The news follows in the footsteps of an announcement late last year that Samsung and Pentax would "combine their unique technologies to develop lens-interchangeable digital SLR cameras". The Samsung GX-1S is apparently the first fruit of this cooperation, and looks to be Pentax's *ist DS2 digital SLR under a different name. The only difference we could see between the specifications of the two cameras is that where Pentax list a body-only weight of 470 grams for the *ist DS2, the English-language specifications for the Samsung GX-1S list a body-only weight of 505 grams. All other specifications seemed to be identical to the original *ist DS2.

Alongside the announcement of the camera body, Samsung are listing two Schneider-Kreuznach D-XENON branded lenses that will be offered for the Samsung GX-1S. Both look to be identical to existing Pentax lenses (although it is certainly possible that there could have been changes to lens coatings, etc., beyond the change of branding). The Schneider-Kreuznach D-XENON 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens mirrors Pentax's smc P-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL lens, and the Schneider-Kreuznach D-XENON 50-200mm F4-5.6 lens looks to be the Pentax smc P-DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED lens under another name. There's also a Samsung-branded flash strobe which appears to be a rebadged Pentax AF360FGZ, dubbed the Samsung SEF-36PZF.

Pricing and availability for the Samsung GX-1S, SEF-36PZF flash strobe and Schneider-Kreuznach D-XENON lenses have not been disclosed at this time.

Samsung GX-1S
General
Camera Type	SLR
Manufacturer	Samsung
Model Number	GX-1S
Dimensions	4.9 x 3.6 x 2.6" 125.0 x 92.5 x 67.0mm
Weight	505.0 g 17.7 oz
Image Capture
Sensor Type	1.12" CCD 6.30 megapixels (total) 6.10 megapixels (effective)
Filter Type	RGBG
Focal Length Multiplier	1.50
Aspect Ratio	3:2
Image Dimensions	3008 x 2008 (6.0 megapixels) 2400 x 1600 (3.8 megapixels) 1536 x 1024 (1.6 megapixels)
Capture Speed	Continuous: 2.8 frames per second for 8 frames
Image Quality	4 levels
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder	Yes, Fixed eye-level pentaprism 95% field of view
LCD	2.5", 210,000 pixels
Lens
Lens Type	Interchangeable Lens
Lens Mount	PENTAX KAF; KAF2, KAF, KA lens
Focusing System	11-point phase detection Manual Focus possible (0) steps
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity	200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
Shutter Speed	30 - 1/4000 second
Exposure Modes	Aperture, Shutter, Manual
Metering Modes	Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance	Image Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy,Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light (W,D,N), Flash, Manual, Manual
Internal Flash	Modes: Auto, Flash-On, Flash-Off, Auto + Red-Eye Reduction, Flash-On + Red-Eye Reduction Range: 15.6m (ISO 200)
Creative
Scene Modes	Portrait , Night Scene Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Standard, Flash off
Self Timer	Yes, 2 or 12 seconds
Time Lapse	No
Storage
Recording Medium	SD/MMC
File System	Complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File Format	CCD-RAW, CCD RAW (.PEF), JPEG (EXIF 2.21)
Connectivity
Video	Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable
Computer	USB 2.0 High Speed
Other	DC In
Power
Battery Type	Alkaline or Lithium disposable, NiMH rechargeable
Battery Form Factor	4 x AA or 2 x CR-V3
Product Bundle
Software	Digimax Master, drivers
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliant	Yes
PictBridge Compliant	Yes
Internal Microphone	No
Internal Speaker	Yes
Tripod Mount	Yes
Remote Control	Yes
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Schneider-Kreuznach D-XENON 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL
Focal Length	18 ~ 55mm (equivalent to 28 ~ 84.2mm in 35mm format)
Elements in Groups	9 groups, 12 elements
Angle of View	29° ~ 76°
Aperture	F3.5 ~ F5.6
Mount Type	PENTAX KAF mount
Minimum Focus Distance	0.25m
Maximum Magnification	Approx. 0.34X
Lens Hood	SCH-A52
Filter Size	52mm
Max. Diameter x Length	68.5 x 67.5mm
Weight	225g (without hood)

Schneider-Kreuznach D-XENON 50-200mm F4-5.6
Focal Length	50 ~ 200mm (equivalent to 76.5 ~ 306mm in 35mm format)
Elements in Groups	10 groups, 11 elements
Angle of View	8.1° ~ 31.5°
Aperture	F4 ~ F5.6
Mount Type	PENTAX KAF mount
Minimum Focus Distance	1.1m
Maximum Magnification	Approx. 0.24X
Lens Hood	SCH-B52
Filter Size	52mm
Max. Diameter x Length	66.5 x 78.5mm
Weight	255g (without hood)

Samsung SEF-36PZF
Flash Type	P-TTL auto zoom flash unit with serial control Auto focus assist beam, Automatic zooming, Bounce function
Usable Cameras	Samsung DSLR cameras
Guide No (ISO 100)	Zoom Position (35mm equivalent) / Guide No: 20mm / 14; 24mm / 21; 28mm / 22; 35mm / 25; 50mm / 30; 70mm / 33; 85mm / 36
Zoom Control	Automatic, Manual
Bounce Flash	Vertical bounce -10°, 0°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°
Flash Range	Approx. 0.7m ~ 5.4m (Guide No. 30, ISO 100, f/5.6)
Wide Angle Panel	Pull out manually and flash zoom position sets to 20mm
Catchlight Panel	Pull out manually
Wireless Flash	Optical pulse transmission
Color Temperature	Daylight
Flash Modes	P-TTL, TTL auto, Auto, Manual
Flash Exposure Compensation	-3.0 ~ 1.0 (1/2 steps)
AF Spot Beam	Red beam under low light or low-contrast condition Range : Approx. 1m ~ 7m
Connection to Camera	Fixed : Via the Hot shoe
Power Source	Primary batteries : 4xAA Alkaline, Lithium batteries Secondary batteries : 4xNi-MH
Dimension (W x H x D)	70 x 110 x 115.5mm
Weight	270g (without batteries)
Operating Temperature	0 ~ 40 °C
Operating Humidity	5 ~ 85%
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