K70 Rumoured specs online

Just noticed this on the ever useful Photorumors site HERE.

As a K-30 owner this has caught my attention.

Specifically it's sparked interest as to how they will place this against the K-S2 model, which frankly appeared on paper to have all the elements that a K-50 replacement would like have.

Yeah, I can't see the two different model lines continuing...perhaps the K70 will replace both the K-50 and K-S2...given that its rumoured to have a 24MP sensor...possibly the one from the K-3?

30 - 50 - 70 .... That's a pattern, so logically it should continue the line of entry/mid level traditional DSLR with the more conservative styling and design than the K-S range.

The K500 appears to have lead to a dead end, so really the K50 IS our entry model (admittedly a rather high level with some mid/high features at an amazing price.

There's been a consistent pattern lately of features morphing across the ranges and added value appearing on each new model, so I'd expect to see a mix of offerings pulled from both the K3/K1 and K-S2 ... I'd expect these to be mainly technical and photographic, as opposed to design/styling and connectivity type features (which define the K-S line I think).

My own personal defining signpost for designating a Pentax DSLR as ' enthusiast'/Pro is still the lack of scene modes on the mode dial ..... You could add the battery grip option for now as well.....

Big thread been running on the US forum for nearly 3 weeks now - everyone seems to have their own ideas of what it will be and/or what it should be!

Quite active discussion of the K70 rumoured/leaked specs on the US Pentax forum

The K1 has proven that Ricoh are finally listening to the traditional Pentax user base, so on current form I'd expect plenty of people to be happy with a new K70.

The KS range was explained by Ricoh to be a parallel attempt to lure fresh customers to DSLR's and NOT a replacement for the normal range. I'm now looking forward to the top APS-C replacement as long as it doesn't keep getting fatter and heavier. K5 weight or lighter would appeal.

So am I.
I'm hoping Pentax go for sports/wildlife spec when the new K3 replacement is announced, 20mp for better ISO performance, 11fps and updated AF would do me, the landscape/studio photogs have got what they want with the K1.

I know the back story, that Pentax envisaged the K-S line to be different to the K-50 line, but in practise the K-S2 (at least on paper) is everything you would have expected from a K-50 replacement. I think making the K-S2 weather sealed really sealed this for me, as now the two lines are extremely close, and no longer so obviously targeting different customer types.

I'd like to think that new models out can get new features, in that they don't have to come out in flagships and filter down. We see this quite often in reverse actually, where some new ideas are trialled on lower spec units before being approved and improved for the main flagship. The K-1 picked up the body LED illumination lights, which to some degree appeared on the K-S1. Not saying they're exactly the same but having backlit buttons is actually really useful.

Anyhow, what to expect...

Well I think we'd be looking at a new sensor, at least 20MP. No AA filter as they're so last year now. It will have the AA simulated shake feature that no one will ever use. Looking at the K-S2 for clues, it's guaranteed to have wifi built in. Probably no GPS, and no grip option.

Maybe the pixel shift ability IF Pentax decide to run their higher spec SR system in lower models in future. Otherwise no otherwise.

I actually really like this comment:

That's a really good point. If you look at say Nikon, they're producing genuine Pro APS-C models now because they know it has strengths over FF. Namely in being able to 'reach' further, which makes it ideal for sports photography. To achieve this they've got very grunty processors and incredible burst rates/buffers, with excellent tracking AF. Now that Pentax has a FF for landscape work, the time might finally be right to look at a point of differentiation on the APS-C range.

Points of debate are likely to be:

Screens
Will the K-70 feature a floppy screen? Will it be tilty (645Z) or twisty (K-S2) or both (K-1)?
Will it be touch screen? Will it allow focus point selection, or will it just be for menu navigation/picture reviewing?

Video
Will the K-70 have any video enhancements?
Will it allow focus peaking during recording?
Will it feature real SR during video recording?
Will it have a mic input? / Headphone output?
Will it have AF that works during video recording?
Will it record with a higher bitrate?
Will it be exactly the same as the current 2012 video offering again?

AF
Will it be able to track stuff?

Burst Rate
Will this be any higher than the K-30/K-50/K-S1/K-S2?
Buffer. How long will you be able to keep bursting for?


I think I need something in the higher spec range, say K-5 ii / K-3, but budget wise I'm likely to be kicking around the consumer K-70 / K-S3 range for quite some time. So, I'm quite interested in where Pentax take this, or if they release a K-S2 with a K-70 badge...

apparently there is a new Pentax "Alphabets" 55-300 lens being offered too...

the k-70 looks like the video spec camera us video shooters have been waiting for... one can hope anyways...

I see its been described as an entry level camera....... well Pentax entry level usually means entry+. I have a K30, forerunner of the K50 and I've seen that described as entry level. Some favourite images in my portfolio were taken on the K30.
In-camera stabilization, weather sealed, superb quality images. Some entry level !! You could use it for pro-class photography.
David

I've seen mention of the lens too - f6.3 at the long end, unless the camera has astonishing ISO performance I would have expected at least f5.6 to match the competitors.

it's collapsable like the 18-50 and it looks like the lens has both aperture and focus designed to work while shooting video a new mount k af 4
so I'm guessing this model is the merging of the ks2 and k30/50 models with a new sensor and upgraded video specs. the big question is.. does it have mic in, headphones out and mechanical sensor based sr, or is there going to be another model coming out either as a k-01 or k3 replacement that builds up on this model?

Leaked photos look very much like a K-S2 / K-50 hybrid. Seriously blurring the lines between these two ranges. Can't see the K-S series continuing at this rate.

Does have the pixel shift SR mechanism apparently, and the K-S2 twisty screen. Has internal flash, smart on a consumer model, and no gps inbuilt.

Same core of 6fps, small 10 shot raw buffer and max shutter speed of 1/6000. Does pick up 14bit raw?! Cool. Doubt there will be a grip option.

Will no more shortly, if it is released as expected, but very much hoping they've addressed the lack of mechanical stabilisation in video mode. I'm in if they have; simple as that.