Thanks JPT! I attended too, this was the most fun part of the meeting.
GPS-less astrotracing:
You first shoot the image w/o astrotracing and the camera figures out how the sky is moving relative to the camera. Then it will move the sensor in subsequent shots.
This is only coming to K-3III. No luck for other cameras.
This won't replace O-GPS1 (or the upcoming O-GPS2, the MC had to clarify that O-GPS2 will come). Wakashiro-san said that it could fail if the picture includes anything that are not stars, like landscape. Some lenses (e.g. fisheye) aren't good for this either while there's no such limitation for O-GPS devices. Also, though he didn't say this, you'll have to take a "preliminary" shot each time you change the position/angle of your camera.
6 variants of K-3 III and the conversion service:
I was like "wow are you serious?" but they are. Wakashiro-san admitted that there won't be huge demands, but there will be demands nevertheless, and said that they'd like to respond to these demands as far as that won't delay the development of other new products.
- JET BLACK model (1st attachment).
- You'll choose the color of PENTAX logo from black, gray and nothing (no letter at all).
- Also mentioned briefly was the customization of the letters on dials and it was not just colors, you can actually change letters (but this might have been about Gun Metal model, cannot remember).
- Shallower shutter stroke model. Wakashiro-san explained that somebody who prefers to make many single shots quickly rather than continuous bursts might consider this.
- Monochrome model. Bayer-less means that this will be a resolution monster.
- MF model. The mirror is 100% reflective, no AF, no auto exposure, 30% brighter OVF (!).
- GUN METAL model. Same kind of color as the K-3 Prestige Edition released in the past (2nd attachment). You can specify an illustration on the pentaprism cover. As an example they showed AOCO logo.
- Astro model. 10 times more sensitive to H-alpha lines (infrared), which is a great feature for capturing nebulae etc.
- Some concern (vaguely stated as "something that is not good could be captured"). That should mean that PENTAX is worried some perverts will use visible-cut filters to make IR-only images of human body. They're thinking that they only sell to the users who are willing to sign a paper stating that they'll only use it for astro.
- Conversion service will be offered. It wasn't clear which conversion will be possible except that the MC, Kawauchi-san, said that the sensors cannot be replaced (so I cannot have my K-3III converted to astro or monochrome model even if I wanted).
They will use crowdfunding (they didn't say which one, but most likely Makuake, the same platform they used for PENTAX bino and monocular).