The K Mount

I have just found this in an article on 'What Digital Camera' concerning the new Pentax DSLR. It is part of a letter sent by Ricoh/Pentax!

"Currently, we are re-examining the “value of taking photos” and developing products that allow more people to enjoy the act of photography itself. It is expected to take some time before this product fully materializes, but it is planned to be a completely new concept digital SLR camera that can fully leverage the K-mount lens heritage accumulated over more than half a century. Regarding the progress of new product development, we will provide updates as soon as information is complete, at appropriate times."

Does this allay some of the fears re lens mount or what?

Michael

Good question.

Consider that until Pentax launch their new product that is K mount compatible, people coming into photography using cameras not phones won't be able to buy any new Pentax camera with an interchangeable mount.

So, another question, when the new product is launched, will Pentax launch all new glass as most of what we have known is already discontinued. As for us existing users, would we be a loss to Pentax if we didn't buy into their new product.

They will have a huge challenge getting back into any market share as only new photographers might be attracted to whatever the product is, as I don't expect any serious photographer jumping ship from another system.

My own thoughts:

I'll use the kit I own and not worry about future products or compatibility.

The new product could be three years plus away and in that time, Nikon, Canon and Fuji will also have made progress from current offerings.

As it's all conjecture from Ricoh and they have the right to change their plans, I certainly would not be sat going without whilst waiting for an as yet, unknown product.

Best regards

I feel it is slightly encouraging but the trouble is, if Pentax take too long to bring out this new camera, the current market will have moved on so far and people will have invested in some other system. Are they just targeting staunch Pentaxians because that market is getting very small. I love my Pentax cameras and mine should last me for many more years hopefully, this new camera would have to be something totally revolutionary to succeed I think but I just wish they would move it on much faster.

I think what u say is correct and playing out to YouTube channels I watch that where Pentax shooters for years have now changed systems .

This has been discussed in many places and for some time now. The short answer is that what Ricoh/Pentax have said is all we know, everything else is speculation, personal opinion and guesses. Given the state of the world economy, the price of memory going through the roof and uncertainty and volatility in just about everything else, it's not reasonable to expect Ricoh/Pentax or any other sensible company to make a firm commitment to producing a complex, new concept thingy on a specific timescale or to say what it will be like. The only thing it is reasonable to expect is that R/P will first focus on their home market (i.e. Japan). If they can't win there (which I would expect to be their most profitable market), they won't win elsewhere. And Japanese tastes, preferences, expectations, culture are quite different to Europe and the USA. What eventually emerges might therefore be nothing like what UK, US or European Pentax users think should be produced (and history shows that even if they did get what they wanted, they wouldn't like it! ).

As for me, I've got plenty of cameras (all Pentax), plenty of lenses (K and Q mount), plenty of batteries and plenty of possible projects for which they are well suited. I don't need any more and I don't see any need to change system. All I need is time and opportunity to take all those as yet untaken photos!

Steve

I'm also in no hurry to change systems - but sadly some of my kit (notably Q06 lens and DA*300mm) is starting to show its age and have some reliability concerns - so I have been tentatively researching other brands (no harm in looking) - and I'm fascinated to learn that the rumour mill is just active across all manufacturers.

I'll put my hands up in saying that I was very guilty of falling for some of the Pentax K3Mk4 and K1Mk3 rumors (as some of the the spec's seemed very plausible) - but either there were genuine idea's and models in development (that have now been scrapped) - or, as is more likely the case - all the rumors were just wishful thinking on behalf of us loyal Pentaxians and had no actual factual basis behind them.

So, I'm not going to fall for any of the latest speculation within the camera industry - as clearly it's a difficult time for them all - so we'll just have to wait and see what comes to fruition - and I'll make a decision only when I absolutely have to.....