K-01 seeing its last days?

wombat2go · 02-03-2013, 09:15 PM

I ordered a K-01 tonight from Adorama based on close-out (USD 299.95).
It is the first "new" camera I purchased since ME super (Australia $269.90) in 1980.. Do I win the frugal test?... sending Pentax belly up?
Small business owner (nearly retired now), I used my hobby cameras for 30+ years work related.
Today I looked at the USA IRS rules for depreciating the personal cameras for partial work use.
......... and decided it is not worth while.
Incidentally the main lens used was the Vivitar 28 mm 1:2.0 MC Close Focus Wide Angle- easily the most versatile lens in my collection both 35mm and aps-c.
Sharp focus from wide angle on mill floor to right down to millimetre resolution close up.

Louicio · 02-04-2013, 06:09 AM

Seeing as the K-01 is fading out but not yet officially discontinued and Pentax have revealed they are working on a FF camera. Perhaps the timing is no coincidence and what ever they intend to release in the near future will serve to replace the gap left by the K-01?

NitroDC · 02-04-2013, 06:50 AM

Hm, so I wonder if my Amazon purchase is going to actually ship, then. They haven't charged me anything yet, so the order is still open. Debating on whether or not I need it. I was originally planning on keeping either the camera or the lens (selling one or the other) but now that it's pretty much discontinued, it feels weird to buy it and then sell. My K20D has served me very well and I can't see myself using the K-01 that often, for anything but video. At first I saw it as a 2nd body for more casual shoots where a DSLR would look too serious (like street photography) but then I realized I lived in the middle of nowhere. Its high ISO performance is very promising but I guess I'd rather just upgrade to a K5-ii for that and get a full upgrade over the K20D. Not that I have the $$ for that upgrade.

Salagubang · 02-04-2013, 07:30 AM

Originally posted by NitroDC

Hm, so I wonder if my Amazon purchase is going to actually ship, then. They haven't charged me anything yet, so the order is still open. Debating on whether or not I need it. I was originally planning on keeping either the camera or the lens (selling one or the other) but now that it's pretty much discontinued, it feels weird to buy it and then sell. My K20D has served me very well and I can't see myself using the K-01 that often, for anything but video. At first I saw it as a 2nd body for more casual shoots where a DSLR would look too serious (like street photography) but then I realized I lived in the middle of nowhere. Its high ISO performance is very promising but I guess I'd rather just upgrade to a K5-ii for that and get a full upgrade over the K20D. Not that I have the $$ for that upgrade.

Get the K 01, with its current price and useability (with an almost giveaway prime lens), not trying one is actually a loss.

Oops my bad, I realized you actually have a pending order. I hope it'd pushed soon. :P

Doundounba · 02-04-2013, 12:21 PM

Weren't the folks from PentaxForums going to ask about the K-01's fate in their interview with Pentax reps at CP+? Any news?

digitallymike · 02-04-2013, 12:46 PM

It seems to me that all the camera stores are selling off there remaining stocks. Luckily I got mine from Adorama at 299.95 before they labelled it "out of stock". Everywhere I have checked so far, e.g. BH, Adorama, etc. Their stocks of K-01 are selling out.

mdodrill · 02-04-2013, 12:52 PM

I just checked with B&H. They only show the white K-01 as being discontinued. All others are shown as in-stock or back ordered or shipping in 7-10 days; the same as last friday when I ordered the back K-01 with 40XS

digitallymike · 02-04-2013, 01:11 PM

Well, If the K-01 is indeed seeing its last day on the shelves or not. I'm glad that I at least had the opportunity to get one at a deeply discounted price.

crossroads · 02-04-2013, 01:24 PM

A damn shame... it is a very fine camera, I'm curious how the history books will treat the K01.

davidthewatson · 02-04-2013, 11:41 PM

Originally posted by crossroads

A damn shame... it is a very fine camera, I'm curious how the history books will treat the K01.

That probably has a lot to do with the continued firmware and software support. Since the firmware seems to be no/low additional development cost, I hope they keep shipping updates. As opposed to say what Yamaha did with their high end audio cards - the DSP Factory - ten years ago where they just stopped updates completely and refused to distribute the source which pretty much made the product unusable with any modern computer.

Crosses fingers.

**OrangeKx** · 02-04-2013, 11:48 PM

After reading a bunch of positive reviews at B&H tonight for the K-01 and the buzz here lately, I wonder if the K-01 was just getting some momentum that could have helped Pentax gain some new converts. What a difference another year could make with the new price point, some new folks finding the brand and some positive feedback all around. Seems maybe it's just the world we live in, short attention spans and if something's not hot right out of the gates it's labeled as "lame".

davidthewatson · 02-05-2013, 12:00 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by OrangeKx

After reading a bunch of positive reviews at B&H tonight for the K-01 and the buzz here lately, I wonder if the K-01 was just getting some momentum that could have helped Pentax gain some new converts. What a difference another year could make with the new price point, some new folks finding the brand and some positive feedback all around. Seems maybe it's just the world we live in, short attention spans and if something's not hot right out of the gates it's labeled as "lame".

I agree completely. Being a recent Pentax convert, I can attest to the effect that studying the K-01 reviews had on me. The product was differentiated. Imperfect, but differentiated - which is a lot more than I can say for most product design these days. Part of the reason I became a fan of the brand can be attributed to the K-01, despite the fact that I don't own one. It's a minor tragedy: quarterly profits overwhelm the kind of tenacity it takes to make a product stick. There's very little in the way of long-term product thinking. It must be painful to be Marc Newson.

I still may buy a K-01, if they're still available in the morning!

**THoog** · 02-05-2013, 06:42 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by OrangeKx

Seems maybe it's just the world we live in, short attention spans and if something's not hot right out of the gates it's labeled as "lame".

Also the demand for things that adapt to us, rather than the other way around. Studies indicate smartphones are making us dumber, or at least dulling our problem-solving skills. I'll admit, my first week with the K-01 was a bit frustrating, until I adjusted to it and realized the potential. Or maybe after you whack the non-existent viewfinder into your forehead a certain number of times, there's a physiological change...

**monochrome** · 02-05-2013, 06:59 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by THoog

Or maybe after you whack the non-existent viewfinder into your forehead a certain number of times, there's a physiological change...

Time was I chimped the back of a film camera a few times before I mentally kicked myself for being a doofus. It has come to the point that I look at the back of a film camera a few times before I remember to look through the VF.

digitallymike · 02-05-2013, 08:05 AM

Originally posted by THoog

Also the demand for things that adapt to us, rather than the other way around. Studies indicate smartphones are making us dumber, or at least dulling our problem-solving skills. I'll admit, my first week with the K-01 was a bit frustrating, until I adjusted to it and realized the potential. Or maybe after you whack the non-existent viewfinder into your forehead a certain number of times, there's a physiological change...

agreed, It's nice, IMO, that Pentax does something that defies convention. I think it's inherent in people's nature to criticize things that don't fit nicely into a "prescribed" ways of thought.

02-05-2013, 06:59 AM - 1 Like	#44
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by THoog Or maybe after you whack the non-existent viewfinder into your forehead a certain number of times, there's a physiological change... Time was I chimped the back of a film camera a few times before I mentally kicked myself for being a doofus. It has come to the point that I look at the back of a film camera a few times before I remember to look through the VF. Last edited by monochrome; 02-05-2013 at 08:01 AM.

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02-03-2013, 09:15 PM	#31
wombat2go Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	I ordered a K-01 tonight from Adorama based on close-out (USD 299.95). It is the first "new" camera I purchased since ME super (Australia $269.90) in 1980.. Do I win the frugal test?... sending Pentax belly up? Small business owner (nearly retired now), I used my hobby cameras for 30+ years work related. Today I looked at the USA IRS rules for depreciating the personal cameras for partial work use. ......... and decided it is not worth while. Incidentally the main lens used was the Vivitar 28 mm 1:2.0 MC Close Focus Wide Angle- easily the most versatile lens in my collection both 35mm and aps-c. Sharp focus from wide angle on mill floor to right down to millimetre resolution close up.

02-04-2013, 06:09 AM	#32
Louicio Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Melbourne Posts: 432	Seeing as the K-01 is fading out but not yet officially discontinued and Pentax have revealed they are working on a FF camera. Perhaps the timing is no coincidence and what ever they intend to release in the near future will serve to replace the gap left by the K-01?

02-04-2013, 06:50 AM	#33
NitroDC Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 342	Hm, so I wonder if my Amazon purchase is going to actually ship, then. They haven't charged me anything yet, so the order is still open. Debating on whether or not I need it. I was originally planning on keeping either the camera or the lens (selling one or the other) but now that it's pretty much discontinued, it feels weird to buy it and then sell. My K20D has served me very well and I can't see myself using the K-01 that often, for anything but video. At first I saw it as a 2nd body for more casual shoots where a DSLR would look too serious (like street photography) but then I realized I lived in the middle of nowhere. Its high ISO performance is very promising but I guess I'd rather just upgrade to a K5-ii for that and get a full upgrade over the K20D. Not that I have the $$ for that upgrade.

02-04-2013, 07:30 AM	#34
Salagubang Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Jose Del Monte Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 198	Originally posted by NitroDC Hm, so I wonder if my Amazon purchase is going to actually ship, then. They haven't charged me anything yet, so the order is still open. Debating on whether or not I need it. I was originally planning on keeping either the camera or the lens (selling one or the other) but now that it's pretty much discontinued, it feels weird to buy it and then sell. My K20D has served me very well and I can't see myself using the K-01 that often, for anything but video. At first I saw it as a 2nd body for more casual shoots where a DSLR would look too serious (like street photography) but then I realized I lived in the middle of nowhere. Its high ISO performance is very promising but I guess I'd rather just upgrade to a K5-ii for that and get a full upgrade over the K20D. Not that I have the $$ for that upgrade. Get the K 01, with its current price and useability (with an almost giveaway prime lens), not trying one is actually a loss. Oops my bad, I realized you actually have a pending order. I hope it'd pushed soon. :P

02-04-2013, 12:21 PM	#35
Doundounba Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montréal QC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,351	Weren't the folks from PentaxForums going to ask about the K-01's fate in their interview with Pentax reps at CP+? Any news?

02-04-2013, 12:46 PM	#36
digitallymike New Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 23	It seems to me that all the camera stores are selling off there remaining stocks. Luckily I got mine from Adorama at 299.95 before they labelled it "out of stock". Everywhere I have checked so far, e.g. BH, Adorama, etc. Their stocks of K-01 are selling out.

02-04-2013, 12:52 PM	#37
mdodrill Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 231	I just checked with B&H. They only show the white K-01 as being discontinued. All others are shown as in-stock or back ordered or shipping in 7-10 days; the same as last friday when I ordered the back K-01 with 40XS

02-04-2013, 01:11 PM	#38
digitallymike New Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 23	Well, If the K-01 is indeed seeing its last day on the shelves or not. I'm glad that I at least had the opportunity to get one at a deeply discounted price.

02-04-2013, 01:24 PM	#39
crossroads Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 34	A damn shame... it is a very fine camera, I'm curious how the history books will treat the K01.

02-04-2013, 11:41 PM	#40
davidthewatson New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5	Originally posted by crossroads A damn shame... it is a very fine camera, I'm curious how the history books will treat the K01. That probably has a lot to do with the continued firmware and software support. Since the firmware seems to be no/low additional development cost, I hope they keep shipping updates. As opposed to say what Yamaha did with their high end audio cards - the DSP Factory - ten years ago where they just stopped updates completely and refused to distribute the source which pretty much made the product unusable with any modern computer. Crosses fingers.

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02-04-2013, 11:48 PM	#41
OrangeKx Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Vancouver, WA Photos: Gallery Posts: 817	After reading a bunch of positive reviews at B&H tonight for the K-01 and the buzz here lately, I wonder if the K-01 was just getting some momentum that could have helped Pentax gain some new converts. What a difference another year could make with the new price point, some new folks finding the brand and some positive feedback all around. Seems maybe it's just the world we live in, short attention spans and if something's not hot right out of the gates it's labeled as "lame".

02-05-2013, 12:00 AM - 1 Like	#42
davidthewatson New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5	Originally posted by OrangeKx After reading a bunch of positive reviews at B&H tonight for the K-01 and the buzz here lately, I wonder if the K-01 was just getting some momentum that could have helped Pentax gain some new converts. What a difference another year could make with the new price point, some new folks finding the brand and some positive feedback all around. Seems maybe it's just the world we live in, short attention spans and if something's not hot right out of the gates it's labeled as "lame". I agree completely. Being a recent Pentax convert, I can attest to the effect that studying the K-01 reviews had on me. The product was differentiated. Imperfect, but differentiated - which is a lot more than I can say for most product design these days. Part of the reason I became a fan of the brand can be attributed to the K-01, despite the fact that I don't own one. It's a minor tragedy: quarterly profits overwhelm the kind of tenacity it takes to make a product stick. There's very little in the way of long-term product thinking. It must be painful to be Marc Newson. I still may buy a K-01, if they're still available in the morning!

02-05-2013, 06:42 AM - 1 Like	#43
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	Originally posted by OrangeKx Seems maybe it's just the world we live in, short attention spans and if something's not hot right out of the gates it's labeled as "lame". Also the demand for things that adapt to us, rather than the other way around. Studies indicate smartphones are making us dumber, or at least dulling our problem-solving skills. I'll admit, my first week with the K-01 was a bit frustrating, until I adjusted to it and realized the potential. Or maybe after you whack the non-existent viewfinder into your forehead a certain number of times, there's a physiological change...

02-05-2013, 08:05 AM	#45
digitallymike New Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 23	Originally posted by THoog Also the demand for things that adapt to us, rather than the other way around. Studies indicate smartphones are making us dumber, or at least dulling our problem-solving skills. I'll admit, my first week with the K-01 was a bit frustrating, until I adjusted to it and realized the potential. Or maybe after you whack the non-existent viewfinder into your forehead a certain number of times, there's a physiological change... agreed, It's nice, IMO, that Pentax does something that defies convention. I think it's inherent in people's nature to criticize things that don't fit nicely into a "prescribed" ways of thought.