[Warpig]

Seems to me that Mr. K is very happy about being under the Ricoh protectorate, as they are willing to let what Pentax couldn't develop under Hoya.

I mean, Hoya buyed them solely for the medical division, so the camera division was just an "aggregate" for them. Even with this scene, they where able to develop the superb K5. Now imagine what they can bring to us, now that solely the imaging division was bought by Ricoh, with all the efforts put on this.

The statements about mirrorless with big sensors seems like ideas for the future more than next years products. But I like the approach of making a SLR "as small as posible". That doesn't mean that you must remove or strip some crucial component, i.e the mirror, only the bulky components. Also the fact that he likes the "mechanical aspects of the machines" i. e. dials, knobs, etc. wich gives the sense of a "this is high-grade" "this is a value-added item" (I know this concepts, trust me, I'm an industrial designer)
I would love to see a classic style model (the concept "retro" is awful) like a ME Super/LX, being digitalized. Also a concept on par with the trends. But mostly because of the viciously, almost pornographic, size of the viewfinder.

Sorry for the bad english, I did my best

[Edvinas]

I have the k200D. It is pretty loud when it goes off. For some people it might not be a huge issue, but I am a very self conscious photographer.

I agree. If The could make the k-5 even smaller (and even keep the same sensor), I would be very interested.

K-5 is almost identical in size as K200D. It's 2.5mm shorter, 2mm higher and 1mm thinner.

[JinDesu]

I have the k200D. It is pretty loud when it goes off. For some people it might not be a huge issue, but I am a very self conscious photographer.

I agree. If They could make the k-5 even smaller (and even keep the same sensor), I would be very interested.

I wouldn't hesitate to say, if you were standing about 4-5 feet away from the k-5 in normal conversational ambient noise, you wouldn't hear it firing.

[Alizarine]

Thanks for the translation v5planet! That's a great help for the Pentax community!

...now reading the rest of the thread....

[v5planet]

On the contrary, I think it seems absolutely loaded with what you may call hints. Contrast to the Hoya era, where Pentax gave a couple flat 'no's to direct questions about FF. This sounds like something completely different.

Of course, so much is ambiguous, even with something as well-translated as this (thanks, v5.)

.

I'm going to agree with this statement. Kitazawa never actually say 'we're doing xyz and you will see a full frame mirrorless in July 2012', but he clearly states two things:

1) that Ricoh's management is giving them more room to stretch;
2) and that mirrorless cameras are an inevitability for the industry and something he wants to see Pentax do at the FF and MF level

Now, granted, the interviewer was leading him quite strongly throughout, but one does not have to work very hard to see the obvious writing between the lines, which is that Pentax knows the trajectory it wants to take. The only thing we don't know is the timing.

[keruili]

Thanks for the translation on this!
I gotta say though, this whole going smaller thing is somewhat distressing to someone with large hands. I'm still using a K10 and the feel for me is awesome, but when I try the K5, which is a technological delight, the size is a bit of an issue for me. Going ever smaller for me is like what they said at the end about the 'feel' of the moving parts as part of the experience of photography, just because we can doesn't mean we should. Mirrorless could still be in a body that is easily 'grippable'.

[dmort]

day after day I wonder where pentax is going. Don't get me wrong, I love my pentax gear, I just always feel that there is the possibility that they will, I don't know, stop making things... Since ricoh, I've feeling very positive & this interview continues to give me hope. I want pentax to move forward, informed by its users. This interview made it sound like the moving forward is inevitable, I just hope R & D pays some attention to what the already committed have to say.

[rparmar]

A intriguing interview even if it is speculation. One of the Pentax strengths is the smaller camera body and the Q shows that interest taken to extremes, so no surprises there. More mirrorless in the distant future? No kidding! That's a given, with only the time frame in question.

Full-frame will please many people but not if it's mirrorless, because most of those who want FF want it so they can use their existing lenses. And Pentax has not shown an ability to produce lenses for a new format (645D) at anything like a reasonable rate.

Still, a FF DSLR will have many Pentax fans salivating, and will attract other photogs too if it is significantly smaller than the Canon and Nikon behemoths.

[taiweitai]

It just made my day. Thanks

[johnmflores]

Thanks for the translation v5planet! Hard to read the tea leave in this one. Execs can be like that.




btw, you handle isn't a reference to a Honda, is it?

[LaurenOE]

Awesome translation - as if I knew better!

I am glad that Ricoh is allowing Pentax to finish some things that were shelved, and to me, that means the MZ-D will finally come to market. Everything that comes after the MZ-D/K1 or whatever is just speculation.

A FF DSLR is unfinished business at Pentax. All the effort that was required to produce the prototype, and then at the last second not..well, that is a huge blow to the morale of a company.

I think a company that contiunually pulls out the MZ-D prototype at trade shows and allows it to be photographed next to current or new flagship/offerings is a company that wants vindication and closure of "what should have been", but was taken away.

[ogl]

The interview was rather ambiguous, but he was pretty clear on the part about the lenses. I'm not sure he was talking about the mount. He could have been talking about the focal lengths. I'm not sure what lenses Pentax has for FF. The 31, 43, and 77 would be good I assume. I'm not sure they of the same quality as the Nikon 35mm F1.4, 85mm F1.5 or 100mm F2.0. I've been using the 35mm F1.4 and that's probably the best lens I've ever used. I can't really compare the Pentax ones because of the difference in sensor size.

Either way I think the interview was very positive if one is hoping for a FF Pentax body of some kind. It sounds like everyone will at least know at some point in 2012 when they will make it.

100/2 is really weaker than FA77 as lens for portrait.

[aleonx3]

I also want to thank v5planet for the translation - great job!!

While I do not see myself diving into FF yet (for my use), however, I do think that a FF DSLR in similar to k-5 format (small but option to add grip) would be very interesting in comparison with C&N similar offerings. The k-5 vs D7k is an example that Pentax can also be successful in that comparison.

[maxfield_photo]

This interview makes me want to jump ship right now. I certainly hope that these are long term goals, and that there is a traditional optical full frame in the pipeline right now. I can live with a small camera, but it's not something I necessarily want, and I will not buy a mirrorless camera, period. So if Pentax is going to move that way in the future, they will do so at the cost of this fan's loyalty.

[jeffshaddix]

Nice translation, appreciate the effort.

I too am wary of Pentax defining themselves by miniaturization. I'd prefer other aspects of their cameras to be the shiny flag that sticks out from the rest (sensor IQ, unique high quality lenses, usability, ergonomics, build quality, quality control, new features, exploring new camera design paradigms, etc, etc, etc).

Even though I was concerned like many others over Pentax in the near-term going for FF/MF mirrorless, at the same time it gave me the hope that Pentax could make something different, which is (or was) their motto. There was even the chance that a FF mirrorless could be exceptional from the start, blowing the market open and attracting loads of new customers. I'm not saying this may not still happen, but it sounds from the article that this is a dream that is at least a couple years out. I imagine in 2015 Canon and Nikon both will have FF mirrorless cameras on the market, at which time Pentax would once again be struggling against the grain to get market share. Of course Pentax could be waiting for a particular technology to mature to feasibility before they take the plunge, and I could understand that. I just hope that whatever technology they pursue, they're aren't simply following suit. They did this well for 645D, now let's see the same for FF.

Regardless, it's good to see 35mm back on the board. I bought my FF lenses hoping that times like these may come.

Thanks again for the great translation!