The body will still be thick but they could still make it smaller overall. No, it might not be a dramatic reduction from a DSLR. But it would indeed be smaller and more compact. The rumored specs are 121mm w, 79mm h, 59mm d....big when compared to a NEX, but that's actually about the size of Canon's new G1X (116x80x65) which uses a smaller sensor.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder if this could find a niche because there always seem to be some people complaing about how a NEX is too small in relation to the lenses it needs for an APS-C sized sensor (I am not one of these complainers, but they are out there). A body the size of a G1X but with interchangable lenses might actually be a nicely balanced solution for some folks, in particular when paired with Pentax's series of pancakes. And, if it does use the same sensor as the K5, it will certainly have the capability to deliver on the IQ front.
artd wrote:
The body will still be thick but they could still make it smaller overall. No, it might not be a dramatic reduction from a DSLR. But it would indeed be smaller and more compact. The rumored specs are 121mm w, 79mm h, 59mm d....big when compared to a NEX, but that's actually about the size of Canon's new G1X (116x80x65) which uses a smaller sensor.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder if this could find a niche because there always seem to be some people complaing about how a NEX is too small in relation to the lenses it needs for an APS-C sized sensor (I am not one of these complainers, but they are out there). A body the size of a G1X but with interchangable lenses might actually be a nicely balanced solution for some folks, in particular when paired with Pentax's series of pancakes. And, if it does use the same sensor as the K5, it will certainly have the capability to deliver on the IQ front....Show more →
Even when the G1X lens is collapsed, it sticks out from the camera 10 or 20mm, so this Pentax body without a lens will still seem very thick compared to the G1X. If they're gonna still make the space for a mirror, I'm not sure why they'd get rid of it. They're gonna end up with awful AF with K-mount lenses, and the camera body is larger than it needs to be. They'd be better off using the Sony approach and just making an adapter for K mount lenses.
douglasf13 wrote:
Even when the G1X lens is collapsed, it sticks out from the camera 10 or 20mm, so this Pentax body without a lens will still seem very thick compared to the G1X. If they're gonna still make the space for a mirror, I'm not sure why they'd get rid of it. They're gonna end up with awful AF with K-mount lenses, and the camera body is larger than it needs to be. They'd be better off using the Sony approach and just making an adapter for K mount lenses.
The whole perception of thickness thing, I suppose it would depend on the design and if the mount is flush with the body or if it protrudes. But I do know that Pentax has some very thin pancake lenses (the DA40 is only 15mm thick) which would seem to fit the concept nicely. And I'm curiuos about the new rumored "XS" lens. Regardless, if the specs are accurate it looks like it will still be around the size of a G1X, albiet a bit heavier...but again, with the advantages of a bit bigger sensor and interchangable lenses.
But not sure why you think it's necessarily going to have "awful" AF? I mean, we've had AF on mirrorless cameras for awhile now and I think the technology has progressed fairly nicely.
The issue with the Sony approach is what I mentioned previously...to some people the cameras seem unbalanced because of the ultra thin body coupled with larger lenses. For some it's not about the camera body being larger than it needs to be, it's about the camera body being small but still large enough to be in proportion to the lenses.
It's all just speculation at this point, but I do think it's too soon to write this off as a failed concept just yet.
artd wrote:
But not sure why you think it's necessarily going to have "awful" AF? I mean, we've had AF on mirrorless cameras for awhile now and I think the technology has progressed fairly nicely.
PDAF lenses on a system with CDAF do not perform very well. We're probably looking at a couple of seconds in most cases to lock on. So, Pentax will need new CDAF lenses...and, if they need new CDAF lenses, they should have just used a new, shallower mount in the first place with an adapter for K lenses. It's a really odd choice.
I agree that the decision here seems strange. It seems to me that with Ricoh purchasing Pentax, they should have just put their energy into a new improved GXR body with a K mount module for the Pentax lenses if the new camera is going to be K mount anyway.
We might just have to wait until the actual announcement (or at least better rumors accompanied by images of the new camera) before we really know what's going on.
Heck, I've always wanted to try some of those Pentax primes, this would be pretty neat and they would have a large selection of great lenses right of the bat, with a possibility of moving into full-frame.
I had big hopes of using my Ltds on my 5N and after a few pics yesterday with the combo, I really didn't see anything great. The 15ltd really didn't look good at all throughout the range and just didn't see any "pixie dust" that everyone talks about with the 43 or 77. The 77 is still my fav though on the K5.
Are you saying that your Pentax lenses adapted to the 5N have a very different look than the same lenses on the K-5 or you just don't think the lenses are that "magic" on either body?
Jeff Kott wrote:
I agree that the decision here seems strange. It seems to me that with Ricoh purchasing Pentax, they should have just put their energy into a new improved GXR body with a K mount module for the Pentax lenses if the new camera is going to be K mount anyway.
I believe there is a rumor... http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/ces_2012_photography_news_blog_final_day_updates_saturday_news_311097.html
Ricoh mulls K-mount GXR unit
Ricoh may launch a Pentax K-mount version of its GXR system, as well as a variable-angle LCD monitor. Ricoh's Digital Camera business development manager Keisuke 'Keith' Minagoshi told AP that a K-mount module or adapter was 'still under discussion'. Ricoh also confirmed that 'some suppliers' of parts for the GXR were badly hit by last year's Thailand floods and production has not yet returned to normal. Ayumi Saito, from the group's marketing division, said the firm has raised production since but would not reveal current levels.
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artd wrote:
The whole perception of thickness thing, I suppose it would depend on the design and if the mount is flush with the body or if it protrudes. But I do know that Pentax has some very thin pancake lenses (the DA40 is only 15mm thick) which would seem to fit the concept nicely. And I'm curiuos about the new rumored "XS" lens. Regardless, if the specs are accurate it looks like it will still be around the size of a G1X, albiet a bit heavier...but again, with the advantages of a bit bigger sensor and interchangable lenses.
??
G1X has a bigger sensor than m4/3 & 4/3...
Edit: Ignore this post, for some reason I was thinking this was the OM-D thread.
douglasf13 wrote:
PDAF lenses on a system with CDAF do not perform very well. We're probably looking at a couple of seconds in most cases to lock on. So, Pentax will need new CDAF lenses...and, if they need new CDAF lenses, they should have just used a new, shallower mount in the first place with an adapter for K lenses. It's a really odd choice.
Maybe. Possibly the development time/costs to launch a full line of new lenses all at once is prohibitive, in particular for a new mount. (Sony has deep pockets and it seems to be taking them quite a while to build the e-mount line, for instance). So they seem to be coming out with one new lens and in the meantime people get the option to use existing lenses. And maybe they figured the shallower mount with an adapter would create the same odd proportioned thin body/protruding lens combination that some people dislike the NEX for. And they figure for those people who don't mind that, well, they probably already own a NEX anyway.
Maybe it's also part of the culture at Pentax. They seem to take pride that you can still mount any Pentax lens made since 1975 onto any one of their DSLRs without an adapter. In a way, I find it kind of ... quaint
artd wrote:
Maybe. Possibly the development time/costs to launch a full line of new lenses all at once is prohibitive, in particular for a new mount. (Sony has deep pockets and it seems to be taking them quite a while to build the e-mount line, for instance). So they seem to be coming out with one new lens and in the meantime people get the option to use existing lenses. And maybe they figured the shallower mount with an adapter would create the same odd proportioned thin body/protruding lens combination that some people dislike the NEX for. And they figure for those people who don't mind that, well, they probably already own a NEX anyway.
Maybe it's also part of the culture at Pentax. They seem to take pride that you can still mount any Pentax lens made since 1975 onto any one of their DSLRs without an adapter. In a way, I find it kind of ... quaint ...Show more →
I don't know. This is such a ridiculous idea that I'm not sure I believe the rumor. Whether the space is taken up by a mirrorbox or an adapter, the proportions would be relatively similar.
Jeff Kott wrote:
Are you saying that your Pentax lenses adapted to the 5N have a very different look than the same lenses on the K-5 or you just don't think the lenses are that "magic" on either body?
Just saying that they seem to give the same look on both bodies and neither seem "magical" as some people say. Love the fact they are small. Will actually have some time today to mess around with them on the Nex.
douglasf13 wrote:
But you can already use K lenses on NX, NEX, m4/3, etc. AF with PDAF lenses on a CDAF system is poor, so you may as well manual focus, anyways.
I would be surprised if they didn't have an Af system that utilized the PDAF lenses well. If they don't, there is no reason for them to use the K mount.
Well, Pentax doesn't have a great AF history in the first place. The only known technology options would be either a Sony style semi-transparent mirror, or on-sensor PDAF, which doesn't sound likely, since the rumored sensor is the same as the K5. We'll see.
