Will Pentax make a KP II?

xmeda wrote:

No. That production line is occupied by K3III.

But they need to develop some K70 succesor. That camera is too old now and needs modern replacement. With current pricing strategy it will reach into KP price range anyway.

We can probably expect plastic sealed body, articulating screen, KP sensor, improved DNR processor, tuned KP autofocus, new UI, better video. And price in roughly $1200-1300 USD range.

Xmeda,

I agree with you regarding the K70 successor; however I keep thinking about something a CEO said a while back, namely that Ricoh would concentrate on "high value" cameras in the future.  That would seem to eliminate a K70 successor.  But I have purchased several of the K-70s for my kids.  The K70 is simple enough for beginners but produce excellent shots.   While a K70ii wouldn't qualify as "high value," perhaps enough time has elapsed for the CEO to have changed his mind.

I have a K70 but prefer using the KP.  I was initially opposed to the KP like a lot of people, but once I actually used one, my mind changed.  Some ergonomic improvements wouldn't be objected to, I suspect.

Lawrence

It would be wise decision if Pentax introduce a KP II in a form factor of K 3, keeping the swivel screen. With battery DLI 90.

Regards

MrB1 wrote:

Historicity wrote:

Xmeda,

I agree with you regarding the K70 successor; however I keep thinking about something a CEO said a while back, namely that Ricoh would concentrate on "high value" cameras in the future. That would seem to eliminate a K70 successor. But I have purchased several of the K-70s for my kids. The K70 is simple enough for beginners but produce excellent shots. While a K70ii wouldn't qualify as "high value," perhaps enough time has elapsed for the CEO to have changed his mind.

Lawrence

Perhaps there could be a translation misinterpretation here. The CEO might have intended "high value" not to mean "expensive" but rather even better than "good value" (quote from the Free Dictionary - "that which has a high quality, quantity, or worth but is offered at a low or reasonable price"). The latter description would certainly describe the current K-70.

Philip

If the Ricoh CEO speaks the same language as all other camera executives "High Value" signifies value to corporate profit not to consumer fiscal interests. This has generally translated to fewer models at a higher cost and performance level, higher profit per unit sold, and directed at the demographic that is purchasing those ILC cameras and lenses. Carefully worded presentations aside, the corporate definition of value has become quite clear in the days since the 2016 K-70.

MrB1 wrote:

Historicity wrote:

Xmeda,

I agree with you regarding the K70 successor; however I keep thinking about something a CEO said a while back, namely that Ricoh would concentrate on "high value" cameras in the future. That would seem to eliminate a K70 successor. But I have purchased several of the K-70s for my kids. The K70 is simple enough for beginners but produce excellent shots. While a K70ii wouldn't qualify as "high value," perhaps enough time has elapsed for the CEO to have changed his mind.

Lawrence

Perhaps there could be a translation misinterpretation here. The CEO might have intended "high value" not to mean "expensive" but rather even better than "good value" (quote from the Free Dictionary - "that which has a high quality, quantity, or worth but is offered at a low or reasonable price"). The latter description would certainly describe the current K-70.

Philip

Philip,

I'll grant that the term is ambiguous, but the first camera made since that announcement was the K3iii, the most elaborate and highest price APSC camera Ricoh/Pentax has ever made (if I'm not mistaken).  Perhaps the term could merely exclude cameras like the KS-1, but the K-70 doesn't seem to fit if Ricoh/Pentax intends to build K3iii-level cameras.

Asahi man said (if I remember correctly) that there would be two APSC and two full frame cameras in the near future.  The K3iii is the first.  A K1iii has been mentioned by others and it would fit this definition.  So would Ricoh Pentax go below (less high value in this sense) and make perhaps a tweeked KPii, less retro and more ergonomic?  and a smaller FF camera, much as Nikon did when they made the D600?  Or would they go above the K3iii and K1iii, cameras that would fit this definition, but one wonders, if that was the case, if the Pentax-faithful would purchase such cameras in large enough numbers to make such a choice profitable?

Lawrence

Historicity wrote:

MrB1 wrote:

Historicity wrote:

Xmeda,

I agree with you regarding the K70 successor; however I keep thinking about something a CEO said a while back, namely that Ricoh would concentrate on "high value" cameras in the future. That would seem to eliminate a K70 successor. But I have purchased several of the K-70s for my kids. The K70 is simple enough for beginners but produce excellent shots. While a K70ii wouldn't qualify as "high value," perhaps enough time has elapsed for the CEO to have changed his mind.

Lawrence

Perhaps there could be a translation misinterpretation here. The CEO might have intended "high value" not to mean "expensive" but rather even better than "good value" (quote from the Free Dictionary - "that which has a high quality, quantity, or worth but is offered at a low or reasonable price"). The latter description would certainly describe the current K-70.

Philip

Philip,

I'll grant that the term is ambiguous, but the first camera made since that announcement was the K3iii, the most elaborate and highest price APSC camera Ricoh/Pentax has ever made (if I'm not mistaken). Perhaps the term could merely exclude cameras like the KS-1, but the K-70 doesn't seem to fit if Ricoh/Pentax intends to build K3iii-level cameras.

Asahi man said (if I remember correctly) that there would be two APSC and two full frame cameras in the near future. The K3iii is the first. A K1iii has been mentioned by others and it would fit this definition. So would Ricoh Pentax go below (less high value in this sense) and make perhaps a tweeked KPii, less retro and more ergonomic? and a smaller FF camera, much as Nikon did when they made the D600? Or would they go above the K3iii and K1iii, cameras that would fit this definition, but one wonders, if that was the case, if the Pentax-faithful would purchase such cameras in large enough numbers to make such a choice profitable?

Lawrence

I think they won't make a camera with the ergonomics of K3iii and lower specs in terms of af/buffer. It would seriously undercut the sales of the K3iii.

I think the lower specs APSC camera will have a smaller battery, single SD slot and perhaps more retro-inspired design so that the K3iii is for "pro-sumers" and the KPii or whatever it's called would fit people who need a smaller and more stylish camera

MaciekPruski wrote:

I think they won't make a camera with the ergonomics of K3iii and lower specs in terms of af/buffer. It would seriously undercut the sales of the K3iii.

I think the lower specs APSC camera will have a smaller battery, single SD slot and perhaps more retro-inspired design so that the K3iii is for "pro-sumers" and the KPii or whatever it's called would fit people who need a smaller and more stylish camera

That's the way I see it as well for APS-C development.   It would threaten K3iii sales less, and appeal to an audience that wants a small camera that has a nice optical viewfinder.

Nobody knows what  Pentax thinks. But  may have surprised us with a retro camera similar to the Nikon ZFC. But the closest prediction to reality is a full-frame camera with one of Sony’s 45-megapixel sensors with a broader update to the Focus system that fits the year 2023, the year the camera is expected to be released. This guess is due to the release of the dfa 21mm lens in a pleasant surprise.

I think Pentax should adopt new philosophy = one body - different capabilities for APSC cameras, having for example K5 and K3 series.

MaciekPruski wrote:

I think they won't make a camera with the ergonomics of K3iii and lower specs in terms of af/buffer. It would seriously undercut the sales of the K3iii.

I think the lower specs APSC camera will have a smaller battery, single SD slot and perhaps more retro-inspired design so that the K3iii is for "pro-sumers" and the KPii or whatever it's called would fit people who need a smaller and more stylish camera

Here on DPR Pentax forum I have seen loads of excellent photos taken by users with KPs... and almost every time I think to myself "Wow, wonderful shot! Must have been taken with a small stylish camera!... "

PentUp wrote:

MaciekPruski wrote:

I think they won't make a camera with the ergonomics of K3iii and lower specs in terms of af/buffer. It would seriously undercut the sales of the K3iii.

I think the lower specs APSC camera will have a smaller battery, single SD slot and perhaps more retro-inspired design so that the K3iii is for "pro-sumers" and the KPii or whatever it's called would fit people who need a smaller and more stylish camera

Here on DPR Pentax forum I have seen loads of excellent photos taken by users with KPs... and almost every time I think to myself "Wow, wonderful shot! Must have been taken with a small stylishcamera!... "

The stylish look gives you the confidence to just go for it! 

Doug

p.s., because it is a small stylish camera I was able to sneak my KP + DA70 into a sporting event recently because it did not look like a serious camera to security.  My wife in her bag had my 55-300 PM + 1.4xTC.  There can be advantages to looking like a cute camera.

PentUp wrote:

MaciekPruski wrote:

I think they won't make a camera with the ergonomics of K3iii and lower specs in terms of af/buffer. It would seriously undercut the sales of the K3iii.

I think the lower specs APSC camera will have a smaller battery, single SD slot and perhaps more retro-inspired design so that the K3iii is for "pro-sumers" and the KPii or whatever it's called would fit people who need a smaller and more stylish camera

Here on DPR Pentax forum I have seen loads of excellent photos taken by users with KPs... and almost every time I think to myself "Wow, wonderful shot! Must have been taken with a small stylishcamera!... "

"wIth an optical view finder."    You forgot that part....    and a small prime.  You long lens guys need the K3iii   

RBIV wrote:

PentUp wrote:

MaciekPruski wrote:

I think they won't make a camera with the ergonomics of K3iii and lower specs in terms of af/buffer. It would seriously undercut the sales of the K3iii.

I think the lower specs APSC camera will have a smaller battery, single SD slot and perhaps more retro-inspired design so that the K3iii is for "pro-sumers" and the KPii or whatever it's called would fit people who need a smaller and more stylish camera

Here on DPR Pentax forum I have seen loads of excellent photos taken by users with KPs... and almost every time I think to myself "Wow, wonderful shot! Must have been taken with a small stylishcamera!... "

"wIth an optical view finder." You forgot that part.... and a small prime. You long lens guys need the K3iii

Yo, stylish, White K-01 can't do that then Black GR, whatever forever you'd take it to a Tom Ford shoot, White Power Black Power and definitely need help making a rap song out of all this!

I do not think they will make a camera named KP II, but they may release a new camera with some KP DNA. The next Pentax "entry level" DSLR will most likely be higher end than K70, closer to KP. But what it is named we will have to see, or if it will be released at all?

A more compact APS-C DSLR is needed for those that do not need a "speed monster" but like a smaller camera with a flexible screen better suited for general shooting and better suited for those preferring smaller DA limited prime lenses or smaller zoom lenses.