Fixed Screen for new APS-C flagship

Apparently new camera will have a fixed 3.2" screen...not a deal breaker for me but some will be disappointed.

Link

I've found a tilting screen can be useful, especially when the camera is mounted on a tripod, but it's not a deal breaker for me either. In fact, the other side of the coin is that without a tilting screen cameras can be slightly less bulky.

This was a poor choice for a new high spec camera, I use one on the K1 many times as it is essential for very low or high level shots and I am surprised at its omission. Something else for the critics to pick on.

This camera has a longer gestation period than an elephant!

An interesting choice, disappointing for me also but, not a deal breaker. The tilt/swivel screen on my K-S2 is SO handy sometimes. The reason given to save 3mm body depth seems a bit nonsensical to me. As I say the K-S2 has a movable screen and is far from being big or heavy. It will be interesting to see what else the camera brings to the table. I'm sure it will be a lovely camera and very tempting for us APS-C shooters

By choosing to opt for a fixed rear screen, Pentax are to be thanked for saving me something in the region of £1,500.

Yawn... An articulated screen is still attached to the camera. Give me both (a) a superb viewfinder; and (b) superb in-camera wifi so a smartphone or tablet be used rather than rear screen and can control the camera. It looks like (a) will happen. Not hopeful about (b). But would either make me a better photographer or let me get shots that I can't get with the K3? Doubtful...

As for weight, though... with every year that passes, every gram saved on the camera is appreciated more and more .

Steve

By choosing to opt for a fixed screen Pentax are not to be thanked for costing me in the region of an extra £2500 as I will probably end up splashing out 4k for a Canon R5.

Well not really as I wouldn't have bought the new body anywaydue to the lack of third party lens support (mainly 150-600mm) and the R5 should be a fair bit cheaper as I don't see the need to buy it for another 12 months anyway.

The lack of an articulated screen is disappointing. As my age increases and mobility decreases, it means that the enjoyment of being able to capture low level shots, possible with the KP or K-70, would be ruled out using K-New. This seems contrary to Pentax Principle 5 in particular:-
"5. We respect and value the photographic experiences of our users and view this as an invaluable asset. We want to share all the inspiring experiences of our users, from the hardware to the shooting processes, creating and viewing the images."

Philip

Pentax have been clear, they are concentrating on the viewfinder, not the screen for the photography experience.

They have also been clear they want to keep size and weight down to compete with the MILC market.

I find the articulating screen on the K1 to be a fantastic feature. I am not in the market for a new aps-c camera so it bothers me not.

You cannot please everybody. If the tilting screen is a priority get a K1 II

Ditto. I find the articulated rear screen so useful that I would not now consider a camera without it. However, before you all cry buy a K1, I do not want the bulk and weight of a full frame DSLR and lenses. So, I'll be sticking with my KS-2 and K70 bodies.

I completely agree Steve (except in my case KP), and I consider it to be quite impertinent to be told to buy a K-1.

Philip

I don't particularly find the weight of a K1 onerous (try a Canon!) but the lack of a rear flippy screen has saved me money too. If I get down these days I have great trouble getting back up again! I fear they have lost a lot of sales by this move (or lack of it).

I am not sure this strategy of leaked snippets before launch is a good one, after all we saw the mock-up a year ago now so this long drawn-out series of teasers is getting a bit wearisome and by the time it launches it will probably be an anticlimax. It’s just another DSLR after all, the only reason I can think is to show that there is still life in the brand but the snail-like progress is not comparing favourably with outputs of other brands.

I'd rather have quality than quantity. Look at the amount of cameras from canon with hardly a difference between them ( and only a £30 price difference). I have a nikon camera I use solely for bird photography and although the long lens is great, the camera is a nightmare to use compared to my Pentax. All I want from Pentax is better autofocus tracking, everything else is excellent.

I think they will come to regret having a fixed screen and it will lose them a lot of sales. Like others, it's not a deal-breaker for me, my K-3 doesn't have a tilting screen but my two Fujifilm cameras do and they're incredibly useful, especially for focusing manually.

I'm sure the viewfinder will be very nice, but I doubt it will allow precise focusing of, for example, a fast 85mm manual focus lens. That can be done better on a screen than on an APS-C viewfinder, and allowing the screen to tilt makes it a lot easier.