Originally posted by 123K10D This is what I saw. Last Sunday (at dusk) a very slick wedding photog crew - 3 photogs/1 video op. Two of the photogs had Nikon D3's, and even though the light was low, these things were hammering out shots - like 6 - 8 per second - probably ISO6400 and their 2.8 zooms.
Anyway, the third photog didn't have all the extra camera gear that the Nikon shooters had (shoulder bag thingies) and something around their necks plus headsets - like the CIA :-). He just had a camera which I'd never seen before... The new Pentax ('one' of the new models anyway).
At first I saw the back and thought it could be a D300 with a battery grip, but then I saw the front, with the Pentax logo and a DA* 50-135 on it. Cool! Anyway, all I can tell you is this:
Compared to my K10D, this was what stood out:
It has a big screen at the back.
Couldn't tell if it had a battery grip, or if it was moulded into the body, like the D3.
It was shooting at the same speed as the D3's (or near enough) - very, very fast FPS.
The weirdest bit was this - the D3 shooters were chimping every now and then. But the Pentax shooter didn't chimp once, in the 5 minutes I saw him shoot god knows how many shots, he didn't check a single frame - from the back at least - maybe he was reviewing them in the viewfinder? Don't know. And this guy was the lead photog, he got first dibs at every op, and the others all deferred to him.
If you're wondering why I didn't walk up and go "hey man! cool, is that the new K something?" - you should have seen these guys (and one girl on one of the D3's) - they looked like they were at the end of the longest day of their lives. I've never seen a group of people look less happy making a living. And they were sticking like glue to this very rich looking wedding party - not exactly an opportune time to strike up a conversation.
Wasn't going to post this, because I thought, "what the hell would Pentax be doing, trialing a new camera in Brisbane, Australia?.. nope, I saw what I saw, and the DA*50-135 is a VERY distinctive lens - which I have actually used.
If you think this is fiction, good, because I would if I'd have read this - but I saw what I saw. And I've been seriously considering getting a Nikon D3 for it's FPS and low light ability (starting to sell photos now, and pet photography is where I want to go - so, action shots in poor light are typical) - after seeing what I saw on the weekend, I'm going to put the idea on hold until Pentax anounces their new gear - hopefully, it will be cheaper than Nikons.
If the camera you saw, had the grip integrated in the body, and was shooting at up to 6-8 FPS; it could have been a prototype K1. This is now very close to K20 release, so doesn’t seem likely that they needed more input from the field, in regard to the K20.
And at a high level testing alongside D3’s, it would make more sense for it to a be top line Pentax. Anyway thanks for the info, we’ll probably see the announcement of the K1, later this year.
Thanks for the links Kim. Funny that RH writes : “Besides those Chinese websites (mainly from the mainland China) talk about new model names of K20D, K150D and K200D etc.
which IMHO are most probably pure un-substantiated speculations”. But now suddenly wount stand by his statements and mongering of ill reported facts.
And interesting that even Klaus from PhotoZone is loosing patience with the blabbing and poor founded innuendoes from RH.
Anybody else don’t understand RH’s reply to Klaus : “You won't understand just because you are not truly a real "Pentax fan", so as even many other typical Pentax fanboys are.” ?!?
For my sake, the moderators can keep him here; always good for a quick laugh and shaking the head in disbelief. If there ever was an obsession, this is one. Incredible amount of time he has on his hands.
It seems RH made the bet : “it is undoubtedly that it <K10> will be too old when new model can arrive in the next few months,
if any….
I originally bet that they are developing a new replacement model <for K10>,
however, now it seems that it is more unlikely and unlikely to see any new stuff.”
Now others are just calling it, but he’s trying to weasel out. Always easy to put out junk, harder when one has to face the facts.