Web Analytics RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: The 9 Things That Are To Be Announced (Updated!)

Thursday, September 06, 2012

The 9 Things That Are To Be Announced (Updated!)

The New Item
Characteristics
RH's Certainty Level
1. K-300
16MP old CMOS sensor used in K-01 and K-30, re-using the K-r body, i.e., penta-mirror at 0.85X and 96% coverage.
Close to 100%!
2. K-5N
16MP new CMOS sensor technology, new image processor, APS-C of course, 100% penta-prism finder at 0.92X, articulated screen, new 21-point (9-crossed, 12 linear) SAFOX X AF system, improved continuous tracking and zone focusing, 8 fps, improved video functions (with manual control and continuous AF option during video recording, very possibly).
Close to 100%!
3. K-3/K-3S*
*Name Tentative
24MP APS-C flagship, Sony IMX096 CMOS sensor, new image processor, newly designed 100% coverage 1X magnification penta-prism (equivalent to 0.65X at 50mm for 135), articulated screen, 21-point SAFOX X AF system, 6 fps, enhanced white balance detection, enhanced video functions, stereo microphone built-in. Version without AA filter to be marketed later in early 2013, targeted/suggested price set at 1,400 Euros. The K-3 Super will be the highest resolution APS-C camera body ever on Earth and would put almost all the existing Pentax lenses to death! ;-p
Close to 100%!
4. 645DII*/645DN*
*Name Tentative
New top-of-the-line Truesense (formerly Kodak) KAF-50100 51.6MP CCD sensor in 49.1 x 36.8mm (active pixels 50.1M), 645 film equivalent crop factor 1.1X (old 645D sensor was in 1.3X), improved image processing, SAFOX X, increased 60,000 shutter actuations/life (rated), other minor improvements, no video function, of course! :->
Close to 100%!
5. DA 18-200/3.5-5.6 WR DC
Product is self-explanatory for its name, kit lens option with the K-3.
90%+
6. DA560/5.6
3 sections dividable, simplified weather resistant, new-type in-lens motor with quick-shift manual focus overriding capability, built-in astro-tracking, set price at US$3,800, manufactured only upon special ordering.
90%+
7. DFA645 90/2.8
Its name is self-explanatory, for portraiture.
90%+
8. AF600FGZNew flagship flashgun, finally, simplified Weather Resistant!80%+
9. O-GPS2
Updated/improved version of the O-GPS1
75%

The next generation K-0x camera system and concept with retracted rear lens element/greatly shorten/reduced back focus register distance will be on display at the Photokina. Besides, minor revisions to the current Pentax lens roadmaps will be provided.

As for the Pentax Full Frame body, it is yet under development and some old FA*/FA lenses are being re-worked (with a new design of the kit zoom, too). Ricoh has also been quite cautious to decide whether it should be launched earlier or not, i.e., to be later. But it is planned that the FF DSLR should be ready to come within 2013, in about one-year's time. Give them some time, for users like me that have been waiting for nine years since the *ist D (and that I still have 14 original Pentax full-frame lenses ready and just missing ONE K-mount FF body alone!), why not just wait for another one more year? >:-| ;-)

For those who are saying/thinking that they have urgent and essential need for a Full Frame body and system right now, my suggestion is to switch to or additional invest on a Canon (just like me) or Nikon system (and their "cheap" FF bodies are coming also), or even Sony for their upcoming A99 SLT, as you will not see a Pentax FF in the foreseeable near future!


Read Also:-

Pentax/Ricoh Announcement by the Next Week (for 9 New Products)

DA560/5.6: New Type Built-in Motor, Astro-tracking, US$3800

Monday Dreaming: Pentax Strikes at Photokina!

What If When a Pentax FF Body Really Comes (My Own Case Study)

When the Sensor Outresolves the Lens.. (How Meaningful is a 24MP APS-C Sensor?)

Compatibility of DA Lenses on Full Frame

Comments (33)

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So boring
2 replies · active 653 weeks ago
Pentax2007's avatar

Pentax2007 · 653 weeks ago

"and would put almost all the existing Pentax lenses to death!"
Even "limiteds"?
1 reply · active 653 weeks ago
Maybe we'll be waiting a FF Pentax (not just a prototype again) for another yearsssssss...?
K-300:
100% penta-prism
699$

K-5n:
1199$

DA 135-3?0/4-5,6 WR DC
Cynog Ap Brychan's avatar

Cynog Ap Brychan · 653 weeks ago

Any indication of how big the K3 is to be? If it's K5 size, I'm definitely in!! I don't think it's boring at all.
1 reply · active 653 weeks ago
K-3 with 18-200 kit lens ??? LOL

That would be equivalent to admitting that APS-C is a joke
1 reply · active 653 weeks ago
Cynog Ap Brychan's avatar

Cynog Ap Brychan · 653 weeks ago

If ultimate quality is needed, wouldn't a large format camera be de rigeur... or at least medium format? Putting aside such flippancy, cameras are a case in point where size is impotant (at least to me). I have a Nikon D3 and a Pentax K5, and I'm offering no prizes to which system I'd rather carry about on my travels. I wonder whether the day will come when FF will be as small as SLRs of old.
That's just a random list of rumors, followed by a random "probability". Some of those "specs" are blatantly made up.
1 reply · active 653 weeks ago
1st Apr 2013 , you will see Pentax FF news again
3 replies · active 653 weeks ago
Cynog Ap Brychan's avatar

Cynog Ap Brychan · 653 weeks ago

Can the current Pentax (or any other brand) lenses resolve well enough to do justice to a 24 MP APS-C sensor?
Even some old lenses from the '70 do justice, but if you restrict only to curent lenses, there are many.

FA 31 f 1.8 LIMITED
FA 35 f 2
DA 35 f 2.4
DA 35 f 2.8 MACRO
FA 43 f 1.9 LIMITED
D-FA 50 f 2.8 MACRO
DA 70 f 2.4 LTD. ( even if I don't buy DA, but still....)
FA 77 f 1.8 LIMITED
D-FA 100 f 2.8 MACRO
D-FA 100 f 2.8 WR MACRO LTD.
DA* 200 f 2.8
DA* 300 f 2.8

Sigma 8-16 f 4.5-5.6 ( dark, but still....)
Tamron 17-50 f 2.8 ( poor AF, but still....)
Tamron 28-75 f 2.8 ( to contrasty, but still....)

Etc., etc., etc.
What about the Q? What is its future?
1 reply · active 653 weeks ago
Pretty detailed predictions - you must have privileged access.

I personally find your K5N prediction very exciting - it checks all my boxes except for full frame.

Rice - when you say improved focusing - do you mean improved from the K30 or from the older K5 ? So would the focusing be better than the K30 ?
3 replies · active 653 weeks ago
what? 3 more aps-c bodies? means there will be 4 aps-c bodies including K-30? what a waste!
if this rumor is true, then I should buy the new 645D..
Wow; the DPR Pentax forum is tearing you apart here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=...
1 reply · active 653 weeks ago
Wow... Three APS-C cameras..? Just keep those APS-C cameras coming..! Second 645D? Great, but it's too much for most of advanced amateurs and professionals...
Yeah, "different" approach in marketing strategy comparing to other brands, but, man, it's not that practical especially for most of paid photographers who have specific needs...
Those three rumored APS-C cameras are different from each other, but, in the end, are ALL still are APS-C cameras...
Utterly boring. I totally agree with Ogl.

If you need to make bigger prints then a 24 megapixel sensor is desirable but it will also outresolve many lenses. It will be like driving a Ferrari in a school zone if you don't have super-superior glass that's up to the job.
Don't presume that every limited will be up to the task.
The 12 pts and 21 pts AF system sound very impress.
It's might be the biggest AF upgrade so far from Pentax.
Hope the NEW AF system can bring the Pentax fan back.

However I still don't see the any flash system upgrade.
Pentax hasn't update flash system for awhile.
Any news for that?
1 reply · active 653 weeks ago

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