Interview Ricoh's John Carlson (Pentax)

I have to agree with you there Mr Riley as I still think to this day my best photo ever taken ws with an original Olympus trip

Regards stu

Its true, but the point about it being the photographer sidetracks the issue I feel. You could have Joe Cornish, David Noton etc etc going out with a compact camera, and you might reasonably expect very nice results ... but, ultimately, there will be very real limitations as to the application that those images could be put to, and in deed very real limitations as to what detail and dynamic range they could reproduce, because of the limitations of lens and accessory support that the compact camera can provide.

Given the two cameras in the same locations and situations, our Joe Cornish and David Noton etc would produce a higher quality result with a high end, large sized sensor camera (and system).

Glad you said that Nigel. I was just about to sell up and use my Motorola

Hmm, not sure if you could fit in all the sewage pipes with just a phone !

just watched the interview and boy he should be a politision ie avoid the Q
but if you listen he did let one thing slip and that is they have not finised with the k3 yet
so is there a mk2 on the way

Frankly speaking as a working photographer with a full battery of Pentax lenses and bodies as my main system and an legacy of (a few) Canon lenses plus a recently acquired Canon FF which I purchased in anticipation of reverting back to Canon (which I have now decided not to).

I am somewhat bemused if not deflated when I consider what the FF has brought me as a practical advantage.

I think that FF might give a definite advantage to specific applications such as weddings (particularly for indoor shooting without flash) or where large print are produced, but I don't feel much of an advantage in other areas.

I have just produced a gallery of sporting prints, website images and brochure illustrations for an International sports village; I saw no advantage from using the Canon.

All images even large display prints, some heavily cropped, were shot using a K3 and K52s

FF is not "game changing" as a tool, certainly for wild life, sports photography etc; i would say, don't underestimate the advantage of the x1.5 factor of a cropped sensor and whilst it would be nice to get an FF Pentax it won't change capability much as a practical tool.

If are not producing large prints of selectively cropped images then think again, not just about the quality issue but also the financial burden re buying FF compatible lenses,

Whilst technically the advantage can be enticing I genuinely do not feel the FF can be justified for most photographers and that the hype is a little misplaced.

As regards a Pentax FF, Pentax might get me there by steady evolution but FF is not a revolution I see as a priority for numerous reasons

Back of the net Daron!
Sums it up for me perfectly.
If you really need it, you already know who you are, the rest of us just don't, basically if you shoot handheld in dark places, and your livelyhood depends on it, you should already have something that isn't a Pentax, I like my Pentax just fine...

The interview came across to me as a "hearts & minds" speech. Did DPR inform him prior to the call or just catch him unaware?

Best regards

Low light ability tends to come from pixel size, or larger pixel light capture area. So a higher megapixel sensor is less likely to perform as well in low light as a lower mega pixel equivalent.

A certain camera has been a game changer recently by pitching at a 12MP resolution, which is ideal for video and suitable for smaller final image sizes. It offers less 'cropability' obviously.

So a 50MP FF sensor is going to be competitive if you don't require razor thin depth of field, and you have full control of the lighting. Studio wise yes, a 50MP FF has to be in competition with the 645z MF camera. It really depends on the final use of the product.

This is exactly the same conversation as do I need FF when I've got APS-C. If depth of field and low light capability are not limiting issues then it's not a big deal.

Right now there is a huge jump required to go above a K-3, and I think it could easily be considered too big a gap, considering many lenses could be used on both the APS-C and FF mounts together also.

Is Pentax in danger of being left behind, as (leaving aside the technical arguments for/against FF) other major players put a good deal of money and effort into developing the market's taste for it? Or are they right to believe FF is an unprofitable 'gap' to fill, given the competition they would face in an (as yet?) small segment of the market? None of us has any way of knowing their thinking, particularly given the delphic nature of their utterances.

I like my Pentax camera a good deal, but for landscape photography I crave FF. Again, whether I am right to or not will for now remain a moot point. But I can see myself transferring my affections in 2015 if Pentax decides the FF gap can remain just that -- a gap.

Medium format aside.

Pentax has taken a considerable gamble in not addressing full frame. Not having the ability to bring one to market yet, no concrete plans for ever bringing one to the market. Every person that has the genuine NEED for full frame will most likely completely ditch their existing Pentax system in favor of investing all of that money into full frame.

Take a look at the sales numbers. Not just for Canon and Nikon, but how about Sony - how about Sony sales of full frame? Even with such a limited inventory in items such as Sony lenses and accessories, Sony full frame is outselling ALL of Pentax.

Sorry but I do see Pentax going anywhere soon, anywhere but down in numbers - considerably.

Take a look at the present Pentax camera body line up and even worse the current Pentax branded PK lenses. Pentax has the ABILITY to do it, but is not doing much with it. The pacing is incredibly slow.

Not opinion, just fact

Can you backup this statement with figures? published figures not made up ones.

If anybody seriously needs a so called Full Frame system they would have it by now, personally I don't think we will ever see Pentax releasing a FF body, certainly not within the next 5 years, too much investment for what could be no return in the short to medium term. Once the world sorts it's self out economically then maybe they will take the risk but I don't see it soon unless they have something killer up their sleeve.

Rather an over-confident statement. For one, you are ignoring those (like me) who would like one and who have been hoping that Pentax might provide.

You may well be right. Having listened to the unimpressive John Carlson, it's difficult to maintain much hope you're mistaken.

Yes it is the photographer and not the camera, but...

When camera equipment options LIMIT the photographer. This is exactly one of the most major issues facing Pentax.

While doing work such as a wedding is rare in something less than full frame; portraits are much more common with cropped sensors. But imagine getting some serious work (but not quite medium format) doing a wedding...

Then add the word Pentax into that mix. That now leaves high end flash out of the mix; names such as Quantum. How about lens selection? While companies such as Zeiss have made PK in the past; where is it now if one wants a brand new lens? Even Sigma is beginning to more selectively limit PK.

So while the photographer still makes the final product; limiting to Pentax only is like rowing a boat with just one paddle

Aahh yes the numbers.

Those numbers were presented at a Las Vegas trade show by a Sony rep. In front of myself and well over one hundred other people. They are also on the internet if one knows where to look.

The numbers not pulled from a hat and are nothing less than fact.

One also has to realize the market segments. Ever been to North America? Where can one purchase Pentax in a retail store? Yet it's also that exact way throughout most of the world. Yet Sony seems to have plenty of retail displays, market share, and most importantly sales. Very strange that Sony is doing so well in camera sales, whilest taking a look at the remaining Sony company structure.

In my perspective; Pentax cannot afford to take the gamble of not attempting full frame, They stand to lose more by not trying it