[NickLarsson]

I think we can now observe 1 minute's silence for our beloved K-01 :

Discontinued Model Lineup | PENTAX RICOH IMAGING

[robtcorl]

[jatrax]

But wait! It's not 'entirely' discontinued. Just sort-of discontinued.

Two months ago I would have said 'so what' but after getting one I have changed my mind. It has quirks and things I would change but I am very happy with mine. I hope there is a k-02 and they continue to push this line.

Of course they have to be able to make money at it, and though it sold like hot cakes at $300+/- I wonder if that is a viable price?

[JJJPhoto]

Only time will tell if there is a K-02. I absolutely LOVE my K-01 enough that I bought a second one but I doubt the profit margins are there to sell as K-02 at $299.

Still, I would be happy to see the K-01 body reused with updated firmware, a better RAW buffer and the new 24-megapixel APS-C sensor in the $300-$500 price range ... or Pentax could put a full-frame sensor inside like what the Nikon D600 uses and I'd happily pay $899 for that.

[lytrytyr]

I think we can now observe 1 minute's silence for our beloved K-01 :

Discontinued Model Lineup | PENTAX RICOH IMAGING

So what's it doing in a list of discontinued "Digital SLR cameras"?

[jatrax]

So what's it doing in a list of discontinued "Digital SLR cameras"?

They did not want to start a new mirrorless section there to put it in? Maybe they are hoping it will fade away without notice in the DSLR section? Their webmaster does not know the difference? Putting it in it's own section all by itself would look like a failure instead of an honorable retirement? They are hoping no one notices until they are all sold?

[Steve.Ledger]

I think we can now observe 1 minute's silence for our beloved K-01 :

Discontinued Model Lineup | PENTAX RICOH IMAGING

Yes, I saw the link a couple weeks ago which was the final motivator for me buying one before supplies dried up. At $289 I didn't want to miss out on cult-cam#2 (I bought the Q late last year )

[anthony mazzeri]

So what's it doing in a list of discontinued "Digital SLR cameras"?

It uses SLR lenses.

[Rob22315]

You'll see other brands offering similar cameras within 3 years - my prediction. Pentax is, again, ahead of its time.

[JJJPhoto]

You'll see other brands offering similar cameras within 3 years - my prediction. Pentax is, again, ahead of its time.

Actually, Pentax is WAY ahead of its time. The prototype for the K-01 (minus the Marc Newson design) was on display at Photokina back in 2006!



I agree that we'll see more cameras like this from other manufacturers sooner or later. The K-01 is a great camera ... even if it is officially discontinued.

[Na Horuk]

Aww, too bad. I really hope they continue to develop this line, I think it has a lot of potential. Just need to improve AF and button placement. And maybe add a more conservative style, all black without rubber.

[RonHendriks1966]

Well I own two off them, so I probably can use them for some years to come. I still hope there will be a new K-02 in the future.

[Jean Poitiers]

IMO a properly priced and featured K-02 would sell well ... I'd think about one if it came out moderately redesigned (or DE-designed Marc Newson) with a newer and bigger sensor ... J

[NickLarsson]

In fact it's a pity that it's now discontinued because even if it's not a DSLR, at $300 it was a very nice entry point to the k-mount world.

Now the cheaper k-mount camera is the k-30 at $650, which may seem quite expensive for a novice or student.

[Doundounba]

I'm a little bummed, I must say. I do hope my K-01 serves for a few years at least... For me the real questions are whether there will be a K-02 or not, and whether or not Pentax keeps releasing firmware updates for the K-01.

As someone brought into the Pentax world by the K-01, I have just started investing in K-lenses, and the discontinuation of the camera does make me a little nervous, because I wouldn't want a camera that's *larger* that the K-01. So if the line doesn't continue, I will have a problem when I buy my next camera from the suddenly useless set of lenses, as I switch to another system. I know: I can always sell them here, but that would be a bummer...