Pentax K12D

Tbear · 08-25-2007, 06:05 AM

How successful do you think a Pentax camera with the following capabilities would be on the dSLR marketplace?

1) Similar specifications to the D300
2) In body SR
3) Full weather-sealing
4) Priced $100 less than the D300

Last edited by Tbear; 08-25-2007 at 06:10 AM.

SupremeMoFo · 08-25-2007, 06:06 AM

Fine, but there's a lack of Pentax glass to back it up like Nikon has.

regken · 08-25-2007, 06:33 AM

Originally posted by Tbear

How successful do you think a Pentax camera with the following capabilities would be on the dSLR marketplace?

1) Similar specifications to the D300
2) In body SR
3) Full weather-sealing
4) Priced $100 less than the D300

If you take a look at the usual spread between Nikon and Pentax there is about a 20-25% price difference. The Pentax has to have more features than the Nikon. The camera you are suggesting would have to have a MSRP of $1,495 and a street price of about $1,000 after the initial surge.

That would put it right in line with what the Canon 40D will be selling for 5 months after introduction and a good price point in comparison to the K10D. It might equal the sales of the K10D which would be somewhere in the area of 15,000 a month as near as I can figure out. That is just a SWAG on my part. Pentax projected the K10D at 13,000 a month and it appears they are doing about 20% better than expected.

Just my guess.

Regards,

Ken

arbutusq · 08-25-2007, 07:58 AM

I don't think a D300 spec'd camera is needed really. Pentax should take aim at the 40d. Aside from frame rate and things like picture styles the K10d already competes quite well with the Canon 40d. Upping the frame rate and putting the new Sony sensor in would probably give a camera that would be better than the 40d at a probably cheaper price.

nosnoop · 08-25-2007, 10:25 AM

Originally posted by SupremeMoFo

Fine, but there's a lack of Pentax glass to back it up like Nikon has.

[shrug] Nikon does not have the limiteds or stabilization solution with short primes.

ZaphodB · 08-25-2007, 03:25 PM

And how many people seriously consider buying Pentax Limiteds... not all that many. They are there for those of us who like really fantastic quality in every sense and are prepared to pay for it, much like collectors of German glass... but if the question is about success in the marketplace, I don't see Limited glass as being a huge factor. To be honest Pentax also loses the marketing advantage of SR when you consider that Canon is now putting IS even in its cheap kit lenses. The top-level glass and the SR are nice things to have but I can't see them appealing to the average dSLR buyer in the way many seem to think.

Anyway, let the speculation about non-existent cameras continue

I propose the K23-and-a-half-D Super-Duper... it will have the specs of whatever happens to be the latest wonder-camera, but with dust-reduction, breathing-smear-on-LCD-reduction, hydrogen bomb and EMP sealing, a Tic-Tac dispenser and cigarette holder. Good thing Pentax as always are reading and taking notes eh

FLASH · 08-25-2007, 03:56 PM

I've said this before, but here goes again....What Pentax needs to do to leap-frog ahead of the competition is to come out with a body that is fully upgradable; one that a user could take to a good shop and have them replace/upgrade the sensor, the automation innards, etc. While the '10' is computerized a bit, the totally upgradable unit would be highly computerized so that replacement of chips would negate the requirement for a new body every so often. All of those camera experts at Pentax need to be replaced by computer experts!
FLASH

FotoPete · 08-25-2007, 04:09 PM

Bring the stop down coupler back and I'll be happy. =p I mean Nikon's kept their aperture linkage going. (Except the mid and consumer level dslrs)

mattdm · 08-25-2007, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by FLASH

I've said this before, but here goes again....What Pentax needs to do to leap-frog ahead of the competition is to come out with a body that is fully upgradable; one that a user could take to a good shop and have them replace/upgrade the sensor, the automation innards, etc. While the '10' is computerized a bit, the totally upgradable unit would be highly computerized so that replacement of chips would negate the requirement for a new body every so often. All of those camera experts at Pentax need to be replaced by computer experts!

An interesting idea, but the problem is that the sensor and image processing engine are deeply linked, so that'd pretty much have to be one module. And that module would be such a huge percentage of the overall costs that, when you add in the extra expense of engineering a modular system, I don't think there'd be any practical advantage. (Other than the psychological appeal of upgradeable over disposable.)

kbrabble · 08-25-2007, 10:48 PM

Originally posted by FotoPete

Bring the stop down coupler back and I'll be happy. =p I mean Nikon's kept their aperture linkage going. (Except the mid and consumer level dslrs)

That would make me very happy.... That and the Sony sensor if it turns out to be as good as it sounds...

MikePerham · 08-26-2007, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by FLASH

I've said this before, but here goes again....What Pentax needs to do to leap-frog ahead of the competition is to come out with a body that is fully upgradable; one that a user could take to a good shop and have them replace/upgrade the sensor, the automation innards, etc. While the '10' is computerized a bit, the totally upgradable unit would be highly computerized so that replacement of chips would negate the requirement for a new body every so often. All of those camera experts at Pentax need to be replaced by computer experts!
FLASH

I am not an engineer, but I don't think you will see this happen. The architecture of camera's are optimized to work as a whole. If you started designing them to be modular, to allow component upgrades, I suspect there will be too many design compromises required.

Mike.

pentax07 · 08-26-2007, 06:30 PM

Dear God, I don't think I can take much more of this prognostication....

I mean it is interesting to a point...and I certainly mean no disrespect.....but I for one am waiting for the "ANNOUNCEMENT" this week.

If we don't hear anything this week.....well, Benjikan.....it's your fault.

I mean I want to be able to sit with my fellow photogs shooting Canon and Nikon and brag about......something......and frankly.... two new P&S is not that something.

So I'm hopin for this week to be the week.

Noticeably silent is Ben, Ned and others connected to PENTAX....is this a sign?

PS- sorry to hijack this thread. I'll shutup now.

pixelpruner · 08-26-2007, 06:34 PM

i want to see pentax come up with a better neck strap. my k10d one is lame. plus, i can't afford to upgrade anything else at the moment... except maybe a microfibre cloth.

stewart_photo · 08-26-2007, 11:32 PM

Originally posted by Tbear

How successful do you think a Pentax camera with the following capabilities would be on the dSLR marketplace?

1) Similar specifications to the D300
2) In body SR
3) Full weather-sealing
4) Priced $100 less than the D300

Are you certain about calling your camera the K12D? Using the current Pentax numbering system, the more advanced cameras have the smallest numbers. Therefore, a camera more capable than the K10D would need a number smaller than 10 (K8D, K5D, or similar), while a K12D would be slightly less advanced.

stewart

Tbear · 08-27-2007, 04:55 AM

Originally posted by stewart_photo

Are you certain about calling your camera the K12D? Using the current Pentax numbering system, the more advanced cameras have the smallest numbers. Therefore, a camera more capable than the K10D would need a number smaller than 10 (K8D, K5D, or similar), while a K12D would be slightly less advanced.

stewart

Aren't we getting a bit carried away with semantics? Call it the KXD (you supply the X), the point of my thread remains identical.

Regards,

Ted

08-25-2007, 06:05 AM	#1
Tbear Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 269	Pentax K12D How successful do you think a Pentax camera with the following capabilities would be on the dSLR marketplace? 1) Similar specifications to the D300 2) In body SR 3) Full weather-sealing 4) Priced $100 less than the D300 Last edited by Tbear; 08-25-2007 at 06:10 AM.

08-25-2007, 06:33 AM	#3
regken Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangor, Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,377	To high Originally posted by Tbear How successful do you think a Pentax camera with the following capabilities would be on the dSLR marketplace? 1) Similar specifications to the D300 2) In body SR 3) Full weather-sealing 4) Priced $100 less than the D300 If you take a look at the usual spread between Nikon and Pentax there is about a 20-25% price difference. The Pentax has to have more features than the Nikon. The camera you are suggesting would have to have a MSRP of $1,495 and a street price of about $1,000 after the initial surge. That would put it right in line with what the Canon 40D will be selling for 5 months after introduction and a good price point in comparison to the K10D. It might equal the sales of the K10D which would be somewhere in the area of 15,000 a month as near as I can figure out. That is just a SWAG on my part. Pentax projected the K10D at 13,000 a month and it appears they are doing about 20% better than expected. Just my guess. Regards, Ken

08-25-2007, 03:56 PM	#7
FLASH Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Eastern Shore of Alabama (Daphne, Alabama) Posts: 109	Upgrade, don't buy anew..... I've said this before, but here goes again....What Pentax needs to do to leap-frog ahead of the competition is to come out with a body that is fully upgradable; one that a user could take to a good shop and have them replace/upgrade the sensor, the automation innards, etc. While the '10' is computerized a bit, the totally upgradable unit would be highly computerized so that replacement of chips would negate the requirement for a new body every so often. All of those camera experts at Pentax need to be replaced by computer experts! FLASH

08-26-2007, 11:32 PM	#14
stewart_photo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 1,864	Pentax K12D ??? Originally posted by Tbear How successful do you think a Pentax camera with the following capabilities would be on the dSLR marketplace? 1) Similar specifications to the D300 2) In body SR 3) Full weather-sealing 4) Priced $100 less than the D300 Are you certain about calling your camera the K12D? Using the current Pentax numbering system, the more advanced cameras have the smallest numbers. Therefore, a camera more capable than the K10D would need a number smaller than 10 (K8D, K5D, or similar), while a K12D would be slightly less advanced. stewart

08-25-2007, 06:06 AM	#2
SupremeMoFo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 668	Fine, but there's a lack of Pentax glass to back it up like Nikon has.

08-25-2007, 07:58 AM	#4
arbutusq Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vancouver BC canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 380	I don't think a D300 spec'd camera is needed really. Pentax should take aim at the 40d. Aside from frame rate and things like picture styles the K10d already competes quite well with the Canon 40d. Upping the frame rate and putting the new Sony sensor in would probably give a camera that would be better than the 40d at a probably cheaper price.

08-25-2007, 10:25 AM	#5
nosnoop Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,299	Originally posted by SupremeMoFo Fine, but there's a lack of Pentax glass to back it up like Nikon has. [shrug] Nikon does not have the limiteds or stabilization solution with short primes.

08-25-2007, 03:25 PM	#6
ZaphodB Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 264	And how many people seriously consider buying Pentax Limiteds... not all that many. They are there for those of us who like really fantastic quality in every sense and are prepared to pay for it, much like collectors of German glass... but if the question is about success in the marketplace, I don't see Limited glass as being a huge factor. To be honest Pentax also loses the marketing advantage of SR when you consider that Canon is now putting IS even in its cheap kit lenses. The top-level glass and the SR are nice things to have but I can't see them appealing to the average dSLR buyer in the way many seem to think. Anyway, let the speculation about non-existent cameras continue I propose the K23-and-a-half-D Super-Duper... it will have the specs of whatever happens to be the latest wonder-camera, but with dust-reduction, breathing-smear-on-LCD-reduction, hydrogen bomb and EMP sealing, a Tic-Tac dispenser and cigarette holder. Good thing Pentax as always are reading and taking notes eh

08-25-2007, 04:09 PM	#8
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	Bring the stop down coupler back and I'll be happy. =p I mean Nikon's kept their aperture linkage going. (Except the mid and consumer level dslrs)

08-25-2007, 04:44 PM	#9
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by FLASH I've said this before, but here goes again....What Pentax needs to do to leap-frog ahead of the competition is to come out with a body that is fully upgradable; one that a user could take to a good shop and have them replace/upgrade the sensor, the automation innards, etc. While the '10' is computerized a bit, the totally upgradable unit would be highly computerized so that replacement of chips would negate the requirement for a new body every so often. All of those camera experts at Pentax need to be replaced by computer experts! An interesting idea, but the problem is that the sensor and image processing engine are deeply linked, so that'd pretty much have to be one module. And that module would be such a huge percentage of the overall costs that, when you add in the extra expense of engineering a modular system, I don't think there'd be any practical advantage. (Other than the psychological appeal of upgradeable over disposable.)

08-25-2007, 10:48 PM	#10
kbrabble Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 181	Originally posted by FotoPete Bring the stop down coupler back and I'll be happy. =p I mean Nikon's kept their aperture linkage going. (Except the mid and consumer level dslrs) That would make me very happy.... That and the Sony sensor if it turns out to be as good as it sounds...

08-26-2007, 06:02 PM	#11
MikePerham Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Prince George, BC Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 642	Originally posted by FLASH I've said this before, but here goes again....What Pentax needs to do to leap-frog ahead of the competition is to come out with a body that is fully upgradable; one that a user could take to a good shop and have them replace/upgrade the sensor, the automation innards, etc. While the '10' is computerized a bit, the totally upgradable unit would be highly computerized so that replacement of chips would negate the requirement for a new body every so often. All of those camera experts at Pentax need to be replaced by computer experts! FLASH I am not an engineer, but I don't think you will see this happen. The architecture of camera's are optimized to work as a whole. If you started designing them to be modular, to allow component upgrades, I suspect there will be too many design compromises required. Mike.

08-26-2007, 06:30 PM	#12
pentax07 New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA Posts: 22	Dear God, I don't think I can take much more of this prognostication.... I mean it is interesting to a point...and I certainly mean no disrespect.....but I for one am waiting for the "ANNOUNCEMENT" this week. If we don't hear anything this week.....well, Benjikan.....it's your fault. I mean I want to be able to sit with my fellow photogs shooting Canon and Nikon and brag about......something......and frankly.... two new P&S is not that something. So I'm hopin for this week to be the week. Noticeably silent is Ben, Ned and others connected to PENTAX....is this a sign? PS- sorry to hijack this thread. I'll shutup now.

08-26-2007, 06:34 PM	#13
pixelpruner Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Leeds, NE UK Posts: 220	i want to see pentax come up with a better neck strap. my k10d one is lame. plus, i can't afford to upgrade anything else at the moment... except maybe a microfibre cloth.

08-27-2007, 04:55 AM	#15
Tbear Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 269 Original Poster	Originally posted by stewart_photo Are you certain about calling your camera the K12D? Using the current Pentax numbering system, the more advanced cameras have the smallest numbers. Therefore, a camera more capable than the K10D would need a number smaller than 10 (K8D, K5D, or similar), while a K12D would be slightly less advanced. stewart Aren't we getting a bit carried away with semantics? Call it the KXD (you supply the X), the point of my thread remains identical. Regards, Ted