Who brought us the K30 & K50

jkomp316 · 11-07-2015, 03:53 PM

I know Ricoh is printed on the bottom sticker. Were they primary designer or was it carried over from the Hoya ownership?

bertwert · 11-07-2015, 04:00 PM

Ricoh acquired Pentax in 2011, K-30 introduced in 2012.
Pentax K-30 = Ricoh.

Adam · 11-07-2015, 04:04 PM

Originally posted by bertwert

Ricoh acquired Pentax in 2011, K-30 introduced in 2012.
Pentax K-30 = Ricoh.

I think it was pretty much a carryover.

bertwert · 11-07-2015, 04:08 PM

8 1/2 months between acquirement and K-30 announcement?
Could they design and make a camera in that time?

**UncleVanya** · 11-07-2015, 04:10 PM - **1 Like**

The k50 is phenomenal so whoever it was: Thank You!

bertwert · 11-07-2015, 04:12 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by UncleVanya

The k50 is phenomenal so whoever it was: Thank You!

Agreed!

Adam · 11-07-2015, 04:21 PM - **1 Like**

The K-30 is basically the K-01 with a mirror, so it's definitely pre-Ricoh now that I think about it.

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)

PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

Edgar_in_Indy · 11-07-2015, 04:32 PM

My K-30 has been fantastic, and I think I'm at about 70,000 actuations now.

jkomp316 · 11-07-2015, 05:06 PM

Reason I bring it up. Ricoh is partner with Mitsubishi who is partner with Nikon. Japan is complex with keiretsu I don't fully understand. I do know Pentax seems 2nd flute in regards to Sony's sensor offerings. Which have always seemed to lead the innovation.

KDD · 11-07-2015, 06:18 PM

RICOH is nice to help PENTAX. I think it will be next new K-80. ???

Edgar_in_Indy · 11-07-2015, 06:33 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by KDD

RICOH is nice to help PENTAX. I think it will be next new K-80. ???

Pardon my ignorance, but was there ever a direct successor to the K-30/K-50 line? Those cameras had the same sensor as the flagship K-5 cameras, but in a more affordable body and with a slightly watered down feature set. It seems like a direct successor would have the 24MP sensor of the K-3.

rangercarp · 11-07-2015, 08:22 PM

Originally posted by Edgar_in_Indy

was there ever a direct successor to the K-30/K-50 line?

Some argue otherwise -- mostly due to the name -- but when you consider the feature set, the KS-2 is clearly the successor to the K-50.

stevebrot · 11-07-2015, 08:28 PM

Originally posted by Edgar_in_Indy

Pardon my ignorance, but was there ever a direct successor to the K-30/K-50 line?

Just the K-50. (K-50 is still and active product.)

Steve

Steve.Ledger · 11-07-2015, 09:55 PM

Originally posted by rangercarp

Some argue otherwise -- mostly due to the name -- but when you consider the feature set, the KS-2 is clearly the successor to the K-50.

Ricoh made it clear some time ago that the K-S* series was a whole new line not intended to replace any of the K-* series.
You can find the interview on YouTube and I think Adam posted it here somewhere.
As Steve B says, the K-50 has not been superseded because it is still a current (not discontinued) model.
B&H who are generally very quick to list bodies as discontinued even when they are not, still list the K-50 (and, I might add and an extremely good price right now)

Edgar_in_Indy · 11-08-2015, 05:46 AM

Originally posted by Steve.Ledger

B&H who are generally very quick to list bodies as discontinued even when they are not, still list the K-50 (and, I might add and an extremely good price right now)

I just kind of figured it was discontinued since the K-30 came out in 2012, and was replaced by the almost identical K-50 a year later in 2013. So the K-50 is essentially a 2012 model at this point. It seems like it would be time for a K-70 with the 24MP sensor.

If it followed the same design philosophy as the K-30/50 of giving us most of the essentials from the K-3, but in a smaller/lighter/cheaper package, then I would probably upgrade. Especially if they offer it in white!

11-07-2015, 03:53 PM	#1
jkomp316 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 227	Who brought us the K30 & K50 I know Ricoh is printed on the bottom sticker. Were they primary designer or was it carried over from the Hoya ownership?

11-07-2015, 04:04 PM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Originally posted by bertwert Ricoh acquired Pentax in 2011, K-30 introduced in 2012. Pentax K-30 = Ricoh. I think it was pretty much a carryover. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Camera Strap for the k30-k50	kshapero	Pentax K-30 & K-50	37	04-12-2014 01:48 PM
Help me choose between K30&K50	deepocean	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	6	10-10-2013 07:30 AM
From the people who brought you the Iraq war...	jeffkrol	General Talk	17	07-29-2012 01:18 PM
Nature So who brought the Chips??????	eaglem	Post Your Photos!	3	03-04-2012 06:10 PM
Who Brought Us the SLR? Story from B&H	LFLee	Pentax DSLR Discussion	18	06-24-2011 04:02 PM

11-07-2015, 04:00 PM	#2
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	Ricoh acquired Pentax in 2011, K-30 introduced in 2012. Pentax K-30 = Ricoh.

11-07-2015, 04:08 PM	#4
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	8 1/2 months between acquirement and K-30 announcement? Could they design and make a camera in that time?

11-07-2015, 04:10 PM - 1 Like	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,403	The k50 is phenomenal so whoever it was: Thank You!

11-07-2015, 04:12 PM - 1 Like	#6
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	Originally posted by UncleVanya The k50 is phenomenal so whoever it was: Thank You! Agreed!

11-07-2015, 04:21 PM - 1 Like	#7
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	The K-30 is basically the K-01 with a mirror, so it's definitely pre-Ricoh now that I think about it. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

11-07-2015, 04:32 PM	#8
Edgar_in_Indy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	My K-30 has been fantastic, and I think I'm at about 70,000 actuations now.

11-07-2015, 05:06 PM	#9
jkomp316 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 227 Original Poster	Reason I bring it up. Ricoh is partner with Mitsubishi who is partner with Nikon. Japan is complex with keiretsu I don't fully understand. I do know Pentax seems 2nd flute in regards to Sony's sensor offerings. Which have always seemed to lead the innovation.

11-07-2015, 06:18 PM	#10
KDD Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 403	RICOH is nice to help PENTAX. I think it will be next new K-80. ???

11-07-2015, 06:33 PM - 1 Like	#11
Edgar_in_Indy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	Originally posted by KDD RICOH is nice to help PENTAX. I think it will be next new K-80. ??? Pardon my ignorance, but was there ever a direct successor to the K-30/K-50 line? Those cameras had the same sensor as the flagship K-5 cameras, but in a more affordable body and with a slightly watered down feature set. It seems like a direct successor would have the 24MP sensor of the K-3.

11-07-2015, 08:22 PM	#12
rangercarp Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Southern Michigan Posts: 437	Originally posted by Edgar_in_Indy was there ever a direct successor to the K-30/K-50 line? Some argue otherwise -- mostly due to the name -- but when you consider the feature set, the KS-2 is clearly the successor to the K-50.

11-07-2015, 08:28 PM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Edgar_in_Indy Pardon my ignorance, but was there ever a direct successor to the K-30/K-50 line? Just the K-50. (K-50 is still and active product.) Steve

11-07-2015, 09:55 PM	#14
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	Originally posted by rangercarp Some argue otherwise -- mostly due to the name -- but when you consider the feature set, the KS-2 is clearly the successor to the K-50. Ricoh made it clear some time ago that the K-S* series was a whole new line not intended to replace any of the K-* series. You can find the interview on YouTube and I think Adam posted it here somewhere. As Steve B says, the K-50 has not been superseded because it is still a current (not discontinued) model. B&H who are generally very quick to list bodies as discontinued even when they are not, still list the K-50 (and, I might add and an extremely good price right now)

11-08-2015, 05:46 AM	#15
Edgar_in_Indy Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,685	Originally posted by Steve.Ledger B&H who are generally very quick to list bodies as discontinued even when they are not, still list the K-50 (and, I might add and an extremely good price right now) I just kind of figured it was discontinued since the K-30 came out in 2012, and was replaced by the almost identical K-50 a year later in 2013. So the K-50 is essentially a 2012 model at this point. It seems like it would be time for a K-70 with the 24MP sensor. If it followed the same design philosophy as the K-30/50 of giving us most of the essentials from the K-3, but in a smaller/lighter/cheaper package, then I would probably upgrade. Especially if they offer it in white!