Pentax Puts Digital Components in Classic Film Camera to Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Amidst merger talks between Pentax and Hoya, the camera manufacturer had enough time to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The company behind the famous "pancake"-type lenses revealed the AP50 classic camera, which houses digital internal components from the digital single lens reflex camera K10D.

However, when it comes to features, there are some differences between the classic K10D and the film-based K10D. This model uses the viewfinder solution found in the original SLR, which implies that there's no pop-up flash. Other than that, the two cameras are practically identical in terms of features. The digital AP50 (Asahi Pentax) features the 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor, the SR shake reduction system and the same frame rate of 3fps.

Other features include auto sensitivity control function which automatically sets the optimum sensitivity up to ISO 1600 and the possibility to choose ISO 100, and a shutter unit built to withstand 100,000 releases, with a top speed of 1/4000 second. Maximum synchronization speed tops at 1/180.

Apparently, the digital AP50 will not be mass-produced, at least not in the immediate future.

In other news, Pentax has finally accepted Hoya's offer. This will make Pentax a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hoya. According to dpreview, Hoya will pay approximately $860 million for the Pentax shares.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement: "As described below, today, HOYA CORPORATION ("HOYA") and PENTAX Corporation ("PENTAX") have entered into an agreement to effect their management integration (the "Management Integration") by making PENTAX into a wholly-owned subsidiary of HOYA through a tender offer by HOYA to purchase all shares of PENTAX (the "Tender Offer") to be followed by a share exchange or other appropriate business reorganization transaction."

"After the completion of the Tender Offer, while considering methods for achieving full management integration, PENTAX will conduct its business as an independent legal entity and maintain its corporate name, and maintain and extend cross-divisional synergies. We plan to appoint officers from PENTAX to conduct its business, and the general manager of each division will be responsible for that division's operations (including employment) and earnings," the press release also informs.

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