Pentax K-01

Now Ricoh's in control, I'm sure some of their EVF technology will start to appear on future Pentaxes. I also expect they'll closely monitor how the K-01 (a Hoya project) goes down and refine the next models accordingly (or have a radical rethink, depending on how well it does).

I guess Ricoh will want the K mirrorless to be distinctive against their own GRX as well... Or maybe they'll cancel it and bring out that rumoured GXR module.

I suspect that modual is done and will be released.... if anything as a Ricoh product.. they really won't be competing models in the marketplace...

Sounds interesting but do you have any specifics?

I ask because I briefly googled Ricoh EVF technology and your post came up as the second hit. Found a few other things that seemed to be mainly users slagging off their outdated approach. :

I don't think Ricoh are at the cutting edge of EVF technology but I haven't heard anything really negative about Ricoh EVFs. Kai (DigitalRevTV)tested the GXR with M module recently; it might be worth checking that out to see what he said about it (I think the gist of it was 'it's good enough'.

'Good enough' is good enough for me, I only want to check focus and composition with the thing.

On the software side of things I notice it comes with Silkypix rather than the "powered by Silkypix" disaster from Pentax. That would be a pretty nice bonus for me. It would be good servicing of their existing customers if they opened up download for the rest of us. I don't expect that is going to happen, and I am not sure if it would be even be possible without a lot of hassle - how to deal with serial numbers?

At least I expect this is a trend for the future: new dslrs will come with Silkypix, giving us lens corrections and stuff without having to buy one of the more expensive Adobe offerings.

I am not going to buy, but I would recommend this to my friends UNLESS it explodes in another recall case, and it is actually the first time for some years I would do that with a camera from Pentax - much as I enjoy using the K5.

Lack of viewfinder isn't a problem:
link

But still I like more old-fachion optical viewfinder.

At least the K-01 doesn't look like this: link. Perhaps the OM-D will be a good camera functionally, but grief that 80s styling is hideous (have often been bemused by recent nostalgia for 80s design and culture - it was mostly a pretty dire decade in all sorts of ways IMO). OTOH it does have a viewfinder and an articulated screen.

The look of the K-01 is growing on me. Yes, the chimney stack that ends in the program dial is kind of odd. And from the top it looks very boxy. But in other respects - as long as it's not in yellow - I rather like it. And thank God Pentax haven't gone down the retro route. I understand I'm probably in a (tiny?) minority, but stylistically I find the Fuji X100 a ridiculous camera. It looks like it was made thirty or more years ago - surely design wise thinks have moved on since the days of the classic rangefinders. And its handling seems quite poor to me, partly as a result. The Olympus Pen on the other hand is a more elegant blend of old and new. The K-01 is like nothing else out there (perhaps for good reason:shock - though it does kind of resemble a 21st century take on later Kodak Brownies.

The size of the K-01 is, of course, an issue - it is so much bigger than its competitors. But I imagine that at least this will result in a camera that handles well (like most Pentax cameras). And the thought of being able to use Ltd. (and older K-mount) lenses without an adaptor on a compact(-ish) camera is very appealing (kudos to Pentax for apparently listening here - what with the announcement of long lenses, they seem to have been quite receptive of late). The lack of an EVF and articulated screen are big omissions, but I am increasingly curious about how the K-01 will perform and handle.

I think it looks better than the K-01 and I like the silver version a lot. It is tiny and has a viewfinder! The K-01 isnt and doesnt.

2 control dials and weather sealing!

Yes, functionally it will probably be very good - and 2 dials and weather sealing are excellent, though of course you'll pay for these. But that pointy design looks awful to my eye, especially the fake SLR hump.

The K-01 does at least break new ground in camera design - even if, as is evident from this thread, plenty of people think it was ground that didn't need to be broken.

I dont have a problem with the "funny" looks myself but I do think it may mean they sell less K-01s (been done to death I know). For me Mr Newsome, as a designer has not played to Pentax strengths- we often say that Pentax is always thinking of photographers when they design their gear- there isnt much evidence of this with the K-01 IMO- then a few days later another brand launch a camera with all the things I wanted from the K-01 feature wise (okay the sensor is not on a par) and I believe these could have been added without making the K-01 it any bigger.

Lets hope they bring another mirrorless out with a few more bells and whistles (EVF, tilt screen, twin dials, weather sealing) later on.

Yes, I do reckon the next incarnation of the K-01 (if there is one!) will surely be a more compelling camera. They managed this with the K10/20 and K7/5, though the improvements were all internal, which won't be sufficient with any K-01 successor.

Yes, the number of people that used to laugh or cringe whilst I was using my LX's and MX always got me riled. What a pity that Pentax could not make a non-hideous camera.

We must be really grateful for the K-01, it just blows a gripped K5 into oblivion due to its styling and functionality.

Best regards

You're right - not all 80s design is bad, but the OM-D doesn't look good IMO (then again I think the X100 is pretty dumb design wise, which most people don't). Not all 80s music is bad either but I'm mystified by the recent musical trend to refer back to what generally speaking was a pretty awful sounding decade - this looks to me like its photographic equivalent.

Noone said the K-01 would supercede the K5 in any shape or fashion.

If 80s styling is the in thing it's probably because the children of the 80s are just getting to the point where they feel wistful about "the good old days" - so designers tap into this lucrative market.

There never were any good old days, but that's just my opinion! All days should be as good as we can make them....

The K-01 is I'm sure just the start. Pentax may well have been receptive to ideas all along, but just without the resources to make their wishes a reality.

I am said child of the 80s- so I guess this appeals to me, I must admit I prefer the styling of older things rather than new- but at some stage it becomes a pastiche which can be a bit naff. the Mini car is a good example- the original is a triumph of function, the modern one is a marketing exercise (and a very successful one).

I believe that the other attraction is that older designs were engineered in a very appealing fashion. I like metal not plastic and I like a item to feel well made. You have to pay for these things now.

I am still amazed at the quality of the bog standard Pentax 50mm f2 kit lens I bought from ebay for peanuts- it feels so solid and well engineered.

These retro designs are trying to re-capture this in some respects- I wonder if they have that feeling of quality engineering.