[anthony mazzeri]

Well, there was a photorumors story back in March that said 5 DSLR's, ranging from very cheap to very expensive. Maybe the K-500 is the bottom of that pile:

"Pentax is rumored to announce several new DSLR cameras (as early as this month, as many as 5 new DSLRs) which will be priced between $400 and $2000. I am not sure if one of those will be the long awaited full frame camera, but the $2000 price tag is just too high for an APS-C based camera (the full frame Nikon D600 costs exactly $2000). In addition, Pentax will introduce also a new compact APS-C based camera similar to the new Nikon Coolpix A which will be priced at around $700 ($400 cheaper than the Coolpix A). Maybe this will be the Ricoh GR Digital V camera that is rumored to have an APS-C sensor?"

Pentax rumored to announce several new DSLRs and a new compact APS-C camera | Photo Rumors

They certainly got the GR dead-on. So assume the rest is accurate too.

So how does 5 new DSLRs work? A K-500 and a K-50, that's 2 entry-level models. And then maybe a K-3 and K-3s, that makes 4. So what can the 5th model be? A K-30s maybe?

[rawr]

a k-30s maybe?

k-k? K-1x? LX-D?

[anthony mazzeri]

I am already confused by Pentax naming convention, I think maybe they just pull names out of a hat. Adding a 'K' camera without a K-mount would complete my confusion. Maybe k-5000 is replacement for k-01. (Not that it is real since I think it was just invented in this thread back a few posts)

Looks like they're moving away from their r and x names and going with a Canikon-style numeric naming convention - K-500, K-50, K-5 - the digits diminishing as you move up the food-chain.

So that makes for a '5-series'. And maybe a 3-series as well - K-30 and K-3. So a K-300 too?

[mamethot]

Maybe a 3 series would be sealed, a 5 series wouldn't?

[jatrax]

aybe a 3 series would be sealed, a 5 series wouldn't?

k-5 is sealed. And naming the new cameras with '5' is odd as everyone has assumed k-5 was nearing end of life. When k-30 was announced the assumption was that a k-3 (new high end aps-c) and a k-300 (new entry level aps-c) would be added to the line to make k-3, k-30, k-300.

Now we have k-5, k-30, k-50. Yes, that is much clearer./sarc

So if we assume new line up will be k-5, k-50, k-500 and k-30 is retired then there is no k-3 to be announced and k-5II is what we get for high end for the foreseeable future.

[ruggiex]

good god these naming conventions suck...

[mattt]

dont forget the 645D mk II....

[ElJamoquio]

Please, please, please, PLEASE make the K-500 have the same sensor. It would shock my system too much to have Pentax release a camera with a different sensor.

[Racer X 69]

good god these naming conventions suck...

And they don't really follow any logical order either.

*iStDL

K10

K20

K5

K30?

Looks like they are regressing.

[Biro]

And don't forget the K-01. Not a DSLR but still a K-mount body.

[tallgeese]

Looks like a K-30 replacement. My only question is why?

My question as well, not a smart plan anyway

[Cynog Ap Brychan]

And they don't really follow any logical order either.
*iStDL
K10
K20
K5
K30?
Looks like they are regressing.

You forgot the K-7.....

[ogl]

Pentax always had only 2 DSLR in production line in digital era. Any new camera means discontinuing of old one.
K-50 replaces K-30. K-30 will be in photo-stores for some time, of course. But K-30 will become the rare bird close to September.

[Fogel70]

Pentax always had only 2 DSLR in production line in digital era. Any new camera means discontinuing of old one.
K-50 replaces K-30. K-30 will be in photo-stores for some time, of course. But K-30 will become the rare bird close to September.

This has varied over time, and since they introduced 645D they have had at least 3 DSLR in the lineup. If counting K5 II and K5 IIs as separate models, they have 4 today.

Even before 645D they sometimes have had more than 2 DSLR in production, at least when they had K100D, K110D and K10D.
I think they also produced *ist DL, *ist DL2, *ist DS and *ist DL2 at a limited period. But *ist DL2 and *ist DL2 did not exist very long, and I don't think they were sold on all markets. At least in Europe I believe it was only Samsungs version of *ist DL2 and *ist DS2 that where available.

[ogl]

645D is MF camera. Another niche.

K-30, K-5II/IIs - two cameras. If you want - 3 cameras.

There is the rumor about K-500. It could be good to offer entry-level (like K-x) camera.