[Migno]

If that's true, well, it doesn't seem that much of an update of the K-30 to me.

[mattb123]

I liked the K-x form factor for a small body. But I wished it had WR seals, illuminated focus points, and a second scroll wheel. Looks like this has all of those things so for the right buyer (backpacker, mountain biker, BC skier, me...) it might be a pretty good fit.

[Kobayashi.K]

/sarcasm Because Pentax needed a press release and they didn't want to use K-30II as a model name?

I hope the info is fake. It suggests a woeful lack of progress unless I'm missing something in the specs.

This is consistent the WG-3 'white' announcement. Phone and tablet manufacturers are also using this strategy with tiny upgrades. The advantage is that only minor investments are needed while customers are still buying the 'new' devices each time they are announced.

[MouLaG Ôfr]

If it's real, it looks like K-30 replacement. It would be wise for Pentax to start making weather-sealed DA L lenses, as it's sort of pointless to bundle a weather-sealed body with non-sealed lenses.

It's done ;-)
The K-50 comes with a DAL 18-55 WR (as seen on the images on 1st page of the thread)

[LaurenOE]

Maybe it takes a grip too?

[JohntheThird]

Both the body and the lenses are unknown. A very unlikely spelling mistake.

The shop states is not in stock.

[RonHendriks1966]

Well the R&D spendings on the K-01 are still around for a new round. Is that foolish? I don't think so, it's simply a way off current economics. Those who spend too much don't survive. The 16 megapixel sensor with the 12-bit RAW from the PRIME M are still excellent.

[VisualDarkness]

So a higher max ISO, same as the K-5 and a new(?) 60fps video mode?

[Alizarine]

Maybe it takes a grip too?

Hey, that would be awesome.... given the K-30's quite short battery life... (it's still a K-5 somewhat, it does deserve more power for longer shoots!)

[rawr]

K-50 looks a little underwhelming, compared to base-level competitors like the 24MP Nikon D3200 and D5200.

At least it shows the gnomes are still alive in the Pentax DSLR engineering department, I guess.

[jcdoss]

It took less than one hour between the original post and the first negative post. You guys really are tough to hang out with sometimes!

K50 looks good to me. The only bad news is that my K30 will be "old tech" much sooner than I hoped. I wonder if it'll come in a billion colors too?

[slip]

I think people are forgetting that entry level dslr purchasers don't give a darn about most of the things this forum talks about being way over their heads!
They want a camera that looks great, performs well with ample MPixels, and something that doesn't die on vacation.
I see this model more of a cost saving move if it shares parts and technology.
Very good move IMHO.
When is the last time you heard of a new buyer ordering a K5IIS? Pentax needs to grow from the bottom up, not from the high end down if they want to have a reason to push out things like a top end dslr.

Thanks

Randy

[VisualDarkness]

Good news for people picking up second bodies as the used market will be crowded with both K-30 and K-5!

[Wired]

It's a good camera. Just too bad they won't get recent upgraders from the K30 or K5 camps. I see no reason why you would move from one of those cameras to the K50. I could understand pre-K30 owners and conquest customers.
I guess that's something Pentax needs to do...focus on getting conquest customers first then knock it out of the park for us loyalists.

[elpolodiablo]

Put it this way, in the last 2 years Pentax/Ricoh haven't release a single DSLR model that makes me, a classic K-5 owner, feels like an all-round upgrade....

K-50, if it is true would be fantastic for new comers and people upgrading from pre-K-5 bodies, us K-5 owners would just have to wait till the end of the year to see what the high end replacement model brings....if I am honest, if only they just keep the K-5IIs body and focus system, incorporate Focus Peaking and de-cripple the K mount, even still using a 16.3mp sensor would be a justifiable upgrade- -