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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
10-26-2012, 02:33 PM
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"no one in their right mind will put $4000~5000 in a system when the future is unclear" -- this is indeed the problem with Pentax and it has been ever since I bought a Km back in 2008. In those four years I haven't seen a single statement from them, in English, that offers a direct and unambiguous future path. They seem to lurch from one model to the next in near silence and you're never quite sure whether the last model will be, well, the last. Meanwhile, folks try to decipher cryptic comments directed entirely at the English-speaking world but still made in Japanese, and sometimes first translated into Russian or some other language and then run through Google into English. The results are usually hard to make sense of and often don't make any sense at all. In any other industry, this level of PR would be considered catastrophic. Hardened marketing men would be running for the fall-out shelters. What does surprise me is that one year or more in and Ricoh still don't seem to have got a grip on how Pentax communicates with the world outside of Tokyo. I know that people keep mentioning Ricoh in connection with big money and big plans but Ricoh seem to have a very, very strange way of going about convincing world +dog they have either unless you live in Japan. Have they left it all too late? Yes, I think so, at least I think that Pentax are going to lose a very big slice of their top-end users in North America and Europe, the ones who buy all the lenses and the K5 models. They are going to decamp en masse over the next 12 months, not necessarily to FF but to systems where the future is clear enough to make them feel OK about putting in the money and where the distributors are not so crazy as to invite users to leave by inflicting wild lens price fluctuations on them.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-22-2012, 01:15 PM
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I think forums are a good place for people to discuss, debate, celebrate and even vent. I haven't posted anything in months, patiently waiting what would be revealed at Photokina. To me, it looks like more of the same, and if Pentax had no immediate plans to release a full frame, then they should have come out and said so. What difference would that have made had they announced something to that regard, yet insisted they still have exciting products coming?
All negative all the time can be a big downer, but I can't blame loyal Pentax customers voicing their displeasure for something they've wanted to see happen to their favorite camera brand.
So, that's great for Pentax to be making some neat and innovative products, along with improvements to their existing lineup. However, it still falls short of what more than just a hand full of negative people have been waiting for.
It's true, for now. We can't always get what we want in life, but when we're talking about dslr's I damn sure can go get something, NOW, I want instead of waiting for the double secret probation to end for Pentax.
Anyway, I was soured with the exaggerated lens hike back in April, and I haven't seen anything to get all worked up about one way or the other. It's just status quo, and for some people, that's fine, while for others, it's ho hum, and on to the next. I fall into the latter category. Doesn't make me negative, as I don't come on here and complain. I just makes me impartial to Pentax, understanding there are camera brands that do give people what they want. So take that any way you like.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-22-2012, 01:08 PM
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It looks a bit as though you think we owe something a bit more than respect. As for "moving on to other systems", well, why not? Last March I was wondering what all the fuss was about FF cameras and decided to rent one and find out for myself, rather hoping that any differences I noticed compared to my K-5 would be trivial. Being impatient and thus unwilling to wait to try the new Canon 5DIII or Nikon D800, I rented a Canon 5DII for a week along with a good Canon lens and, rather to my annoyance, was quite blown away by the superiority of the whole experience, not just the picture quality (the most obvious difference being low light photos) but also the astonishing speed and accuracy of the focusing of that particular lens/camera combination (ironically enough, in Canon forums people complain about the autofocus of the 5DII compared to more recent cameras). The day after I returned the camera I bought a 5DII and the same lens (along with other lenses since then), sold my Pentax equipment and haven't looked back. My only pangs came in departing with my older Pentax lenses and DA 40mm Ltd which, to these eyes, look nicer than anything made by Canon (who recently released their own 40mm pancake which, next to the Pentax, looks clumsy and cheap) - and, what's more, would have worked on a full-frame camera. But nostalgia, brand loyalty, the slight snob appeal from owning what's not part of a ubiquitous brand, etc., only get you so far; it's the results that matter, and I really don't see why someone who wants a FF camera should be made to feel bad about not patiently holding out like a grateful serf until Pentax is able to provide one. (Even if there were no such thing as a FF camera I would probably have switched: having a marvelous body such as the K-5 is all very well, but it would be nice if Pentax had an array of lenses of comparable quality to go with it.)
I doubt my experience is unique and, while I may of course be wrong, I suspect it's not so much "respect" that will make Pentax/Ricoh listen as the risk of losing customers to what strikes me as being superior systems.
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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
09-20-2012, 07:42 AM
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Posts like yours are among the saddest that I read here. A loyal user of the brand, an enthusiastic one even, leaves because the equipment just can't cut it.
I was considering the K-30 because the AF is supposed to be faster, which it is based on my limited playing around with one. The problem is, when I stopped to think about it more, that it's really not the speed that is the biggest problem for me - it's the accuracy. I don't see the K-30 as having improved that aspect of the camera. I have a K-5 and there are huge pluses to it, but neither AF speed nor accuracy are among them. My son is moving up in his soccer abilities nearly every day, it's amazing to watch and a real source of pleasure for me - until I try to capture him with my K-5. Why have I even considered a D7000? Because I want to actually ENJOY taking photographs of my son at his favorite activity. At this point I am so invested in Pentax that it would cost me a LOT to switch. I keep hoping that Pentax will take an amazing camera and make it a great camera. I await the user reviews of the Mk II but have less hope each day that in a year I will still be a Pentaxian.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-19-2012, 12:12 PM
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With regard to Pentax and what their plans are and what they should be doing, I would like to make one point. When the K7 was released it was praised but people complained about it ISO, Pentax listened and the K5 was released and despite its initial problems it was and still is a fantastic camera. We are now about to see the next progression in two versions of the K5 mark two. Only time will tell if it is better or worse, but if the camera continues to evolve, surely this must be a good thing. As for Full Frame look at the Nikon 600 and the negative points being raised already. It would seem that we all want products to be bigger, faster and better than the ones we currently own, and yet we seem to forget that some fantastic images have been taken with models that are now considered old and out dated. What ever Pentax do or don't do there will be people who wont be happy and talk about switching camera brand. What ever we have, we will wont more, so perhaps some waiting will be good for us?
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-19-2012, 06:36 AM
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As was mentioned earlier, a more physical presence w/ the B&M stores. I hate having to make decisions based on products you can't physically see and feel. If Pentax put their 3 colors on a B&M sales floor, I guarantee you, after a short period of time, they couldn't keep up w/the sales. This just simply baffles me. You can only get on line and though that is becoming more the trend, I hate having to purchase something sight unseen. If they have burned bridges in the past, repair them and get their name out in front of the public. Or else I can see their presence diminish even further to the Canikon group.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-19-2012, 09:26 PM
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I question the future of Pentax if these Full-Framers get their wish. In fact, I wish I had a few million dollars to buy everyone that "needs" a FF camera a Nikon or Canon so that they'll go away and let the company focus on actually fixing itself. Honestly, I couldn't care less if they ever release a FF camera, because they will never last as a company without fixing their marketing and distribution problems. They absolutely shouldn't be wasting cycles on throwing a minority a bone, when they ought to be focusing full-time on entering markets like India and fixing ones like the US to increase their visibility and market share. They need an increased market share a lot more than they need to put good money into a FF camera nobody is going to buy because they've never heard of Pentax.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-19-2012, 11:53 AM
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BINGO. I get asked camera buying advice at least weekly by people and it is quite literally impossible to try and steer them towards Pentax, because there is only one shop in a 100 mile radius that carries Pentax cameras. And the shelf space they devote to Pentax is smaller than the area they reserve for the 35mm film they are phasing out.
People want to know which CANON or NIKON camera they should be buying because those are the two brands they see on the counters of the electronics departments of every box store they enter. They don't even know what Pentax is.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-19-2012, 08:21 AM
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The answer to the FF was the same as last interview, yes we're looking into the market of it, may take awhile to build something IF we deem it a worthwhile market to go into. Same ol same ol really. I don't expect Pentax to say if there was a Pentax FF coming out soon, or they would have announced it at Photokina, but at least tell people there isn't one at all and stop stringing people on for years.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-19-2012, 08:10 AM
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The more I read reports about the FF from Photokina the more I feel that it's still at least 2 years away - but that it will eventually come... here is my reasoning.
1: In the first impression article from Photokina it was said that "it cannot be denied that there are good things to come" - i.e. everything is possible, but nothing is in the works
2: Here they say "we are looking at this particular product type more than eve" - i.e. looking at, not working on (in other words, they are considering to actually work on a product in the future)
3: Adam's own careful words " I did get the impression that the idea has been in the works for a while now" - nice, but it's an impression, not hard fact.. and also the "idea" has been in the works, not the product.
To me these combined show that either they are too careful in their wording and don't want to give anything away, or they have genuinely not started anything concrete yet in terms of development, and are only playing with the idea that sometime in the (maybe even near-) future they will start the development of a FF system. If they are too careful then I personally think it's a bad choice. People are already leaving the brand as is, but if they said that something is actually in the works they may retain many customers - and I don't think they are this bad at marketing. Which leaves me to believe in the second option, they simply have nothing in development at the moment, but they are going to start work on it relatively soon-ish - with maybe a FF camera in stores in about 2 years' time.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2012, 08:32 PM
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At least you Kiwis HAVE a Pentax distributor. We hav e 1.2 billion people in India and no Pentax at all!
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-17-2012, 09:35 AM
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In "exciting" I means something "different".
Canon, Nikon has the "entry-level" FF camera, D600 and D6;
Sony has the FF mirrorless, RX1.
"Big announcement" coming for Leica and Hassy ($6000 645 system).
and a bunch of slick looking lenses from Oly.
The "9 announcements" fade in comparison. But hey..... such is the fate Pentaxian endured all these years. :lol::lol::lol:
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2012, 09:08 PM
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2012, 08:57 PM
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I've been a Pentax fan since 1968 when I bought my S1a...the first of many Pentax SLR's / DSLR's, lenses and accessories I have purchased.
While my S1a, ES 11 and K1000 still work...I primarily use my K10D, Km and K-5. I'm obviously a long time, loyal Pentaxian.
What I would like to say to Pentax-Ricoh is the following:
- Bring out a reasonably priced lens...such as the Canon 400 mm F 5.6 L lens. In Canada this lens goes for about $ 1500 or so.
- Keep the Limited lens series. Just bought my first one (70mm F 2.4) and plan to purchase some more. BTW, I've been very pleased with my 12-24, 50 Macro, 50 normal, 10-17 Fisheye, 55-300, 16-45.
-I'm very happy with the quality of my Pentax digital SLR's...please keep the quality level...high... in Pentax.
- Advertising is expensive I realize. But many new to photography in North America are not aware of the Pentax line and the features and quality this camera/lens line offers.
- Communicate with Pentax owners. Do surveys, ask for anecdotal responses... find out what your customers want. Not just new customers....but oldies :D like me and all those in between.
- A full frame would be nice, but I'm very happy with the ASP-C format....keep refining and producing it. I do have a lot of money tied up in ASP-C. I hope Pentax will be able to offer Full Frame and continue to offer ASP-C format and medium format.
- I'm happy to see Ricoh take over Pentax with enthusiasm. I'm hoping for great things in the future for the venerable old line of Pentax.
- I realize you can't do everything at once, but your product road maps ... are great and help consumers plot their photographic planning.
- Pentax has been known in the past as having significant and competitive line up of lenses and accessories. Many of the old lenses were of excellent design. Perhaps a shortcut to expanding the accessories and lenses would be to up date some of these fine old designs.
Thank you for listening.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2012, 10:09 PM
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Please ask if are we gona find Pentax products on big worldwide retail stores or, as happens now, just on some photo stores and on line.
Thank
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2012, 08:55 PM
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I was a pentax die hard.. (k10, k20, k7 and k5). All have served me well. I've grown my skills far beyond my wildest expectations, but this year was the line in the sand for me. I've battled the poor auto focus in the k5 and k7 for long enough. The 5ii seems like it will address the issue but the fact of the matter is as a creative portrait artist I crave the depth of field traits of a full frame camera. I waited desperately for the fall announcement in hopes that an ff would be announced to no avail. But Nikon delivered. So, I jumped. I just received my 4th Nikon prime today so i have the glass to get me started and the two bodies shipped hours ago. The D600 has some short comings but Pentax has no comparable alternative. I just couldn't wait anymore.
I'm sorry.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2012, 08:55 PM
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This as well. Pentax is SERIOUSLY lacking in the accessory department.
I shouldn't have to hunt ebay, goodwill, and craigslist for 25+ year old accessories for my modern Pentax dSLR simply because you or a quality 3rd party are not making them. You (Pentax) should be making them!
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2012, 08:53 PM
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It's nice to improve the low-light AF on the new K5II and K5IIs, but, when I bought the K5, I expected AF to work reliably enough in low light. It does not if the source light has a low temperature (i.e. tungsten light bulbs, sodium street lamps).
I understand that the fix is hardware, not firmware.
Now, rather than buy a new K5II, I'd rather have my K5 upgraded for a reasonable fee.
Can Pentax do that ?
PS: Otherwise, the K5 is already great. I really appreciate the WR and ergonomy.
I can live with the most other limitations (i don't do video).
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2012, 08:32 PM
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When will a Pentax FF DSLR be available?
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2012, 08:40 PM
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- Have they ever considered having one of their current engineers rip apart a PZ-1p to learn how to make a shutter that syncs at 1/250th?
- Is the person that decided to give Marc Newson money still employed by Pentax?
- Will there ever be another product roadmap?
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
07-13-2012, 12:36 AM
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A Pentax FF could and should be something the others are not. I.e. smaller, rugged, completely weather sealed, photographer-centric controls, with IQ on absolute position #1. I do not need superb tracking AF and the like, but I would like the best viewfinder of any FF camera out there.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
07-09-2012, 09:44 PM
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As MANY have stated.. changing their mount at this point in time would be disastrous.. forcing people to a new mount would only push them to Canikon systems (Canon for those who want to easily use their Pentax glass on them, Nikon for those who are fine with a mount change to upgrade). Not many people would want to want to have to buy a Pentax Camera, then buy a Pentax PK adapter to use PENTAX glass..
IN THEORY your shorter registration distance via new mount sounds great and probably would look good on paper... Maybe this is something they should look at marketing via Ricoh.. but Pentax users have stuck steadfast with Pentax because of their backwards compatibility... how many percent of Canon shooters do you think have an FD to EOS mount, I bet it's under 10%... I think Pentax has learned to not rock that boat... especially when your trying to GAIN market-share, not alienate your loyal following.
I personally think most will end up in the same boat as myself.. sick of waiting for an upgrade path and simply jump ship.. But I was also semi-forced into replacing my K-5, so I opted for the upgrade.. Let the VISA bleed!
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
07-07-2012, 12:02 PM
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I have been using Pentax for roughly 30 years now, with 6 film bodies and currently 3 DSLRs and at least 30 Pentax lenses and ten or so others. I would never buy another Pentax body, If I had to use adapters for these lenses. If (and that is a really big IF), the adapter would provide full functionality for K-lenses (KA, KAF, DA etc.), it would be very expensive to make and to buy. On the few M42 lenses I use, I have K-adaptors mounted permanently. That wouldn't be an option with really expensive ones. I really don't think, that Pentax could be stupid enough to switch its mount, as they made a really big issue about their backwards compatibility (without adaptor).
Pentax won't win the professional market anyway with any kind of small format camera, be it 35mm sensor (aka "FF") or aps-c. Pros used Pentax back in the Spotmatic days, because at that time Pentax was really ahead of the competition. These days are long gone and they cannot invest the money to bring themselves back into the professional game. Except for the 645 - if they provide the lenses and accessories, pro photogs really need. The 645D is the only professional segment I can recognize some effort from Pentax's side.
Sure, Pentax can jump onto the bandwaggon of mirrorless cameras, which make only sense, if you use the absence of a mirror for sliming the camera body. In thzat case a new lens line-up with a new, shorter back focal length is sensible. Perhaps they go in that direction. But going FF and introducing a new mount simply doesn't make much sense at all.
Ben
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-19-2012, 12:12 PM
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Not so far fetched as you seem to think. Perhaps you missed these photos in the past?
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
03-27-2012, 07:53 AM
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you know, all this talk about full frame etc, while I know my next comment wont satisfy those shooters who want AF etc... it is my fall back if pentax ever stops making K mounts.
Canon.
To be blunt. I will be out the AF lenses, and thier value assuming my cameras all die (that is *istD, K10D, K7D, and K5D for digital plus my PZ-1 which still works like a charm) but my 35 or so manual focus lenses, with the correct adaptor will still work on a canon full frame body, and the shorter regestry distance combined with the huge mount diameter of the canon body, makes a mechanical mounting interface a snap
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