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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-18-2018, 04:21 PM
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Over the last year or so asahiman has made a number of predictions about what’s coming, some tied to this September.
- The GRIII in September (from a screenshot that is supposedly a Ricoh timeline)
- Revised f2.8 APS-C zooms with DC motors in September.
- Focus on FF at the expense of APS-C (admittedly not related to September, but the source of some of the negativity on this thread)
It will be interesting to see whether any of this comes true. What if Ricoh releases a GR camera that is not a GRIII, a 645 camera or lens, the DFA 70-200 f4, a PLM standard zoom, a K-70 or K-3II replacement? Where would that leave us?
My problem with taking these predictions seriously is that they are phrased cryptically and without much detail. Sometimes they are followed up with a comment like “The plan changed” or “It got delayed”. So I find it difficult to take them any more seriously than random speculation.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-04-2018, 06:25 AM
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I measure the distance from the mount face to the back surface of my MZ-3 to be 53mm and the K-01 to be 58mm. So, the K-01, which was designed to be as small as possible but still has a screen and IBIS, adds 5mm. Not so dramatic. I realize that some other SLRs were a few mm thinner than the MZ-3. The LX seems to be 50mm. I think a K-mount camera that resembles an LX is feasible, but it would help to keep the dimensions down if it were mirrorless like the K-01.
---------- Post added 09-04-18 at 10:29 PM ----------
It's funny that I mentioned the lack of a new generation sensor yesterday, and today we get details of the Fujifilm X-T3 with a 26mp APS-C sensor. It seems that after many years of variations of 24mp, it may be time for a new sensor, and Sony is not keeping it to itself. Fuji haven't particularly got sensors earlier than Pentax in the past as far as I can tell.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-03-2018, 07:32 AM
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There is plenty of evidence to believe that a new high-end APS-C K-mount camera is coming.
- Pentax Forums was specifically told by Takashi Arai of Ricoh that they are working on what could be seen as a successor to the K-3 II. I would have though that would be clear enough.
- Then there were comments at a Ricoh event in Japan a few weeks later that the K-3 II successor would have something "unexpected" about it. It would not be a K-3 III and it would have something different about it's interface. However, it would feel familiar to users of the K-3 line.
- Then there is that fact that KP was described as a mid-level APS-C DSLR from the start, implying there is an intention to have another model above it.
- Then there is the DA* 11-18 - the very fact that it is being made as a new high-end lens, and that they said it was a result of "drastically reviewed internal standards in order to respond to future camera performance improvements"
- Finally, common sense dictates Ricoh should do it. It has been a key segment for them over the years. They have a whole line-up of lenses they need to keep selling.
At the same, there are a number of understandable reasons that they might be delayed.
- Simply they are overstretched.
- They don't feel a sense of panic because the KP is doing well at the same price point as the K-3 II was, and a new model will be more like a line extension.
- They are waiting for a new sensor or other component. Actually Sony themselves seem to be in this situation with APS-C. I don't think the KP sensor is a big enough jump over the K-3 II to justify committing to for the next generation (probably a I and II model over four years).
- If there is some new-to-Pentax technology in it, it could be very difficult to develop.
So, I feel certain it's coming. They won't talk about it until it's close to release though.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
08-13-2018, 06:01 AM
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-01-2018, 08:17 AM
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There is some evidence of a new camera on the way from CP+. The way the DA 11-18 is described strongly suggests a new camera on the way - "This lens was developed as a "new-generation star lens", which drastically reviewed internal standards in order to respond to future camera performance improvements" (my emphasis). To me that also implies a higher resolution sensor, which could be what we are waiting for.
A comment from Ricoh staff at the CP+ booth about the K-3 II successor:
"K-3IIの後継機とも言えるフラッグシップの開発に着手していると聞いている"
"I heard that we are undertaking the development of flagship which can be said to be the successor to K - 3 II"
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-01-2018, 06:08 AM
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Today the K-3 II was moved from the current camera list to the discontinued list on the Ricoh Japan website.
Gone! Products | RICOH IMAGING
It's reflected at most retailers as well. I wonder how much of a gap there will be, but a new advanced APS-C camera must be on the way now.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-19-2018, 07:54 AM
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I think there's a real possibility that what is holding the K-3 successor up is actually is a new generation sensor from Sony. APS-C sensors have been stuck at 24mp for quite a long time, while the FF sensors have getting BSI and gone up 50mp. At some point surely APS-C sensors are going to increase as well.
It's interesting that Sony themselves have not released a new APS-C camera for an uncharacteristically long amount of time - it was October 2016. What are they waiting for - probably a new sensor as well.
There's a recent rumor that the Fuji X-T3 will debut at Photokina sporting a new sensor with more than 24 but less than 30mp. Fuji generally uses standard Sony sensors with their own color filter, so I would expect that to be a sensor Ricoh could use.
So how about the following specification?
- 28mp (on the assumption that I'm right about the above)
- 4K video (don't see how they can leave it out on a high-end model in 2018 and all the chips they use should support it)
- On sensor PDAF for video AF (sensor should allow it and K-70 has it)
- Sensor shift image stabilisation for video (hinted in interview)
- All fundamental specs at least as good as the K-3ii and probably better
- The accelerator chip from the KP
- Body features from the K-1 (monitor, illumination, 3rd dial)
- Released by late summer, along with the new wide APS-C zoom already shown
- Price probably above $1,500
I don't think this is beyond the realms of possibility, and it would be a great camera.
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