[Adam]

Hey look...NFC

Adam
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[JinDesu]

One thing I just thought, why would they mount a WR kit lens on a non-WR body? It's likely that this is a WR body with the articulating screen, like the 645Z.

[Steve.Ledger]

Just missing the top LCD I guess...

Only the flagship/Pro end models have the top LCD, so not missing anything.

[r0ckstarr]

OMG. I'm buying one. I can already tell.

After having a white camera already, would you buy white again?

[Steve.Ledger]

Hey look...NFC

Yeh, spotted that too.. (Along with what looks like a dual SD slot)

[Marktax]

This is hybrid of a lot of things. Ltd. 21mm type hood; retractable lens like Q-lens 06; looks like K-S1-style color schemes; HDR on the mode dial like the K-01; probably the K-S1's 20mp sensor. Top has green and +/- buttons near the shutter button, like K-30/50 -- Pentax top-line cameras (K-5's/K-3) usually have the green and ISO buttons near the shutter instead. No dual-card slots because there's no button to switch between them on the back, unlike K-3. Also no IR sensor on the back, unlike k-3. So this is a K-50-level model with some important new stuff and other stuff from lots of other models. A-HDR selection on mode dial puzzles me. No IR button on back bothers me.

[Docrwm]

This is hybrid of a lot of things. Ltd. 21mm type hood; retractable lens like Q-lens 06; looks like K-S1-style color schemes; HDR on the mode dial like the K-01; probably the K-S1's 20mp sensor. Top has green and +/- buttons near the shutter button, like K-30/50 -- Pentax top-line cameras (K-5's/K-3) usually have the green and ISO buttons near the shutter instead. No dual-card slots because there's no button to switch between them on the back, unlike K-3. Also no IR sensor on the back, unlike k-3. So this is a K-50-level model with some important new stuff and other stuff from lots of other models. A-HDR selection on mode dial puzzles me. No IR button on back bothers me.

I agree with your general assessment of where this model falls in the Pentax line-up. However, why are you puzzled by the HDR mode on the dial? Ease of access to HDR is a selling point. The K-S1 was designed with the cameraphone user in mind the way they did the buttons and screen. This one looks to be designed to capture those looking for their first dSLR.

[kooks]

This is how the Nikon D5500 screen will work.. so we can expect the same movement from the Pentax.



This Pentax is obviously target to the Entry/Mid range photographers.. Advanced/Pro will have to wait until CP+ ..

[severalsnakes]

After having a white camera already, would you buy white again?

Yes, absolutely.

[Steve.Ledger]

No dual-card slots because there's no button to switch between them on the back, unlike K-3.

Well, the K-3 is old tech because it has no built-in WiFi or NFC, there is on this one so it's not a stretch to ponder that the extra wide SD door hides dual slots and are selectable via a different and updated method to the K-3. PENTAX upped the ante with the K-50 for consumer grade cams (compared to other brands), I see them continuing the trend here.
I expect the K-3II will also have the vari-angle screen, NFC and built-in WiFi.

[reh321]

The question is if it is mid-grade, like K-50, or an entry level like K-500. This camera looks a bit flashy, but everything seems to be there - so it could be either.

Was there really that much difference between the K-50 and K-500??

[rrstuff]

Was there really that much difference between the K-50 and K-500??

Weathersealing and the illuminated AF points, so there were some differences. I am honestly not sure what would they put into a mid-range camera if this is an entry level though. All I can think of is built-in astrotracker and GPS, but I would expect that in a flagship, not midrange. So probably the K-S1 will be their entry level offering.

[Marktax]

I agree with your general assessment of where this model falls in the Pentax line-up. However, why are you puzzled by the HDR mode on the dial? Ease of access to HDR is a selling point.

HDR hasn't been on any mode dial since K-01. In somewhat analogous fashion K-S1 has "Effect" on the mode dial, which was just a direct access to some of the "filters" that are usually in the menu ("bold monochrome," etc.). But if "Effect" was their most recent mode dial "effects" option to offer, why do away with it so quickly and go back to K-01's HDR selection? I think HDR is a better choice, of course, if either of them being on the mode dial is of any use to anyone in the first place.

[rrstuff]

HDR hasn't been on any mode dial since K-01. In somewhat analogous fashion K-S1 has "Effect" on the mode dial, which was just a direct access to some of the "filters" that are usually in the menu ("bold monochrome," etc.). But if "Effect" was their most recent mode dial "effects" option to offer, why do away with it so quickly and go back to K-01's HDR selection? I think HDR is a better choice, of course, if either of them being on the mode dial is of any use to anyone in the first place.

Maybe it's a setting for an exposure bracketing mode, that records three RAWs and an HDR JPG? That would be quite useful. Much easier than digging through the menu for bracketing.

[kooks]

Have somebody notice that there is no visible MOVIE swtich... how would this handle movie, cuz i doubt that there will not be a movie option.. but where??