New PENTAX K-50

audiobomber · 06-06-2013, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by ogl

K-5, K-01, K-30, K-5II, K-5IIs, K-50, GR - the same 16 MP sensor.

Every Canon APS-C since 2009 - same inferior 18mp sensor.

DeadJohn · 06-06-2013, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by causey

Then they could have simply renamed the K-30. The cheapest way to produce a new camera every year is to rename the previous year's camera.

Even the photography magazines wouldn't fall for that trick. Pentax can get the "brand new" K-50 on the cover while the K-30 is old news, even if they are essentially the same camera. That's why Canon keeps rereleasing similar entry level cameras every year.

IchabodCrane · 06-06-2013, 11:40 AM

Originally posted by scratchpaddy

You're not looking at this right. If you already have a K-5 or K-30, you're fine! Congratulations! You already have a great camera. This camera is not and upgrade. It's not for you.

It's for people who still have a K200D or K-x.

It's for people who are just entering the DSLR market. Hence the term, "entry-level."

It's for people who are considering Canon, but can be persuaded to buy Pentax because of nice features like weather-sealing in a camera that kind of looks like a Canon.

Consider it a K-30 for the conservative-styling crowd. There's a market for that, and now there's a Pentax for that.

There have been a whole bunch of posts claiming the "different" styling of the K-01 was an attribute that attracted a few buyers. It was other issues that detracted from the K-01. Now, all of a sudden, the conservative (by comparison to the K-01) styling of the K-30 had to be made more conservative? If so, then why is this K-50 allegedly going to be available in anything other than black? I stand by a prior statement that Pentax barely lost a sale over the K-30 styling.

The question that really hasn't been adequately answered but keeps coming up: If Pentax couldn't persuade someone to buy a K-30, then why do they think they can persuade them to buy what amounts to be a virtually identical camera (spec-wise)?

ogl · 06-06-2013, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

Every Canon APS-C since 2009 - same inferior 18mp sensor.

What is the main meaning of your statement? Is it good? Pentax goes Canon's way and it's good? To do the same as Canon does is the right way?

Anyway...We are living in new era of the new Middle Ages and the real progress (in any human activity) is just bad joke now.

**Aristophanes** · 06-06-2013, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by causey

Then they could have simply renamed the K-30. The cheapest way to produce a new camera every year is to rename the previous year's camera.

Well it is styled a bit more conservatively and has some mic input maybe better if anyone really cares...

DA-L WR kit is the real update and a marketing focus. I like that. This is by far the best deal in DSLR's with a pentaprism, not mirror, and WR.

RonHendriks1966 · 06-06-2013, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by ogl

K-5, K-01, K-30, K-5II, K-5IIs, K-50, GR - the same 16 MP sensor.

To say honest - K-01 is really brave move. I applaud. Sad that no K-02.

Canon:

7D, 550D, 60D, 600D, 60Da, 650D, M, 100D, 700D - the same 18 MP sensor.

To say honest - M is really brave move. I applaud. Sad no one is buying.

That is the economics after the desasters and current low market. No money to move on.

derekkite · 06-06-2013, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by causey

Then they could have simply renamed the K-30. The cheapest way to produce a new camera every year is to rename the previous year's camera.

Except this one probably costs them less to manufacture.

Kunzite · 06-06-2013, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by ogl

ONLY BIG AND STRONG companies could allow themself to make such cameras.
NOT SO WEAK AND SMALL PLAYER like Ricoh Pentax.

So small companies should go "Leica" way with much lower prices.

Except Leica is about highly priced, exclusive products. Make up your mind: you either want expensive, or cheap?

Originally posted by Clavius

Because they liked Pentax for who they were ~5 years ago? And they are now locked in, unable to afford the hassle of selling all gear and buying a complete new line up?

5 years ago means summer 2008. Pentax, after being forcibly acquired by Hoya, was dissolved and become a Hoya division. Pentax' production facilities in Japan were removed; bye-bye MiJ Limiteds - Hoya was busy with cost cutting and downsizing. Pentax launched the K-20D and the K-200D, both met with little enthusiasm by the market.
So, "they" liked that Pentax?

Now, back to our subject - the K-50: assuming it's real, it means Pentax is rearranging their APS-C DLSR range. Which is most likely a good thing.
The K-30 was already a highly competitive product, maybe they found that it's unusual styling was a drawback. Improve it a little, change its outer shell and voila, you have a competitive product made better.
If their strategy makes sense or not, we'll probably found out after another DSLR or two.

cali92rs · 06-06-2013, 12:54 PM

Originally posted by Kunzite

Now, back to our subject - the K-50: assuming it's real, it means Pentax is rearranging their APS-C DLSR range. Which is most likely a good thing.
The K-30 was already a highly competitive product, maybe they found that it's unusual styling was a drawback. Improve it a little, change its outer shell and voila, you have a competitive product made better.
If their strategy makes sense or not, we'll probably found out after another DSLR or two.

I think a big piece of the puzzle is how much it costs. If it is a few hundred dollars more than a K-30 then it makes no sense to me.

Kobayashi.K · 06-06-2013, 01:01 PM - **1 Like**

I did a cheap trick by going to the K-30 page on some official Pentax websites and changing "k-30" into "k-50" in the web-address (URL). That would reveal a prepared web page, but this didn't work for any of the sites I tried (Japan, UK, Germany, France, USA, Netherlands, Belgium, Europe).
I also changed the link to the PDF manual for the K-30 on the Japanese website but that also failed.
They are too smart, they are not consistent in their URL's, or the K-50 doesn't exist.

**Rondec** · 06-06-2013, 01:01 PM

Originally posted by ogl

What is the main meaning of your statement? Is it good? Pentax goes Canon's way and it's good? To do the same as Canon does is the right way?

Anyway...We are living in new era of the new Middle Ages and the real progress (in any human activity) is just bad joke now.

It is neither good nor bad. The 16 megapixel Sony sensor is about as good as anything out there short of full frame. The 18 megapixel sensor lags quite a bit, particularly in shadow noise. I don't have a big problem though if you have a good sensor doing tweaks to the body and other improvements.

I would guess that APS-C flagship will have 24 megapixel sensor, along with any auto focus, etc improvement that Pentax can think of to throw its way.

**Fontan** · 06-06-2013, 01:30 PM

I am relieved at the site of this camera that I now know K100 is coming back!

**seventysixersfan** · 06-06-2013, 01:32 PM

Originally posted by cali92rs

I think a big piece of the puzzle is how much it costs. If it is a few hundred dollars more than a K-30 then it makes no sense to me.

Maybe it will be like when the K-5 II/IIs came out, and the original K-5's price plunged, making the decision to spend upwards of $300+ to get a K-5 II more difficult to justify. But then people started to actually use the K-5 II/IIs and realized it does offer some real benefits over the original K-5, apparently. Whether they are worth the couple hundred more over the original version, is up for debate and in the eye of the beholder/wallet-holder. So a K-50 with an internal stereo mic and maybe magnesium-alloy body might not make sense if it's initially priced at $800 (for body-only) when you can get the K-30 body for $500 right now.

Kunzite · 06-06-2013, 01:43 PM

FTR, the K-30's launch price was $850.

Talisker · 06-06-2013, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by Kobayashi.K

I did a cheap trick by going to the K-30 page on some official Pentax websites and changing "k-30" into "k-50" in the web-address (URL). That would reveal a prepared web page, but this didn't work for any of the sites I tried (Japan, UK, Germany, France, USA, Netherlands, Belgium, Europe).
I also changed the link to the PDF manual for the K-30 on the Japanese website but that also failed.
They are too smart, they are not consistent in their URL's, or the K-50 doesn't exist.

Not too smart, maybe just not dumb enough to keep work in preparation on a live server rather than behind a firewall on a draft server?

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06-06-2013, 11:18 AM	#241
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by ogl K-5, K-01, K-30, K-5II, K-5IIs, K-50, GR - the same 16 MP sensor. Every Canon APS-C since 2009 - same inferior 18mp sensor.

06-06-2013, 11:27 AM	#242
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	Originally posted by causey Then they could have simply renamed the K-30. The cheapest way to produce a new camera every year is to rename the previous year's camera. Even the photography magazines wouldn't fall for that trick. Pentax can get the "brand new" K-50 on the cover while the K-30 is old news, even if they are essentially the same camera. That's why Canon keeps rereleasing similar entry level cameras every year.

06-06-2013, 11:40 AM	#243
IchabodCrane Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,728	Originally posted by scratchpaddy You're not looking at this right. If you already have a K-5 or K-30, you're fine! Congratulations! You already have a great camera. This camera is not and upgrade. It's not for you. It's for people who still have a K200D or K-x. It's for people who are just entering the DSLR market. Hence the term, "entry-level." It's for people who are considering Canon, but can be persuaded to buy Pentax because of nice features like weather-sealing in a camera that kind of looks like a Canon. Consider it a K-30 for the conservative-styling crowd. There's a market for that, and now there's a Pentax for that. There have been a whole bunch of posts claiming the "different" styling of the K-01 was an attribute that attracted a few buyers. It was other issues that detracted from the K-01. Now, all of a sudden, the conservative (by comparison to the K-01) styling of the K-30 had to be made more conservative? If so, then why is this K-50 allegedly going to be available in anything other than black? I stand by a prior statement that Pentax barely lost a sale over the K-30 styling. The question that really hasn't been adequately answered but keeps coming up: If Pentax couldn't persuade someone to buy a K-30, then why do they think they can persuade them to buy what amounts to be a virtually identical camera (spec-wise)?

06-06-2013, 11:52 AM	#244
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	Originally posted by audiobomber Every Canon APS-C since 2009 - same inferior 18mp sensor. What is the main meaning of your statement? Is it good? Pentax goes Canon's way and it's good? To do the same as Canon does is the right way? Anyway...We are living in new era of the new Middle Ages and the real progress (in any human activity) is just bad joke now.

06-06-2013, 11:52 AM	#245
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	Originally posted by causey Then they could have simply renamed the K-30. The cheapest way to produce a new camera every year is to rename the previous year's camera. Well it is styled a bit more conservatively and has some mic input maybe better if anyone really cares... DA-L WR kit is the real update and a marketing focus. I like that. This is by far the best deal in DSLR's with a pentaprism, not mirror, and WR.

06-06-2013, 11:56 AM	#246
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by ogl K-5, K-01, K-30, K-5II, K-5IIs, K-50, GR - the same 16 MP sensor. To say honest - K-01 is really brave move. I applaud. Sad that no K-02. Canon: 7D, 550D, 60D, 600D, 60Da, 650D, M, 100D, 700D - the same 18 MP sensor. To say honest - M is really brave move. I applaud. Sad no one is buying. That is the economics after the desasters and current low market. No money to move on.

06-06-2013, 12:03 PM	#247
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Originally posted by causey Then they could have simply renamed the K-30. The cheapest way to produce a new camera every year is to rename the previous year's camera. Except this one probably costs them less to manufacture.

06-06-2013, 12:47 PM	#248
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by ogl ONLY BIG AND STRONG companies could allow themself to make such cameras. NOT SO WEAK AND SMALL PLAYER like Ricoh Pentax. So small companies should go "Leica" way with much lower prices. Except Leica is about highly priced, exclusive products. Make up your mind: you either want expensive, or cheap? Originally posted by Clavius Because they liked Pentax for who they were ~5 years ago? And they are now locked in, unable to afford the hassle of selling all gear and buying a complete new line up? 5 years ago means summer 2008. Pentax, after being forcibly acquired by Hoya, was dissolved and become a Hoya division. Pentax' production facilities in Japan were removed; bye-bye MiJ Limiteds - Hoya was busy with cost cutting and downsizing. Pentax launched the K-20D and the K-200D, both met with little enthusiasm by the market. So, "they" liked that Pentax? Now, back to our subject - the K-50: assuming it's real, it means Pentax is rearranging their APS-C DLSR range. Which is most likely a good thing. The K-30 was already a highly competitive product, maybe they found that it's unusual styling was a drawback. Improve it a little, change its outer shell and voila, you have a competitive product made better. If their strategy makes sense or not, we'll probably found out after another DSLR or two.

06-06-2013, 12:54 PM	#249
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by Kunzite Now, back to our subject - the K-50: assuming it's real, it means Pentax is rearranging their APS-C DLSR range. Which is most likely a good thing. The K-30 was already a highly competitive product, maybe they found that it's unusual styling was a drawback. Improve it a little, change its outer shell and voila, you have a competitive product made better. If their strategy makes sense or not, we'll probably found out after another DSLR or two. I think a big piece of the puzzle is how much it costs. If it is a few hundred dollars more than a K-30 then it makes no sense to me.

06-06-2013, 01:01 PM - 1 Like	#250
Kobayashi.K Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 716	I did a cheap trick by going to the K-30 page on some official Pentax websites and changing "k-30" into "k-50" in the web-address (URL). That would reveal a prepared web page, but this didn't work for any of the sites I tried (Japan, UK, Germany, France, USA, Netherlands, Belgium, Europe). I also changed the link to the PDF manual for the K-30 on the Japanese website but that also failed. They are too smart, they are not consistent in their URL's, or the K-50 doesn't exist.

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06-06-2013, 01:01 PM	#251
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,650	Originally posted by ogl What is the main meaning of your statement? Is it good? Pentax goes Canon's way and it's good? To do the same as Canon does is the right way? Anyway...We are living in new era of the new Middle Ages and the real progress (in any human activity) is just bad joke now. It is neither good nor bad. The 16 megapixel Sony sensor is about as good as anything out there short of full frame. The 18 megapixel sensor lags quite a bit, particularly in shadow noise. I don't have a big problem though if you have a good sensor doing tweaks to the body and other improvements. I would guess that APS-C flagship will have 24 megapixel sensor, along with any auto focus, etc improvement that Pentax can think of to throw its way.

06-06-2013, 01:30 PM	#252
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610	I am relieved at the site of this camera that I now know K100 is coming back!

06-06-2013, 01:32 PM	#253
seventysixersfan Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by cali92rs I think a big piece of the puzzle is how much it costs. If it is a few hundred dollars more than a K-30 then it makes no sense to me. Maybe it will be like when the K-5 II/IIs came out, and the original K-5's price plunged, making the decision to spend upwards of $300+ to get a K-5 II more difficult to justify. But then people started to actually use the K-5 II/IIs and realized it does offer some real benefits over the original K-5, apparently. Whether they are worth the couple hundred more over the original version, is up for debate and in the eye of the beholder/wallet-holder. So a K-50 with an internal stereo mic and maybe magnesium-alloy body might not make sense if it's initially priced at $800 (for body-only) when you can get the K-30 body for $500 right now.

06-06-2013, 01:43 PM	#254
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	FTR, the K-30's launch price was $850.

06-06-2013, 01:52 PM	#255
Talisker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland Photos: Gallery Posts: 262	Originally posted by Kobayashi.K I did a cheap trick by going to the K-30 page on some official Pentax websites and changing "k-30" into "k-50" in the web-address (URL). That would reveal a prepared web page, but this didn't work for any of the sites I tried (Japan, UK, Germany, France, USA, Netherlands, Belgium, Europe). I also changed the link to the PDF manual for the K-30 on the Japanese website but that also failed. They are too smart, they are not consistent in their URL's, or the K-50 doesn't exist. Not too smart, maybe just not dumb enough to keep work in preparation on a live server rather than behind a firewall on a draft server?