[Blue]

Until you actually can buy a K5II, it doesn't exist really, either.

At least there are known to be working proto-types of the K5 II and II/s. Apparently Ned got hold of the k-3s and quickly retired.

[woodworm]

Until you actually can buy a K5II, it doesn't exist really, either.

But ..... the K5II has been announced, it is real and it is coming ... at the moment the K3 is just a dream?

[LamyTax]

At least there are known to be working proto-types of the K5 II and II/s. Apparently Ned got hold of the k-3s and quickly retired.

But ..... the K5II has been announced, it is real and it is coming ... at the moment the K3 is just a dream?

There are plenty of preproduction models of the K5II by now, I'm very sure (hint) the K3 is already beyond prototype stage, too .

[cfraz]

The K-5 II is not a new flagship.
It is the model between the K-30 and the real new flagship (the K-3).

From Pentax press release PENTAX - PENTAX Introduces New K-5 II & K-5 IIs DSLR Cameras:

PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION (PENTAX) today announced the introduction of its PENTAX K-5 II and K-5 IIs flagship digital SLR cameras, designed to advance the company’s well-received K-5 camera, which launched in October 2010.

[Ivor K Ecks]

I think the wording on Pentax Japans website is a possible clue to what else may be coming.

PENTAX K-5 II
The new flagship model of the PENTAX K digital SLR camera series

Maybe higher up models will have a new designation to distinguish them from enthusiast and entry level DSLRs

[mee]

I think the wording on Pentax Japans website is a possible clue to what else may be coming.

PENTAX K-5 II
The new flagship model of the PENTAX K digital SLR camera series

Maybe higher up models will have a new designation to distinguish them from enthusiast and entry level DSLRs

You mean a K-300???

[ElJamoquio]

I think the wording on Pentax Japans website is a possible clue to what else may be coming.

PENTAX K-5 II
The new flagship model of the PENTAX K digital SLR camera series

So now you're trying to start a rumor that Pentax will abandon the K-mount.

[Ivor K Ecks]

So now you're trying to start a rumor that Pentax will abandon the K-mount.

I am not trying to start a rumour of pentax abandoning anyone.

I was stating my opinion that from the wording on the Pentax website that there will be a different designation on the higher level cameras( pro level apsc and FF), but still all K mount
They just wont be a K designation.

[Mistral75]

K-5 II (s) is the flagship model "of the Pentax K digital SLR camera series" and not "of the Pentax digital SLR camera series" because there is the 645D above it.

[NickLarsson]

[Winder]

What makes people so sure about the K3 being real then? I keep seeing it mentioned but it's never based on anything substancial. I suspect it's hope rather than anything else but maybe I've missed something?

I'm asking this as I'm in the market for a new body, but I want to buy it before March as I'm getting married then and would want it for the honeymoon.

As I'm upgrading from my GX20 the K5II is quite exciting (as was the K30) but I can see why K5 owners would be disappointed with the recent announcement, though it always suprises me when people upgrade every time a new model is released.

Because Pentax wants to stay in business and the minor changes for the K-5II wont keep them competitive very long. The only "leak" that I have seen that the K-3 could be close is the large Chinese retailer that listed the K-3 w/24MP APS-C sensor on its website as an up coming product. It was pulled just before the big show.

Since Nikon, Sony, & Canon are not releasing updated APS-C bodies this year Pentax maybe holding off. If so then it will be announced in Feb and probably wont be released by the time of your wedding.

[bossa]

Attachment 140575

I've seen better UFO shots just using a Frisbee or tin lids.

[Class A]

From Pentax press release PENTAX - PENTAX Introduces New K-5 II & K-5 IIs DSLR Cameras:

I'm not sure they used "flagship" intentionally -- it may just be copied from a previous K-5 text -- but even if they did, it is understandable that they do not give away another (K-3) announcement before it has been made.

I believe that

1. Pentax would not be able to survive for long if the K-5 II were the best they could produce in this time and age (of D600s and D6s), and
2. we may now be seeing "artificial crippling" of models in order to delineate models.

As long as Pentax only had two camera models they could go all out with each model.

With four DSLRs (K-300, K-30, K-5 II, K-3) it becomes necessary to delineate models from each other in order to justify price differences.

Another reason why the K-5 II is not a strict superset of the K-30 in terms of features could be based in technical limitations, but I'm inclined to believe that Pentax would have overcome these limitations somehow, were it not for the fact that they reserve the full package for the K-3 and hence can leave the K-5 II as a compromise between the K-30 and K-3 that need not be strictly better than the K-30 in all aspects.

[bossa]

Do submarines qualify as flagships? Hard to wave a flag under water anyway I suppose. ;-)

[Blue]

Do submarines qualify as flagships? Hard to wave a flag under water anyway I suppose. ;-)

No, they are classified as boats.