Pentax Ricoh

Algi, why on earth would they be tempted to change the K mount after releasing four new cameras using it in the space of 7 months? Two of these in the last few weeks?

I hope they don't change, but if they intend to it would be
better to do it from day 1 rather than in 12 months time
just like Samsung did when they dropped the GX20

The K-01 was a flop mostly because people thought the body
was too deep, so something with a shorter registration distance
is needed, plus incorporating TWO mechanical iris stopdown
mechanisms in each body and lens must be expensive and take
up room. Most other makes have more electrical contacts
available and the Pz contacts used for SDM restrict the
diameter of lens elements that can be used.

Pride of place on the Pentax website has been given to the
GR. They have discontinued the GRX even though some modules
were only released in the last 12 months or so. They may
want to bring out a GRX replacement to use the same lenses
as the DSLR's (or maybe they won't ).

They never mentioned any intention of bringing out a K module
for the GRX which to me sounds like they aren't too keen on
the K mount. Possibly a K to Leica adapter would work... I
don't know

A K-module for the GRX mount would have had the same problems as the K-01, i.e. too deep. Maybe getting the AF module and SR in there would have been problematic too. Would there really be enough demand for such a thing anyway? You can get a NEX for a couple of hundred and play with adapters and Pentax lenses to your heart's content.

Pride of place to the GR - GOOD. It deserves it. I can't remember any Pentax camera creating waves like the GR has done.

Maybe their strategy will be to offer cameras like the GR instead of interchangeable lens mirrorless bodies, and stick to traditional DSLRs for serious photogs. Which would mean keeping the K-mount. Which allows future FF expansion. S'all good. Maybe they can inject some of the GR DNA into future DSLR bodies.

Pentax are not going to change the K-mount.

Obviously not for some posts John. You did not raise the issue with Johna.

Best regards

I raised the issue with everyone K10D, the post you quote applies to all, not just to you. A little leeway is one thing, but it was digressing too far.

Thanks for the clarification John. Favoritism is to be avoided whenever possible.

Best regards

How to Announce Nothing by Thom Hogan

http://www.gearophile.com/newsviews/how-to-announce-nothing.html

'

Pretty silly article in my view. This whole thing is a nonsense. And nothing more so than the suggestion that they will change the K-mount.

This seems to be what Thom Hogan thinks we should get:

Great K6 image. Drop the O for an E and it can be RICE-H. He would be happy.

Best regards

For authenticity, shouldn't the model number be "KR-6" and be under the shutter button?

Andrew

They could retain the 'Pentax' name as a differentiator for their DSLRs - like Fiji uses the name 'X-pro' and Sony uses the name 'Alpha', and Canon the name 'Rebel' (in the US).

It will be called the KR-10x-6

They've gone so far down a blind-alley now that they
haven't really any other option. I'm rebadging my
Pentax K-5 immediately

Ricoh is King..... Long live King Ricoh!

'

Why have they gone down a blind alley? They have three options - retain the Pentax name as they are currently doing (and put the Ricoh logo somewhere subtle on the body), put the Ricoh name up front and use the Pentax name as a secondary 'product line' name (think Pentax Optio), or get rid of the name Pentax entirely and go Ricoh all the way! None of these would bother me in the slightest.

I'm confused why this is a 'blind alley', and can only conclude you're determined to see only negativity wherever you look!