The KP seems to have been discontinued

Fogel70 · 03-02-2021, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by ffking

Well, they did say at one stage that the KP was the K-3ii replacement - makes perfect sense

Big mistake IMHO, if true, unless they really don't have the capacity to have 3 APS-C lines - OR a replacement is coming soon

I doubt they can keep up with 3 APS-C models, so K3 III is replacing KP. But next entry model may be more based on KP than on K70.

**pres589** · 03-02-2021, 03:22 PM

They had three separate APS-C digital bodies for sale at the same time for years. It does seem odd to me to not have the KP around as "the novel one" as there's always been one of those along with "the lower cost / more simple / amateur one" and "the advanced / professional one". KP seems pretty different from the K-70 and the K-3 various versions.

**Cerebum** · 03-02-2021, 03:54 PM

If I was in the market for something different from canon and Nikon I wouldn't buy the K70 because I don't like the overall look of it. The silver KP is retro and quirky. So I guess that's the retro and quirky market now heading to Fuji. There will probably be a good reason but I doubt we will ever hear of it!

stevebrot · 03-02-2021, 04:27 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pres589

They had three separate APS-C digital bodies for sale at the same time for years.

Well, sort of...

My memory from 2006 to 2014 is a sort of a staggered pattern of one active flagship and one or two active consumer level with the second consumer model being a mild upgrade from the first.

Since 2012...

2012
Flagship: K-5 (continuation to EOL)
Flagship: K-5II/K-5IIs

Consumer: K-r (continuation to EOL)
Consumer: K-30

2013
Flagship: K-5II/K-5IIs (continuation to EOL)
Flagship: K-3

Consumer: K-30 (continuation to EOL
Consumer: K-50
Consumer: K-500

2014
Flagship: K-3 (continuation)

Consumer: K-50 (continuation)
Consumer: K-500 (continuation to EOL)

Upmarket Consumer: K-S1

2015
Flagship: K-3 (continuation to EOL)
Flagship: K-3ii

Consumer: K-50 (continuation)
Upmarket Consumer: K-S1 (continuation)
Upmarket Consumer: K-S2

2016
Flagship: K-3ii (continuation)

Consumer: K-50 (continuation to EOL)
Upmarket Consumer: K-S1 (continuation to EOL)
Upmarket Consumer: K-S2 (continuation to EOL)
Upmarket Consumer: K-70

2016
Flagship: K-3ii (continuation)

Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation)

2017
Flagship: K-3ii (continuation)

Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation)

Upmarket: KP

2018
Flagship: K-3ii (continuation)

Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation)

Upmarket: KP (continuation)

2019
Flagship: K-3ii (continuation to EOL)

Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation)

Upmarket: KP (continuation)

2020

Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation)

Upmarket: KP (continuation)

2021...todate
Flagship: K-3iii (announced)

Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation)

Upmarket: KP (continuation to EOL...Mar 1)

Steve

(...is it safe to say the K-70 may getting set to be one of the longest-runnng models in Pentax history joining the SV, SP, K-1000, and LX? )

Last edited by stevebrot; 03-02-2021 at 04:46 PM. Reason: formatting

**AgentL** · 03-02-2021, 04:32 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Cerebum

If I was in the market for something different from canon and Nikon I wouldn't buy the K70 because I don't like the overall look of it. The silver KP is retro and quirky. So I guess that's the retro and quirky market now heading to Fuji. There will probably be a good reason but I doubt we will ever hear of it!

I mean, the K1ii still shares a lot of the looks and controls of the KP, so it's not like that's going away in Pentax's stable per se. And the K3iii isn't really that much different looking from the KP except for the grip. I think the grip and front dial were the main "retro" cues on the KP but the grip was also the most complained-about. So you can't really fault them for pouring lots of R&D into the K3iii grip, and coming up with something less retro and more ergonomic.

Tesla · 03-02-2021, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Word went out last week that the Theta Z1 is discontinued and with a replacement to be announced soon. At least, that is how Pentax Rumors reads the tea leaves...

Ricoh Theta Z1 is discontinued, new model to be announced by the end of March - Pentax Rumors

Steve

Parts issue. Not sure the model is really discontinued. If they swap out parts they might have a revision.

stevebrot · 03-02-2021, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by AgentL

I think the grip and front dial were the main "retro" cues on the KP

Ummmm...perhaps if the retro clue was to a Ricoh model like the one above from my shelf. FWIW, I don't get the part about the grip. Those were pretty much unknown before the need for big batteries to support AF and build-in winders.

Steve

stevebrot · 03-02-2021, 04:53 PM

Originally posted by Tesla

Parts issue. Not sure the model is really discontinued. If they swap out parts they might have a revision.

Parts plus government compliance. My understanding that a new wireless controller is in the mix, possibly resulting in radio upgrade and required recertification.

Steve

gatorguy · 03-02-2021, 05:15 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Ummmm...perhaps if the retro clue was to a Ricoh model like the one above from my shelf. FWIW, I don't get the part about the grip. Those were pretty much unknown before the need for big batteries to support AF and build-in winders.

Steve

An exception off the top of my head would be the AE1 I recently had (non-working) with a shallow grip not all that unlike the smallest one on the KP.
I think that's from maybe 40 years ago.

stevebrot · 03-02-2021, 06:15 PM

Originally posted by gatorguy

An exception off the top of my head would be the AE1 I recently had (non-working) with a shallow grip not all that unlike the smallest one on the KP.
I think that's from maybe 40 years ago.

Good point. My Super Program has a very shallow "grip" similar to that on the AE1 that must be removed before joining the ME Winder II. The P-series sported very usable shallow grips that were part of the body design.

Steve

**ramseybuckeye** · 03-02-2021, 07:09 PM

Being on the Ricoh Japan website it is not a rumor. I’m guessing the replacement will be around the corner, but not before the K-3Iii has been selling for a few months. Will the price go down? Or will it go up like the K-30 did after it was discontinued? Ricoh did not raise that price but so many resellers did. Anyway I’m happy I just got my second KP.

DeKay · 03-02-2021, 07:32 PM - **1 Like**

Something really strange is going on! The Pentax Australia website has the following listed for delivery 12/04/21 (that’s 12th April for our US affiliates)
Pentax K-50 with 18-55 WR Lens $499
Pentax K-s2 for $599
Pentax K-3II with 16-85 Lens $999
But the poor old KP - No Stock.

But its really strange that all these old discontinued cameras have appeared for delivery in less than a month!
Shop Digital SLR Online in Australia | Ricoh Australia

**pres589** · 03-02-2021, 07:34 PM

That seems like a pretty good price for the K-3 II and 16-85...

DeKay · 03-02-2021, 08:11 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by pres589

That seems like a pretty good price for the K-3 II and 16-85...

Considering that the 16-85 is currently listed at $1038, you gets it at a discount and they throw in a K3II for free!

**carlb** · 03-02-2021, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by DeKay

Considering that the 16-85 is currently listed at $1038, you gets it at a discount and they throw in a K3II for free!

That's a great deal.....it's almost worth buying one to see if they really will have them available.

03-02-2021, 04:27 PM - 1 Like	#19
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by pres589 They had three separate APS-C digital bodies for sale at the same time for years. Well, sort of... My memory from 2006 to 2014 is a sort of a staggered pattern of one active flagship and one or two active consumer level with the second consumer model being a mild upgrade from the first. Since 2012... 2012 Flagship: K-5 (continuation to EOL) Flagship: K-5II/K-5IIs Consumer: K-r (continuation to EOL) Consumer: K-30 2013 Flagship: K-5II/K-5IIs (continuation to EOL) Flagship: K-3 Consumer: K-30 (continuation to EOL Consumer: K-50 Consumer: K-500 2014 Flagship: K-3 (continuation) Consumer: K-50 (continuation) Consumer: K-500 (continuation to EOL) Upmarket Consumer: K-S1 2015 Flagship: K-3 (continuation to EOL) Flagship: K-3ii Consumer: K-50 (continuation) Upmarket Consumer: K-S1 (continuation) Upmarket Consumer: K-S2 2016 Flagship: K-3ii (continuation) Consumer: K-50 (continuation to EOL) Upmarket Consumer: K-S1 (continuation to EOL) Upmarket Consumer: K-S2 (continuation to EOL) Upmarket Consumer: K-70 2016 Flagship: K-3ii (continuation) Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation) 2017 Flagship: K-3ii (continuation) Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation) Upmarket: KP 2018 Flagship: K-3ii (continuation) Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation) Upmarket: KP (continuation) 2019 Flagship: K-3ii (continuation to EOL) Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation) Upmarket: KP (continuation) 2020 Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation) Upmarket: KP (continuation) 2021...todate Flagship: K-3iii (announced) Upmarket Consumer: K-70 (continuation) Upmarket: KP (continuation to EOL...Mar 1) Steve (...is it safe to say the K-70 may getting set to be one of the longest-runnng models in Pentax history joining the SV, SP, K-1000, and LX? ) Last edited by stevebrot; 03-02-2021 at 04:46 PM. Reason: formatting

03-02-2021, 07:32 PM - 1 Like	#27
DeKay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Photos: Albums Posts: 208	Something really strange is going on! The Pentax Australia website has the following listed for delivery 12/04/21 (that’s 12th April for our US affiliates) Pentax K-50 with 18-55 WR Lens $499 Pentax K-s2 for $599 Pentax K-3II with 16-85 Lens $999 But the poor old KP - No Stock. But its really strange that all these old discontinued cameras have appeared for delivery in less than a month! Shop Digital SLR Online in Australia \| Ricoh Australia Last edited by DeKay; 03-03-2021 at 06:22 AM. Reason: Typo & correction

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03-02-2021, 02:57 PM	#16
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Originally posted by ffking Well, they did say at one stage that the KP was the K-3ii replacement - makes perfect sense Big mistake IMHO, if true, unless they really don't have the capacity to have 3 APS-C lines - OR a replacement is coming soon I doubt they can keep up with 3 APS-C models, so K3 III is replacing KP. But next entry model may be more based on KP than on K70.

03-02-2021, 03:22 PM	#17
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	They had three separate APS-C digital bodies for sale at the same time for years. It does seem odd to me to not have the KP around as "the novel one" as there's always been one of those along with "the lower cost / more simple / amateur one" and "the advanced / professional one". KP seems pretty different from the K-70 and the K-3 various versions.

03-02-2021, 03:54 PM	#18
Cerebum Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Lancaster Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,828	If I was in the market for something different from canon and Nikon I wouldn't buy the K70 because I don't like the overall look of it. The silver KP is retro and quirky. So I guess that's the retro and quirky market now heading to Fuji. There will probably be a good reason but I doubt we will ever hear of it!

03-02-2021, 04:32 PM - 1 Like	#20
AgentL Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Seattle Photos: Albums Posts: 1,755	Originally posted by Cerebum If I was in the market for something different from canon and Nikon I wouldn't buy the K70 because I don't like the overall look of it. The silver KP is retro and quirky. So I guess that's the retro and quirky market now heading to Fuji. There will probably be a good reason but I doubt we will ever hear of it! I mean, the K1ii still shares a lot of the looks and controls of the KP, so it's not like that's going away in Pentax's stable per se. And the K3iii isn't really that much different looking from the KP except for the grip. I think the grip and front dial were the main "retro" cues on the KP but the grip was also the most complained-about. So you can't really fault them for pouring lots of R&D into the K3iii grip, and coming up with something less retro and more ergonomic.

03-02-2021, 04:44 PM	#21
Tesla Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Washington State Posts: 589	Originally posted by stevebrot Word went out last week that the Theta Z1 is discontinued and with a replacement to be announced soon. At least, that is how Pentax Rumors reads the tea leaves... Ricoh Theta Z1 is discontinued, new model to be announced by the end of March - Pentax Rumors Steve Parts issue. Not sure the model is really discontinued. If they swap out parts they might have a revision.

03-02-2021, 04:51 PM	#22
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by AgentL I think the grip and front dial were the main "retro" cues on the KP Ummmm...perhaps if the retro clue was to a Ricoh model like the one above from my shelf. FWIW, I don't get the part about the grip. Those were pretty much unknown before the need for big batteries to support AF and build-in winders. Steve

03-02-2021, 04:53 PM	#23
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Tesla Parts issue. Not sure the model is really discontinued. If they swap out parts they might have a revision. Parts plus government compliance. My understanding that a new wireless controller is in the mix, possibly resulting in radio upgrade and required recertification. Steve

03-02-2021, 05:15 PM	#24
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by stevebrot Ummmm...perhaps if the retro clue was to a Ricoh model like the one above from my shelf. FWIW, I don't get the part about the grip. Those were pretty much unknown before the need for big batteries to support AF and build-in winders. Steve An exception off the top of my head would be the AE1 I recently had (non-working) with a shallow grip not all that unlike the smallest one on the KP. I think that's from maybe 40 years ago.

03-02-2021, 06:15 PM	#25
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by gatorguy An exception off the top of my head would be the AE1 I recently had (non-working) with a shallow grip not all that unlike the smallest one on the KP. I think that's from maybe 40 years ago. Good point. My Super Program has a very shallow "grip" similar to that on the AE1 that must be removed before joining the ME Winder II. The P-series sported very usable shallow grips that were part of the body design. Steve

03-02-2021, 07:09 PM	#26
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,291	Being on the Ricoh Japan website it is not a rumor. I’m guessing the replacement will be around the corner, but not before the K-3Iii has been selling for a few months. Will the price go down? Or will it go up like the K-30 did after it was discontinued? Ricoh did not raise that price but so many resellers did. Anyway I’m happy I just got my second KP.

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03-02-2021, 07:34 PM	#28
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	That seems like a pretty good price for the K-3 II and 16-85...

03-02-2021, 08:11 PM - 3 Likes	#29
DeKay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Photos: Albums Posts: 208	Originally posted by pres589 That seems like a pretty good price for the K-3 II and 16-85... Considering that the 16-85 is currently listed at $1038, you gets it at a discount and they throw in a K3II for free!

03-02-2021, 08:58 PM	#30
carlb Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,162	Originally posted by DeKay Considering that the 16-85 is currently listed at $1038, you gets it at a discount and they throw in a K3II for free! That's a great deal.....it's almost worth buying one to see if they really will have them available.