RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: New K-01 Schtroumpf! What the Fuck?!

Thursday, July 04, 2013

New K-01 Schtroumpf! What the Fuck?!

See this at the Japanese homepage of "Pentax" for the current products today. A new body is announced and it is to be marketed on July 25, 2013! So, what is it? It is yet the already officially discontinued K-01 but repainted?!

Besides, browse further into the product page of the current accessories for Pentax DSLRs, it is found that the AF360FTZ flash is still there! Well, wasn't the AF360FGZ II announced half a year ago? Yes, it was a long time ago already!

(Above: The Twelve Years Old AF360 FGZ Vs the "New" Paperware AF360FGZ II.)

So, I just want to ask again: WTFFFFF?!! What is Ricoh doing now? They are just unable to make a product real and put it onto the market since it was first announced six months ago and the delay is expected to be longer! And, a discontinued product can be re-marketed by adding new painting and colours onto it? Just?! Are you kidding, Ricoh? You are just a clown, I am afraid! >:-[

Btw, some Pentax fanboys could celebrate the re-born of the K-01! But I am sure that I am not the one with you!!

Comments (42)

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+5 Vote up Vote down

Uncle Vova · 613 weeks ago

Great idea! New innovative colors! ;)
One can happily celebrate and sing a good song: Oh Pentax, oh Pentax, Pentax blue - oh, Pentax Blue! (The melody is from there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqooJ9MpnXs )
;)
Waiting for next brilliant marketing ideas from Ricoh Imaging Co.

+9 Vote up Vote down

enao · 613 weeks ago

you turned into a hater...

1 reply · active 613 weeks ago

+3 Vote up Vote down

badsykes · 613 weeks ago

I am happy that K-01 may return...Kudos to Ricoh for being spontaneous ... Cannon and Nikon = borring :)) ... Go Go pentax...

+1 Vote up Vote down

Simon · 613 weeks ago

I don't care much about K-01, K-5II and K-50, but if its sales keep Pentax alive then I'm OK with that.

1 reply · active 613 weeks ago

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Pierre · 613 weeks ago

The K01 Sctroumph ! loool
http://data0.eklablog.com/schtroumpfette/perso/23...

1 reply · active 613 weeks ago

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Simon T · 613 weeks ago

More failed re-cycled products. The K-01 was a laughing stock from day one and should have been killed off long ago.
As for the flash situation, why bother? Everyone knows that most Pentax users shoot Metz for flash for obvious reasons, they make proper working flashes, they support them with firmware updates too.

1 reply · active 613 weeks ago

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mrBig · 613 weeks ago

Following the acquisition, many people stated that it would take several years for the Pentax line to recompose itself. At which point, no one seemed interested. Now, as reality sets in, these same people are hating on Pentax for something that is out of their control. To which I'd add, Pentax should just die and get it over with. This way people like Rice High and his followers can move on and die peacefully.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Lauren · 613 weeks ago

I am in 100% agreement with Rice on this. If the K-01 was still in production, sure, great, new colors! No problem. But the K-01 has been officially discontinued!!!! The ship has sailed. Sometimes Rice gets it wrong. On this...he's 100% correct, and I am glad he has this blog/forum to vent.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Uncle Vova · 613 weeks ago

"... Go Go pentax..." (C)

There are many directions for Pentax to go because there are many other eye-catching bright pair of colors to paint discontinued cameras. ;) Pentax could repeat this experience on the other discontinued models. I would like Pentax to do that for the K10D and color must be in such pair: dark black with deep black.
As for flash units I have no concern: it possible not only use the Metz flashes for the Pentax cameras, but also possible use cameras of other brand instead of Pentax with Metz flash units. ;)

+3 Vote up Vote down

FBi · 613 weeks ago

Seriously, what's the concern here? since admittedly it is just re-painting an already developed camera, no engineering resources go into this (so no negative impact on product development), and it might generate some extra sales. Maybe limited extra sales, but that should not be our worry, or do some people here really want/need to criticize Pentax?
Disclosure: I own a K-01, black/white, and it's an excellent camera IMHO. I enjoy using it, and hope nobody here has anything to say against that (but I'm afraid some haterboys would accuse me of being a fanboy, which I'm not. And even if I were, that should not be anybodys concern either.)

1 reply · active 613 weeks ago

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George · 613 weeks ago

I think this is just Ricoh's way of getting rid of whatever K-01s they have left from past production. What does it take? Just throw a new color rubber skin on to a white body. Smart on their part. Not to my taste, but got to try and get rid of leftover product.
I have the black one and like it. I bought it when the prices were dropping through the floor a few months ago. The original asking price was ridiculous in my opinion. I wish the video was better and I really would have like an articulated screen, but for the price I paid I got a bargain.
I also picked up a Q with 2 lenses after price started to drop. This one I also like.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Dan Johnson · 613 weeks ago

I feel sorry for people who made the mistake of buying a K-01(especially in Black and White for B & W Photos) but making it in Briiiant Blue isn't a brilliant idea. Why cry about Ricoh's profit line (unless you have stock in that company) and let us state the obvious. Ricoh is doing little or nothing (in the R & D sense) to give us a Pentax DSLR we will be proud of, but if and when they do we will not chastise you on your web site as others do unto us.

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badsykes · 613 weeks ago

On Dpreview there is a reason for this resurection of the K-01:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/07/04/pentax-un...

"Pentax's press release suggests that its resurrection is due to continued customer demand in Japan - but at the moment it's not clear whether the blue model will be available elsewhere. "

I don't see this line in Rice article...If this will be only for Japan and we know there is a demand for colorful things and cartoons i don't think why you guys are upset?

An analogy with a Video cards manufacturer from China that is named ...... Colorful .... Pentax and Colorful .. Do you see the connection? .. Btw from what i know Colorful sells Vga's only in Asia part of the world..
http://www.geeks3d.com/20120610/colorful-gtx-680-...

+1 Vote up Vote down

Simon T · 613 weeks ago

Well wake up time folks. So it will take a couple of years? Well it's been nearly 2 years since Ricoh took over.
RIcoh are not a small tiny company, they have over 100,000 employees, but evidently not one of them is able to understand how to develop a camera business properly.

I was no fan of Hoya (price ramping on lenses QC issue that were not dealt with) trouble is Ricoh are doing the same price ramping, not bring products to market in a timely manner. And we wonder why Pentax are last in the DSLR market? What a waste

+7 Vote up Vote down

Anonimity is Great · 613 weeks ago

Please notice the fact that it is JAPAN ONLY!!! Ricoh America, or anywhere else does not launch that product! It was only meant to be shown in the JAPANESE WEBSITE ONLY!! Just like the Evangelion Q, which sold like hot cakes. RICOH are not that stupid. They are selling those in JAPAN DOMESTIC MARKET because they know they will buy it. It's not for you cool guys who needs FF to let everyone know you're a real photographer!

15 replies · active 613 weeks ago

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SlipperyJim · 613 weeks ago

All other comments aside, I really like my K-01. In almost every way it's perfect for me. The extremely low purchase price was one of the important factors to me ($280 AUS). 16MP SR and all my Pentax lenses??? So good, what's not to like? If it had come in pink with purple dots I probably would have bought it anyway. I read Rice's blog almost everyday, and even if Rice is a little emotional at times so what? Aren't we all at times? Keep it up Rice! Pentax has been around for a long time, I don't think it will disappear anytime soon. After using Pentax for so long myself, going to any other brand just wouldn't feel right. More patience is required. :) I find that if I immerse myself in the action of taking photos all other things like complaining about Ricoh /Pentax not doing what we want seem to fade away....

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Andrés · 613 weeks ago

Bueno/Bonito/Barato
Since K-01 came out, I believe that Pentax strategy on this was to create a simple/cheap camera easy to build, capable to deliver DSLR IQ, and at the same time get good profit on the early months from launching.
So, why not continue making this boxy camera, if it´s production and service may not mean any critical investment at all?
Add to that, special humour japanses have, very different from those serious(with lowfreq voice) Occidentals shooters from the north hemisphere.
Well, some, not me, could discuss the "Bonito" title.

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A nony moss · 613 weeks ago

When the best thing you can say about a DSLR is, it's cheap and they will lower the price in a year, then those who are willing to pay full price for cutting edge technology are the ones smart companies try to attract not buyers who are looking to get close-outs or pay 10 cents on the dollar. Yet every time someone ask for something newer and better they get stifled by by cheapskates who only want to be offered cheap stuff and won't stand for any improvements, hey, buy yourself a Ford Edsil while you're at it.

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Tommy · 613 weeks ago

I bought a K-01 when the price dropped (about seven months ago now) and I love it. I've noticed that even though it is "discontinued" it has remained in constant availability at B&H and Amazon since the price drop. The sales rankings at Amazon have gone way up - the highest ranking for a variant of the K-01 in compact system cameras is #31 (compared with #27 for the Q). In DSLRs the highest ranked Pentax is the K-30 at #48. Your conclusions as to what the sales and profits from the K-01 are are as good as mine based upon this data and someone out there probably knows a great deal more than I do.

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Yoku · 613 weeks ago

450 USD only for new kit version.

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A Non A Moss · 613 weeks ago

You can get a FF DSLR for $1500, if Pentax can beat that price you'll just wait until you can get it for half price or 10 cents on the dollar.

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Linus · 613 weeks ago

I hope this one has hdmi in live view and or focus peaking.

Did you see that b&h and Adorama had the eos-m on sale (with the 22mm prime) for $299? I ordered one the other day. It looks like the new firmware peps up the af somewhat.

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