New 'KP' more of a K5/K3 than an entry model

According to photorumors site the new Pentax 'KP' could be announced within a week or so and is said to be a K5/K3 class of camera rather than an entry level replacement. Compatible with a new DBG-7 grip apparently.

If it's £1100 at launch I'll be waiting awhile before considering it.

Err, no, Thursday, 26 January 2017, 07:00:00 (Tokyo time)
Photos here.

That looks more of an entry/mid range camera to me, no top LCD so not in the same class as the K-3II.

Yes. The lack of a top plate LCD suggests that it is not a flagship.

There are also fewer dedicated buttons than the K5/K3 series (iso, af, metering).

It looks like a baby K1/Kr hybrid to me!

If it is a top end model I would be put off by the lack of interface; I'm not a fan of custom and user functions.

Agreed.

it looks ugly to me but thats my opinon looks a lot like the mirrorless nikon (wash my mouth out with soap and water)

and the internet will start with the
Pentax *istDoomed again...
lol
I'm sure it will be a fine camera... it doesn't look bad..
but I'm leaning heavy towards getting a couple panasonics when my next round of upgrades comes... a a pair of g5's and a BMD micro cinema cam... I'm tired of waiting for pentax to release anything video that can use my existing lenses and just moving on...
but my k3's will still see plenty of love for years to come.. eventually they will need replacing too...

The front dial seems completely new, there's nothing like that on anything before ....

It has a K1 kind of shape. Very interesting, I am looking forward to seeing some spec details.

Choice of about 4 different grips suggests to me that this is a new powerful AF System and they are concerned that the High Torque generated by such a powerful and fast 440VAC AF motor could break peoples wrists

--

Hopefully the different grips will come in the box.
Struggling to see the point of the different grips at the moment, I'm sure all will become clear.

my guess is different battery capacities, and perhaps.. hopefully you'll see some extras in the bigger grips such as xlr mic inputs, headphone jack, preamps and more packed into the grips rather than the camera... and if so then one would hope that the grips will be compatible with any new mirrorless bodies that Pentax may release with better video codecs?
that way those who don't care for the "extra" video and audio capabilities can just buy the accessory grips that fit their needs and budgets?
I sent that suggestion to Pentax/ricoh a few years back, maybe they've listened?
*Edit*
nope it looks like they're just customizable body grips and one battery grip

It looks really good to me, a nice melange of modern and retro. Hopefully it's actually metal not plastic. That said, it looks very 'skinny' - more like a mirrorless?

now that I think about it the design does remind me of a camera I used to own..
it also had several body grips to choose from and an optional battery winder grip....
the Ricoh Xr-P

Ha it does look like it a bit, mixed with the Pentax MZ-50 as someone pointed out on another forum.