Pentax K-500, K-50, and Q7 cameras officially announced!

falconeye · 06-12-2013, 03:33 PM

Adam, thanks for the info. Seems 22:00 CEST was the embargo time.

K-500, K-50, K-5II (all 16 MP) looks like a nice naming scheme.

So, looking forward to
K-300, K-30II, K-3 (all 24 MP) coming next

ryan s · 06-12-2013, 03:35 PM

Seems like sort of a short life for the K-30 and Q10...

And I see they're bringing back the chrome (look) shutter buttons! Haven't seen those on the SLRs for a while.

It's great to see Pentax continuing with the Q, such an awesome camera. Is the 5 frames per second "at full resolution" Raw or still only Jpeg? And do we know if the buffer will clear faster than the original?

Apapukas · 06-12-2013, 03:35 PM

I don't understand the necessity of K-50/500 when there is K-30. What was wrong with K-30 that it had to be "replaced" so soon?

The only reason I can think of, is that maybe K-50/500 is much cheaper to make?

ruggiex · 06-12-2013, 03:40 PM

Seems odd for them to introduce K-30 in retrospective. But this is good line up especially for entry level and I'm sure production is pretty cheap by now. What other entry level give you 100% pentaprism viewfinder and 2 dials. That's huge deal.

Does Q7 still not auto tag photos for landscape vs portrait orientation?

Docrwm · 06-12-2013, 03:40 PM

Originally posted by Alizarine

Thanks for the announcement here Adam.

So indeed, it's a three-DSLR lineup now for Pentax. All 5's - K-500, K-50, K-5 II/IIs. I guess that might mean no flagship replacement this year, unless they name it K-5 III.

That Q7 got me really really interested. Question though, does it sport a mag-alloy body again like the OQ?

Nope. Plastic wrapped around a "metal" frame.

Urkeldaedalus · 06-12-2013, 03:48 PM

K-500, K-50, Q7, the MX-1 and if you include the Ricoh division, as I think we should, the GR. Plus new weather sealed kit lens and 06 Q Telephoto.

Not a bad start to the year by Pentax Ricoh. Sets up the table pretty well for some big additional announcements in the fall, whatever they may be.

Docrwm · 06-12-2013, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus

K-500, K-50, Q7, the MX-1 and if you include the Ricoh division, as I think we should, the GR. Plus new weather sealed kit lens and 06 Q Telephoto.

Not a bad start to the year by Pentax Ricoh. Sets up the table pretty well for some big additional announcements in the fall, whatever they may be.

Don't forget the new Q 07 body cap lens as well.

LFLee · 06-12-2013, 03:49 PM

Great pricing, I think. I think the K-30 look is too unique they have to bring back the K20D/K200D curvy styling? I prefer the K-30 look though.

Nice move, but I don't see how one can choose color when ordering the K-50?

Unregistered User · 06-12-2013, 03:53 PM

I also noticed that the K500 ships with regular AA batteries, and Lion109 being optional. Does this mean that you can use both AA and rechargeable w i t h o u t the battery device you need for the other models?

falconeye · 06-12-2013, 04:10 PM

Q7 has an increased image circle / sensor size over Q10.
Therefore, the Q mount image circle is not carved in stone.

Q10: crop 5.64 / factor 1.2 over Q7
Q7: crop 4.55 / factor 1.7 over 1"
CX/RX100/1": crop 2.7

Looking at a current Q7 image :

I wonder if there wouldn't be room for another round of playing "pimp the Q mount"

I wouldn't rule out it would even support 1" image circle lenses (supposing Pentax makes them).

VisualDarkness · 06-12-2013, 04:28 PM

Look at the second one, it's like the K-01 never left!

IchabodCrane · 06-12-2013, 04:29 PM

Originally posted by DominicVII

I also noticed that the K500 ships with regular AA batteries, and Lion109 being optional. Does this mean that you can use both AA and rechargeable w i t h o u t the battery device you need for the other models?

My guess, and it's only that, is the K-500 includes the AA adapter to compensate for not having the Li-ion battery.

No electronic level in the K-500, either.

tempelorg · 06-12-2013, 04:30 PM

I don't get it: It says that the WR kit lenses are new - but WR version of these were already available years ago when I bought my K-20D. So, what's new, really? The choice of colors? Or do they actually have new optical or mechanical properties?

Actually, the naming seems to have slightly changed: From "DA 18-55 AL WR" to "DA L 18-55 WR". So, the new ones are even an "A" less than the old ones?

RonakG · 06-12-2013, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by tempelorg

I don't get it: It says that the WR kit lenses are new - but WR version of these were already available years ago when I bought my K-20D. So, what's new, really? The choice of colors? Or do they actually have new optical or mechanical properties?

DA L versions of kit lenses were never WR. Notice the L. These are plastic mounts, now with WR.

Docrwm · 06-12-2013, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by RonakG

DA L versions of kit lenses were never WR. Notice the L. These are plastic mounts, now with WR.

No hood often, plastic mount, no Quick Shift, but same optical formula and WR.

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06-12-2013, 03:33 PM	#16
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Adam, thanks for the info. Seems 22:00 CEST was the embargo time. K-500, K-50, K-5II (all 16 MP) looks like a nice naming scheme. So, looking forward to K-300, K-30II, K-3 (all 24 MP) coming next

06-12-2013, 03:35 PM	#17
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	Seems like sort of a short life for the K-30 and Q10... And I see they're bringing back the chrome (look) shutter buttons! Haven't seen those on the SLRs for a while. It's great to see Pentax continuing with the Q, such an awesome camera. Is the 5 frames per second "at full resolution" Raw or still only Jpeg? And do we know if the buffer will clear faster than the original?

06-12-2013, 03:35 PM	#18
Apapukas Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lietuva, Vilnius Posts: 627	I don't understand the necessity of K-50/500 when there is K-30. What was wrong with K-30 that it had to be "replaced" so soon? The only reason I can think of, is that maybe K-50/500 is much cheaper to make?

06-12-2013, 03:40 PM	#19
ruggiex Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: East Bay Area Photos: Gallery Posts: 811	Seems odd for them to introduce K-30 in retrospective. But this is good line up especially for entry level and I'm sure production is pretty cheap by now. What other entry level give you 100% pentaprism viewfinder and 2 dials. That's huge deal. Does Q7 still not auto tag photos for landscape vs portrait orientation?

06-12-2013, 03:40 PM	#20
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Alizarine Thanks for the announcement here Adam. So indeed, it's a three-DSLR lineup now for Pentax. All 5's - K-500, K-50, K-5 II/IIs. I guess that might mean no flagship replacement this year, unless they name it K-5 III. That Q7 got me really really interested. Question though, does it sport a mag-alloy body again like the OQ? Nope. Plastic wrapped around a "metal" frame.

06-12-2013, 03:48 PM	#21
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	K-500, K-50, Q7, the MX-1 and if you include the Ricoh division, as I think we should, the GR. Plus new weather sealed kit lens and 06 Q Telephoto. Not a bad start to the year by Pentax Ricoh. Sets up the table pretty well for some big additional announcements in the fall, whatever they may be.

06-12-2013, 03:49 PM	#22
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus K-500, K-50, Q7, the MX-1 and if you include the Ricoh division, as I think we should, the GR. Plus new weather sealed kit lens and 06 Q Telephoto. Not a bad start to the year by Pentax Ricoh. Sets up the table pretty well for some big additional announcements in the fall, whatever they may be. Don't forget the new Q 07 body cap lens as well.

06-12-2013, 03:49 PM	#23
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	Great pricing, I think. I think the K-30 look is too unique they have to bring back the K20D/K200D curvy styling? I prefer the K-30 look though. Nice move, but I don't see how one can choose color when ordering the K-50?

06-12-2013, 03:53 PM	#24
Unregistered User Guest	I also noticed that the K500 ships with regular AA batteries, and Lion109 being optional. Does this mean that you can use both AA and rechargeable w i t h o u t the battery device you need for the other models?

06-12-2013, 04:10 PM	#25
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Q7 has an increased image circle / sensor size over Q10. Therefore, the Q mount image circle is not carved in stone. Q10: crop 5.64 / factor 1.2 over Q7 Q7: crop 4.55 / factor 1.7 over 1" CX/RX100/1": crop 2.7 Looking at a current Q7 image : I wonder if there wouldn't be room for another round of playing "pimp the Q mount" I wouldn't rule out it would even support 1" image circle lenses (supposing Pentax makes them).

06-12-2013, 04:28 PM	#26
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Look at the second one, it's like the K-01 never left!

06-12-2013, 04:29 PM	#27
IchabodCrane Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,728	Originally posted by DominicVII I also noticed that the K500 ships with regular AA batteries, and Lion109 being optional. Does this mean that you can use both AA and rechargeable w i t h o u t the battery device you need for the other models? My guess, and it's only that, is the K-500 includes the AA adapter to compensate for not having the Li-ion battery. No electronic level in the K-500, either.

06-12-2013, 04:30 PM	#28
tempelorg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Munich Photos: Gallery Posts: 203	I don't get it: It says that the WR kit lenses are new - but WR version of these were already available years ago when I bought my K-20D. So, what's new, really? The choice of colors? Or do they actually have new optical or mechanical properties? Actually, the naming seems to have slightly changed: From "DA 18-55 AL WR" to "DA L 18-55 WR". So, the new ones are even an "A" less than the old ones?

06-12-2013, 04:34 PM	#29
RonakG Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 603	Originally posted by tempelorg I don't get it: It says that the WR kit lenses are new - but WR version of these were already available years ago when I bought my K-20D. So, what's new, really? The choice of colors? Or do they actually have new optical or mechanical properties? DA L versions of kit lenses were never WR. Notice the L. These are plastic mounts, now with WR.

06-12-2013, 04:41 PM	#30
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by RonakG DA L versions of kit lenses were never WR. Notice the L. These are plastic mounts, now with WR. No hood often, plastic mount, no Quick Shift, but same optical formula and WR.