fredmiranda.com
Login

It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax

  
 
tomaswvtommy
Offline

p.1 #1It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
According the Pentax Rumors and a Pentax press release, Pentax, having discontinued its current DSLRs, has a new DSLR concept in the pipeline.

“Now, as we reexamine the value of taking photographs, we are developing products that allow more people to enjoy the process of photography itself.
While it will take time for these products to come into being, we will leverage the K-mount legacy we have accumulated…”

The Ricoh GR series is all about enjoying the process of taking pictures. Garry Winogrand famously said he took pictures to see what the world looks like photographed. I love the GR experience and I take photographs because I like taking photographs with my GR iii and GR iii x. If Pentax can catch some of that fun in a DSLR, with all those crazy old Pentax lenses, I’m totally in. Sure would like to see more info and a timetable.
Sep 08, 2026 at 10:52 PM
pingflood
Offline
Details
p.1 #2It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
This is a bit interesting.

"While it will take time for these products to come into being, we will leverage the K-mount legacy we have accumulated over more than half a century to develop a new series of digital SLR cameras based on an entirely new concept. We will provide updates on the progress of new product development at appropriate times as information becomes available"

"As part of our transition to a new stage, we will discontinue production of the current K series digital SLR cameras. We would like to express our deep gratitude to everyone who has supported the K series for so long."

Thanking people for supporting the K series sounds like they are retiring the mount doesn't it? "Leveraging the K mount legacy" hints at backwards compatibility.

That sounds like a move to mirrorless + adapter, however it specifically states digital SLR camera above. So why monkey around with the mount unless you're doing something more radical? Just going to another DSLR with a different mount sounds pointless unless there's some lens tech they want to use that the K mount is not allowing for. Probably most likely option though.

I'd also be tempted to speculate on them releasing some novelty like a manual focus DSLR but I don't see why that would involve changing out the mount. And I doubt they'd discontinue the current series entirely for a mere novelty; unless they are going truly niche they still want some "mainstream" type cameras, no?
Sep 09, 2026 at 12:00 AM
RustyBug
Offline
Details
p.1 #3It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
33x33 sensor ... about the largest square format that will be covered by the image of the legacy glass. Iiirc, the registration distance of the K mount is one of the longer FF mounts.

Maybe a waist level style with ground glass viewfinder ... and some new, K mount, leaf shutter lenses.

Sep 09, 2026 at 02:43 AM
jcolwell
Offline
Details
p.1 #4It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
RustyBug wrote:
... Iiirc, the registration distance of the K mount is one of the longer FF mounts.


The Pentax K and M42 mounts have a register of 45.5mm, which is the same as Contax C/Y and shorter than Olympus OM (46.0mm), Nikon F (46.5mm), and Leica R (47.0mm). OTOH, it is longer than Canon EF (44.0mm) and Minolta MD (43.5mm).
Sep 09, 2026 at 06:55 AM
tomaswvtommy
Offline
Details
p.1 #5It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
I think they are planning on going truly niche. They want to recreate the GR cult with DSLR shooter and with those who want interchangeable lenses. As a 45 year DSLR shooter (Nikon, Leica R), I’d want to see a big fat bright viewfinder, interchangeable with a waist level viewer (like my F2) and a solid, well-crafted camera that’s a pleasure just to hold (like my R5-28 Elmarit-R combo or my D3s with the 35mm 1.4). For those who need lots of lenses, Pentax can that carve out a demographic from Fuji shooters who want color science fun beyond Fuji. It’s all about rediscovering the joy of the process of taking pictures.
Sep 09, 2026 at 09:08 AM
Plzenaak
Offline
Details
p.1 #6It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
I think we will see one or two more similar statements, and then the Pentax brand will be discontinued or sold to China. There won't be any new cameras anymore.
Sep 09, 2026 at 09:17 AM
FrozenInTime
Online
Details
p.1 #7It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
tomaswvtommy wrote:
I think they are planning on going truly niche. They want to recreate the GR cult with DSLR shooter and with those who want interchangeable lenses. As a 45 year DSLR shooter (Nikon, Leica R), I’d want to see a big fat bright viewfinder, interchangeable with a waist level viewer (like my F2) and a solid, well-crafted camera that’s a pleasure just to hold (like my R5-28 Elmarit-R combo or my D3s with the 35mm 1.4). For those who need lots of lenses, Pentax can that carve out a demographic from Fuji shooters who want color science fun beyond Fuji.
...Show more →

To shake design dogma up, a hybrid SLR/EVF camera that looks like a cross between the Pentax 645 and a Rollei 3003 could work for their legacy of PK lenses. The 3003 was a bit taller relative to the format to allow it to switch from WLF and the rear pentaprism ; whereas the Pentax 645 line only has the rear telescope view. Such a concept could allow pentax to integrate both classic reflex direct viewing or sensor viewing; in an elegant form - unlike the ridiculed K-01.
Sep 09, 2026 at 09:37 AM
raizans
Offline
Details
p.1 #8It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
Process of photography and K-mount legacy strongly suggest a retro DSLR like the Nikon Zf. A camera that looks like the Spotmatic and manual focus Super-Multi-Coated Takumars would get my money.
Sep 09, 2026 at 10:44 AM
fjablo
Online
Details
p.1 #9It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
raizans wrote:
Process of photography and K-mount legacy strongly suggest a retro DSLR like the Nikon Zf. A camera that looks like the Spotmatic and manual focus Super-Multi-Coated Takumars would get my money.


I’d love that and I think it’s really the way they need to go to differentiate. Proper brass top plate, not too big, maybe even a film advance lever to cock the shutter.

Probably needs to do autofocus as well otherwise it might be too niche.

The way the announcement reads though, I feel like they will abandon K-Mount and do something new. It will probably be possible to adapt K-Mount and M42, but feel like there will be a new bayonet.
Sep 09, 2026 at 11:48 PM
pingflood
Offline
Details
p.1 #10It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
fjablo wrote:
raizans wroteProcess of photography and K-mount legacy strongly suggest a retro DSLR like the Nikon Zf. A camera that looks like the Spotmatic and manual focus Super-Multi-Coated Takumars would get my money.
I’d love that and I think it’s really the way they need to go to differentiate. Proper brass top plate, not too big, maybe even a film advance lever to cock the shutter.

Probably needs to do autofocus as well otherwise it might be too niche.

The way the announcement reads though, I feel like they will abandon K-Mount and do something new. It will probably be possible to adapt K-Mount and M42, but feel like there will be a new bayonet.


Would be nice if they could figure out how to retain autofocus while having a proper 100% reflective mirror. That + a high accuracy focusing screen would make for a great manual focus experience. The problem with manual focus on a DSLR generally is that you lose 30% or so light to the AF sensor and they tend to be equipped with focusing screens designed for brightness so you can't focus anything faster than f/4 accurately.
Sep 10, 2026 at 12:54 AM
 


Search in Used Dept. 

RustyBug
Offline
Details
p.1 #11It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
+1 for 100% mirror ... and ground glass viewfinder. If that makes it a manual focus only camera, well ... that's part of the "process" of photography and heralds back to the simplicity of the venerable K1000. I mean, a K1000 with a digital sensor instead of film ... and voila, you're there. (I still dig on the concept of a square waist finder to the limits of FF image circle to shake things up.)

I may be living on a memory, but manual focus with ground glass (plain, micro-prism, split-ring, etc. of your preferential choice) and a 100% mirror recalls as being vastly more enjoyable than "digitial" focus aids have ever been. Although, punching in for multi-X focusing on LCD is handy at times (which could still be achieved via live view). But, the experience of 100% mirror on ground glass ... imo, that's the most "process" of photography focusing oriented experience one can have. AF ... that's not experiencing the process of focusing, that's escaping the process via automation (not inferring automation is bad, just not the same as engaging the process).


Just drop a K-1 sensor in the K1000 body. An oversized 645 sensor and multi-dimension modes could be viable too. Or, even have an LCD variant and non-LCD (M11-D ish) if they wanted to go that retro route to the process of shooting, then finding LATER what you got when downloading for development, etc. (i.e. process of photography).

Will be curious to see where they land it ... kinda cryptic for now, but I'm still rootin' for 'em and the historical position they've held for our beloved craft.

Sep 10, 2026 at 06:42 AM
tomaswvtommy
Offline
Details
p.1 #12It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
+1 on non-LCD version. Freedom from LCD. Freedom from chomping and a significantly lower shutter count.
Sep 10, 2026 at 10:27 AM
fjablo
Online
Details
p.1 #13It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
RustyBug wrote:
+1 for 100% mirror ... and ground glass viewfinder. If that makes it a manual focus only camera, well ... that's part of the "process" of photography and heralds back to the simplicity of the venerable K1000. I mean, a K1000 with a digital sensor instead of film ... and voila, you're there. (I still dig on the concept of a square waist finder to the limits of FF image circle to shake things up.)

I may be living on a memory, but manual focus with ground glass (plain, micro-prism, split-ring, etc. of your preferential choice) and a 100% mirror recalls
...Show more →

Yes to ground glass but not the basic ass K1000 body please. Pentax made much nicer cameras like the K2, KX, KM, Spotmatic, LX, etc.

Ah and no to no LCD. Maybe make it fully articulating so you can turn it away. But no LCD on a DSLR is an unnecessary restriction imo.
Sep 11, 2026 at 12:52 AM
RustyBug
Offline
Details
p.1 #14It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
fjablo wrote:
RustyBug wrote+1 for 100% mirror ... and ground glass viewfinder. If that makes it a manual focus only camera, well ... that's part of the "process" of photography and heralds back to the simplicity of the venerable K1000. I mean, a K1000 with a digital sensor instead of film ... and voila, you're there. (I still dig on the concept of a square waist finder to the limits of FF image circle to shake things up.)

I may be living on a memory, but manual focus with ground glass (plain, micro-prism, split-ring, etc. of your preferential choice) and a 100% mirror recalls as being vastly more enjoyable than "digitial" focus aids have ever been. Although, punching in for multi-X focusing on LCD is handy at times (which could still be achieved via live view). But, the experience of 100% mirror on ground glass ... imo, that's the most "process" of photography focusing oriented experience one can have. AF ... that's not experiencing the process of focusing, that's escaping the process via automation (not inferring automation is bad, just not the same as engaging the process).

Just drop a K-1 sensor in the K1000 body. An oversized 645 sensor and multi-dimension modes could be viable too. Or, even have an LCD variant and non-LCD (M11-D ish) if they wanted to go that retro route to the process of shooting, then finding LATER what you got when downloading for development, etc. (i.e. process of photography).

Will be curious to see where they land it ... kinda cryptic for now, but I'm still rootin' for 'em and the historical position they've held for our beloved craft.

Yes to ground glass but not the basic ass K1000 body please. Pentax made much nicer cameras like the K2, KX, KM, Spotmatic, LX, etc.

Ah and no to no LCD. Maybe make it fully articulating so you can turn it away. But no LCD on a DSLR is an unnecessary restriction imo.


I hear ya ... they could do a variety of things.

The main point being the basic process(es) of photography can be made into a simple / svelte tool experience, moreover than an uber-techno marvel gadget of ever-increasing automation, etc. I mean, can you say animal / train recognition AF modes, etc. and pre-capture buffers, etc. The list is pretty long of things that today's tools have evolved into ... many of which are designed to actually disengage from the processes (in the vein / name of getting the shot, per se) that are reliant on human involvement / decision making. I get all that.


As to the LCD ... I just meant they could make variant models, and a non-LCD might be one such variant. As could articulating vs. fixed vs. flip only. A removable (Bluetooth, NFC, etc.) LCD could be novel (I digress), so you could use it like a mini-iPad controller when mounted on a tripod (weird angles, etc.)

Anyway, back to basics is the essence of things. Preferred form factor and just how basic will vary among folks. Personally, I'd like to see a match needle metering system again, and for it to have interchangeable focusing screens, so you could have anything from clear to heavily textured ground glass (user choice) to gridded to microprism / split, etc.).

Something I'd like to see (novel) would be to have the viewfinder offset to the left corner (aka rangefinder placement), rather than center. Not likely to happen, but I've come to appreciate that location in certain cameras (GX8, M's, etc.), and I understand the implications of getting the optical path to that location, so not holding my breath.

If they did it right ... it could propose a genuine alternative for folks to have a dedicated manual focusing (system) tool like an M, yet it be SLR vs. RF. And, in that regard, I think it could actually secure a (niche) position in the industry that would endure for the ages. In some regard, a resurrection of the Leica R SLR (as an alternative to the Leica M RF), but in the Pentax universe.

Initial release bundle with the Limited Trio, and you're off to the races for "modern" retro. Imo, if they make a DSLR that emulates the Leica M, but not as a rangefinder focusing mechanism ... they'll have themselves something that will endure time. Imo, as long as the M provides a manual / tactile experience that is does, that dividing line between RF and non-RF remains. I mean, the advent of the EV1 reveals this to a degree.

So, where Leica themselves will be going down the RF + EVF options, they are likely to leave the DLSR option alone (i.e. not resurrecting an R type system). This then, is the space for Pentax to sit in (imo), available to them as a space to stand alone (niche, but alone).
Sep 11, 2026 at 06:45 AM
pingflood
Offline
Details
p.1 #15It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
Yeah, they need to do something properly radical I think. They aren't going to compete with the plethora of options available today if we are talking objective performance, so this has to be something for the True Believers of some sort. An honest manual focus DSLR would be such a product. Maybe make it with the shortest possible register distance so that you an adapt a variety of other older lenses to it? That would be a killer (but very niche) product. Offer it with color or monochrome sensor. Include a K mount adapter as standard.
Sep 12, 2026 at 04:23 AM
Sonnar-7
Online
Details
p.1 #16It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
If they just made a full frame brick like camera without bothering with autofocus or video and a bit of old school stuff for the viewfinder. In this day and age, going simple would be groundbreaking enough for me. I have tech fatigue.
Sep 12, 2026 at 04:28 AM
retrofocus
Online
Details
p.1 #17It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
Trying to get into such niche might maybe not be a bad idea with this kind of sensor - if the price of such camera is right. I personally have no interest to go back to (D)SLR at all. If medium format, then it is 6x6 for me (film). For everything else I keep it in the Leica M camera size as my preference since now 10 years.
Sep 12, 2026 at 06:42 PM
freaklikeme
Offline
Details
p.1 #18It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
Pentax is in.a unique position. They could make a mirrorless digital using the 100mp 44x33 sensor and, with the right adapter and focus capabilities, they could make an AF K-mount adapter and P645 adapter and have a nifty way to pull a good portion of their legacy lenses in under the same camera. 26mp with their APSC lenses, 61 with the 135 format lenses, and 100 with the big boys. And Fuji's shown that camera could be a little smaller than the K1 with a focal plane shutter.

It'll never happen, of course, because people would want quality native mount lenses to come along and make adapted usage a more rare occasion, and that's where Pentax hits the same rough spot they hit with the 645D and Z and the K1 and sequel- they don't have the capitol for the necessary lens development, so they rely heavily on their designs from their moment in the sun and rebranding Tamron and Sigma lenses. It makes their cameras, which I liked using, feel like dead-ends, even when Pentax insists it isn't over for them.

I believe there is a niche market for DSLRs that could be exploited. I know several people who still take their DSLRs landscaping because their prefer the OVF for good light. And I don't think the K1II is far off from what people expect out of such a camera from a size and weight perspective, though a few upgrades (to sensor and screen resolution, for example) would be appreciated. It's a hard sell to get that market to pay attention with lenses that were great at introduction with some of their primes, or third party rebrands that weren't even the top performers when they were introduced a decade or more ago. It's like they're telling you the price of still using a DSLR is also to accept any new lenses you purchase are firmly stuck in the optical past.
Sep 13, 2026 at 12:00 AM
stgrove
Offline
Details
p.1 #19It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
Wonder if they would join the L Mount Alliance with an EVF small camera? Some have come close, but forgot the EVF (on purpose).
I have been waiting for someone to do that in a FF format like the old Leica CL in size.
Sep 13, 2026 at 07:14 AM
pingflood
Offline
Details
p.1 #20It’s official, something new is coming from Pentax
stgrove wrote:
Wonder if they would join the L Mount Alliance with an EVF small camera? Some have come close, but forgot the EVF (on purpose).
I have been waiting for someone to do that in a FF format like the old Leica CL in size.


They specifically state it will be a DSLR camera though.
Sep 13, 2026 at 07:45 AM


FM ForumsLeica & Alternative GearJoin Upload & Sell
  
 

You are not logged inLog inRegister