RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: Hearsay and Rumour: K-5 Has Been Discontinued (Also! :-o)

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Hearsay and Rumour: K-5 Has Been Discontinued (Also! :-o)

http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/K0000152653/SortID=13971212/

(Japanese Excite English Translation Here)

This is quoted from a shop who claimed to learn from a Pentax staff. And yes, K-5 has been discontinued and it will still be available until the existing stocks run out.

Some people would then deny this rumour straight-forwardly by the logic that "There is not yet any replacement model announced that will come!" But the same thing did already happen for the K-r. So, it is actually possible!

But, if it is true, WHAT body now yet stays in the current Pentax K DSLR *lineup*? So, will there be only lenses under the *system*?! :-o

For these days, I just wonder what Ricoh are doing on Pentax, really.. >:-(

Related:-

K-5 Replacement Coming? (Continued)

K-5 Replacement Coming?

Comments (22)

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+3 Vote up Vote down

Moritz Schwertner · 690 weeks ago

Ehm... You do know that PMA is just around the corner, do you? ^^
If the rumor is true then we will, most likely, see a replacement for the K-r / K5 on Friday.

Moritz Schwertner
// Head of Photo Odyssey
// www.photoodyssey2012.com

+2 Vote up Vote down

Leschi · 690 weeks ago

Pentax product cyclus is 1,5 years. So it's time!

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Michael A. · 690 weeks ago

After Holidays, most folks don't have much money to buy anything anyway. Income taxman is next... :o)

6 replies · active 690 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 690 weeks ago

I have just purchased my new Galaxy Tab to replace my iPad2 (as I really hate iTune and the photo/file management of it!). But you are right that the taxman will be after me very soon! ;->

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nikm · 690 weeks ago

changed ipad2 with gtab?
i believe you had too much beer at Holidays ;)

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RiceHigh 110p · 690 weeks ago

Operational wise (alone) IPad2 seems to be better. But I am tired of the way Apple forced us to "synchronise" all the files and needed to associate an application to each file type before it can be more easily accessible. I have several computers to connect this *mobile* device. Thus the big headache! (with the Pad!)

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nikm · 690 weeks ago

well, yes, file management on iPad is made arse-backwards.
but, honestly, for "content consuming" and internet browsing ipad2 is better, imho. for me at least.

but, lets get back to topic :)

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RiceHigh 110p · 690 weeks ago

The iPad2 is a piece of artwork for its hardware and the user interface (software or not), but the admin limitations that Apple is imposing to the system is super annoying. So I gave up! (But I am still missing my iPad! :-()

P.S. The touch screen of the GT is rather insensitive and the hand-writing recognition of it is ridiculously slooow! >:-o

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harry · 690 weeks ago

What about th File Browser for Ipad2, work like a charm!

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daedbird · 690 weeks ago

This makes perfect sense actually.
1. Christmas has no impact on brand new camera flagship sales. - Unless you are wealthy, not a lot of people are giving out $1,200 cameras as gifts. The Kr replacement, sure this would have an impact, but not this. No, the K5 replacement is being purchased by people like me, who were waiting for just the right specs to upgrade from our K10/K20/K7.

2. Probably discontinued earlier - What better way to clean out your stock of cameras than plan for just enough for Christmas, esp. the Kr. Ricoh probably does not want another Kx firesale which limits the people purchasing your new camera. I know my plan was to see the K5 replacement, and if it was not a home run, to buy the K5 on discount.

3. Sony 16 going to Kr replacement - Look, the Kr was a mistake in many respects, the biggest being that it still rocked the 12.5 mp CMOS sensor when its competition was going to the 16. The Kr replacement gets the 16, and the K5 replacement makes time with the 24mp sensor, well ahead of Nikon releasing any D7000 replacement.

4. Ricoh makes its mark - no Hoya hangons here. Pentax fans (like me) are nervous. I don't see Ricoh as more flush with cash than Hoya (actually I see them with less). So release all-new models to show the natives you mean business, and to regret even thinking about a D7000 or A77.

If no new camera is released until March, I will not be so worried. But if March comes and goes without a release, well then I guess I may look for adapters for my FA 85.

What am I looking for?

1. K3 - 24mp (although the K5 still beats the a77), revised codec for video (Motion jpg not cutting it) with 24/30 fps options and af while recording, Revised Safox. Really, match the d7000 on video and up the sensor and I am sold.

2. Ks - 16mp, 720p 24/30 with revised codec, mic jack, front scrollwheel. The Kr was just a little bit better than the Kx. Not enough to upgrade, and certainly not enough to spend more than a closeout Kx.

3. M Series - mirrorless APS-C. Harkening design details of ME / MX. K-mount .

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Matt · 690 weeks ago

In fact, Pentax can be profitable by only making lenses, as it is good at making lenses, not in digital cameras. Ditch the DSLR business as it cannot compete, does not have the resources and will to compete, and is too late already to compete in. Even if it has all the support and resources to be good at DSLRs again, it will take a few years to win back enough consumers, and by that time DSLRs will be at the end of its life, being replaced by 3G cameras. So, it is smart to not continue to make DSLRs. Maybe just one last K-3, just like the Olympus E-5, to make you all happy. Why do you think Sony and Olympus gave up on DSLRs. There is no time left to try to get any market share from the DSLR duopoly of Canon and Nikon. See how Kodak is going, and Olympus DSLR is going, and realise that survival depends on tough decisions and changes.

2 replies · active 690 weeks ago

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full_frame · 690 weeks ago

Who's going to buy lenses if no cameras are available to put them on? Are you saying they should make lenses for Canon DSLRs?

Most people invested in the system are in a wait and see mode.

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Matt · 690 weeks ago

Not just Canon but all other camera makers.

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Matt · 690 weeks ago

That's right, make lenses for Canon, Nikon, and especially for Sony and Fujifilm. Stop making cameras and Pentax will be allowed to license other mounts to make lenses.

2 replies · active 690 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 690 weeks ago

I just don't want Pentax to be another Sigma, even though they might succeed eventually.

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Alex · 690 weeks ago

But why would Pentax want to be "another Sigma"? Completely destroying their reputation as a camera maker, having to pay license fees or reverse engineering other mounts while losing the K-mount market (i.e. starting from scratch), having to sell cheap (third-party prices vs. OEM prices)... why?

Pentax can, does and will compete in the DSLR market, period. Hateful posts wishing them to diminish to a third-party level won't change anything.

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PRICOH LTD · 690 weeks ago

Crap !!!

I held onto my Pentax lenses thinking Hoya, then Ricoh would save Pentax.

Oh well, I'll loose a few $1,000s while Ricoh will piss away $124,000,000 buying 645D for their archival copier.

Ricoh is great at closing camera business having been there and done that.

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Toomas Kadarpik · 690 weeks ago

DSLR as well as compacts are dead soon anyway. Most compact users turn to smartphones and DSLR non pro users turn to 3G cameras. Small market with DSLRs and MF cameras does not change the game. DSLR becomes Hasselblad in terms of market size. Look at Nikon 1 and Pentax Q, both do well for everyday home usage, why DSLR ? Nikon has most advanced Aptina sensor, better AF than in any Pentax DSLR, better video than in any Pentax. Optics is not quite there yet but more similar cameras are coming. Everyone who has asked me what camera to buy I have pointed them to Nex and now also to N1, and those users form 90% of the market.

1 reply · active 690 weeks ago

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Alex · 690 weeks ago

3G cameras? How are they relevant to photography?

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Ricardo · 690 weeks ago

Extreme positions here.
I don't think Ricoh will close decades of photo history because of strategy. Pentax DSLRs are selling well for the investment (production and marketing) they does. Remember Ricoh are keeping a XR system that it's sells in very limited markets. But in other side they are not stupids.

The next move I believe is to offer a compact pack of entry to pro level camera:
- Q
- K5(Kwhat ever)
- D645.

Maybe XR will be between the Q and Kwhatever.

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JackMarshall · 689 weeks ago

Have a look at the richo site, they already have a lecia mount for their GXR system, easy to add a Pentax mount too. That seems to be an advantage of their system, they could license all sorts of mounts at the same time.

1 reply · active 689 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 689 weeks ago

Meaningless after all, NEX and all m4/3 bodies can be adapted like this, with the loss of all automatic functions for aperture control and AF of those Pentax K-mount lenses.

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Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Hearsay and Rumour: K-5 Has Been Discontinued (Also! :-o)

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