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Ricoh announces the PENTAX 17 compact film camera

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With a retro-inspired design and half-frame photo format, the PENTAX 17 is the perfect camera for first-time film photographers who want to share their images on social media

PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the highly anticipated PENTAX 17 compact film camera. The PENTAX 17 is a half-frame camera, capturing two 17mm x 24mm pictures within a single 35mm-format (36mm x 24mm) film frame. It produces vertical-format pictures, with similar ratios to those captured by smartphones, for seamless sharing on social media after the film is developed and scans are produced by a film lab.

The popularity of film cameras has grown rapidly in recent years — especially among young photographers — because of the distinctive, somewhat nostalgic experience provided that is so different from using digital cameras. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the global film camera market is projected to be 5.2% through 2030 and a quick search of the hashtag #filmphotography on Instagram pulls up more than 42.6 million posts.

Borne out of the PENTAX Film Camera Project, a concept first announced in December of 2022, the new camera resulted from a close collaboration between Ricoh Imaging and PENTAX experts and younger engineers. The experts shared their vast knowledge and decades of experience in film and imaging technology with the current team members to design a film camera that would allow photographers to express their originality and creativity by leaving some room for manual operation, rather than making it a fully automatic camera.

| Design merges manual operation and ease of use for maximum creative expression |
The design of the PENTAX 17 was inspired by the PENTAX brand’s heritage, incorporating manual operations unique to film photography that are gaining a loyal following in today’s digital world. This includes a selectable zone-focus system, manual film winding, manual film advance lever, and exposure compensation and ISO sensitivity adjustments, each with their own dials. The classic design of the camera body was developed with high-quality materials; the top and bottom covers are made of solid, lightweight magnesium alloy and the 40.5mm filter mounting thread enables the use of a range of filters.

The PENTAX 17 features a newly-developed 25mm F3.5 lens (equivalent to a 37mm lens in the 35mm format). Further building on the PENTAX brand heritage, the lens is based on optics incorporated in the acclaimed PENTAX Espio Mini — which was marketed in 1994 —redesigned to support the half-frame format. The lens is treated with HD (High Definition) coating to optimize the clarity and sharpness of the half-frame photos. In a nod to Ricoh’s rich history in optics and photography, the designers based the lens design on the lens in the RICOH Auto Half – a best-selling half-frame model first marketed in 1962 – incorporating the angle of view and focal length to make casual, everyday picture-taking simple and flawless.

The camera’s zone-focus system is divided into six focus zones that can be selected on the zone focusing ring to capture subjects at a long distance or as close-up as 25 centimeters away in the macro zone. Its bright optical viewfinder features a bright, Albada-type frame finder to facilitate framing a scene as well as a close-up visual field compensation frame to help users more easily compose close-up images. The zone focus marks can be seen directly through the viewfinder to further support composition.

The PENTAX 17 has seven shooting modes to accommodate different applications and scenarios. It automatically adjusts exposure settings based on lighting data collected by its metering sensor. In addition to the Full Auto mode in which all exposure settings are selected by the camera, it provides six other shooting modes including: Slow-speed sync, which is useful in twilight photography; and Bulb, a long-exposure mode useful for photographing nightscapes and fireworks.

The camera supports a wide selection of ISO film speeds and features a note holder on the back cover where the end of the film package can be inserted for at-a-glance confirmation of the film in use, three strap lugs to accommodate both horizontal and vertical suspensions, and compatibility with the optional CS-205 Cable Switch for use in extended-exposure photography in Bulb mode.  

| Industry support for PENTAX 17 |
“Film photography has been growing in popularity over the past decade and especially recently! The new PENTAX 17 film camera is going to kickstart an entirely new generation of film shooters,” said Philip Steblay, Cofounder of The Darkroom, an online film developing service. “This terrific new camera will add to the great pleasure and enjoyment of shooting film. The PENTAX analog functionality, film selection process and thinking more carefully about your shots will enhance the fun of photography. This, coupled with the anticipation that comes with waiting for your images to process, adds to the joy of photography. With new cameras and film coming to market the future of film photography looks bright.”

“The PENTAX 17 is a stunning camera, both in form and function,” said Kyle Depew, founder, Brooklyn Film Camera. “Its design is handsome and classic, yet it features elements that are delightfully unique and innovative. It’s amazing to see modern PENTAX engineering applied towards a new film camera. We couldn’t be more delighted.”

“The film photography community is vibrant and growing, and we are thrilled to see Ricoh Imaging recognizing this and creating new products for this market,” said Meredith Reinker, managing partner, Roberts Distributors LP. “Film photography has been growing in popularity over the last several years and supporting this community is supporting a growing industry as well as supporting the arts. We are honored to be partnering with Ricoh to make this camera available through our distribution channel of independent, local and analog-focused businesses. We look forward to watching the analog community embrace this exciting announcement as we all have a shared goal of keeping film photography alive and accessible.”

“This camera has been a reminder to have fun and not take things too seriously,” said Matt Day, photographer. “It’s fun to shoot with, it’s compact enough to carry anywhere, and double the amount of exposures makes it easier to shoot more.”

“Many photographers were first introduced to the joys of photography using a PENTAX film camera. We’re hoping to introduce a new generation to the world of film photography with the PENTAX 17,” said Ken Curry, president, Ricoh Imaging Americas. “It is an ideal model not only for film camera enthusiasts who have enjoyed film photography for years, but also for photographers who are excited about trying film photography for the first time.”

| Pricing and Availability |
The PENTAX 17 will be available late June at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $499.95.

| About Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation |
Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Company Ltd. is part of Ricoh Group, which operates in about 200 countries and regions.

The company operating now as Ricoh Company Ltd. was originally founded in 1919, under the name Asahi Optical Joint Stock Co. and launched its first SLR camera in the 1950s under the PENTAX name. Today, the company continues to produce the heritage-rich, award-winning line of PENTAX DSLR cameras, lenses and sport optics equipment as well as Ricoh’s offering of stylish and compact digital cameras, known for their wide-ranging, rich set of features.

For further information, please visit www.us.ricoh-imaging.com

© 2024 Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation. All rights reserved. All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.

For More Information, Contact:
Stephannie Depa
Breakaway Communications for Ricoh Imaging
+1 530-864-0136 – mobile
sdepa@breakawaycom.com

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SOURCE Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation

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Melanie Siewert, Chief Marketing Officer at LHH, Joins the Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA)

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LOS ANGELES, May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA) proudly welcomes Melanie Siewert, Chief Marketing Officer at LHH, into its distinguished community of influential women leaders. A seasoned global marketing executive, Siewert brings more than 20 years of experience transforming brands, building high-performing teams, and driving measurable growth across both B2B and B2C industries.

As Chief Marketing Officer of LHH, Siewert leads global marketing strategy across brand, demand generation, and customer experience. She plays a critical role in aligning marketing with business objectives and fostering strong collaboration with sales to enhance organizational performance and accelerate growth. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping a modern, customer-centric brand and building a marketing function designed to deliver consistent, high-impact results across a complex global enterprise.

Throughout her career, Siewert has held senior leadership roles at prominent organizations including Truist Financial, Worldpay, Equifax, Whirlpool Corporation, and JPMorgan Chase. She is widely recognized for guiding enterprise brand strategy, leading complex mergers, scaling marketing operations, and delivering measurable gains in pipeline, revenue, and digital adoption.

Siewert’s expertise spans marketing strategy, customer engagement, brand development, sales enablement, and cross-functional leadership. Known for her empowering leadership style and strategic vision, she consistently builds high-performing teams that drive sustainable business growth while fostering collaboration and innovation.

Her accomplishments include:

Leading global marketing strategy for LHH, integrating brand, demand generation, and customer experience to drive business performance.Guiding enterprise brand transformations and go-to-market strategies across multiple global organizations.Driving measurable growth in pipeline, revenue, and digital engagement through data-driven marketing initiatives.Leading marketing efforts through complex mergers and organizational transformations.Serving as a two-time board chair and lifetime member of Strategic & Competitive Intelligence Professionals.Recognized as a Top Woman in Marketing by PRWeek.

“Melanie’s ability to translate complex market dynamics into clear, impactful strategies, combined with her commitment to building strong, collaborative teams, makes her an exceptional addition to EWA,” said Larraine Segil. “Her leadership and results-driven approach align seamlessly with the values of our sisterhood.”

Melanie shared “I’m honored to be part of the Exceptional Women’s Alliance and look forward to learning from the incredible women leaders who are dedicated to lifting other women and impacting the world at large.”

Siewert now joins a powerful and growing community of C-suite and board-level women leaders across disciplines who share a common goal: to support one another through confidential, life-long mentoring relationships and to enrich both their professional and personal lives.

About Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA)
The Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA) is an invitation-only peer mentorship organization where high-level Exceptional Women from across multiple industries are hand-selected and invested in, to grow, learn, share, and succeed. In addition to the achievement of significant success, the criteria for acceptance include character traits that are defining of the EWA Culture – Kindness, the Spirit of Generosity, Transparency, Gratitude, and Willingness to Share their knowledge. The Foundation is a powerhouse of peer-to-peer mentoring that provides guidance, deep connection, and leadership, propelling each woman to sustainable success—one woman at a time. The life-long program enables each participant to be connected as alumnae in the ever-expanding EWA global community, as their fellow women leaders continue to move into positions of significance.

Learn more at www.exceptionalwomenalliance.com

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Insurance Modernization at Risk as Workforce Strategies Fall Behind, Says Info-Tech Research Group

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Insurers are under pressure to modernize core systems while competing for scarce cloud, data, AI, and cybersecurity talent. Info-Tech Research Group’s new blueprint, Rebuild Your Talent Engine: Attract and Retain IT Talent in Insurance, outlines a practical framework to help insurance IT and HR leaders assess readiness, strengthen their employee value proposition, and retain the critical roles needed to accelerate transformation.

ARLINGTON, Va., May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – Insurance modernization is increasingly being constrained by the people and capabilities required to deliver it, according to Info-Tech Research Group. The global research and advisory firm’s newly published blueprint, Rebuild Your Talent Engine: Attract and Retain IT Talent in Insurance, provides a structured approach to help insurers attract, retain, and mobilize the IT talent required to support digital transformation.

The firm’s research indicates that many insurers are trying to advance core system modernization while facing shortages in cloud, data, AI, and cybersecurity roles. At the same time, experienced legacy system experts are retiring, creating knowledge gaps that can slow delivery, increase operational risk, and deepen dependence on external partners.

“Insurance modernization cannot succeed if the workforce strategy behind it remains outdated,” says Vidhi Trivedi, senior research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. “Insurers need an employee value proposition that reflects what both digital and legacy talent value today: flexibility, growth, purpose, and belonging. When organizations connect those expectations to the technology roadmap, they are better positioned to retain institutional knowledge, attract new capabilities, and move transformation forward with confidence.”

Key Workforce Risks Slowing Insurance Modernization

Info-Tech’s blueprint identifies several talent challenges that are limiting insurers’ ability to modernize effectively:

Critical digital skills remain difficult to attract and retain. Cloud engineers, data architects, cybersecurity specialists, and AI-capable technologists are essential to future-state systems, integration, and automation.Legacy expertise is leaving faster than it can be replaced. Core system knowledge remains vital to operations, compliance, and transition planning, yet many long-tenured experts are approaching retirement or feel disconnected from future-state roles.Rigid work models reduce access to high-demand talent. Digital professionals increasingly expect hybrid options, autonomy, modern delivery practices, and environments that support productivity and wellbeing.Growth pathways are not clearly connected to transformation needs. Without structured upskilling, internal mobility, and role progression, insurers risk losing employees to industries perceived as more innovative or career-accelerating.Employer branding often undersells insurance’s purpose and impact. The industry plays a critical role in protecting people, businesses, and communities, but that purpose is not always translated into a compelling technology career story.

Info-Tech’s Three-Phase Framework for Rebuilding the Insurance IT Talent Engine

To help insurers address these challenges, the Rebuild Your Talent Engine: Attract and Retain IT Talent in Insurance blueprint outlines a three-phase methodology:

Assess Talent Readiness for Modernization Success
Insurance IT and HR leaders identify modernization-critical roles, evaluate workforce pressure, assess EVP fit across key roles, and prioritize the roles that pose the greatest risk to transformation timelines.Build and Embed a Modern Employee Value Proposition
Organizations define a clear employer-employee value exchange, establish proof points across the four EVP pillars of flexibility, growth, purpose, and belonging, and activate targeted initiatives for priority roles.Develop and Present the EVP Impact Report
Leaders synthesize workforce insights, visualize progress, and present a measurable view of how EVP activation is improving retention, engagement, internal mobility, and readiness.

The resource also includes supporting tools, such as the EVP Diagnostic Tool, EVP Activation & Implementation Tool, and EVP Impact Report Template, that help insurers move from talent planning to measurable action.

“Too often, insurers view IT talent challenges as a capacity issue, when they are really a transformation risk,” explains Trivedi. ” “The insurers that move fastest will be those that know where critical capabilities are under strain, protect the expertise that increases operational resilience, and create clear pathways for employees to help shape the future of insurance from within.”

By applying Info-Tech’s framework outlined in the Rebuild Your Talent Engine: Attract and Retain IT Talent in Insurance blueprint, insurance leaders can better understand where people-related risks are highest, strengthen retention in critical roles, reduce long-term reliance on external partners, and build a more resilient technology organization. The firm’s research emphasizes that a modern EVP is not only an HR initiative but a strategic enabler of modernization success.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Info-Tech’s experts, including Vidhi Trivedi, and access to the complete Rebuild Your Talent Engine: Attract and Retain IT Talent in Insurance blueprint, please contact pr@infotech.com.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is the “get things done” partner for over 30,000 IT, HR, and marketing leaders worldwide. The fastest growing research and advisory firm, Info-Tech enables leaders to make well-informed decisions and transform their organizations through AI, strategic foresight, step-by-step methodologies, practical tools, industry-leading advisory, and training programs. For nearly 30 years, tens of thousands of private and public organizations have trusted Info-Tech to lead their most important initiatives through periods of change and deliver outcomes that truly matter.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s HR research and advisory services, visit McLean & Company, and for data-driven software buying insights and vendor evaluations, visit the firm’s SoftwareReviews platform.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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Caris Life Sciences Submits Application to New York State Department of Health for Caris Assure Blood‑Based Testing Authorization

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IRVING, Texas, May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Caris Life Sciences® (NASDAQ: CAI), a leading patient-centric next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer, today announced that it has submitted an application to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (CLEP), administered through the Wadsworth Center, seeking authorization to perform Caris Assure®, its blood‑based molecular profiling test, on specimens originating from New York State.

Caris Assure is a blood‑based molecular profiling test designed to support comprehensive biomarker analysis using a minimally invasive blood sample. Caris Assure uses circulating nucleic acids sequencing (cNAS) to analyze the whole exome (DNA) and whole transcriptome (RNA) of 22,000 genes. This comprehensive test identifies tumor alterations, clonal hematopoiesis (CH) and inherited variants, pharmacogenomic alterations, microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB).

The submission initiates the formal review process required by New York State for clinical laboratories seeking to perform testing on specimens collected from New York patients. Through the Wadsworth Center, CLEP conducts comprehensive reviews of laboratory permits and laboratory-developed tests to evaluate analytical validation, quality systems, personnel qualifications and compliance with applicable state regulations.

“Caris is committed to meeting the highest standards for laboratory quality, validation and regulatory compliance,” said David Spetzler, MS, PhD, MBA, President of Caris Life Sciences. “This submission of Caris Assure for review through the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center reflects our disciplined approach to expanding access to our technologies in a manner that demonstrates the rigor, responsibility and focus on the patient that define Caris Life Sciences and guide our work in the markets we serve.”

At this time, no determination has been made by NYSDOH, and Caris Assure is not authorized for use on blood-based specimens originating from New York State unless and until CLEP authorization is granted.

Caris operates a CAP-accredited, CLIA‑certified clinical laboratory and performs testing in jurisdictions where it is authorized to do so, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Any future availability of Caris Assure in New York State will be contingent upon completion of the CLEP review process administered by the Wadsworth Center and receipt of the appropriate authorization.

About Caris Life Sciences
Caris Life Sciences® (Caris) is a leading, patient-centric, next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer actively developing and commercializing innovative solutions to transform healthcare. Through comprehensive molecular profiling (Whole Genome, Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing), advanced AI and machine learning, Caris has created the large-scale, multimodal clinico-genomic database and computing capability needed to analyze and further unravel the molecular complexity of disease. This convergence of next-generation sequencing, AI and machine learning technologies and high-performance computing provides a differentiated platform for developing the latest generation of advanced precision medicine diagnostic solutions for early detection, diagnosis, monitoring, therapy selection and drug development.

Caris was founded with a vision to realize the potential of precision medicine to improve the human condition. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris has offices in Phoenix, New York, Cambridge (MA), Tokyo, Japan and Basel, Switzerland. Caris or its distributor partners provide services in the U.S. and other international markets.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our business, solutions, plans, objectives, goals, industry trends, financial outlook and guidance. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “potential,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” or “continue” or similar expressions.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available to us, we cannot guarantee that the future results, discoveries, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control. Risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release include, among other things: our future financial performance, results of operations or other operational results or metrics; development, analytical and clinical validation, timing and performance of future solutions by us and our competitors; commercial market acceptance for our solutions, including acceptance of preventive as well as diagnostic testing paradigms, and our ability to meet resulting demand; the rapidly evolving competitive environment in which we operate; third-party payer reimbursement and coverage decisions related to our solutions; risks related to data management, storage, and processing capabilities and our ability to integrate and deploy artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics technologies; our ability to protect and enhance our intellectual property; regulatory requirements, decisions or approvals (including the timing and conditions thereof) related to our solutions, including our application for New York State Department of Health approval for Caris Assure; reliance on third-party suppliers; risks related to data security, patient privacy, and compliance with healthcare data protection regulations as well as potential cybersecurity threats to our data platforms; our compliance with laws and regulations; the outcome of government investigations and litigation; risks related to our indebtedness; and our ability to hire and retain key personnel as well as risks, uncertainties; and other factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 3, 2026, and in our other filings we make with the SEC from time to time. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in events, circumstances or our beliefs after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

Caris Life Sciences Media:
Corporate Communications
CorpComm@CarisLS.com
214.294.5606 

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