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Real K-x Specs ????.....major suprise????

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I have too. Please let me know if you come up with something. The best idea I have come up with so far is taking a small rubber gasket and some sort of strap, with a winch on it, and just winching it down when I'm ready to do the exposure. You could use the timer to get rid of the camera shake that will occur while you're winching it down. The idea blows but I guess the point is we shouldn't have to be coming up with these ideas in the first place.

I guess between you and I we must make up the 1% of k-m users that want the external shutter release port.
 
viking79 said:
  1. Metal Body
  2. 100% viewfinder
  3. Pentaprism Viewfinder
  4. Added refinement
  5. External mic in video
  6. Safox VIII+ (extra focus sensor for more precise focus in all light and improved WB, I assume)
  7. Weather Seals
  8. Focus adjustments (unclear if K-x has these yet)
  9. Multiple Exposure Mode (not sure if K-x has this, but probably not)
  10. Intervalometer for taking repetitive (time lapse) shots
  11. External connector for Bulb mode (unless they added one to K-x over the K-m, but I don't see it in the interface list)
  12. Top LCD (not that I ever use this, use the rear screen instead)
  13. Dual control wheels
Click to expand...
Price: 600 Euro = $883.32 USD

Man! This may be the one for me, instead of the K-7....

Continuous shooting is 4.7 fps; I saw a post saying this was not that different from the 3.5 fps of the K-m, but then:
  • 4.7 (K-x) - 3.5 (K-m) = 1.2 fps increse
  • 5.2 (K-7) - 4.7 (K-x) = 0.5 fps increase.
So, the K-x is closer to the K-7 than the K-m is to the K-x. Coming from the K10D's 3 fps, 4.7 is still gonna be a major jump forward for me.

If the high ISO IQ beats the K-7, that's gonna make it REALLY difficult to choose!

What I was looking forward to in the K-7:
  1. Faster fps. K-x has this
  2. Faster AF. This one will be interesting to see. I'm sure the K-x, like the K-m, is faster than the K10D. Whether it will be fast ENOUGH compared to the K-7 (and compared to the price difference).... that's gonna be interesting to see.
  3. AF assist lamp. The K-x not having this is a potential deal-breaker for me. AF-hunting in dim light: I already get enough of that frustration from the K10D.
  4. Extra AF sensor. I don't know if it's in tungsten light that I get all my low-light AF-hunting headaches. I shoot a lot in gymns, auditoriums, etc., so I'm probably shooting in flourescent light most of the time.
  5. Pentaprism: Still not sure how much difference this has made to me, going from the pentamirror of an ist DL to a pentaprism of a K10D... I need to go out and shoot some MF with my ist DL, and see how much different it feels.
  6. HDR. I was really looking forward to this. If the K-x does not have it, that would be a bummer. But probably not a deal-breaker, since I can get that in PP.
  7. Dual control wheels. This could be a problem, especially if the K-x does not have a dedicated ISO button. I don't need a dedicated ISO button, but on the K10D, I use the front wheel all the time to change ISO. TO have to dig down into menus to change the ISO: That could well be a deal-breaker. That rear control wheel is nice to use when viewing pics. And, it's indispensable when using manual metering. Hmmm... this could be an issue...
  8. 900K LCD. Not a deal breaker, I guess, but dang! I was really looking forward to using one. I guess what the K-x has is no worse than than what the K10D has. But I would pine for that a bit.
  9. Multi-Exposure. I admit, I hardly ever use this onthe K10D. But it's nice to know that it's there.
  10. Weather sealing. honestly, never been a big for me. None of my lenses are weather sealed, so a weather-sealed body is just not that big a deal for me. Not much cold weather where I live, no snow, moderate rain, but certainly no major storms or monsoons. No hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.
The thing I was REALLY looking forward to in the K-7:
  1. Better high ISO.
  2. Faster AF speed
  3. Faster fps
  4. Live view
  5. Video
The K-x has all this, although the K-7 is slight faster in the fps, and probably has better AF speed as well - we'll see.

Wow, the idea of going back to AA batteries... Well, the cheap 3rd-party batteries for the K-7 are not out yet, and Eneloops have come down in price....

Man, this is gonna be a difficult next few months....

--Greg
 
As for the wired release, in fact, Pentax could do it EASILY.

Make use of the USB connector, a little firmware update, and it's all set.

Anyone willing to hack the firmware to build this feature (and the USB "trigger") for the camera?
--
R.I.P. -- Rejoice In Photography
 
Of course Pentax can add cable release port easily, it is definitely cheap ... but it is not there to force people that need it to buy more expensive camera. It is that simple. If you want it pay more ... There has to be a significant difference between Kx00 level and Kx000 level of cameras!
Marek
 
parallaxproblem said:
sfa1966 said:
Why not pick one up and take a peek through it first? You might be surprised at how effective that mirror VF is. I have a K100DS as well as a K10D and K-7. The difference between mirror and prism VFs is greatly exaggerated IMO (and I have a slow and dark DA18-250 superzoom permanently mounted onto my K100DS to boot!)
Click to expand...
OK, if one materialises in one of my local camera shops then I'll give it a look...
Click to expand...
Yeah, good luck with that (I forgot about marketing). Perhaps if you changed your handle from parallaxproblem to 'parallel universe', you might get to handle one in a city outside of one where Mark Dimalanta can take his surfboard!
parallaxproblem said:
The fact we get a 12MP Sony sensor instead of the older 14MP (non-Video) Samsung version (or even the 14MP chip from the K-7) strongly suggests a final 'parting-of-the-ways' between the two companies to me.
Click to expand...
Samsung have said very recently that they intend to keep working with Pentax.

http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/news/396215/samsung-nx-puts-dslr-development-on-hold.html

Also, the architecture of the new K-7 sensor is quite different from the K20D, suggesting that a great deal of engineering effort has been expended on it:

http://www.semiconductor.net/blog/Chipworks_Inside_Angle/23044-DSLR_Image_Sensor_Innovation_Who_Is_Challenging_Canon_and_Nikon_s_lead_.php

(To what end, precisely, I don't know though -- the K-7's IQ appears to be roughly the same as the K20D to me ...)
parallaxproblem said:
The 10MP Sony chip in the K-m was obvious because basically the camera was a cut-down K200D but this new K-x in contrast appears to be new design rather than 'hand-me-down' electronics. Though maybe it was easier to upgrade the K-m electronics to interface to the new chip rather than 'shrink' the K20D electronics to fit into a K-m body...
Click to expand...
I agree about the new design cf. 'hand-me-down' ... indeed, I am really not sure whether there's been any 'upgrade' or 'downgrade' of existing electronics, and this is kind of the most exciting thing about the announcement. It looks possibly as though much of the circuitry might be 'ground-up' to me (albeit squeezed into an existing body shape).

I look forward to seeing how the Sony 12MP sensor fares working alongside the Pentax PRIME II processing engine (I am not the biggest fan of the Samsung 14.6MP sensors); it could be (as Marbuel suggests in this thread) that the K-x has the better sensor of the two current Pentax bodies. We shall see.

--
Cheers,
sfa

A very limited photographer ...

 
If only for the price tag (699.99$ in Canada), half that of the K-7.

I guess with the 2.2 Mpix less, the Kx will have better high ISO performance than the K-7! And 24 fps is cinema is much more film-like than 30 fps.

Hope the K-7 will get a firmware to allow setting the ISO in video mode. Otherwise, I'm quite happy with my DSLR.

And K10D should come back from repair soon...

--

If photography is painting with light, than I'm still at the painting with fingers level.

— Jeff
 
I have already thought the same kind of thoughts. Even without having yet seen the image quality of the K-x, I have to say if the K-x had come before the K-7, I'd probably have had a real hard time picking the K-7 instead of the K-x ... smart product release timing from Pentax, I guess!

Nonetheless, I am still a very happy camper with the K-7. Now, if only I could get one in red ... ;-)

--
Cheers,
sfa

A very limited photographer ...

 
This looks like a winner! Price, size, performance and plenty of cool feautes.

I have been considering a smaller camera to compliment my big DSLR, something I'd actually carry. This may be it!!!

Psyched!!
 
If they had released this first and I bought one I would be looking at it and saying "What am I going to do with this thing I want a K-7" I'm glad Pentax has released a new camera between the K-m and K-7, but I would still choose my K-7 if I were starting from scratch.
 
GordonBGood said:
viking79 said:
Caat said:
Why would such a highly specified camera not be weathersealed?

I understand they want to differentiate between the K-7 and this but even without it I think this could severely dent the K-7 sales.

The 1/6000 shutter and 4.7fps are suspect to me.
Click to expand...
The K-m is 3.5 fps, so that isn't a huge improvement. Trust me, the buffer size difference will make the K-7 still perform much better in this regard.
Click to expand...
Note that the former fps with the K-m a sensor limitation as to how fast the data could be read from the sensor. This 4.7 fps is very close to the 4.5 fps of the Nikon D90 and 4 fps of the D5000, which might indicate something, as it uses a similar sensor with an upgraded electronics.
GordonBGood said:
1/6000th is no big deal (not even 1/8000th really). It just puts it higher than most of its competition.
Click to expand...
I suspect that this will be a quieter shutter as well. I wonder if it might even be a K-7 shutter just limited so as to differentiate models?
GordonBGood said:
The specifications are not that high. Why aren't the D5000, D90, etc weather sealed? I agree, it would be an edge, but it would drive up the price. Maybe we will still see a k200d replacement yet, but probably not until the K-7 is a bit older, maybe next spring?
Click to expand...
Eric, I suspect that it isn't weather resistant because it doesn't need to be and to help differentiate it from the K-7 and a likely middle model to be introduced later that will be. Also, the size and weight would increase slightly.

So let's see what we have as compared to the K-m/K2000D, as follows:

1) Almost identical body size and weight.

2) Slight changes in user controls, as follows:
  • The quite useless help button is now back to the green button function, although it is still programmable to take of the preview functions and perhaps some other functions as per the K-m/K2000D.
  • The mode dial now has one new "click" as in the movie mode.
  • The delete button is now the LV = Live View button, meaning that:
  • The flash release button now is dual function as a delete button in playback and review modes.
3) Live View and movie mode to competitive specs although not up to those of the K-7. Very little chance of a fast contrast detect as the K-7 doesn't have it.

4) Improved image quality to 12 MP.

5) Non-crippled as to AF points and modes, also likely shows the point selection in the viewfinder.

6) Faster and better handling with probably slightly tweaked menu system as per the K-7.

7) Very likely now has compressed DNG using the more modern image processing chip.

8) The only question I couldn't see in the specification is does it now have the orientation sensor the K-m/K2000D. I can't see that they would not have this as they were slammed for this "cripple" in many of the reviews.
Click to expand...
The orientation sensor is now confirmed as per DPReview's quick preview.

The K-7 also has:

9) Slow sync flash and trailing slow sync flash from the flash menu. One could force the K200D and K-m into slow sysnc mode using Tv and forced flash but trailing wasn't possible with using an external flash.
GordonBGood said:
Now it is interesting to look at what we give up as compared to the K200D, as follows:

1) No weather resistant body, but the body is smaller and lighter.

2) The body may not quite be so "built like a tank".

3) No LCD status display on the top, but this helps keep the size down, and is somewhat compensated by the very useful interactive displays using the Info button on the LCD monitor.

4) Perhaps the slightly weaker flash with Guide number 11 rather than the 13 of the K200D.
Click to expand...
This has now been confirmed in the specs, but expressed as about Guide Number (GN) 16 at ISO 200, which is the same thing as GN = about 11 at ISO 100 as for the K-m/K2000D.

5) No wired remote capability just as the K-m/K2000D did not have it.
GordonBGood said:
It starts to make me like this camera as compared to my K200D, as I give up weather resistance and flash strength (never have needed full strength anyway) for better image quality and faster and better handling!

It also makes one wonder what the middle tier might offer to place it between the K-x and the K-7? Obviously, it will have weather resistance, no second control wheel and the stripped number of buttons, but there are a whole range of other features that could mix and match depending on where Pentax want to compete, yet must not add all or threaten the K-7 market, as follows:

1) Top LCD status panel - likely will have it as the K200D has.

2) Pentaprism viewfinder - K200D didn't have it but an option would be to put one that isn't quite up to that of the K-7 - may well have it as the Nikon D90 does.

3) This LCD monitor or the VGA one of some of the competition as in the Canon T1i/500D or NIkon D90 - I can see they would use this but might not to keep the price down. I suspect that it will have it as the Nikon D90 does.

4) Which sensor, this one or that of the K-7? I rather suspect they will use this one.

5) Price point must be between that of the K-x and the K-7 or introduced at about US$850 to US$1000 depending on the viewfinder and/or LCD monitor.

As I propose with LCD status, pentaprism, and VGA monitor, this is sufficiently better than the K-x but with the lesser build, user interface as to control wheel and buttons, perhaps still enough differentiated from the K-7, which would be the major concern and might mean the removal of the pentaprism viewfinder.

I hope my K200D doesn't die, as it would be a difficult choice for replacement between the K-x or to wait to see what this K-? has to offer!
Click to expand...
Regards, GordonBGood
 
GordonBGood said:
GordonBGood said:
viking79 said:
1/6000th is no big deal (not even 1/8000th really). It just puts it higher than most of its competition.
Click to expand...
I suspect that this will be a quieter shutter as well. I wonder if it might even be a K-7 shutter just limited so as to differentiate models?
GordonBGood said:
The specifications are not that high. Why aren't the D5000, D90, etc weather sealed? I agree, it would be an edge, but it would drive up the price. Maybe we will still see a k200d replacement yet, but probably not until the K-7 is a bit older, maybe next spring?
Click to expand...
Eric, I suspect that it isn't weather resistant because it doesn't need to be and to help differentiate it from the K-7 and a likely middle model to be introduced later that will be. Also, the size and weight would increase slightly.

So let's see what we have as compared to the K-m/K2000D, as follows:

1) Almost identical body size and weight.

2) Slight changes in user controls, as follows:
  • The quite useless help button is now back to the green button function, although it is still programmable to take of the preview functions and perhaps some other functions as per the K-m/K2000D.
  • The mode dial now has one new "click" as in the movie mode.
  • The delete button is now the LV = Live View button, meaning that:
  • The flash release button now is dual function as a delete button in playback and review modes.
3) Live View and movie mode to competitive specs although not up to those of the K-7. Very little chance of a fast contrast detect as the K-7 doesn't have it.

4) Improved image quality to 12 MP.

5) Non-crippled as to AF points and modes, also likely shows the point selection in the viewfinder.

6) Faster and better handling with probably slightly tweaked menu system as per the K-7.

7) Very likely now has compressed DNG using the more modern image processing chip.

8) The only question I couldn't see in the specification is does it now have the orientation sensor the K-m/K2000D. I can't see that they would not have this as they were slammed for this "cripple" in many of the reviews.
Click to expand...
The orientation sensor is now confirmed as per DPReview's quick preview.

The K-7 also has:

9) Slow sync flash and trailing slow sync flash from the flash menu. One could force the K200D and K-m into slow sysnc mode using Tv and forced flash but trailing wasn't possible with using an external flash.
GordonBGood said:
Now it is interesting to look at what we give up as compared to the K200D, as follows:

1) No weather resistant body, but the body is smaller and lighter.

2) The body may not quite be so "built like a tank".

3) No LCD status display on the top, but this helps keep the size down, and is somewhat compensated by the very useful interactive displays using the Info button on the LCD monitor.

4) Perhaps the slightly weaker flash with Guide number 11 rather than the 13 of the K200D.
Click to expand...
This has now been confirmed in the specs, but expressed as about Guide Number (GN) 16 at ISO 200, which is the same thing as GN = about 11 at ISO 100 as for the K-m/K2000D.

5) No wired remote capability just as the K-m/K2000D did not have it.
Click to expand...
6) No AF point confirmation has now been confirmed. I actually use this, even in manual focus mode to center point, as how else does one judge exactly where the focus point is. Also, if one were to use the automatic dynamic focus to any point, how would one know which point was chosen.
GordonBGood said:
GordonBGood said:
It starts to make me like this camera as compared to my K200D, as I give up weather resistance and flash strength (never have needed full strength anyway) for better image quality and faster and better handling!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
My main problem with the camera other than the lack of wired remote is the lock of AF focus indicators in the viewfinder. Oh well, I guess there has to be yet another reason to choose the K200D replacement if it comes, or the K-7!
GordonBGood said:
GordonBGood said:
It also makes one wonder what the middle tier might offer to place it between the K-x and the K-7? Obviously, it will have weather resistance, no second control wheel and the stripped number of buttons, but there are a whole range of other features that could mix and match depending on where Pentax want to compete, yet must not add all or threaten the K-7 market, as follows:

1) Top LCD status panel - likely will have it as the K200D has.

2) Pentaprism viewfinder - K200D didn't have it but an option would be to put one that isn't quite up to that of the K-7 - may well have it as the Nikon D90 does.

3) This LCD monitor or the VGA one of some of the competition as in the Canon T1i/500D or NIkon D90 - I can see they would use this but might not to keep the price down. I suspect that it will have it as the Nikon D90 does.

4) Which sensor, this one or that of the K-7? I rather suspect they will use this one.

5) Price point must be between that of the K-x and the K-7 or introduced at about US$850 to US$1000 depending on the viewfinder and/or LCD monitor.

As I propose with LCD status, pentaprism, and VGA monitor, this is sufficiently better than the K-x but with the lesser build, user interface as to control wheel and buttons, perhaps still enough differentiated from the K-7, which would be the major concern and might mean the removal of the pentaprism viewfinder.

I hope my K200D doesn't die, as it would be a difficult choice for replacement between the K-x or to wait to see what this K-? has to offer!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Regards, GordonBGood
 
GordonBGood said:
6) No AF point confirmation has now been confirmed. I actually use this, even in manual focus mode to center point, as how else does one judge exactly where the focus point is. Also, if one were to use the automatic dynamic focus to any point, how would one know which point was chosen.
Click to expand...
GordonBGood said:
Regards, GordonBGood
Click to expand...
Hi Gordon, when I read this earlier, I pondered the same thing. With out the visual feedback, how would you know? Over all, I like the specs on this camera, but do find this a little odd.
Dave
 
Same here, I might replace my K20D with Kx, get the DA21 and DA40. If the shutter is quiet and the IQ good up to ISO 1600, this will make an almost ideal street and travel kit.
Liwei Sheng said:
Good news, this is an answer to X1i or alike. Focus adjustment is probably gone, but Liveview with face detection might compensate for that, just hope the contrast focus can be as fast as a compact camera with selectable focus point. HD movie is good to have, if it is priced right(like Km), I will sell K20D for it. Just hope that ISO performance can be close to Canon, unlikely better though.
Click to expand...
--
Guven Ilter

http://picasaweb.google.com.tr/guven.ilter/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guvenilter/
 
it was weather sealed...

Which it should have been if, as DPR states, it is somehow positioned where the K200D was...
But then it might have been the K-7's biggest competitor :D.

However, I think DPR is wrong here, the K-x is a further development of the K-m.

It just goes further and further and next year we will see another entry level camera line...
--




steelski said:
The difference between genius and LBA is that genius has its
limits.
  • Janneman ( adaptation of the Kings quote from Albert Einstein)
Click to expand...
 
sfa1966 said:
I have already thought the same kind of thoughts. Even without having yet seen the image quality of the K-x, I have to say if the K-x had come before the K-7, I'd probably have had a real hard time picking the K-7 instead of the K-x ... smart product release timing from Pentax, I guess!

Nonetheless, I am still a very happy camper with the K-7. Now, if only I could get one in red ... ;-)
Click to expand...
As a K20D owner, I was wondering how you guys would view the K-x. But I think there's still a lot of reasons to choose the K-7, such as the better viewfinder, metering system, weather-sealing, user interface, etc., though the K-x might end up matching or even exceeding it in terms of IQ in some situations.

For me, the K-x announcement has helped to cement my decision to hang onto my K20D for another year and see what will come after the K-7.
 
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