Manual focus Russian lens on Canon 400D.

Russian Helios 44m-4 taken with a MIR 10A on a Canon 400D.

Hoya has sold the Pentax camera division to Ricoh. The Pentax Imaging Systems Division will be spun-out as a new company and its shares transfered to Ricoh on October 1st. The deal will also include the Pentax camera manufacturing subsidiary in Vietnam. A public announcement from Hoya explains that Ricoh is looking to build a consumer cameras business and wanted Pentax’s interchangeable lens camera technology, lens technology and sales channels. Its plans for the business specifically include the interchangeable lens camera market. Hoya will retain the other Pentax businesses, such as medical devices, that it gained in its 2007 takeover. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but Japanese business paper Nikkei Business Daily reports a price of about 10 billion yen ($124.2 million).

Statement from Ricoh

…On completion of the Acquisition, Ricoh will begin to use the PENTAX brand name for some of its digital camera products, and HOYA will continue to use the PENTAX brand name for their endoscopes and other products.

I’d really like to get my car finished then spend some time outside in the sunshine, taking photos at waterfalls and enjoying fresh air.

I think it would be nice to remember being alive.

I haven’t done it for a while.

My NA6 ready for some track day fun.

This was my first time around Queensland Raceway and I completed 16 laps of the Sprint circuit and 23 laps of the Clubman. I even managed to do a alternator/waterpump belt change between sessions – I only made the next session by the skin of my teeth and was the last car out of the pits.

My best times of the day: Sprint 1.09.4168 and Clubman 1.11.5856

I was lucky enough to have my dad at this event to give me encouragement before the finish line and to take my tired photo 5 hours into the race.

Dad’s photos from the event can be found on the Two Wheel Promotions site.

Jeremy Caldwell at the Coffs Harbour Mountain bike Marathon