8 New Pentax Products Announced: K5II/K5IIs/Q10/560mm/18-270mm/PK-Q Adapter...

[Fireemblem]

The problem these days is customers want to see "NEW" features, or mind-boggling niceties that can be boosted to the general public. But when it comes to fixing the current flaws or not-so perfect features that the system have, it's deemed not interesting. People seem to think that "Oh, why bother", "Plain lazy", "still K5 body" etc.

I like this approach of trying to fix/enhance the current capabilities. I work in Support/Maintenance and sometimes recommendations of making sure the fundamentals are as robust as possible is often ignored, and have to give way to the catch-phrases the market seeks.

But Ricoh (Pentax-Ricoh) always seems wanting to make sure flaws/concerns/usability are addressed. Just look at the number of firmwares they have come up just to enhance or fix their GXR system. Granted, people may say they shouldn't release half-baked products, but I see it as an attempt to make sure Users' voices are heard and worked on.

In K5 Mark 2 and the Mark 2s, I hope they really 'fixed' those issues that made some hardcore Pentaxian move to other brands, and looking at the announcements' materials, they seem like attempting to do just that.

Let's see how it really turns out.

Because if it is really to fix previous fault,then why not just provide a firmware update? Auto focus issue was always there in the k5 due to too large area focusing point, if it is to fix it, why not provide a firmware to make the auto focusing point smaller? As it is, I have already gotten used to not having so pin sharp focus so no point that now a k5II with better focusing is attractive or rather will I want to fork out extra $$$ for faults that should not be in the initial k5, even thou it is a good camera. Emjay was never able to help and just claim no problem with the auto focus etc etc. So to people like it, it will take alot more before i will be willing to fork out for another body. The current k5 is fine enough

 

[Yamakasi]

darn..i was hoping that Pentax will release something that will give me take nice nice pictures..like a option similar to TV,M, AV but says nice pictures..so when i choose that option..it will help me take nice nice pictures...

never mind..i just wait for announcement no 9..maybe still got hope :bsmilie:

 

[trowa77]

Saw dpreview stated US$7000 for the DA560, quite ex for a lens with only F5.6
The white color is not suitable for birding, hopefully there's a lens coat for it.

I am still deciding between this and the sigma 500mm. the 560 is larger in size at F5.6.
the final deciding factor will still be performance and cost. All weather seal is definitely a plus for shooting out door with this.
lol

 

[banana0ne]

Saw dpreview stated US$7000 for the DA560, quite ex for a lens with only F5.6
The white color is not suitable for birding, hopefully there's a lens coat for it.

Guess they have reason for having white color lens barrel, just like those L lenses from canon...

 

[Zenislev]

I don't see those people whom currently owns the K5 will want to get a K5II or IIs, even for K30 owners....K5II is just another K5.

 

[art2d2]

Hi Arthur
investing in another system or change over completely?

AH? Don't jump ship leh!! Pentax still "UNIQUE"!!

Aiya.. not jumping ship la.. will test water with D600 first, so probably will have 2 systems.

 

[P3ntx]

Pentax would makes very good optics .... 1 or 2 year later simply put FF Sensor w/o aa filter on K5 Platform ---- affordable and great

 

[pscion12]

For the benefit of those thinking that the da 560mm f5,6 is expensive, think again, it easily way cheaper than the other brands like Canon or Nikon's offering, which easily commands a price tag of $10k++

 

[Utopian]

guess i have no regrets abt k30 then, mighty sharp enough for me even w AA filter

 

[hellfire88]

looks interesting but not tempted to upgrade for the moment. the K30 looks to be a winner at entry level given the features/price and the removal of AA filter for the K5IIs is probably a sign of greater things to come in future.

will still monitor news of the K5IIs closely though, a big factor will be the actual street price in sg.

best to wait and see for now.

 

[snowydust]

actually there is a mod to turn off the NR in the firmware i saw somewhere(deviantart i think)... i was tempted to grab a cheapo <$300 K20D just to try... but time is no longer a lux for me... not time to shoot anyway...

hi flowerpot, i am still using k20d till now, really got chance to turn off the NR?? do u have the link, i try to find but couldnt, would be nice if u have it =)

 

[JohnTaylor]

With the K-5 being practically unchanged, the Pentax line up only has one new model, the K-30. The thing with this is that the K-5 doesn't have a huge amount to make it worth buying up. I few more buttons, heavy metal body, a LCD screen whose display rotates when you turn the camera 90 degrees and a slightly quieter shutter. There is even a disadvantage- the green button no longer has almost unlimited customisation, but is limited to just 4 (I think) options. On teh K-X, I chose filters for it. Can't do that for the K-5..unless it's something I missed.

That makes Pentax a line up of one outstanding model, a still good, but older model, and................well, nothing.

Correct me if I missed something. please! I want Pentax to grow.

 

[fengwei]

Come on guys! The K5II/K5IIs isn't even out yet, let's not jump to the conclusion so fast.

Still remember when K7 upgraded to K5, a lot people said the same. Well, they have the same shell but they are like two totally different cameras. Who knows, maybe K5II will be quite a big leap from K5 performance wise.

 

[PhilipKr35]

The beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, as they say.
Those with Kx, Kr and who are upgrading would appreciate K5 II and K5 IIs more,
I sensed they are either waiting for K5 to put on Personal Classified or for K5 II and K5 IIs to hit the stores.

 

[edutilos-]

With the K-5 being practically unchanged, the Pentax line up only has one new model, the K-30. The thing with this is that the K-5 doesn't have a huge amount to make it worth buying up. I few more buttons, heavy metal body, a LCD screen whose display rotates when you turn the camera 90 degrees and a slightly quieter shutter. There is even a disadvantage- the green button no longer has almost unlimited customisation, but is limited to just 4 (I think) options. On teh K-X, I chose filters for it. Can't do that for the K-5..unless it's something I missed.

That makes Pentax a line up of one outstanding model, a still good, but older model, and................well, nothing.

Correct me if I missed something. please! I want Pentax to grow.

Actually, when did the mentality start that every new model should be something that users should upgrade to? :dunno:

Of course, one could say that Pentax should not be pixie dusting (i.e. adding just a little bit of improvement) and push new models for the seeming sake of doing so, but this seems like an attempt to address particular complaints, i.e. poor AF performance and over-zealous AA filter. I thought it was perfectly fine and the K5 users can probably wait a while longer and even get a chance to change their shutter unit. :bsmilie:

 

[stuck]

I agree the k30 is one kickass camera, especially considering the price. But coming from a k-x user's perspective the k5 has been nothing short of spectacular.

I love the higher resolution files, the solid construction & WR (very impt for me personally). Usability goes up a notch from the kx as well. I love the extra buttons that make changing metering & AF modes instantaneous, the fact that I can turn off LE-NR, the digital leveling (which in my experience works well enough that I've started shooing landscapes in LV), also vastly improved AF (both speed n accuracy), higher burst rate & buffer size, & mildly improved high iso performance.

All these may feel like small incremental improvements but they make a world of difference in my shooting experience. The k5 II & IIs doesn't look so impressive on paper but let's wait till the official release before knocking it.

 

[SyncGuy]

Ouh.... C'mon guys~ There definitely has been improvements made..

Price-issues?
Sheesh.. Let's not expect a miracle to happen. Those concerned of the price, you guys make it sound like Pentax is expected to put out a body that costs $1? Let's be serious here.. You want Pentax to "grow" and yet do not wish to pay and support their growth? Erm... I guess it's time naysayers should understand the basics of business and investments?

Compare orange with oranges alright? It's an APS-C camera, full-stop.. Why compare to FF or whatever else? Let's look at APS-C with APS-C and list out their comparisons.. No point stating, "Oooh... With that amount I can... Bla bla bla... Nikon D600..."

Disappointed with no FF?
Erm... I guess people should understand the purposes and functionalities between m4/3, APS-C, and FF sensors? And even MF.. I think you guys only disappointed yourselves.. Don't blame it on Pentax/Ricoh. They didn't promise, ya know?
Besides, we have our own unique FF; film baby~

Only slight improvement?
Well, I guess everybody would still be sh!tt!ng in a hole in the ground if the toilet bowl wasn't slowly developed over time.

 

[xdivider]

For the benefit of those thinking that the da 560mm f5,6 is expensive, think again, it easily way cheaper than the other brands like Canon or Nikon's offering, which easily commands a price tag of $10k++

Not really. It is expensive. Its a simple telescopic design supposedly, meaning the corner performance will not be too corrected and will be hard to use in field cos of the length (I have a telescope setup so I know). The nearest competitor to this should be a borg 101ED + AFA 1.7 combo and the telescope ota is only 2+K SGD when it was still sold and the borg is a solid perfomer equal to most OEM 500mm. Besides, its a f5.6 and the sigma 500mm is more than 1/2 stop faster than it. 5-6K SGD I would have jumped. 10K? Nah. Getting a second hand nikon 600mm f5.6 and using it for 20-30m shooting is probably more cost effective and not to mention easier to carrier onto a mrt...........

Im interested in the Q10 + QK adapter combo though. 5.5x300 will serve as a easy super tele solution if the setup is handholdable..........

 

[flowerpot]

im sure Pentax could have slap a 24MP sensor into the K-5II/IIs and make everyone happy... even a nikon entry level D3200 has 24MP... but im glad they didn't...

the 16MP by far is the best APC sensor i have seen... going 24MP just give u more room for cropping... nothing else but a load more data space to manage... same scene same setup same lens, 16MP or 24MP no diff except you can crop more if needed...

the price for K5II is UD1200 ? Thats a very good price... place a 24MP would have cost more...

i wonder how many ppl realize the D7000 and D800 has almost the same pixel pitch... and i see many ppl in awe of D800 can crop so much and still see the details when the D7000 is actually almost the same but with a smaller image only to begin with....

im sure pentax will go with the 24MP in the future but i would be happy if they just remain at 16MP and improve on many aspects and keep the price low...

 

[Moonlightsg]

Because if it is really to fix previous fault,then why not just provide a firmware update? Auto focus issue was always there in the k5 due to too large area focusing point, if it is to fix it, why not provide a firmware to make the auto focusing point smaller? As it is, I have already gotten used to not having so pin sharp focus so no point that now a k5II with better focusing is attractive or rather will I want to fork out extra $$$ for faults that should not be in the initial k5, even thou it is a good camera. Emjay was never able to help and just claim no problem with the auto focus etc etc. So to people like it, it will take alot more before i will be willing to fork out for another body. The current k5 is fine enough

may be the new AF system have some change in hardware?
so the AF improvement will need a new model because is not something that a firmware update alone can improve.

just my guess...:think: