[rbelyell]

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ricoh has such a tradition.

New vintage mirrorless?

Since Pentax has no particular tradition in non-SLR interchangeable lens cameras, that makes for a very strange rumor.


Steve

[D1N0]

If this happen , and I dont believe it , it could be on Ricoh brand

Ricoh have said ILC camera's will be marketed under Pentax. Fixed lens camera's under Ricoh.

[rbelyell]

i am very confused by this POV. what do you consider fuji mirrorless hardware? its all 'retro analogue' handling. almost all their digital lenses have aperture rings. some dont. they can all be used in auto aperture, like dslr. and while the nikon Df does remain kind of a niche product, it has been widely praised for its execution and 'backward' compatibility, as well as ability to fully take advantage of their FF digi lenses. maybe i'm missing something, so if i am, i apologize.

The problem is what that these users want is not possible on a digital camera. Unless it going to be a very crippled niche product (without AF, only supporting lenses with aperture ring...)

There are just too many functions that has come since K1000 and they have to be accessed from the camera somehow.
Nikon showed how difficult this is when they released Df, which kind of got a retro interface bolted on top of a standard DSLR, so it got more controls than about any other DSLR.

And iwith a retro interface on a mirrorless camera could make it difficult to fit all controls on the body.
IMO it would be much smarter if they go the other way instead, and design a camera with "futuristic" user interface. More like Leica SL or Hasselblad X1D.
That makes it much easier to design a user interface that is easier to handle with fewer controls. Leica SL and Hasselblad X1D has 15-20 controls on the body, while Nikon Df has 40.

I hope Ricoh is smarter than trying to jump on the retro bandwagon.

[monochrome]

a new mirrorless line FF and APS-C using a larger version of the Q-mount. Ricoh must really have opened up the money faucet.

As I understood it in 2013, both FF and MILC were considered 'real' but not 'soon'. Ricoh at the time thought EVF technology had not yet matured - they thought perhaps OLED technology would be a potential solution. Until then Q was their 'learning platform' and a product idea they thought had legs. K-01 was actually a good idea with some ground-breaking IBIS and assembly process tech, and a horrible marketing decision imposed on the engineers by Hoya management.

Given that they start with APSc mirrorless and implement KAF4 on the HD DA Limiteds first, IMO they lack only:

• EVF technology (R&D or purchased)
• a video solution
• a solution to the K-mount register distance problem
• Battery technology (they'd need a grip to house a D-Li90)

[blan01]

It could be a new GR

[RonHendriks1966]

Given that they start with APSc mirrorless and implement KAF4 on the HD DA Limiteds first, IMO they lack only:

• EVF technology (R&D or purchased)
• a video solution
• a solution to the K-mount register distance problem
• Battery technology (they'd need a grip to house a D-Li90)

With a new mount they have to choose electronic mount only. So only real KAF-4 lenses could be supported with a small ring that gives communicating between body and K-mount lens and bridg the gap. Only a few lenses would be available for the coming year. So you might as well forget about K-mount. Legacy lenses won't be supported at all.

[D1N0]

You can make an adapter that controls mechanical aperture level electronically. This is one for Nikon to e-mount.

Commlite cm ENF E 1 Nikon F Lens to Sony E Mount A7II A7RII A6300 AF Adapter | eBay

[RonHendriks1966]

You can make an adapter that controls mechanical aperture level electronically. This is one for Nikon to e-mount.

Commlite cm ENF E 1 Nikon F Lens to Sony E Mount A7II A7RII A6300 AF Adapter | eBay

It would also need a motor to function for af in screw-drive lenses. That motor won't be inside the mirrorless body. So you would have to make a little monster adapter that is way to expensive.

[D1N0]

Sony has those: Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter with Translucent LAEA4 B&H

[RonHendriks1966]

Sony has those: Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter with Translucent LAEA4 B&H

I know. They never where a succes. Costing $300 making it an expensive set. At the time that Sony made this there where limited numbers of lenses for corresponding mirrorless camera's. Today this won't work anymore. Those with K-mount lenses can stay with Pentax K-mount. Those without those lenses can choose from different mirrorless systems offering some nice sets of lenses like Fujifilm, m4/3th and Sony.

[monochrome]

With a new mount they have to choose electronic mount only. So only real KAF-4 lenses could be supported with a small ring that gives communicating between body and K-mount lens and bridg the gap. Only a few lenses would be available for the coming year. So you might as well forget about K-mount. Legacy lenses won't be supported at all.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is where Ricoh breaks the universal backward-compatibility 'contract'. Not suggesting it is actually going to happen, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

Re-issuing DA Limiteds with KAF4 (available on K-3II and forward dSLR bodies) and using KAF4 exclusively on any coming MILC is a sensible business decision.

Pentax's take on MILC 'smallness' is a standard-sized body and tiny, slower lenses. Others trick consumers by making a thin body and standard-sized lenses. Their package is actually less ergonomic than a K-01 with DA Limiteds.

My suggestion is consistent with much of the Pentax ethos.

[Saltwater Images]

Wouldn't an LX-D with a 50mm f/1.2 Ltd. tempt a few of us? Not a stretch if you remember the LX 2000.

[MJKoski]

There is no need to screw up mirrorless body with crappy vintage ergonomics. Just take K-1 features and produce flat body with ergonomic handle.

[D1N0]

Just wait for metabones to make a Canon EF adapter.

[6BQ5]

Why not a new mount, especially with an adapter? There is plenty of precedence for it. Imagine a 1" sensor with a line of lenses based on current FF offerings but scaled down in size. Q mount lens can be used with an adapter with the camera set to "Crop" mode.

Or, let's dream real big here : Ricoh reenters the mirrorless market with their own u4/3 body! This could make sense. They will join an ecosystem stuffed with lenses. They could still source a custom sensor from Sony have their usual ergonomics, user friendly menus, etc. A body like that will sell!