All Forum Comments
Comment by jules posted on TCSTV Review of the KP at 13/03/2017 - 04:45
kea828 wrote:
Personally I think the KP as intended to replace for the K-5II.
Interesting thought that, I wonder if it is meant to appeal to that user base, I miss my K5 IIs...jules wrote:
Pre Brexit and pre pound collapse I'd say this body would have been sub £1000, which may have put a differing complexion on things? If stores over here run out of K70's and have to buy more in (Unlikely I know), we'll get a price hike and similarly with the K1.
I see your point about the price, but remember that Chris Nicholls is based in Canada so that aspect probably wouldn't apply.Pre Brexit and pre pound collapse I'd say this body would have been sub £1000, which may have put a differing complexion on things? If stores over here run out of K70's and have to buy more in (Unlikely I know), we'll get a price hike and similarly with the K1.
Personally I think the KP as intended to replace for the K-5II.
Comment by jules posted on TCSTV Review of the KP at 12/03/2017 - 17:33
"I thought his review what on point. They are a camera store and they see lots of cameras".
I can see whe're your'e coming from here Richard, you feel about the KP much as I did about the Nikon Df (Did it really take em four years to come up with that?). However, because they see a lot of cameras could also mean they are expert in none, understand very few, Just don't get the ethos behind it?
"For me personally, the KP is another of those marketing attempt type cameras, and whilst some may like that, I'd prefer that engineering effort directed into a newer version of the 'real' dslr camera lines".
I get that too but every new releas is a "marketing attempt" these days, it's difficult to see a "core" line in Pentax terms often, even when the Ricoh top brass explain it. KS1,K70,KP,K3 II are all blessed with totally different handling, ergonomics and button layouts, the only two that are similar are the KP and K1, my opinion only but I have taken a look at them all in the flesh so to speak, Ks2 and K70 are similar in look but I have not handled that one.
"The two major selling points are the crazy high ISO limit (which is clearly a marketing ploy) and the interchangeable grips, of which it appears most are opting for the largest option. I feel if Pentax wants to compete with the size of mirrorless options, then it should just make a mirrorless camera. It tried with the K-01 and most users are quite happy with it. That failed due to the kindergarten my first plastic camera styling, but there's only so small you can make a DLSR camera, and it seems a silly target".
Crazy high ISO is definietly a marketing ploy as it was with the Nikon D500, which took it over a million ISO, just because they could!
I personally like the idea of the interchangeable grips but they could have taken it a step further like Fuji do by providing one with an Arca rail underneath and attaching it via the tripod thread thus not requiring to remove the handgrip to exchange for another but that kind of customization is to me welcome and that brings me to, what is to me is the core value of this camera, customization, it is even more customizable than the K1, they dropped the ball with a couple of the dial options, some from memory just don't have too many options but basically I feel that is it's core value as well as being the most ultimately portable and yet still rugged travel camera in the Pentax range.
"The KP is a rearrangement of the parts bin, pulling aspects of the higher models (like the AF system and grip option) and merging them with the lower ranges (1/6000 max shutter speed, 7 fps burst). The price is high and the marketing hype aspects are cool until someone reviews them, and finds the results shown in this video. Shades of lights in the grip and video on a 645Z etc".
I get that too Richard as I alluded to just above with my reference to the Nikon Df, there is no way that it took em four years to think of that one! "Now lets see, we're not selling many D4's anymore and the D600 is a shambles and we've got all these bits left over that we might have to bung in the skip... What to do"?
As always, return mechanical stabilisation during video and I'll buy it regardless of what it looks like. I'm more than happy with the stills performance of the K-S1. That's a real issue for Pentax, as their stills capabilities are stellar already. That does leave tracking AF and video capabilities as the areas in need of attention, and I think improvements there would be far more beneficial than turning out these projects every few years.
Well you are getting manual stabilistation back via firmware I beleive but for you I'd wait for the K3 replacement because it just has to have 4K video? Hopefully with some kind of flat codec for the editors out there, the recent PLM lenses seem to open the way for the mechanical stabilistion to make a comeback without too much noise pickup? They seem pretty silent anyway but as I've never moved the switch over to video on any camera I've ever owned, other than accidently, I'll definitely defer to you there!
Tracking/ follow focus is slowly improving within Pentax cameras but it's just such a patent minefield with still a ton of active lawsuits out there, that I'm beginning to wonder if they shouldn't just buy it in or just offer Nikons AF guru's a ton of money to come on board? Much as Sony did for the overall design team when they brought out the A900 FF DSLR, they just offered the guy that headed the design team for the EOS 5 MkII a wad of cash and stole him right from under Canon's nose!
I don't see the KP as a project, one off, yes, denoted by the twin Alpha nomenclature but it follows the design cues of the K1 too closely to come under the "Project" catagory I feel. I expect the K3 replacememnt to do similarly, which is why I'm not picking up a K3 MkII as I think future models will feature significantly changed handling characterisitics to the current K3 line and I want two similar bodies, if I can swing the costs it may well be two KP's...
I can see whe're your'e coming from here Richard, you feel about the KP much as I did about the Nikon Df (Did it really take em four years to come up with that?). However, because they see a lot of cameras could also mean they are expert in none, understand very few, Just don't get the ethos behind it?
"For me personally, the KP is another of those marketing attempt type cameras, and whilst some may like that, I'd prefer that engineering effort directed into a newer version of the 'real' dslr camera lines".
I get that too but every new releas is a "marketing attempt" these days, it's difficult to see a "core" line in Pentax terms often, even when the Ricoh top brass explain it. KS1,K70,KP,K3 II are all blessed with totally different handling, ergonomics and button layouts, the only two that are similar are the KP and K1, my opinion only but I have taken a look at them all in the flesh so to speak, Ks2 and K70 are similar in look but I have not handled that one.
"The two major selling points are the crazy high ISO limit (which is clearly a marketing ploy) and the interchangeable grips, of which it appears most are opting for the largest option. I feel if Pentax wants to compete with the size of mirrorless options, then it should just make a mirrorless camera. It tried with the K-01 and most users are quite happy with it. That failed due to the kindergarten my first plastic camera styling, but there's only so small you can make a DLSR camera, and it seems a silly target".
Crazy high ISO is definietly a marketing ploy as it was with the Nikon D500, which took it over a million ISO, just because they could!
I personally like the idea of the interchangeable grips but they could have taken it a step further like Fuji do by providing one with an Arca rail underneath and attaching it via the tripod thread thus not requiring to remove the handgrip to exchange for another but that kind of customization is to me welcome and that brings me to, what is to me is the core value of this camera, customization, it is even more customizable than the K1, they dropped the ball with a couple of the dial options, some from memory just don't have too many options but basically I feel that is it's core value as well as being the most ultimately portable and yet still rugged travel camera in the Pentax range.
"The KP is a rearrangement of the parts bin, pulling aspects of the higher models (like the AF system and grip option) and merging them with the lower ranges (1/6000 max shutter speed, 7 fps burst). The price is high and the marketing hype aspects are cool until someone reviews them, and finds the results shown in this video. Shades of lights in the grip and video on a 645Z etc".
I get that too Richard as I alluded to just above with my reference to the Nikon Df, there is no way that it took em four years to think of that one! "Now lets see, we're not selling many D4's anymore and the D600 is a shambles and we've got all these bits left over that we might have to bung in the skip... What to do"?
As always, return mechanical stabilisation during video and I'll buy it regardless of what it looks like. I'm more than happy with the stills performance of the K-S1. That's a real issue for Pentax, as their stills capabilities are stellar already. That does leave tracking AF and video capabilities as the areas in need of attention, and I think improvements there would be far more beneficial than turning out these projects every few years.
Well you are getting manual stabilistation back via firmware I beleive but for you I'd wait for the K3 replacement because it just has to have 4K video? Hopefully with some kind of flat codec for the editors out there, the recent PLM lenses seem to open the way for the mechanical stabilistion to make a comeback without too much noise pickup? They seem pretty silent anyway but as I've never moved the switch over to video on any camera I've ever owned, other than accidently, I'll definitely defer to you there!
Tracking/ follow focus is slowly improving within Pentax cameras but it's just such a patent minefield with still a ton of active lawsuits out there, that I'm beginning to wonder if they shouldn't just buy it in or just offer Nikons AF guru's a ton of money to come on board? Much as Sony did for the overall design team when they brought out the A900 FF DSLR, they just offered the guy that headed the design team for the EOS 5 MkII a wad of cash and stole him right from under Canon's nose!
I don't see the KP as a project, one off, yes, denoted by the twin Alpha nomenclature but it follows the design cues of the K1 too closely to come under the "Project" catagory I feel. I expect the K3 replacememnt to do similarly, which is why I'm not picking up a K3 MkII as I think future models will feature significantly changed handling characterisitics to the current K3 line and I want two similar bodies, if I can swing the costs it may well be two KP's...
Comment by jules posted on TCSTV Review of the KP at 11/03/2017 - 06:26
Good overview...
http://thedigitalstory.com/2017/03/pentax-kp-review-part-one.html
http://thedigitalstory.com/2017/03/pentax-kp-review-part-2.html
http://thedigitalstory.com/2017/03/pentax-kp-review-part-one.html
http://thedigitalstory.com/2017/03/pentax-kp-review-part-2.html
Comment by jules posted on TCSTV Review of the KP at 10/03/2017 - 09:56
Papa_Lazarou wrote:
Chris Nichols is usually very positive about Pentax cameras, so I was surprised to see how he felt the KP offers little over the K-70 and the poor fit and finish.
I'm in a slightly different camp here, I was not aware of any weedy construction but my handle period with the camera was brief, as for it offering little over the K70, well I just don't agree.Chris Nichols is usually very positive about Pentax cameras, so I was surprised to see how he felt the KP offers little over the K-70 and the poor fit and finish.
MrB wrote:
There are lots of positives there and, as for the negatives, I either agree or they wouldn't bother me. However, as I have written similarly elsewhere, it is not surprising that his conclusion re. comparison with the K-70 is the most significant in my view - I wouldn't want to spend twice as much on the KP. If I were looking to buy, for a similar outlay I would prefer to spend on two K-70s or a K-70 plus another good sub-£500 lens.
Cheers.
Philip
I feel that the quiet shutter, new bracketing modes, superior autofocus, better meter, metal chassis and mostly metal outer, new control layout, interchangeable grips and the overall compactness of the body despite five axis stabilisation, set it apart. There are lots of positives there and, as for the negatives, I either agree or they wouldn't bother me. However, as I have written similarly elsewhere, it is not surprising that his conclusion re. comparison with the K-70 is the most significant in my view - I wouldn't want to spend twice as much on the KP. If I were looking to buy, for a similar outlay I would prefer to spend on two K-70s or a K-70 plus another good sub-£500 lens.
Cheers.
Philip
Pre Brexit and pre pound collapse I'd say this body would have been Sub £1000, which may have put a differing complexion on things? If stores over here run out of K70's and have to buy more in (Unlikely I know), we'll get a price hike and similarly with the K1, The K3 II is the current bargain and when that stock runs out it'll be replaced and it will priced a good bit above the KP and a little below the K1, which starts to take APSC into baseline FF pricepoints as with other brands, at which point it really will have to be outstanding in order to sell.
I'll be ordering one KP next week I reckon but I would like to see a deal with a lens, just to sweeten it a little
C'mon Watford, hello???
Comment by jules posted on TCSTV Review of the KP at 10/03/2017 - 09:33
I agree and this fella, seems much more enamoured with the KP!
http://www.mycameratravels.com/pentax-kp-hands-on-experience-review/
The Small grip is of no use at all, in my honest opinion, I just couldn't imagine anyone with small enough hands that could actually lift a Camera finding it of any benefit. I'm not sure which of the other two will fit me best but they are definitely better than a bare X-T1 or X-T2, I actually prefer the handling of the KP to the K3, which is a suprise considering the K3 was what I was used to... (Been exclusively Fuji for the last two years)
In my all too brief look at the KP I took to the three dial layout like a duck to water and forgot that there used to be an LCD there at all!
I'm getting one in to play with, I'm flogging some of my Fuji kit but keeping the X-Pro2 and the primes for Landscaping, I'll run the KP alongside, I have some current contractual agreements that preclude me from using the Pentax exclusively at the moment, I'm looking forward to seeing how it fares against the X-Pro, as I like the idea of two KP's for my line of work, for some reason I didn't like the K1 at all...
http://www.mycameratravels.com/pentax-kp-hands-on-experience-review/
The Small grip is of no use at all, in my honest opinion, I just couldn't imagine anyone with small enough hands that could actually lift a Camera finding it of any benefit. I'm not sure which of the other two will fit me best but they are definitely better than a bare X-T1 or X-T2, I actually prefer the handling of the KP to the K3, which is a suprise considering the K3 was what I was used to... (Been exclusively Fuji for the last two years)
In my all too brief look at the KP I took to the three dial layout like a duck to water and forgot that there used to be an LCD there at all!
I'm getting one in to play with, I'm flogging some of my Fuji kit but keeping the X-Pro2 and the primes for Landscaping, I'll run the KP alongside, I have some current contractual agreements that preclude me from using the Pentax exclusively at the moment, I'm looking forward to seeing how it fares against the X-Pro, as I like the idea of two KP's for my line of work, for some reason I didn't like the K1 at all...
Comment by jules posted on TCSTV Review of the KP at 10/03/2017 - 07:57
Comment by jules posted on TCSTV Review of the KP at 10/03/2017 - 05:22
stu62 wrote:
A decent review would be some one that as never used a Pentax camera some one that is not loyal to a brand and is very open minded
Well I think John is very open minded and there is nothing wrong with being a Pentax user reviewing a Pentax product, John reviews many other products too and gives some great feedback and high praise to a lot of Lenses for instance from other manufacturers. I do understand the suspicion that surrounds reviews and indeed reviewers. The point being, John likes Pentax but makes no secret of it, many other reviewers out there are far more ambiguous and you have no idea what their angle is? Personally I prefer the type of review John does as they are concise to the point and from someone who knows how to use a Pentax...A decent review would be some one that as never used a Pentax camera some one that is not loyal to a brand and is very open minded
Not everyone will agree with me on that...
Brexit, collapse of the pound all are factors here, you have to remember that the KP is the first release after all of that and so the first that the "buy in price" has been affected by the above, K3's and even k1's, were bought in pre collapse. The replacement for the K3 II will slot right in the middle between the K1 and the KP at around £1400, still some £300 cheaper than the list price of the D500 and 7D II at release, it'll have to have a high resolution flippy screen, 4K video for Richard (otherwise I think he will spontaeneously combust!) 1/8000th sec top shutter speed, big buffer and two card slots and a higher frame rate and may likely adopt the K1 Autofocus sensor layout plus all the fancy multiple exposure modes etc from the KP. However, unless things change economy wise pretty soon, I'm afraid the K3 II is the last of the big value "Pro" bodies. The price hikes right across the industry are gut wrenching, I'm not going to buy an X-T2 myself as I just won't spend £1400 on APSC, If I can get a good deal soonish on the KP (Are you listening in Watford Chris?), I may switch as I also think that £800 for an X-T20 that is not weather sealed is poor value also, I live in Cumbria and weather sealing is a must have feature for me! I can spend £2200 on two KP's and have two weather sealed bodies or £2200 on an X-T2 and an X-T20 and have only one weather sealed body, lenses are the problem for me, all the Fuji ones are good, I'll need to research lenses thoroughly again, as I'm not too up on Pentax any more but the 16-85 and the new 55-300 look like a good start point?
I like the look of the KP, I had a quick handle of one, just pre release and loved it, I would need to try the various grips, to see if I can get the handling right and want to see a decent review (John?) but currently I must say it's looking like the one for me...
I like the look of the KP, I had a quick handle of one, just pre release and loved it, I would need to try the various grips, to see if I can get the handling right and want to see a decent review (John?) but currently I must say it's looking like the one for me...
K3 II is the last "cheap" Pentax for a while, snap em up while you can guys!
I'm in a strange boat myself on this now. I won't pay £1400 for APSC (Fuji X-T2 and my conjectured price for K3 MkIII, slap bang in the middle between Kp and K1). Likewise I won't pay £800 for a body that aint weather sealed (Fuji X-T20), so it's a toss between a heavily discounted K3 II or the Kp, (I won't have a Canikon thrown at me!) if Chris gets any kind of launch deal on the Kp the answer will become clearer as it is probably enough camera for me. if not I may end up saving for a K1 and a new back!
I hate to say this to you guys but you may be getting me back!
Only be for a little while though, eh Mike?
I'm in a strange boat myself on this now. I won't pay £1400 for APSC (Fuji X-T2 and my conjectured price for K3 MkIII, slap bang in the middle between Kp and K1). Likewise I won't pay £800 for a body that aint weather sealed (Fuji X-T20), so it's a toss between a heavily discounted K3 II or the Kp, (I won't have a Canikon thrown at me!) if Chris gets any kind of launch deal on the Kp the answer will become clearer as it is probably enough camera for me. if not I may end up saving for a K1 and a new back!
I hate to say this to you guys but you may be getting me back!
Only be for a little while though, eh Mike?
Comment by jules posted on hands on kp @ srs at 22/02/2017 - 06:03
It's all subjective and I actually don't think Chris Nicholls gives a poor review of the KP. I think he hits on some specific areas where he feels it doesn't justify the cost, especially when comparing to the K70, which I can't disagree with. BTW, I have no hands on experience with either the KP or the K70, so my opinion is based purely on what I see on the web and what people say on sites like this one.
FWIW, I still get the performance I need from my K-5iis and my K-3 mk1, I don't feel any need to upgrade at present. A quantum leap in AF performance would tempt me, as would high ISO performance as good as a K-1.
Regards
David