p.1 #1 · It’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.
p.1 #2 · It’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?
p.1 #3 · It’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.
