New K-series DSLR under development to be exhibited

**Mikesul** · 10-18-2019, 08:18 PM

We will probably see him when there is news to share.

**monochrome** · 10-18-2019, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by wed7

These conversations will definitely go until new leaks from Pentax arrived, where do you think Asahiman is nowadays?

He posts at that other place now.

reh321 · 10-18-2019, 08:35 PM

Originally posted by Mikesul

If it has even a few of the improvements posters are imagining we will be lucky if it is anywhere near $1500.

This started off in our minds as having the K-3ii ‘improvements’ that were left off the KP, things like a bigger battery, bigger buffer, and topside LCD. I believe just the ‘improvements’ would bring the KP’s starting price up to about $1299. We will see how much extra has been added to deserve the ‘excitement’ that has been reported amongst Pentax employees.

**monochrome** · 10-18-2019, 09:02 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by reh321

This started off in our minds as having the K-3ii ‘improvements’ that were left off the KP, things like a bigger battery, bigger buffer, and topside LCD. I believe just the ‘improvements’ would bring the KP’s starting price up to about $1299. We will see how much extra has been added to deserve the ‘excitement’ that has been reported amongst Pentax employees.

It feels to me - this is pure supposition - as if K-1ll is the ‘generalist’ Pentax Camera, K-70 is the entry-level camera, and KP is a niche enthusiast camera specialized for use with the DA Limiteds. I hope they keep the KP in the catalog - I like mine.

It feels like the K-new will also be specialized, but at a higher level than KP, probably as a faster camera for birders and serious action shooters, with enough generalist features to be useable by any APSc shooter. The tell will be the lenses they also announce or release. Will they upgrade the DA* 2.8 Zooms (16~50 and 50~135) to match the 11~18? If so they’re giving something to the pro-style shooters with a Holy Trinity Zoom kit.

Last edited by monochrome; 10-18-2019 at 09:08 PM.

ecostigny · 10-18-2019, 09:04 PM

I would be happy with a up-to-date autofocus system. It doesn't have to be the Eye AF that Sony is promoting; I would just like to have confidence that the plane of focus will be somewhere near my subject's face and not the background. If I'm not careful, my K-5 loves producing images with perfectly-focused cars in parking lots, blinds on indoor windows, etc.

**monochrome** · 10-18-2019, 09:12 PM

Originally posted by ecostigny

I would be happy with a up-to-date autofocus system. It doesn't have to be the Eye AF that Sony is promoting; I would just like to have confidence that the plane of focus will be somewhere near my subject's face and not the background. If I'm not careful, my K-5 loves producing images with perfectly-focused cars in parking lots, blinds on indoor windows, etc.

The 2010 K-5 has a center AF spot the size of a dinner plate. The Pentax AF has improved with every new camera iteration since then. The current KP AF system and AF sensor are an order of magnitude better, and they’ll improve the tracking AF in K-new.

**rod_grant** · 10-18-2019, 09:36 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by monochrome

K-5 has a center AF spot the size of a dinner plate.

Can I quote you that?

I must have had the K5-mini. You couldn't have got more than a small butter dish inside mine.

**monochrome** · 10-18-2019, 09:40 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by rod_grant

Can I quote you that?

I must have had the K5-mini. You couldn't have got more than a small butter dish inside mine.

Heh. A little hyperbole goes a long way,

ofer4 · 10-18-2019, 09:56 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

It feels to me - this is pure supposition - as if K-1ll is the ‘generalist’ Pentax Camera, K-70 is the entry-level camera, and KP is a niche enthusiast camera specialized for use with the DA Limiteds. I hope they keep the KP in the catalog - I like mine.

It feels like the K-new will also be specialized, but at a higher level than KP, probably as a faster camera for birders and serious action shooters, with enough generalist features to be useable by any APSc shooter. The tell will be the lenses they also announce or release. Will they upgrade the DA* 2.8 Zooms (16~50 and 50~135) to match the 11~18? If so they’re giving something to the pro-style shooters with a Holy Trinity Zoom kit.

They'd hit a home run if they released updated fast zooms at the same time. If they could even just remove the SDM stigma (justified or not), they'd be in really good shape. I hope your tea leaves are correct!

**rod_grant** · 10-18-2019, 09:59 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

A little hyperbole goes a long way,

it does - and you did it so well.

ecostigny · 10-18-2019, 10:02 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ofer4

They'd hit a home run if they released updated fast zooms at the same time. If they could even just remove the SDM stigma (justified or not), they'd be in really good shape. I hope your tea leaves are correct!

Updated fast zooms might be a bit much to hope for next year; Ricoh has been very deliberate with the pace of their new product introductions. I think we agree that the 16-50 and 50-135 zooms could use Mark II versions, though.

biz-engineer · 10-19-2019, 12:04 AM

Originally posted by monochrome

It feels like the K-new will also be specialized, but at a higher level than KP, probably as a faster camera for birders and serious action shooters, with enough generalist features to be useable by any APSc shooter.

I agree with you. The new Pentax models will likely be a high performance all rounder apsc, like we like Pentax cameras. I guess it'll have a touch screen, the reason why the picture shows a fixed screen with a sensor under the optical view finder to automatically switch of the touch screen when looking through the optical viewfinder.

biz-engineer · 10-19-2019, 12:09 AM

A touch screen for zoom-in/out for focusing and taking the shot, and reviewing images, as well as a joystick to select an AF point among the many AF points covering the frame.

Mistral75 · 10-19-2019, 12:19 AM

Originally posted by wed7

These conversations will definitely go until new leaks from Pentax arrived, where do you think Asahiman is nowadays?

Gone fishing. Can't make a living with his Pentax business anymore.

Mistral75 · 10-19-2019, 12:26 AM

Originally posted by ecostigny

Updated fast zooms might be a bit much to hope for next year; Ricoh has been very deliberate with the pace of their new product introductions. I think we agree that the 16-50 and 50-135 zooms could use Mark II versions, though.

If one gives credit to D850&K-1MarkⅡ's oracles, the revamping of the 16-50mm f/2.8 has taken precedence over the development of the 70-200mm f/4.

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10-18-2019, 08:18 PM	#2941
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	We will probably see him when there is news to share.

10-18-2019, 08:29 PM	#2942
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by wed7 These conversations will definitely go until new leaks from Pentax arrived, where do you think Asahiman is nowadays? He posts at that other place now.

10-18-2019, 08:35 PM	#2943
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,185	Originally posted by Mikesul If it has even a few of the improvements posters are imagining we will be lucky if it is anywhere near $1500. This started off in our minds as having the K-3ii ‘improvements’ that were left off the KP, things like a bigger battery, bigger buffer, and topside LCD. I believe just the ‘improvements’ would bring the KP’s starting price up to about $1299. We will see how much extra has been added to deserve the ‘excitement’ that has been reported amongst Pentax employees.

10-18-2019, 09:02 PM - 1 Like	#2944
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by reh321 This started off in our minds as having the K-3ii ‘improvements’ that were left off the KP, things like a bigger battery, bigger buffer, and topside LCD. I believe just the ‘improvements’ would bring the KP’s starting price up to about $1299. We will see how much extra has been added to deserve the ‘excitement’ that has been reported amongst Pentax employees. It feels to me - this is pure supposition - as if K-1ll is the ‘generalist’ Pentax Camera, K-70 is the entry-level camera, and KP is a niche enthusiast camera specialized for use with the DA Limiteds. I hope they keep the KP in the catalog - I like mine. It feels like the K-new will also be specialized, but at a higher level than KP, probably as a faster camera for birders and serious action shooters, with enough generalist features to be useable by any APSc shooter. The tell will be the lenses they also announce or release. Will they upgrade the DA* 2.8 Zooms (16~50 and 50~135) to match the 11~18? If so they’re giving something to the pro-style shooters with a Holy Trinity Zoom kit. Last edited by monochrome; 10-18-2019 at 09:08 PM.

10-18-2019, 09:04 PM	#2945
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	I would be happy with a up-to-date autofocus system. It doesn't have to be the Eye AF that Sony is promoting; I would just like to have confidence that the plane of focus will be somewhere near my subject's face and not the background. If I'm not careful, my K-5 loves producing images with perfectly-focused cars in parking lots, blinds on indoor windows, etc.

10-18-2019, 09:12 PM	#2946
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by ecostigny I would be happy with a up-to-date autofocus system. It doesn't have to be the Eye AF that Sony is promoting; I would just like to have confidence that the plane of focus will be somewhere near my subject's face and not the background. If I'm not careful, my K-5 loves producing images with perfectly-focused cars in parking lots, blinds on indoor windows, etc. The 2010 K-5 has a center AF spot the size of a dinner plate. The Pentax AF has improved with every new camera iteration since then. The current KP AF system and AF sensor are an order of magnitude better, and they’ll improve the tracking AF in K-new.

10-18-2019, 09:36 PM - 1 Like	#2947
rod_grant Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wangaratta, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,951	Originally posted by monochrome K-5 has a center AF spot the size of a dinner plate. Can I quote you that? I must have had the K5-mini. You couldn't have got more than a small butter dish inside mine.

10-18-2019, 09:40 PM - 1 Like	#2948
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by rod_grant Can I quote you that? I must have had the K5-mini. You couldn't have got more than a small butter dish inside mine. Heh. A little hyperbole goes a long way,

10-18-2019, 09:56 PM	#2949
ofer4 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 428	Originally posted by monochrome It feels to me - this is pure supposition - as if K-1ll is the ‘generalist’ Pentax Camera, K-70 is the entry-level camera, and KP is a niche enthusiast camera specialized for use with the DA Limiteds. I hope they keep the KP in the catalog - I like mine. It feels like the K-new will also be specialized, but at a higher level than KP, probably as a faster camera for birders and serious action shooters, with enough generalist features to be useable by any APSc shooter. The tell will be the lenses they also announce or release. Will they upgrade the DA* 2.8 Zooms (16~50 and 50~135) to match the 11~18? If so they’re giving something to the pro-style shooters with a Holy Trinity Zoom kit. They'd hit a home run if they released updated fast zooms at the same time. If they could even just remove the SDM stigma (justified or not), they'd be in really good shape. I hope your tea leaves are correct!

10-18-2019, 09:59 PM	#2950
rod_grant Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wangaratta, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,951	Originally posted by monochrome A little hyperbole goes a long way, it does - and you did it so well.

10-18-2019, 10:02 PM - 1 Like	#2951
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	Originally posted by ofer4 They'd hit a home run if they released updated fast zooms at the same time. If they could even just remove the SDM stigma (justified or not), they'd be in really good shape. I hope your tea leaves are correct! Updated fast zooms might be a bit much to hope for next year; Ricoh has been very deliberate with the pace of their new product introductions. I think we agree that the 16-50 and 50-135 zooms could use Mark II versions, though.

10-19-2019, 12:04 AM	#2952
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,247	Originally posted by monochrome It feels like the K-new will also be specialized, but at a higher level than KP, probably as a faster camera for birders and serious action shooters, with enough generalist features to be useable by any APSc shooter. I agree with you. The new Pentax models will likely be a high performance all rounder apsc, like we like Pentax cameras. I guess it'll have a touch screen, the reason why the picture shows a fixed screen with a sensor under the optical view finder to automatically switch of the touch screen when looking through the optical viewfinder.

10-19-2019, 12:09 AM	#2953
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,247	A touch screen for zoom-in/out for focusing and taking the shot, and reviewing images, as well as a joystick to select an AF point among the many AF points covering the frame.

10-19-2019, 12:19 AM	#2954
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	Originally posted by wed7 These conversations will definitely go until new leaks from Pentax arrived, where do you think Asahiman is nowadays? Gone fishing. Can't make a living with his Pentax business anymore.

10-19-2019, 12:26 AM	#2955
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	Originally posted by ecostigny Updated fast zooms might be a bit much to hope for next year; Ricoh has been very deliberate with the pace of their new product introductions. I think we agree that the 16-50 and 50-135 zooms could use Mark II versions, though. If one gives credit to *D850&K-1MarkⅡ*'s oracles, the revamping of the 16-50mm f/2.8 has taken precedence over the development of the 70-200mm f/4.