[bwDraco]

This is starting to remind me of Hyundai--a car company once widely panned for low quality that is now a serious competitor against the market leaders like Toyota. It seems the same is happening with Pentax--I feel we're going to see a revival of the Asahi Optical glory days when their cameras and lenses set the benchmark for everyone else...

--DragonLord

[jk333]

Looks great and has most of the specs I would want to see on a camera except high FPS. For me, the K5 is slightly preferable but this is a great model. Still, people have to be happy about this, its a new camera model and it has the features we would all like to see out of Pentax. For the K5 users, this is not its replacement. That will come and when it does, if you're unhappy, let's hear your complaints then.

The thing to keep in mind is that if the lineup is supposed to be K01-K30-KFF, then we will not see the KFF until they are ready to send out a standard FF zoom too, say 20 - 60mm f/2.8. Right now a full frame release wouldn't have any current lenses below 31 mm.

(by my count, a KFF buyer could currently purchase/use the FA31, DA35/2.4, DA40, FA43 FA50, FA77, DFA 100, DA 200, DA 300 and DA*60-250 for their camera) Another problem is explaining to B&M shops what lenses will work with one Pentax DSLR but not another. Presumably, Pentax will say that FA's, DFA's and DA*s can work with FF. But the 16-50 and 50-135 zooms would still be exceptions. Maybe that's the reason behind the pricing of these two lenses...

[monochrome]

That's what I think will happen.
Newbies: K-01
Serious newbies:
K30 Hobbyists:
K-3 (APS-C)
Pros: Full frame K-mount
Studio: 645D
That right there would make a pretty solid & logical lineup.

Nailed it (why am I not surprised?)

[ElJamoquio]

God damn it the green button is on the top.


BOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[monochrome]

Implosion, followed by explosion, followed by maniacal raving competing with denial, disorder, looting, segued into a Dystopian, entropified post-civilization culture where gas and water are currency. Finally: zombie apocalypse..

Do zombies appear in a mirror? I can't remember.

[LegOverHead]

Looks nice, can't wait to see all the reviews on this when it comes out! Really interested in the video on this thing!

[illdefined]

This is starting to remind me of Hyundai--a car company once widely panned for low quality that is now a serious competitor against the market leaders like Toyota. It seems the same is happening with Pentax--I feel we're going to see a revival of the Asahi Optical glory days when their cameras and lenses set the benchmark for everyone else...

--DragonLord

So…I'm guessing you aren't seeing the 24mp Nikon D3200 as an adequate response? Note that this same 24mp sensor will likely also be in the K-3, at a significantly higher price.

I'd say 50% more resolution resonates a lot more at retail for people at that price bracket than a 2nd dial.

The only way I see this K30 competing with the name Nikon and 50% more mp is if the kit lens is also WR, and/or it has an articulated LCD.

[illdefined]

God damn it the green button is on the top.


BOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

My first reaction too until I realized starting with the K-01, they now have to find room for a red REC button as well….

[ElJamoquio]

Don't care for a record button, I'd pay to remove it. Can you change the red button to the green button function on the K-01?

[Alizarine]

So…I'm guessing you aren't seeing the 24mp Nikon D3200 as an adequate response? Note that this same 24mp sensor will likely also be in the K-3, at a significantly higher price. I'd say 50% more resolution resonates a lot more at retail for people at that price bracket than a 2nd dial. The only way I see this K30 competing with the name Nikon and 50% more mp is if the kit lens is also WR, and/or it has an articulated LCD.

Chronologically, the D3200 news came out before this K-30 leak. So I would say, that this is rather, Pentax's response to the D3200. Nikon has 24mp sensor, OK Pentax got WR. Only other two left is Sony and Canon..

Oh wait, Sony's a37 just came out. So it's just Canon now and what the 1200D/700D might be.

[Alizarine]

Sony launches SLT-A37 16MP fixed-mirror DSLR and 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 SAM lens: Digital Photography Review

Sony's response to D3200 (and Pentax K-30) I think.

[Quicksand]

God damn it the green button is on the top.

Ha! It's like a game of whack-a-mole with that green button.

On the top but inboard from the shutter button, then on the back, now on the top but outboard from the shutter button.

Somebody should program an online Flash "find the green button and press it before time runs out" game.

[SETI]

Chronologically, the D3200 news came out before this K-30 leak. So I would say, that this is rather, Pentax's response to the D3200. Nikon has 24mp sensor, OK Pentax got WR. Only other two left is Sony and Canon..

Oh wait, Sony's a37 just came out. So it's just Canon now and what the 1200D/700D might be.

SLT system can't match mirrors. I have Sony A77 now and will sell it next week. No high ISO, no good pictures when it's cloudy. That piece of plastic between glass and sensor is real shit

[philbaum]

So…I'm guessing you aren't seeing the 24mp Nikon D3200 as an adequate response? Note that this same 24mp sensor will likely also be in the K-3, at a significantly higher price.

I'd say 50% more resolution resonates a lot more at retail for people at that price bracket than a 2nd dial.

The only way I see this K30 competing with the name Nikon and 50% more mp is if the kit lens is also WR, and/or it has an articulated LCD.

I'm joking, but if we follow that logic, than the 16mp D4 also will not be able to compete with the D3200.

One of our club members just received his D4 within the last week and was remarking how great the resolution was on a picture he uploaded. He came from a D300 with 12mp. So i replied that yes indeed, the 16 mp of my current K5 provides wonderful resolution and that he could check the nicely increased resolution of lenses on photozone.de that results from using 16mp.

Hopefully, Nikon's use of a 24mp sensor on the D3200 and a 16mp sensor on the D4 will convey to newcomers that sensor mp are only one aspect of performance.

[ogl]

Sony launches SLT-A37 16MP fixed-mirror DSLR and 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 SAM lens: Digital Photography Review

Sony's response to D3200 (and Pentax K-30) I think.

Rather weak answer IMO