The flash can also be used remotely, unattached to the camera body

Jan 31, 2014 08:46 GMT  ·  By

Nippon camera and optics manufacturer Ricoh (owner of the Pentax brand) has recently issued a new patent for a detachable flash unit for future digital cameras.

According to Japanese website Egami, Ricoh plans to make the camera's built-in flash unit detachable. Moreover, the flash will also work remotely as conventional wireless strobe, allowing you to choose the perfect lighting position to emphasize your subject.

When attached, the flash is powered by the camera itself, while when used off-camera, it will be capable of being triggered thanks to the integrated power supply. Whether future Ricoh cameras will come with this type of flash or not, it remains to be seen.

Recent rumors state that Ricoh is also working on a new Pentax K-60 DSLR that will feature a 24MP APS-C sensor without a Low Pass Filter and will integrate the PRIME III image processor that currently can be found on the Pentax K-3 model.