Any chance of a K01 update soon?

Feel like Pentax is starting to lag a bit behind on mirrorless.

Pentax themselves said they're committed to OVF and Pentaxians seem to have allergies of a MILC Pentax existing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

robbo d wrote:

They have publicly stated they are committed to DSLR and not likely going to mirrorless at all.

K3mkiii is a very capable camera and big upgrade on previous models and seems to be popular.

Ricoh imaging is small but profitable and more interested in making a fashion statement than absolute high Tech.

However pushing DSLR into new territories should the opportunity arise.

They have little R&D budget which one would assume is currently working on k1mkiii and next generation 35mm film bodies.

Many of us loved the k01 and wished they had followed that route and its been chewed over often but not likely to happen

Very cool and comprehensive overview, thank you

Ainisru wrote:

Pentax themselves said they're committed to OVF and Pentaxians seem to have allergies of a MILC Pentax existing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

A blessed Union then.

SafariBob wrote:

Ainisru wrote:

Pentax themselves said they're committed to OVF and Pentaxians seem to have allergies of a MILC Pentax existing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

A blessed Union then.

I don't think this is even a hot take, if they continued with their MILC endeavours, I feel like we would have seen a mix of Olympus/OMD-S and Fujifilm DNA in their cameras. They have the recipe to do so: experience in building rugged cameras, been using IBIS for a long time, offering just that extra bit of features others reserve for their high end, and they have their own quirks and uniqueness such as their Limited lens line up.

But that being said, I enjoy taking out my K-3 when I can. Shooting it definitely feels like a treat to enjoy once in awhile. I'm keeping an eye out for the 20-40 limited :-).

Ainisru wrote:

SafariBob wrote:

Ainisru wrote:

Pentax themselves said they're committed to OVF and Pentaxians seem to have allergies of a MILC Pentax existing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

A blessed Union then.

I don't think this is even a hot take, if they continued with their MILC endeavours, I feel like we would have seen a mix of Olympus/OMD-S and Fujifilm DNA in their cameras. They have the recipe to do so: experience in building rugged cameras, been using IBIS for a long time, offering just that extra bit of features others reserve for their high end, and they have their own quirks and uniqueness such as their Limited lens line up.

But that being said, I enjoy taking out my K-3 when I can. Shooting it definitely feels like a treat to enjoy once in awhile. I'm keeping an eye out for the 20-40 limited :-).

The K-01 was an experiment in two things (a) A K-Mount MILC with the tech of the early 2010s (b) An external designer camera rather than a Pentax team camera.

It didn't sell very well, but those who bought were were positive about it.

Since it was designed, Pentax has become part of Ricoh, who have said that the Pentax name will be for their SLR products only.

Before Ricoh took over Pentax R&D went in many directions including the Q series - a super small MILC, and not a commercial success. The K-Mount is not ideal for MILCs, their are people who want to their existing lenses with features found in MILCs, but the business rationale for making them is to get people to upgrade lenses. 
A "Ricoh" rather than "Pentax" MILC with short flange distance mount - either all new or going in with a shared one wouldn't be any more appealing to K-Mount owners than say a Sony with an adapter, and wouldn't persuade Canon buyers to switch.

But another K-01 as "what can we do around the K-Mount" is not impossible, but it's going to be a long way down a list of priorities for development $

klimbkat wrote:

Why not? Of course, it will happen on the unique Pentax timeframe where the term "soon" effectively describes all forseeable futures. Recall that it only took about 15 years from the first digital FF prototypes to the K1's release

LOL, great comment, and so true!

The K1 was an amazing camera, and still is! possibly the best DSLR ever made. a bit like the Samsung NX1.

Maybe they will make a 645 NII successor at some point, along the lines of the Hasselblad CFV II concept.

Actually there is one already:  https://twitter.com/takeeee507/status/1621807638760792073

1. SafariBob wrote:

Feel like Pentax is starting to lag a bit behind on mirrorless.

If they are considering reproducing film cameras, why not? Pentax always thinks against the tide. At a time when companies were focusing on DSLRs, Pentax was producing the first APS-C mirrorless  k01 and the first mirrorless 1.23 sensor, called the Q.

zakaria wrote:

1. SafariBob wrote:

Feel like Pentax is starting to lag a bit behind on mirrorless.

If they are considering reproducing film cameras, why not? Pentax always thinks against the tide. At a time when companies were focusing on DSLRs, Pentax was producing the first APS-C mirrorless k01 and the first mirrorless 1.23 sensor, called the Q.

true! Pentax has always been the think different brand. And the q is very popular with Leica users these days

-- hide signature --

pentaxian .

SafariBob wrote:

zakaria wrote:

1. SafariBob wrote:

Feel like Pentax is starting to lag a bit behind on mirrorless.

If they are considering reproducing film cameras, why not? Pentax always thinks against the tide. At a time when companies were focusing on DSLRs, Pentax was producing the first APS-C mirrorless k01 and the first mirrorless 1.23 sensor, called the Q.

true! Pentax has always been the think different brand. And the q is very popular with Leica users these days

Oooo... they have lots of disposable cash, maybe time to sell my original Q on a Leica forum

Or are you refering to Leica Q?  Oh well

Doug

SafariBob wrote:

Feel like Pentax is starting to lag a bit behind on mirrorless.

Yes, they're lagging on mirrorless - but at this point it's intentional.  They tried it once and decided it didn't work for them.  They are now on record as saying they will focus on DSLR going forward.

Personally I think they learned the wrong lesson from the K-01 experiment.  They decided it meant that mirrorless would never work for them.  But if you look at the reasons why it never sold well, none were unfixable:

• They used a big name designer, hoping it would lend some fashion cachet and allow them to charge more.  The price was more than their traditional customers would bear.
• They kept the K-mount, which forced a larger camera than necessary.
• They didn't include a viewfinder.

At this point I think their product focus is the correct decision for them, but the lost possibilities are to be mourned.

Mark Ransom wrote:

SafariBob wrote:

Feel like Pentax is starting to lag a bit behind on mirrorless.

Yes, they're lagging on mirrorless - but at this point it's intentional. They tried it once and decided it didn't work for them. They are now on record as saying they will focus on DSLR going forward.

Personally I think they learned the wrong lesson from the K-01 experiment. They decided it meant that mirrorless would never work for them. But if you look at the reasons why it never sold well, none were unfixable:

• They used a big name designer, hoping it would lend some fashion cachet and allow them to charge more. The price was more than their traditional customers would bear.
• They kept the K-mount, which forced a larger camera than necessary.
• They didn't include a viewfinder.

At this point I think their product focus is the correct decision for them, but the lost possibilities are to be mourned.

100%

I think relying on third parties for critical components places Pentax (and Nikon) in an odd position in the market. I think Pentax can make a mirrorless with ibis, weather-sealed body, pdaf, k-mount, etc, and it will sell, but I doubt they could secure the key components at reasonable prices and volumes if they have no control over the supply of those components.

hhh316 wrote:

All they need to do is remove the reflex mirror, keep the same flange distance so it is compatible with all lenses. Or do an adaptor.

… and all you need to do is find a few thousand (tens of thousands of?) like-minded people who are prepared to put a deposit up front and I'm sure Ricoh will chop the prism off the KF and sell you one.

Developing a new set of lenses is even more unlikely to happen, so the adaptor will be unnecessary.

In the meantime, buy a KF and use it in LiveView … it's as close as you're likely to get!