[lithedreamer]

How many people said something like "For five years I've been waiting for a FF from Pentax, but not that I've seen its video shortcomings I'm going to get a _____________"? ... and I believe there were some who were still hoping for an OnBoard Flash despite how the K3ii was constructed.

Sure there are always people like that. It never felt like most people.

[audiobomber]

Let's not reinvent history. There were several Pentax bodies that were very well received, notably the K10D, K20D, K-x, K-5, K-S2, K-70 and K-3.

[Wheatfield]

I think essentially with this type of departure you would have to make certain compromises.

If you want full program, you set both shutter speed and aperture of the A position.
If you want shutter preferred automatic, you move the shutter dial to the speed you want and leave the lens on A
If you want aperture preferred automatic, you move the aperture dial to the aperture you want, and leave the shutter on A.
If you want 1/2 or 1/3 stops of exposure compensation, you use the exposure compensation dial to get you there.

If you want to change the ISO, you move the ISO dial to where you want it.

I had forgotten how fast it was to use a camera that had all the major controls on the surface, rather than having to dig around in a menu, or have to push a button and then turn a dial.

[reh321]

Let's not reinvent history. There were several Pentax bodies that were very well received, notably the K10D, K20D, K-x, K-5, K-S2, K-70 and K-3.

Go back and look at the thread introducing the K-70.
New Pentax K-70 - PentaxForums.com
The first three comments were
* No wireless flash control
* no composition adjustment
* video isues - "I will have to wait"
I finally broke the string with four sentences starting "I will like...."
but the die was cast, and in general the thread would not have made the K-70 feel welcome if it had feelings.

The K-S2 is the only other one introduced since I joined here. I'm fairly sure if there had been "yes" and "no" threads for it, the ratio would have been similar to that for the "KP", partially because of a fair amount of angst about the K-50 AA-battery adapter not fitting it.

[noelpolar]

mmm..I could see a Pentax market for a K1000 type digital camera. I'd buy one ($2k. or so)..... as long as it was compact for what it was (FF and K mount of course). After a while... say a few years of retirement type photography, one slows down in shot taking.... waiting or looking for some point of difference .... say light or subject.... to fill this inbetween time "tactile" gear can provide joy (as per legacy lenses etc).

[audiobomber]

mmm..I could see a Pentax market for a K1000 type digital camera..

I recall an interview with a Ricoh executive where he said they had investigated a K1000 type camera and dismissed the idea as non-viable.

[noelpolar]

I recall an interview with a Ricoh executive where he said they had investigated a K1000 type camera and dismissed the idea as non-viable.

No doubt....it's not like I'm mainstream....

[Foxbat]

You may be right, but I don't see it needs a whole lot of R and D. Rewiring and relabelling a few dials is not too hard for an innovative technology company like Ricoh. I;m not so technical and of course there's probably a little more to it than that, but I have faith in these people!

I bet that majority of software in current Pentax cameras, is a legacy code dating back to pre K-5 era, that gets updated only when needed (i.e. AF algorithms, Smart Function introduction in K-1, image processing pipeline updates). Re-doing whole system from scratch will induce large costs, with questionable benefits. I know what I'm talking about, I'm a software developer. Not for embedded systems, but I know how it works in general.

As for the market. Undoubtedly most of the people this would appeal to are not here on this forum. The folks on Pentaxforums are mainly existing Pentax users, happy with the current offerings by Pentax (I am one of them) and that's fine. But the 95% (correct me if this figure is wrong) of photographers using other brands are over on Fujiforums or Leicaforums and elsewhere, and this is possibly something that would attract them to a Pentax model. But they aren't here to yell "hell yeah!" The advantages Pentax has over Fuji are the big legacy of native glass that can be used - this simply doesn't exist for Fuji (except via adapters in which you lose a lot of functionality) - weather sealing and IBIS (also features Fuji don't have in the same way)

Majority of people use Canon or Nikon DSLRs, or SONY MILCs, not Fujifilm X system and Leicas. And most maligned areas of Pentax system are AF performance, lack of specialised lenses and lack of EVF, not control scheme and ergonomics problems. You have a much higher chance of acquiring new users by working on those issues (which Ricoh does, to some extent), than creating a niche, high priced camera, with specialised (and thus quite limited) lens lineup.

If you want full program, you set both shutter speed and aperture of the A position.

That will work, though it creates a problem when using Hyper Program functionality, i.e. setting shutter speed or aperture value manually - other exposure parameters should be automatically adjusted (or even whole thing should go back into full auto with a press of a green button). Dials will have to be motorised or show incorrect exposure values in some cases, or green button (and Hyper Program) functionality will need to be removed. Same problem with green button and all other modes (but M mode especially).

If you want 1/2 or 1/3 stops of exposure compensation, you use the exposure compensation dial to get you there.

This will be finicky and alienate a lot of potential userbase.

I had forgotten how fast it was to use a camera that had all the major controls on the surface, rather than having to dig around in a menu, or have to push a button and then turn a dial.

To me, turning a physical ISO dial wouldn't be much more faster (quite contrary, even slower as I can't do it while looking into viewfinder), than pushing dedicated ISO/Exp.Comp. button with index finger and simultaneously rotating dial with a thumb. On-lens aperture control requires left hand involvement, which is not always optimal (for me at least).

[Rondec]

In the end, all of these cameras are "usable" to get roughly the same images. Enjoyment of the use of the interface will depend more on the photographer than it will on the interface itself.

For someone like me who began photography in the age of e dials and never used these sorts of retro controls, it looks pretty foreign and clunky. But of course, I could learn it given a little time and it would probably be OK.

That said, I think the reason folks gravitate to Fuji is because of its excellent jpeg engine, relatively small cameras (due to its mirrorless nature), and high quality glass. The retro nature of the controls is probably neither here nor there for most people and it would be interesting if Fuji released two versions of the X Pro-2 -- one with a retro control and the other with two e dials, like Pentax -- which version would sell better. I frankly have no idea, but personally I would be more attracted to a camera that had an interface I was familiar with.

[totsmuyco]

Pentax heard the clamor of many for a retro. Some were asking for a mirrorless retro. Well, now we've got one. I think Pentax made a statement that they won't go to mirrorless a long time ago. I believe they said that the Q was their mirrorless model. Whatever camera we get from Pentax will not fit everyone's taste. I like the KP. And if I would buy it, I would take some time off and learn how to use it and try to use it well. Unfortunately, both my k-5II and k-3II are still functioning very well and the shutter counts are still quite low. Both will have years to go serving me well. If there is something I'd like is improvements on image quality using high ISO settings and AF. I think these two are some of the most common requests of members here. And I hope they'll pass on whatever improvements on the KP to the other coming models. I really hope they'll keep on improving the system.

[audiobomber]

I think Pentax made a statement that they won't go to mirrorless a long time ago.

That is not what I recall. They said they were not considering Mirrorless because EVF technology was not yet good enough.

[totsmuyco]

That is not what I recall. They said they were not considering Mirrorless because EVF technology was not yet good enough.

I believe that's it. Meaning, not now. Probably more years down the line. If they do, I hope it will be native k-mount. I don't know if that's possible in the sense that you can reduce the size of the camera and provide better AF. I don't know how the k-01 performs.

[GeneV]

In P-mode I can switch from Av to Tv with a simple E-dial motion, back to P with the green button. Brilliant, simple, intuitive.

I use TAv mode for low light and telephoto shots, where I need control of sharpness, DOF, camera shake and subject motion.

I have User modes set for Action, Tripod and Flash. A quick flick of the mode dial and I'm there, with no chance I will forget to change an important setting (AF mode, AF points, shutter control, SR, EV comp, metering, etc., etc.). No retro mode can compare with that speed and convenience.

People who use M mode often think their way is more purist. If they're using the green button, they're in Hyper-Program mode, not true Manual. There's no basis for thinking that shooting in M is somehow superior.

I do wish my K-3 had a third dial for EV compensation.

Agree completely. The green button is one of Pentax' big advantages, and I miss it every time I have anything else in my hand.

Funny, but I don't call having a few more dials and levers "retro." It is offering more ergonomic choices.

[mohb]

There were several Pentax bodies that were very well received, notably the K10D, K20D, K-x, K-5, K-S2, K-70 and K-3.

Even the now much maligned K7 was considered a good camera on its release, the introduction of the Sony sensor condemned it to its current poor reputation

[audiobomber]

Even the now much maligned K7 was considered a good camera on its release, the introduction of the Sony sensor condemned it to its current poor reputation

There were definite improvements on the K-7 vs. the K20D, but there was a huge uproar because high ISO performance was slightly worse, when people were expecting better.