[Lew Dite]

And yet you're listed as a "Junior" member!

You are trying to be funny, right? If so, don't quit your day job to do standup, as they say. It's surely common knowledge that "Junior" here refers only to the number of posts.

[Mark Ransom]

You are trying to be funny, right? If so, don't quit your day job to do standup, as they say. It's surely common knowledge that "Junior" here refers only to the number of posts.

Sorry, I thought it would be obvious. Especially with the quotes around "Junior".

[altopiet]

Sorry, I thought it would be obvious. Especially with the quotes around "Junior".

I've learned that subtle humor, just don't get through most of the times

[reh321]

I've learned that subtle humor, just don't get through most of the times

A 'smiley' goes a long way to conveying that information, because tone of voice isn't transmitted via text.

[Lew Dite]

Sorry, I thought it would be obvious. Especially with the quotes around "Junior".

As others say, dry humor like that doesn't come across well in text. But let's return to our regularly scheduled game of predicting with no real information what is coming from Ricoh. It's far more entertaining.

[xmeda]

As K50 ended they lack some cheap low-end camera... Kz seems to me like Km, Kx, Kr line successor.. some cheap K70 chopper, KP as K70 replacement and then something hi-end.
Not a bad idea.. but lets see.

Or maybe KS line sucessor.. KZI, KZII etc..




(btw I'm 1982)

[reh321]

As K50 ended they lack some cheap low-end camera... Kz seems to me like Km, Kx, Kr line successor.. some cheap K70 chopper, KP as K70 replacement and then something hi-end.
Not a bad idea.. but lets see.

Or maybe KS line sucessor.. KZI, KZII etc..

KP definitely doesn't fit in the K-30, K-50, etc line.

The K-1 and K-3 lines are basically running into each other, so I thought perhaps they would "reboot" the 'flagship APS-C' line to KA {'A' is similar in concept to '1'} but I suppose they could start at KZ instead.

[jeallen01]

There should be (at least!) 3 levels of Pentax DSLRs, like there are are for Canikon (etc.) to attract new-comers - basice/intro APS-C, advanced APS-C, and FF.

Don't think the K-3 and K-t are "running into each other" because the latter are bigger/heavier/more expensive/"more sophisticated", but there needs to be a "clearish" differentiation between the (at least!) 3 levels.

K-50/K-70/KS-2 (?) were/are the basic level, K-3/K-3 II/ (??) were/are the advanced APS-C. and K-1/K-1 II were/are FF. So, where does the K-P sit?

So, where, realistically, will Pentax "go" next?. Personnaly, I'm not at all sure but I think that "better" basic and APS-C bodies (and lenses) would be "the way" if Ricoh/Pentax is to proper in the longer term.

[The Squirrel Mafia]

Don't think the K-3 and K-t are "running into each other" because the latter are bigger/heavier/more expensive/"more sophisticated", but there needs to be a "clearish" differentiation between the (at least!) 3 levels.

All I can say is this. The K-3II replacement needs to 1-up the K-1/1II & KP in speed & AF performance. If they release something similar to what the K-1/1II & KP can already do, might as well throw in the towel. That camera needs to make full use of that Pentax DA 55-300mm PLM lens & any other fast focusing lenses that will eventually come along.

They already have the best image quality with the K-/1II & the best APS-C image quality with the KP. They don't need another "clone" that will perform the same way as the KP & K-1/1II. I hope they put more effort into the AF system...

[Mark Ransom]

There should be (at least!) 3 levels of Pentax DSLRs, like there are are for Canikon (etc.) to attract new-comers - basice/intro APS-C, advanced APS-C, and FF.

Don't think the K-3 and K-t are "running into each other" because the latter are bigger/heavier/more expensive/"more sophisticated", but there needs to be a "clearish" differentiation between the (at least!) 3 levels.

K-50/K-70/KS-2 (?) were/are the basic level, K-3/K-3 II/ (??) were/are the advanced APS-C. and K-1/K-1 II were/are FF. So, where does the K-P sit?

So, where, realistically, will Pentax "go" next?. Personnaly, I'm not at all sure but I think that "better" basic and APS-C bodies (and lenses) would be "the way" if Ricoh/Pentax is to proper in the longer term.

I think that's exactly what Pentax was going for with the K-70 / KP / K-1 lineup. It's just that they thought we'd be more interested in something halfway between the K-70 and K-1 vs. something much higher end for APS-C.

[Mark Ransom]

All I can say is this. The K-3II replacement needs to 1-up the K-1/1II & KP in speed & AF performance. If they release something similar to what the K-1/1II & KP can already do, might as well throw in the towel. That camera needs to make full use of that Pentax DA 55-300mm PLM lens & any other fast focusing lenses that will eventually come along.

They already have the best image quality with the K-/1II & the best APS-C image quality with the KP. They don't need another "clone" that will perform the same way as the KP & K-1/1II. I hope they put more effort into the AF system...

If all they wanted to do was put the KP in a K-3 body, they could have done it already. It's obvious they're planning more than that; we just don't know yet what they're going to surprise us with.

[ffking]

There should be (at least!) 3 levels of Pentax DSLRs, like there are are for Canikon (etc.) to attract new-comers - basice/intro APS-C, advanced APS-C, and FF.

Don't think the K-3 and K-t are "running into each other" because the latter are bigger/heavier/more expensive/"more sophisticated", but there needs to be a "clearish" differentiation between the (at least!) 3 levels.

K-50/K-70/KS-2 (?) were/are the basic level, K-3/K-3 II/ (??) were/are the advanced APS-C. and K-1/K-1 II were/are FF. So, where does the K-P sit?

So, where, realistically, will Pentax "go" next?. Personnaly, I'm not at all sure but I think that "better" basic and APS-C bodies (and lenses) would be "the way" if Ricoh/Pentax is to proper in the longer term.

My thinking would go like this -

K-1/ii = 'field camera'

K-3 replacement = action camera

KP = street camera

Then possibly "entry level" K70 or the like.

[RobA_Oz]

My thinking would go like this -

K-1/ii = 'field camera'

K-3 replacement = action camera

KP = street camera

Then possibly "entry level" K70 or the like.

I’m not convinced that an entry level body is necessary for a niche brand like Pentax, unless there is a strategy to lift it back into the mainstream. We thought there was when Ricoh took over, but that seems to have been modified to suit their financial circumstances.

Otherwise, I think the point about the KP was that it was a smaller body to take the edge off the attractiveness of the mirrorless competitiors. In that case, it could also be a “field” camera in the sense of “adventure” photography, rather than the gentler pursuits that “field” might suggest, without qualification. Those qualities also make it a “travel” camera, in a less rugged sense than “adventure”.

The K-1/ii could also be styled as a “studio” camera, especially given its Pixel Shift possibilities for product photography.

What they really need is something the competition doesn’t have, and once again, as I and others here have suggested, a branch off the K-1 with a hybrid OVF/EVF would attract considerable attention, and hopefully sales. My preference would be for a replacement viewfinder module, making it a true successor to the LX.

PS – on topic, maybe a branch off the K-3 line might be a better start, at least, if they were to go that way.

[rangercarp]

As K50 ended they lack some cheap low-end camera... Kz seems to me like Km, Kx, Kr line successor..

Km/x/r were succeeded by the K-30/50/S2/70. Pentax has always had a camera in that slot. Ignore the naming convention that has changed and compare the specs. A true entry level DSLR is something hat Pentax has typically stayed away from. They did toy with entry level with the K-500 and KS-1. Maybe the K110D might fit there too, I don't remember for sure. It seems they like to keep older models on sale when they have been upgraded to fill the entry level spot. E.g. They will likely continue to sell the K-70 alongside the (future) K-80, but at a reduced price. (Assuming they go with 80 and do not change naming conventions again. Personally I would go with K-72.)

[Larrymc]

My thinking would go like this -

K-1/ii = 'field camera'

K-3 replacement = action camera

KP = street camera

Then possibly "entry level" K70 or the like.

Sounds reasonable to me.