[rvandenbrink]

A James Popsys YouTube video encouraged me to post this. I had been thinking about it, but it was difficult to condense it into a reasonable post. Popsys discussed a new Sony upgrade and how the bells and whistles were taking the challenge out of photography. As I cannot afford a $4K camera and lenses at half that price his particulars were somewhat not applicable. What I have been mulling over started with the periodic discussions about the next Pentax Camera model. These discussions tend toward more complex cameras. I found myself thinking in the opposite direction and that I might be a minority of one. What do I use most on the KP? I shoot RAW almost always in manual as the extra wheel allow changing the ISO. I use the timer often. I prefer back-button focus. I have played with pixel shift and the truth is I have neglected it and probably should not. I can usually produce something in post that is acceptable.

What do I want in the new model? Simplicity and maybe a port to attach a coffee maker. Start with a sensor, shutter, and all the things I don't understand to just give me tack sharp images, if I do everything right on my end of the bargain. Shake mitigation is nice as is auto-focus, a balance toward my advancing age. I understand my landscape preference might exclude features that are important to other genres and i am doubtful if my simple designs would have an effect on the price.

Anyway, what do you think about the direction of camera design?

I haven't shot a video yet on my KP, the phone does a much better job and likely always will. I bought the DSLR for still photos.

That being said, better video is something that should not come with a weight, volume or dollar cost - it's better chips, firmware and software. And honestly the better chips and firmware are the defaults and likely the cheapest option these days, you need to go out of your way to have worse video - still wondering how it took so long for Pentax to get to 4K.
So sure, make the video better, that will appeal to other folks, and the more people that buy the product, the more likely Pentax is to succeed - I'm all for that!

[hcarvalhoalves]

I haven't shot a video yet on my KP, the phone does a much better job and likely always will. I bought the DSLR for still photos.

That being said, better video is something that should not come with a weight, volume or dollar cost - it's better chips, firmware and software. And honestly the better chips and firmware are the defaults and likely the cheapest option these days, you need to go out of your way to have worse video - still wondering how it took so long for Pentax to get to 4K.
So sure, make the video better, that will appeal to other folks, and the more people that buy the product, the more likely Pentax is to succeed - I'm all for that!

Look at Fuji. They have: the X100 for travel/entry-level, X-T line for enthusiast, the X-H line focused on video and the X-Pro line focused on photography.

6 years ago, when Pentax released the K-70, Fuji had only the X100 and X-T1.

So, in the span of time it took Pentax to change a LCD screen and rebrand the K-70, Fuji launched *multiple* bodies in 4 different lines, improving both on photo and video.

[jersey]

Look at Fuji. They have: the X100 for travel/entry-level, X-T line for enthusiast, the X-H line focused on video and the X-Pro line focused on photography.

6 years ago, when Pentax released the K-70, Fuji had only the X100 and X-T1.

So, in the span of time it took Pentax to change a LCD screen and rebrand the K-70, Fuji launched *multiple* bodies in 4 different lines, improving both on photo and video.

Yeah, but Fuji is a complete company, while Pentax is just a hobby brand for Ricoh and kept on tight leash. Ask Ricoh why they don't drown Pentax in money to get multiple camera lines in shrinking market with minimal interest in DSLR as MILc is ruling adverts currently.

[hcarvalhoalves]

Yeah, but Fuji is a complete company, while Pentax is just a hobby brand for Ricoh and kept on tight leash. Ask Ricoh why they don't drown Pentax in money to get multiple camera lines in shrinking market with minimal interest in DSLR as MILc is ruling adverts currently.

In the years Pentax spent spinning wheels, Fuji developed two entire systems, with IBIS and WR, entire modern lenses lineup that is desired and bought by a loyal userbase.

Pentax had a head start and could’ve been in a better position, but management is too conservative to fully commit. For every right step they took (K-3, K-1, even K-P which created quite a buzz) they took another step back (they keep wasting resources on bad taste cameras nobody desires, they keep ignoring video, took forever for good AF, slow development of modern lenses).

They are shrinking their own market to a point it seems they wanna limit the business to a boutique brand with colored cameras that only a few Japanese fans care about. Just look how many offerings and features are “Japan only”, or the non-existent advertising outside Japan. There’s even a YouTube channel with a lot of cool content, and they don’t even bother dubbing it or even putting captions on. Their marketing is absolutely puzzling, it’s as if they are afraid of success.

[jersey]

Pentax is not a company. It is just a brand in someone else hands. It can do only as much as others allow it. And Ricoh (earlier Hoya) had their own interests and visions plus amount of money they want to sell.


And no, Pentax never had a head start over Fuji. Competition was first into digital world.

[ThorSanchez]

I think Pentax should secure their niche as THE digital SLR company by abandoning APS-C and just making full frame DSLRs. They should have 2 models in production, one the flagship state of the art, and the second a less exspensive model...either the previous model still in production or a lesser featured model. All lenses should be full frame and of the highest quality both optically and in construction. They also need to continue to innovate like they used to in previous eras.

I also think they should reenter film camera market with a camera that can use the digital lenses in their lineup. Film doesn't look like its just a fad that's going away. Eventually the used market (which is at least 15-20 yr old cameras) will dry up and the option to buy a new solid SLR that uses HD PLM lenses might be profitable.

I suppose they may eventually go to full frame only due to their limited resources, but right now probably 2/3rds of their user base is APS-C only. The K-1 and K-1II are the only full frame digital bodies they've ever made, while they've produced many, many APS-C cameras over the last two decades.


I'm one of those Pentax users who would have to replace most of my workhorse lenses if I moved to full frame. If I'm essentially changing systems I'm not sure I'd re-invest in a tiny niche company, especially if they've shifted some of those sparse resources to film, which I have no interest in whatsoever.