richandfleur, My comments about the K-S1 (line) were just repeating what a senior Japanese Ricoh/Pentax marketing bod said in a recent online video interview. He said that the K-S1 and subsequent developments would parallel not replace the K-series (traditional) and specifically for the reason that they would appeal more to the younger tech savvy generation. I suppose being Ricoh (Pentax) and not Sony it might take them a short while to 'get with it'. The K-S2 potentially could be a modern classic if they get the feature/product list just right.

Ricoh build some of the world's best photocopiers (document solutions in today's jargon)...you can download wirelessly text and graphics and photos from not only your PC/laptop but also your tablet and phone, and print direct from your office colour copier. With this 'in house' expertise Ricoh could offer this facility at very little extra development cost on every DSLR camera they produce and leapfrog the competition. Touchscreen is standard with this facility. The other things like tilt/swivel monitors, social media etc are a doddle to integrate given the will although I do think they will have to integrate wifi etc directly rather than relying on those special SD cards which will never really take off.

regards

Karlo

The images from it look superb at the sizes posted...I can see it being very popular if it lives up to the initial impression.

It also explains the unprecedented sheer size and scope of reductions on macro lenses across all mounts these past 6-8 weeks.

Currently SRS are doing the Sigma 50mm f2.8 PK at £199 or £179 ex-demo,
also even better..the Sigma 70mm f2.8 PK for £249.

I've seen the Tamron 90mm PK for about £300, Pentax 100mm of course, for about the same price . If its technically possible to do 2:1 macro for less than about £400 then presumably we should be seeing a glut of these lenses from everywhere soon.

Nice set John. Some of them I remember you posting although my favourite is actually November which i don't remember seeing before...Pop Music meets the Blitz.

regards

Karlo

Jules, I agree about the ceiling of £1000+ (maybe £1200 initial price topps) on APS-C...they could just about 'Do' a retro APS-C for this and it would sell well...but they do need to be able to make money on it at a price of £900-£1000.

I see their DSLR range as being KS-1,2 etc aimed at the young techies, iPad generation at about £350-£400 running parallel with K60 'mature enthusiast' and about £450-£500 price mark after 4-5 months. I think they'll drop the K500/K600 altogether very soon.

I see the K-3 settling by Easter at about £700-£750. A K-3II when it appears would be about £800-£850 after a couple of months.

Above this level...apart from blue sky there is room for only one more APS-C at about £1100-£1200 and to 'hold' £1200 it would have to be very special...like retro with GPS, WiFi and all the toys.

FF if/when it appears has to be below £1500 unless it's retro then it might make £1700-£1750..but that's it really...any more expensive and it just won't sell in the volume they will need to re-coup its development.

Your point about the other marques having too many models/changes is very true...I would expect all the remaining manufacturers to slim down their model ranges to just 3 or 4 within about a year (up to about the £1500 mark and including cheapest FF)..it can't be viable to maintain any more than this given that APS-C is close to reaching its absolute potential..not much more added value to pull out of the hat.

I don't see the K-3 as being replaced as such, more a case of saving the development cost of a new K-5 which would only end up being very similar to the K-3...so why pay twice to develop a model? The accountants wouldn't allow it.

There has to be something above the K-3 to continue to attract the wealthy enthusiasts and semi-pro/pros who will otherwise continue to leave the marque causing its demise. This time last year as well as speculation on the K60/600 there was also rumour of a 'retro' Kf or some such which I think Pentax would like to launch to appeal to the huge 'traditionalist' market..people who grew up with Pentax 35mm film. One or two other competitors have already gone down this route successfully.

It all depends then on whether they make the 'retro' model their FF offering in which case we are likely to see a K3II sooner rather than later or whether they bring out a retro styled APS-C and just use the innards from what would be the K3II in a new shiny metallic outer shell. The second option would buy them more decision time if they were still undecided whether to go with FF or not.

Anyway, regardless of the speculation...my main dilemma is whether to spend on the K50 body while the offer is still on or £499 for the K5II with 18-55DA WR! I'd rather let someone else try out the newer models first.

Interesting...given the relative small size of it, my guess would be that this will be the K60/600 and intended as a replacement for the K50/500 probably with the 20MP sensor from the K-S1. It is pictured with the new 18-50 'compact' kit lens as well by the look of it. I'm guessing that the K-3 is intended to now 'drop down' the line-up to fill the space vacated by the K-5...given the huge price drop in such a relatively short time by this model. Only question is whether the new 'Top Dog' will be announced at CES also or whether they save this for about Easter time.

Purely speculative but here goes...

Long awaited telephoto zoom, plus a top end 'retro' APS-C, plus a new K60/600 using the 20MP sensor from the Ks-1 in the body of the existing K50/K500

Karlo

I'm very close to upgrading my K-x to probably a K-50 although I haven't totally ruled out a K5II now that the body with kit lens is down to £500. On balance though the K-50 is superior to my K-x in just about every respect and offers everything I need or want at the moment and is very cheap too boot...so i'll probably save myself the difference and take that.

Main improvements for me are:
1. WR...by far the most important benefit given the UK climate.

2. A larger (3") LCD and higher resolution as well...very welcome now that I use reading glasses.

3. 16MP vs 12MP..allowing more scope for cropping and allowing larger images at a higher quality if I decide to do some wall art as i am thinking of.

4. TAV setting...better for aircraft shots

5. Slightly larger and heavier together with better handling...will benefit me when I get larger lenses as they will be better balanced.

6. Better exposure and AF settings and accuracy...has to be a good thing.

7. Newer model ensures greater compatibility with current software / SD cards etc

8. Peace of mind that comes from the 2 year warranty...just have to decide whether to sell K-x and get something for it or decide that I might get more benefit from keeping it as a 'reserve' second body.

That's the gist of my thinking in a nutshell.

regards and Happy New Year to all.

Karlo

Some good detail in those shots. I particularly like the geometry which works well in mono in No.6.

Happy New Year to yourself and any other browsers!

Karlo

A really nice shot.

Karlo