Official Pentax Germany release

feronovak · 09-19-2008, 04:54 AM

Nachrichten - Division Imaging Systems - PENTAX Europe GmbH

55mm f1.4 SDM 549 EUR
60-250mm f4.0 1299 EUR

Pentax K-M ? what the heck, that'is originality

feronovak · 09-19-2008, 04:56 AM

Pentax K-m with kit lens for 499

bnishanth · 09-19-2008, 05:09 AM

Very interesting.... I'm pleased by the way Pentax is trying to target it's customers. I'm sure there are many people who are not happy with K20D Super or K30 or whatever, but nevertheless, given the circumstances, this is a good step forward.

BTW, There seems to be only MF and AF, and no AF-C ???

Cheers
Nish

*tcdk* · 09-19-2008, 05:14 AM

Roadmap:

The x1.4 SDM will be spring/summer 2009 - no price.

All in all, kind of ... meh, but hopefully they will make a bundle on the K-m which will allow them to work on more interesting stuff...

pspentax · 09-19-2008, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by bnishanth

BTW, There seems to be only MF and AF, and no AF-C ???

Nish

All Pentax camera have AF-C but in the entry line cameras you only can change it in the menu.

bnishanth · 09-19-2008, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by pspentax

All Pentax camera have AF-C but in the entry line cameras you only can change it in the menu.

Cheers mate, did not know that.

Oooh..!! A super Telephoto in the roadmap..Nice.!!

Cheers
Nish

cateto · 09-19-2008, 05:27 AM

The K-m with the two zooms for 599 looks quite a strong contender at the entry level: what everybody was clamouring for, and possibly a very smart move in commercial terms. It seems the recent news from Hoya suggesting rapid release of dSLR is confirmed by this announcement.

I'm very curious to know the full specs, but this might be enough to increase significantly the sales numbers for Pentax in dSLR, and most importantly, the profitability in that business, so that higher budget is spent in the future to develop the line.

All in all, it looks like good news to me. Now if we have an upgraded K20, or even better, a K30, that would be perfect.

*Asahiflex* · 09-19-2008, 05:32 AM

I agree, the K-m is *very* important for Pentax as a money maker. In the low end of the market, there is where the money is. It's hard or impossible to generate money from FF SLR's. I'm happy for Pentax, the K-m is just what they needed. But let's wait for the official specs... I guess the sensor will not be below 10MP.

bnishanth · 09-19-2008, 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by Asahiflex

I agree, the K-m is *very* important for Pentax as a money maker. In the low end of the market, there is where the money is.

Yes, and most importantly they need to market it very well taking the big players of entry level markets head on. Impressive retailer incentives and good advertisements should do the trick there. Volume is the key for K-m and consumer price looks tempting for any newbie to consider Pentax.

Eager to know it's specs now...

Cheers
Nish

RaduA · 09-19-2008, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by pspentax

All Pentax camera have AF-C but in the entry line cameras you only can change it in the menu.

I may add that you have 3 options not 2

Radu

pspentax · 09-19-2008, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by RaduA

I may add that you have 3 options not 2

Radu

what do you mean with that, 3 options not 2.

ghelary · 09-19-2008, 06:04 AM

I was wondering why 18-55mm and 50-200 were also on display (I don't speak german). Google translate helped me on this one and it seems that the lenses will have new version on plastic ony including bayonnet. It says also that the metallic + plastic versions will continue to be produced.

Looks like Pentax is trying the maximum savings to lower costs. I hope they won't sacrify on optical quality too (for me that's not too important I alreay have 18-55 and 50-200)

Lets see how new K-m performs against Canon 1000D and Nikon's D60.

For my part, I was waiting for the 60-250mm, and it looks that I'll have to eat some pasta for the next months... :-D

*palmor* · 09-19-2008, 06:05 AM

Since the TC is not a * is it a safe assumption that it won't be weather sealed? Wouldn't make much sense not to have it weather sealed since I'd imagine the biggest use for it would be for the DA* telephoto lenses.

John

ibk · 09-19-2008, 06:05 AM

He means, that there is one more option - AF-S, AF-C and one more

JJJPhoto · 09-19-2008, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by pspentax

what do you mine with that, 3 options not 2.

I believe it was someone agreeing with you that you can select MF, AF-S, or AF-C ... not just AF-S or MF (3 options, not 2).

I really want to get the 15mm and the PTTL ringflash. I "might" be interested in the new budget DSLR body as a new travel body to replace the old DL I still have for travel ... but it depends on the full specs.