processor that allows full image customization, and PENTAX developed Shake Reduction that works with any of the 25 million PENTAX lenses ever manufactured. The PENTAX K20D is the most affordable high resolution DSLR camera in the advanced photo enthusiast category and allows more experienced photographers, who demand complete control, to fully customize the camera.

Ritz Camera, the largest dedicated camera retailer in the US has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company, which owns over 800 stores across the country, under a series of names, including Wolf Camera, has proposed a restructuring plan that will aim to see the chain continue in some form. As part of this, the company has applied to the bankruptcy court for permission to continue to honor its customer loyalty and rebate schemes.

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Nikon’s new FX-format digital SLR combines 24.5 megapixels of resolution and image quality with the renowned handling of the D3

Nikon Corporation announces the introduction of the Nikon D3X digital SLR. This new camera employs a Nikon FX-format CMOS imaging sensor (35.9 x 24.0 mm) with an imaging area equivalent to 35mm film, and its 24.5 effective megapixels deliver images of striking quality and resolution.

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Nikon Corporation announces that production of NIKKOR SLR interchangeable lenses has now surpassed the 45 million mark.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of NIKKOR lenses, used by photo enthusiasts and professionals throughout the world, and last month (August), Nikon announced that production had reached 45 million units. Indeed, sales are expanding so rapidly that Nikon added five million lenses of that total since 2007.

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PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the PENTAX K2000 DSLR (known as Pentax K-m in Europe and Asia) system designed specifically for consumers who are ready to make the transition from a point-and-shoot digital camera to digital SLR photography. The PENTAX K2000 is an entry-level system consisting of the new PENTAX K2000 body, the smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL lens, and the PENTAX AF200FG Auto Flash.

Bundled as a complete kit for the convenience of the customer, the PENTAX K2000 system offers uncomplicated operation for new digital SLR users and family photographers seeking high-quality digital SLR photography for the first time.

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