We reckoned those fliers spotted earlier today weren't just clever mockups, but now Pentax is affirming said assumption by getting all official with its new 14.6-megapixel K20D. This beast features a 2.7-inch Live View LCD monitor, improved dust reduction system (including a new Dust Alert function to pinpoint the exact location of a particle), a weather / dust resistant shell, ISO up to 3,200, support for SD / SDHC cards, USB 2.0 connectivity, video-out (NTSC and PAL) and PictBidge functionality. For the rest of the nitty-gritty, be sure and click on through -- after chewing on those details, maybe you can then decide whether or not you'll be throwing down $1,299.95 for the body-only model in March. Oh, and don't you worry about lenses -- Pentax is busting out five new ones at PMA next week.

Obviously, we can't confirm nor deny the authenticity of the above image, but a particular Japanese citizen managed to snag several ads that do a fairly decent job of showing off the supposedly forthcoming K20D and K200D DSLRs. On the downside, most everything here is penned in Japanese, but on the upside, there's several more non-blurry (say it ain't so!) images where this one came from -- including one dedicated to lenses -- waiting in the links below. Go get 'em, Tiger!

[Via NeutralDay]

Apparently, Samsung is about to drop some extra-hot DSLR action on the world -- the 14.6-megapixel monster that is the GX-20. The camera -- which was apparently leaked on a Norwegian website (though later removed) -- features sensor-based image stabilization, a 2.7-inch LCD, one-press RAW formatting, and ISO up to 3200. The camera appears to sport some ruggedized components as well, with resistance to rain, sand, and dust, as well as something called "double dust removal" on the image sensor. There's some speculation that this camera is the product of the unholy union between Samsung and Pentax, and that this model may in fact be the Pentax K20D which is set to be released. Stay tuned to this space for more info.

While things are still far from official, rumors are starting to pick up that Pentax is set to update not one, but two of its DSLR cameras early next year, in advance of the big PMA show. More specifically, according to Photography Bay, Pentax's K10D and K100D will be getting replaced by the K20D and K200D, respectively, with each bringing with them a number of fairly significant upgrades. If the rumors pan out, the K20D will boast a hefty 14 megapixels, along with a 14 bit RAW A/D Processor, a slightly larger 3-inch "live view" LCD, and improved "in-body shake reduction," among other features. For its part, the K200D is said to pack a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor from Sony, plus a PRIME 12-bit Image Processor, a 3 FPS shooting mode, and a larger LCD that may or may not be a 3-incher as well. Of course, that's all still up in the air for the time being, but things should be settled one way or the other by January 24th, which is when Pentax is supposedly set to get official with the cameras.