Originally posted by monochrome What isn't clear is whether Yodobashi has removed K-3Il from their catalog or whether Ricoh has officially ceased production, sold all its stock and emptied the Japanese distribution company warehouse, leaving K-3ll's gathering dust on every other camera store shelf on earth.
Hard to know.
True - but if customers cannot order the product from one of the largest retailers, in the largest market, then whether it has "officially ceased production" becomes a moot point. Yodobashi says it's discontinued, and BIC (another giant Japanese retailer) only has the K-3ii+18-135 kit ("limited quantity") = effectively ended.
Pentax is in a tough position - their flagship APS-C camera lags behind their own KP in sensor noise performance, IBIS performance and the lacks the K-1 features such as improved AF/focus points, while competitors offer better AF, better video, higher FPS and better buffer depth. The K-3/K-3ii offered great value at the time - there weren't any other 24MP/8fps/IBIS cameras available. But the KP is no K-3ii replacement, and APS-C is still a valid alternative to FF.
The market of $1500-$2000 USD cameras is where all the newest features and development is happening, and Pentax could position a K-3 ii replacement into that space.
I'm hoping we'll hear something in September.