[ZombieArmy]

The best thing about the K-01 is how good it is with manual lenses. Handling is much better when manual focusing, and the live view is much better than K-5 series.

Interestingly there's really nothing stopping someone from custom making the suggestions from the OP on an existing k-01.

[kypfer]

The best thing about the K-01 is how good it is with manual lenses. Handling is much better when manual focusing, and the live view is much better than K-5 series.
Interestingly there's really nothing stopping someone from custom making the suggestions from the OP on an existing k-01.

The manual focussing comments are valid. The K-01 has "Focus Peaking", which is noticeably missing on the K-5's, but I still have reservations about filter slots in the camera body … too much opportunity to introduce dust straight onto the shutter/sensor!
FWIW, having used the "little green hexagon" in the viewfinder for focus confirmation ever since my *ist film camera, I don't really miss Focus Peaking, though I'll admit it is easier to use with the camera on a tripod at a low level, especially in conjunction with a fully articulated rear screen (thinking K-70 here).

[PiDicus Rex]

Let's add some comments as I go reading,..

Basically if they would have made the body (not lens mount) thinner,

The mount IS the major thickness of the K-01 body, and the Flange Focal Distance, sensor, and LCD, are the total thickness.

So place 3 slots on the left side of the mirror box. Opposite the grip. These slots allow filters to be swapped in and out. The ir blocking filter could even be moved off sensor. Pop the ir blocking filter out and replace it with the ir filter. Instant ir conversion.

Oh, heck no. That's just a recipe for Dust and Light Leaks as the body ages.


And, with the exception of ENG cameras, Filters belong in a proper Matte Box out front, rather then risk internal reflections from the square faced glass.

I don't think we'll ever see it. With all emphasis on the optical view finder in the K3iii, Ricoh seems to have doubled downed on Pentax as a DSLR.

Thing is, Mirror Lockup Live Live View IS 'Mirrorless Mode' for a DSLR - rather then do a new Mirrorless per se, Pentax should do a Hybrid Viewfinder, that's OVF normally, OVF with enhanced overlays, such as Focus Peaking, and then EVF mode when the mirror's locked up and your eye is at the viewfinder.

Or conversely having a 2nd mount nearer the sensor and, coming standard with the body, a fully smart K mount adapter to that. Swap it out for other lens families.Also why not an accessory EVF that clipped on top.

That's what Canon do for the EF-M range of Mirrorless bodies, with the adapter to full EF being included in the bodies price - same as Sony selling kits with E-mount cameras and LA-E adapters bundled together.

That's a good idea. How about to fit a circular sensor that fits lens image circle, to allow various aspect ratios. It would sell like hotcakes.

Won't Ever Happen. Not even for Sony. The amount of Silicon that wastes on a photo-lithography die at the fab, heck, not even for Apple.
To do so would effectively double the cost of sensors.

- A K mount mirrorless designed primarily for video would seem like a slam dunk to me. I would be perfectly happy if Pentax licensed/shared the mount with another manufacturer, so long as their bodies remained focused on video. Or if Ricoh released such a camera with a non-Pentax nameplate but stuck with K mount. From a branding standpoint, either route would fit with their commitment to DSLR for Pentax, while increasing the value of K mount glass. Perhaps even tempting third parties to begin releasing K mount again...

Exactly this. A K-02 SHOULD ABSOLUTELY be Pentax's class-leader on Video performance, which is also what the K-01 could have been in 2012 with better thought out and implemented firmware.


Keep the K-mount, add Continuous AF for SDM and for Screw Drive lenses, swap in a Mic port that will do Line Level from and external recorder (because those of us doing video professionally always use external sound recorders), shrink the grip size down to the width of the K-01 screen and use the D-Li109 battery, but add a 'remotes' USB-c port and come up with a range of focus and zoom controls that mount on tripod arms or shoulder rigs, and have buttons to mimic the regular body-mounted controls. Swap to LED flash and give it the option to be used as constant light. Add in an external power port and two HDMI ports - one mini to go to buyers choice of HD EVF, a second doing clean feed out at up to 4K to go to a recorder.


Keep it APS-c, and use either the DA-40XS, or a new pancake style 24mm as the kit lens options.

The body will look like an oversized action camera, almost like a Z-cam E1, BMD micro studio camera of the Panasonic BGH1, but will benefit from the Pentax Colour Science.

It truly is a pity that Pentax doesn't made a compact DSLR any more. The K-x and K-r were very small and light and they were well-liked cameras as well.

Compared to every other DSLR, Every Pentax is a compact body