Definitely I look forward to the K1 III. The K1 II is awesome, but it's slow compared to the K3 III in terms of frame rate, the screen is not touch and dated, and a faster processor would enable modern capabilities like: Focus stacking Fast frame rate Lower ISO noise for higher ISO capability Faster and more precise focusing And in general a quality upgrade.
It's a great camera! Bar video it can do pretty much most things you want it to. Some of my favourite Motocross action photos were taken with the K-70!
I was of the same opinion but since I sold my K-70 none of the cameras I use for photography have a flip screen so I'm used to it now. For video totally different story, I use the Canon R50 with a flip screen all the time!
I'm saving for "17", to buy one this year - but what I really, really want from Pentax, are genuine focusing screens for manual lenses. No more _ersatz_ from eBay. Hey, they're the only brand of OVF cameras at the moment, they should invest a little in that and take full advantage of this (now unique) feature.
@@ryszardtarnowski8213 I've really enjoyed using the Pentax 17, I had my doubts having only ever used digital but have been pleasantly surprised. That's a good point, they are literally the only ones still producing OVF cameras so "focusing" on that would make sense 👌
I'm new to Pentax with the Pentax 17. Super fun camera to use. If they made a new k mount film camera, I'd buy that too, and maybe a k3 monochrome to go with it.
Nice! Welcome to the Pentax world! I found the Pentax 17 so much fun to use, I loved the whole process to be honest. There's a good case for Pentax to bring out more film cameras after the success of the 17. I can also vouch for the K3iii Monochrome which blew me away with the image quality and what's possible at super high ISO.
I'd like to see a K-1 Mark III especially adding the faster, bigger buffer and UHS II SD card slots. I think later on it would be great if Pentax added an articulating screen to the K-3 Mark III.
@@steverobinson9801 That's somthing I forgot about, the faster memory card slots. But to be fair that might only be needed if they upped the buffer and fps capabilities?
the problem is that they cant just use the same sensor since its not being made anymore (as I heard on The Forums). What I'd love to have on K1 most of all are smaller AF points
I have the K1 II and the 645z. I would love to see an upgraded version of 645z, such an amazing camera, slows me down, fantastic colours, and the lenses are razor sharp.
Great video Lee, and very thought provoking ideas and insights from a company that is unlike its competitors. I just hope that they never stray from their original vision of great quality cameras 📷 at amazing value for money 💰 and phenomenal quality build and features. I say long may they continue to succeed and innovate with their unique engineering and technology. Fabulous video with the sound of the buzzards aloft over the farmers field.
@@b.2221 Well they have definitely started to carve out a unique path, which some may disagree with but on the flip side has probably brought a new set of users to the brand.
@dunnobutwayne Never owned the KP personally, it looked to be a great camera and still stacks up in many respects. It will be interesting to see what comes next for sure 👌
Great video Lee, thank you. I am a K1ii user and love the camera. I bought a really good used one. I too would love to see a Mkiii version. Better autofocus, UHS II cards in both slots and a higher resolution sensor. To me the existing body is wonderful, as is the screen, although the latter could be upgraded with higher resolution. After that, flesh out the FA lens line. An F4 24-120 would be awesome. If none of this happens, my existing body and lenses still perform wonderfully for my needs.
@@chriskelly6218 Thanks for the comment Chris 👍 Indeed the K1 & K1ii are still fantastic cameras, especially for landscape. A 24-120 f4 would be a brilliant all rounder!
In regards to what next, I think a new K1 is needed before it is too late. Also I think they have to capitalize on the K3 and update it with an articulated screen and something like bracketing in camera which is so useful. But most of all I would like Pentax to make a retro full frame like the zf from Nikon, just make it better ergonomic wise, I think such a camera would put Pentax on the map again so to speak.
As you say, I’d love a Pentax full frame with a retro style like Nikon have done with the Zf. Also smaller and lighter than the K-1. Retain Shake Reduction and weather sealing but shrink it. It’s more niche but that’s their market now.
The K3-iii has lots of bracketing options, exposure, depth of field, and motion modes. People want an articulated screen, but they also like the ergonomics and don't want it to be heavier. I think few people actually use it in practice. On my old K-70 I would use it, but rarely, and with the K3-iii in the rare case I need it I can just use the phone app for the shot. They did upgrade the app to make up for the fixed screen and it is plenty fast enough.
I'm not sure they would introduce a new screen to the K3iii. I know most wanted to see a flip screen on that camera (myself included) but I can say I haven't missed it. I like the idea of a retro full frame camera, that would fit into the niche route Pentax seem to be taking. I'd still like to see all the weather sealing if they did go down that route.
@@welshskies Thanks! I've come back to this style of video to see how they go down. I don't mind doing the indoor videos either but love being out walking & talking with the camera. Cheers 🍻
The 17 has been received well, and judging from the design it would be easy to put a FF 35mm ish lens on it, FF viewfinder, possibly AF and make a FF version. I think that may well be the next Pentax camera.
@@richardhale9664 Yeah I get the impression the Pentax 17 could be a camera to test the water so to speak & it's gone well so far! We may well see more film cameras from Pentax.
An updated K1 is definitely a model many Pentax users want. I would add that since the K3 Monochrome was such a success, a K1 Monochrome seems an excellent option too.
I could see a K1 monochrome, it fits in with the niche cameras they have been producing. What size sensor do you think they would likely go with for a full frame mono camera?
K1 is done, sensor no longer manufactured and that camera is 10+ years old technology. Modernized and BW would be around $4500+ and since BW is niche, more towards $5000+
@@xmeda The current K1 sensor may be outdated, but the K1 line definitely still has a dedicated user base. An updated sensor with the autofocus capabilities of the K3 III and some full frame PLM lenses to match would make for a strong product. Also people who want a dedicated monochrome camera in full frame may well consider paying 4500+ for the body. It is still a lot less than one would pay for a Leica body.
I am on my vacation now in Europe and have been using the mark3 with the 16-50mm plm lens and it has been wonderful. But I must say I think I like the old menus of the original k3 better, this updated version is much more complex to learn, especially the focusing system setup, also when hiking in the Alps with a lot of bright light, I found out two times that I had shifted the focus points by the camera bouncing around on my peak design strap and not notice it until taken a few photos 😂 But it is a wonderful camera to use and for once the hit rate is in the 90+ %.
That's currently my favourite combo too, the K3iii & 16-50 PLM. The images produced are just fantastic & need very little post processing. You will get used to the new menu system, I felt the same way but I actually prefer it over the old style menu now. Plus it has lots more in-depth features! Have a fantastic time in Europe 📷
I'm a Pentax fanboy. I have a K1II and I love it. However, I use a different system too. And I use it more and more, because of all the fantastic lenses that are appearing at different brands. Can't wait for Pentax to finally make a move. It is time wasted.
I picked up my Pentax after a year of mirrorless. Pentax doesn't need to aim for perfection. Celebrate the niche. But ... just for fun they could make the k1iii the fastest DSLR in history 😀
Personally I would like a full frame budget digital single lens reflex camera from Pentax. However, would there be any profit in producing such a camera.
I still use my K70 which at the time I was shopping around for a replacement, I preferred to the K1. Ok the K1 is lovely but it's so heavy compared with the K1, at least for me anyway. I love my K70 and have had some great results with it. I don't understand the reason for the Pentax 17. Youngsters just dont appreciate how flexible and cheap digital photography is. What would I like Pentax to make? How about a Pentax version of an Olympus Pen or Lumix S9??
I would like to see the Pentax Q series resurrected. Imagine how great that little 5x crop factor could be given the advances in sensor tech and new software tweaks that are appearing in cellphone sensors. Give it a flip screen and cable remote port that the original sorely lacked.
Great video! For me, I’m hopeful that they put the K3iii smarts together with a higher res FF screen for the next K1 model. If they aspire to compete with the Z8/9, they won’t get all the way there, but hopefully they’ll get far enough that those of looking at other brands will stay “in the family”. Current pricing is great, if they get too pricy then a Z8 starts to look like a better option on price as well as function If they added a 200-600-ish lens I’d be over the moon, the 150-450 can be a bit on the short side for shooting wildlife. Just don’t make it a huge as the old 250-600, the 150-450 form factor or a tad bigger would work though (ie, needs to fit easily in carry-on luggage without taking the entire bag)
Thanks mate I appreciate it. This seems to be up there with what people want to see, I've recently read a fair amount of comments that people would love to see a long reach lens pushing towards the 600mm side of things, as like you say the longest modern lens available is the 150-450.
I would like to see more updated APS-C lenses with fast focusing modern AF motors & more FF lens releases. After the K-1III, were probably not going to see any other cameras for a long while. The only other possible camera release would be an "entry level" FF camera, similar to the KF or KP. My guess is that a K-3IV won't appear until 2030 at the earliest. That's if they're even considering the possibility of releasing one. But yeah. You never know with Ricoh. They're gonna end up doing whatever they want to do.
If Pentax does it right, film cameras could be for Pentax what Instax is for Fuji. Of course not at that scale, but Pentax' scale isn't on par anyways. Strategically they do a lot of things right, going for markets competitors left behind, but people still have interest in. It will be seen if those decisions come to fruition in a few years when maybe other companies abandon DSLRs altogether.
I very much want to see the K1 MKIII be released. I've been running a MK1 for a few years now. It's still a great camera, but shows it's age in a couple ways (auto focus, write speed, slow wifi, etc). There are some features of the K3 MKIII I'd love to see "up-ported" to the next gen K1. But more than anything, I'd like to see Pentax confirm that a long release cadence between flagship cameras isn't a reason to give up on the company. By you know...actually releasing a product instead of a "tweak". Like I said, I'm still rocking a Mk1 and I love it. It's one of the best cameras I've ever had. But I also have 5 other Pentax cameras. When I start doing the math on MY next camera I have to decide if my next upgrade is a K3 MKIII, a K1 MKIII (if/when it's released) or if ti's time to start looking at a used Nikon. I shudder to think of that last option (I have a ton of Pentax glass collected over 30+ years). But the truth is there are a lot of people asking themselves "What am I going to do if Pentax isn't a viable platform?". I think Pentax needs to quicken the pace at answering that question with a real product as soon as possible. Otherwise their already small market share is just going to continue to shrink. The latest firmware option released in Japan has me hopeful. And with any luck that will be available in the US soon. We'll see!
I still use a Pentax K5 and the only improvements I would want would be better AF and a tilting rear screen. The K3iii has the better AF but I wish they would have fitted a tilting rear screen as well. The KF has an articulating screen but I don't like those, so my only other option is the K1 which I may get one day :)
@@mindyourownbusiness5589 I wanted to see a flip screen with the K3iii but can say I don't miss it now. I do see situations where that would be advantages though, maybe they would go with a flip screen on a K1iii?
Not sure what I'd be after in a new Pentax, as I'm still looking to update from my K200D to maybe the K-70. Looking forward to seeing your 17 photos. Regarding that bird you caught at around 8:00, is that what you call a buzzard? That's a hawk here.
@@donwallace7354 I've always called those birds buzzards but I'll admit I don't know if that's correct 😅 it may well be a hawk. The KF from what I've heard does not have the apature block syndrome that the K-70 had just something to think about if your looking to upgrade.
@@LeeIveson Thank you for the tip on the KF vs. the K-70. I hadn't realized the aperture block issue extended that far. Regarding the buzzard, I must apologize. You captured a beautiful shot of a ... buzzard. I guess I grew up with the mental image of a buzzard being a large, ugly scavenger. It turns out that the vulture, or turkey vulture, is also referred to as a turkey buzzard, which is what stuck in my head.
@@donwallace7354 🤣 no need to apologise, I'm a complete novice when it comes to bird photography, I should really learn more about the different types of birds & what they are called 😅
K1 MIII, i think like K3 III with all benefits of K1 MII. May be a new processor PRIME VI for greather Buffer and improve common workspeed. Focusstacking! Global Shutter for first DLSR ;p. Greetings from Germany.
@@slimphotog I would love to see a 50-135 PLM too, the rendering from the current version is very nice but the focusing speed & accuracy let's it down in my opinion.
Frankly, the K-3 Mark III is bound to become a true Pentax classic, and it will be hard to improve it meaningfully. Well, next time around, maybe a more extended buffer, a return of the dust mapping feature, auto AF fine adjust, in-camera focus stacking, a more sophisticated eye detection, and perhaps - for a bit more cropping leeway - a 40 MP BSI sensor. But other than that, I find it hard to think of earth-shattering improvements to this fine camera. Otherwise, Ricoh, slowly but steadily revise your lens line-up. Give the FF shooters their long-awaited K-1 Mark III, and continue your film project if you must (been there, done that, can't be bothered), although I find the digital monochrome road more interesting, but don't lose sight of your regular bread-and-butter APS-C system, which for many is still the portable yet capable sweet spot in digital photography. Come up with a bit more enticing entry model than the solid-but-stopgap KF. And please, and I mean this, don't go down that pathetic path of retro for the sheer sake of retro. The K1000 sure was an iconic film camera that many people learned on and have fond memories of, but it's not a great template for a DSLR. Continue giving us form-follows-function informed designs and ergonomics, and keep refining the classic DSLR, just as Leica is doing with its rangefinders. As always, only my to bits - others' mileage may vary.
I think all of the K3 series of cameras will go down as some of their best! I like the idea of a 40mp BSI sensor too, that would be a step up for sure. Lenses will also come into play to really get the best out of the cameras I'm hoping more in the way of PLM!
I've turned my attention to film a little more, as well as developing my own negatives. So, I'm more eager to see how Ricoh Pentax deal with the Pentax 17 and what the future of that will be. In terms of digital, the K-1 ii is way more than I need, even the K-70 is plenty for me! I simply prefer the ergonomics of the K-1 though. To be clear, it's 100% a hobby only. I have no need for more resolution, as I print my own photos on 13" x 19" and even a 14 mp sensor is overkill for that. I've slowly switched from APS-C lenses to the FF counterparts - mainly the Limited lenses that have aperture control - so that I can easily switch them between the K-1 and any film body I use. So, I'm probably a super niche minority, but for myself, I would really like to see a refresh of an old-school lens for FF digital, but with aperture controls to maintain film body compatibility and the HD coatings. Something in the likes of a 35-70, 28-70. On the side of digital, I really wish we could get the 20-40mm Limited in FF format. Naturally, I don't even have the slightest hint of expecting these. Just ramblings really. I enjoy that Pentax aren't releasing new things every few months, or every year. I seriously get to appreciate and hang on to products a long time.
@@GODSPEEDseven The buzz around the film project has been more than alot of people expected I feel. So you might just get your wish if the Pentax 17 keeps selling. And by the sound of it your going to be ready with all the full frame glass! BTW I made the video in regards to receiving my first scans! It's due early next week (I'll not say how they turned out 🤣) 👍
As far as cameras go, K1-iii is the obvious next thing, and like you said, just put the features that the K3-iii has on it. What I really want to see though is updated lenses; 100 Macro and 300 prime with PLM.
Yeah I think it makes sense, the sensor & screen would be very important if they did go that route. And I'm with you on the new lenses! I've had my fingers crossed for a 50-135 PLM but would love to see a 300 PLM or even a 200 prime PLM lens.
100mm Macro cannot use PLM, you are moving whole barrel. Also that lens was recently modified, so forget about any other updated for next decade. Not to mention, that AF for macro lenses is not the most important part. DA300/4 has much more problems than just sudden death motors, that lens would need serious optical redesign and since sales of such lenses are tiny, there is no justification for investment into RnD in foreseeable future. K1III - how much would you pay?
@@xmeda It was updated 5 years ago. And as an engineer, I think the idea that you can't update it with an in-body motor is... not worth arguing about. From your other comments, you're not a Pentaxian, so... why comment? As far as price, what you don't understand at all is that before the K3-iii launch the K3-ii was selling for 1700, and right now the K3-iii is selling for 1700. Right now the K1-ii is selling for 1800. So I'd expect it to launch under 2500 and eventually drop to under 2000. When you upgrade technology, a lot of the new better parts are actually cheaper than the old parts were. You're not the Oracle of Doom, you're just an angry guy on the internet.
Lee It's obvious that the k'1 series Is do for a upgrade , how much is the question they could do another K70 to KF which is not much of a upgrade or really upgrade the the camera with a better autofocus system. Pentax needs to reintroduce a K Mount interchangeable lens full frame 35mm film camera and keep it simple like a updated K1000 with a autofocus system instead of manuel focus so it can use the latest K mount lenses with film it would make it the most up to date film camera on the market with a modern autofocus system no other film camera could come close to a modern autofocus K mount full frame film camera
I have, in order of purchase, a K20D (still gets used now and then) A K3, and a K3iii. I don't need any more camera bodies but I would like to see a fast 16mm; f/1.8 would be a good balance between light gathering power and size. A 24mm of the same speed would do the same job for full frame, and make a fine =36mm lens for us APS-C users. These two lenses would fill the gaps in Pentax's wide angle prime range. As you said, a K1iii with all the tech from the K3iii would be the next step; while I don't need one every new Pentax camera or lens sold means more money for developing new products. If the K1iii was developed to make the most of the differences between full frame and the APS-C format, rather than just cramming in the maximum number of megapixels, I think it would do well. I would also like to see a DSLR with a simplified user interface, for people who want to learn about photography, not how to operate a complex, and for the newby, confusing device. That doesn't mean it would have a low spec, mind. But whatever you do, Pentax, it's high time you rethought the PC socket cover. Abandon the easily lost, tiny screw in cover and just find another way!🙂
Get Sigma 18-35/1.8. That is my go-to lens whenewer I need some wider lowlight or shallow depth of field. Don't expect any lenses coming from Ricoh anytime soon.
@@xmeda I did consider this lens, but it's bigger than my 16-50 PLM and much heavier, and not quite wide enough. It has to be 16mm; that's just how I see things. Good suggestion, though.
To be fair I always thought the K-70 was a very user friendly camera, it had a very easy to use menu system & less on body buttons. The KF is obviously now that entry level camera.
They need to put some effort in lenses. The current lineup is a bit too heterogeneous. Too many old designs. The aps-c system needs to replace the 18-135 and 16-85 with a solid, dependable standard zoom like a 17-70 F4 PLM or something like that. A well though out design with solid IQ already from wide open, and good mechanical design less prone to decentering than for example the 16-85. A companion for the 55-300 PLM. Even a slightly more premium tier of lens, like around 700€ or so. Still considerably cheaper (and lighter) than the 16-50 2.8. I would buy such lens at day one. I am afraid that they do not have the resources to keep both an aps-c and FF lens lineup up-to-date... I understand it is a niche brand. It would be foolish to expect highly specialized stuff like a variety of tilt-shift lenses. But at least the key lenses, standard zooms and tele-zooms, must be rock solid offerings and covering at least a couple of different price points.
Hey you never know, Pentax may well bring out something like a tilt shift lens! It would fit right in with the niche direction they are pushing towards.
@LeeIveson every one moved to 50 now so its quite obvious as an update in mark iii But as i ve been with pentax for over 10 years most likely it would be same sensor but if they d move to 50mpx. They will come up with new model for it some 5 years later
@@exitar1 I'd have to give that a hard pass! I appreciate AI tech is useful for post processing but I prefer to operate the camera even if that means making mistakes. 👍
Hi Lee. What do I expect from Pentax? I left my Pentax KP in 2022 to switch to a Fujifilm mirrorless and recently bought a used Canon 6D. Dear Pentax, please recover from the torpor you've gotten yourself into and give yourself a makeover! Why the Pentax 17? I much prefer my Pentax MX. There is not only the Japanese market. I would like an entry level FF reflex and a mirrorless.......come on you can do it! Thanks.
I also use an old Canon 7Dii purely down to the lens (EF 70-200mm f4) as its fast & reliable, as much as I love my 55-300 PLM the external zoom kills me at the dusty Motocross tracks sucking in all the dust! I've been wanting to use the FA 70-210 f4 paired with the K3iii, I think that would be a fantastic combo.
I am using pentax k10d + 18-55 kit lens but slowly and bad low light performance. What do you recommend? Can it be used professional photography? I am using the v 1.31 firmware. Is there any other specialized software like Magic Lantern for Canons?
@@imam-icereyan5471 I personally wouldn't use that setup for paid work purely due to not being 100% sure I'd get the shot. Not to mention it would be hard to find a quick repair for that model these days.
@@LeeIveson In the hands of a master warrior, a stick transforms into a weapon; in the hands of an unskilled warrior, a weapon turns into a stick. We see many photographers taking poor photos with very expensive cameras and lenses.
That would be nice, but if their history is any indication of what's to come, I wouldn't be holding my breath. Their Asahi Pentax 100th anniversary left a lot to be desired. Only limited edition knick knacks. Nothing major. 😑
A K1-iii is the obvious choice along with a new telephoto lens with a bit more reach than the 150-450. They need something in the 600-800mm range to compete with other brands . An updated sensor which keeps the superb dynamic range and image quality and improved autofocus and burst rate. Also a large buffer and decent battery life. Basically take the specs for a Nikon D850 and improve on them to make the worlds best full frame DSLR.
I mean that would be pretty impressive if they managed to bring both a super telephoto & top tier full frame DSLR to market! I do think that implementing & improving on what has been done with the K3iii would give us something very close to what your describing. What spec sensor would you like to see them use in a K1iii?
They might sell maybe 50 of those lenses. Imagine the price that will absorb development since nobody else is now building DSLR lenses... and 800mm.. you can try to find Sigma 300-800, but prepare more money than your car probably cost. K1III obvious..ok.. how much are you prepared to pay for it?
@@LeeIveson a triple layer sensor to give full colout depth . If they wanted to be groundbreaking a modified version of Sony's 126MP sensor might draw some interest, but I'd settle for anything thst could match the D850 sensor. Reviving the old 200-600mm with improved HD glass and coatings might be an option if it could be produced at a competitive price point.
Id like some faster wide angles for nightscapes with a nice deep telephoto. Maybe they should just beg sigma to start making the k mount lenses again lol.
I brought the K70 in 2022, solenoid died in 8 months and Pentax replaced it with a KF The KF has everything I need in a DSLR but it's battery life is terrible. I would happily buy a longer life battery for the KF. The K5II i now use for shooting jpeg monochrome.
I can say that I had to buy a few spare batteries for my K-70, I found when I shooting long days at the Motocross events I would burn through battery fairly quickly. One of the reasons I love the K5 & K3 series is the bigger battery. It would have been nice to see a battery grip for the K-70 & KF, I'm sure they made one for the KP which uses the same battery?
@@melbournepixs thanks I’ve heard that before I will have to pick one up. I shoot quite a bit in bnw. The k70 monochrome profile is good compared to what I’ve experienced in most brands
Hopefully film SLRs, hopefully mechanical, but probably electronic. For digital? Meh. They'll keep trying to design around having a mirror box, which is a huge challenge. Are they relevant to any sort of professional photography? No, but they haven't been relevant for a long time. They need to consolidate around only making full frame lenses and 3 body lines - a full frame, a high-end APS-C, and a mid-spec APS-C. Then all FF lenses, no new crop. Then the FF glass can be used on the pending film bodies - allowing full hybrid owners, pulling in anyone that wants film / digital sharing of lenses without adapters. Taper off existing crop glass, fill in the gaps in full frame. Re-brand either the Tamron 150-600 or Sigma 150-600. License OM-System phase-detect autofocus so Pentax Live View doesn't suck anymore.
@@LeeIveson Yes, which is why I mentioned they should do what Olympus did and re-brand one of the 3rd party super telephoto lenses. There isn't nearly enough money to be made designing / manufacturing their own.
I've been using Fujifilm since 2018, but I'm considering a full-frame, and the only full-frame I liked so far was the K1 MKII, but it's a little long in the tooth. I'll wait until the MK III.
Next steps? a) Dump K mount, create nice Kmount adaptor for all lenses and move to modern camera layout possibly APS-C only like Fuji (would be nice, but not realistic with this gutted R&D) b) Replace K3III and K70/KF with new cameras, focus on live-view usability including AF, video to stay at least remotely competitive, articulating LCD nad larger buffer of course (still not very realistic to expect that anytime soon, but doable) c) Let K mount die without customers and support like they did with Q mount and 645 mounts already d) K1III makes no sense, because there is only limited portfolio of lenses for such system. Even original K1/K1II struggled with sales after first 1/2 year. You can add AF from K3III, but that does not cover whole frame and will need significant rework = price going up. 36Mpix FF sensor is no longer produced, so it will need new sensor and new processor = price going up. And improved live view performance = price going up. The result would be $4000+ camera that barely any pentaxians will buy (especially too much to justify such investment if you already have K1 which was not cheap already) and certainly will not attract new customers or drag guys from other systems. And those lenses - Tamron stopped production of all DSLR lenses. DA18-270 already left the party and DFA15-30/2.8, DFA24-70/2.8, DFA70-210/4 are following soon. There is no replacement for them, we are waiting for fast 35mm and some 70-300 lenses for AGES now. And of course there is no 3rd party support in general. APS-C K mount at least still has some lenses in porfolio that cover the range with interesting things, they reworked the 16-50/2.8 and now they should focus on 50-135(150)/2.8 and some wider fast lens. But FF is toast without Tamron. And they are not going to keep production line just for few lenses for Ricoh when they already decided to dump whole canon/nikon variant production, where they were selling much more lenses. Who wants nice FF body buys Nikon Z5 or Z6 lines. Pentax cannot compete with these using obsolete AF or some decades old lenses with all those weak edges and chromatic + lateral aberations. Those times are gone now. Pentax 17 is just strange niche toy. There is some initial hype, but that won't last long, don't worry. Watching the disassembly of that thing yesterday, there is nothing interesting inside, basically cca $100 assembly and rest of the price is just to cover development cost and margin for Ricoh. At least it seems that they can easily replace lens unit with different one. So we can see Pentax 17 wide or maybe some telephoto. But still limited by that 1/320s shutter that prevents any thoughts about some faster lens or so. Dark times are coming for K mount.
@@LeeIveson They can keep DSLR and pentaprism, but then advanced AF will only work in live view and looking at screen is cumbersome, so it will be nice to provide some EVD module like either add-on like Olympus had those VF2/3/4 on older bodies in hotshoe. Or simply use dual finder with option to switch. That would be awesome. Problem is, that cost of such solution will be prohibitive for most customers. So Mirrorless camera AND proper AF adaptor seems to be better way. They can utilize existing lenses with adaptor, keep nice back-compatibility and later build new lenses for new mount. Or join L-mount maybe. But Im afraid they are stuck in their own bubble.
@@LeeIveson There are tons of film cameras around. But when I want to buy film and then get it developed, it cost a lot. If also scanned, then even more.
@@LeeIveson There is a lot of photography that does not require fast focus, but the K1 III should already be there. I have a feeling they are about to stop.
@@xmeda I think there's a fair amount of photographer's who enjoy the process & are willing to pay for film, even just going off the Pentax 17 sales it's obviously a popular option.
Definitely I look forward to the K1 III. The K1 II is awesome, but it's slow compared to the K3 III in terms of frame rate, the screen is not touch and dated, and a faster processor would enable modern capabilities like:
Focus stacking
Fast frame rate
Lower ISO noise for higher ISO capability
Faster and more precise focusing
And in general a quality upgrade.
I still use a K70, it's tough enough to deal with me and I can go out in all weather.
It's a great camera! Bar video it can do pretty much most things you want it to. Some of my favourite Motocross action photos were taken with the K-70!
It’s my main camera. My back up is a K-50. Someday, if I can afford it, I’ll get a K-1ii
K70 is good. I have a brand new
mine just developed solenoidioses :(
@kalinmir 😪
Definitely would like to see a K1 Mark III and a K1 Mark III monochrome released at the same time.
K3 Mark III with the flip screen.
I was of the same opinion but since I sold my K-70 none of the cameras I use for photography have a flip screen so I'm used to it now. For video totally different story, I use the Canon R50 with a flip screen all the time!
thats a big part of the reason I got the K1 instead
Agreed!
I'm saving for "17", to buy one this year - but what I really, really want from Pentax, are genuine focusing screens for manual lenses. No more _ersatz_ from eBay. Hey, they're the only brand of OVF cameras at the moment, they should invest a little in that and take full advantage of this (now unique) feature.
@@ryszardtarnowski8213 I've really enjoyed using the Pentax 17, I had my doubts having only ever used digital but have been pleasantly surprised. That's a good point, they are literally the only ones still producing OVF cameras so "focusing" on that would make sense 👌
I'm new to Pentax with the Pentax 17. Super fun camera to use. If they made a new k mount film camera, I'd buy that too, and maybe a k3 monochrome to go with it.
Nice! Welcome to the Pentax world! I found the Pentax 17 so much fun to use, I loved the whole process to be honest. There's a good case for Pentax to bring out more film cameras after the success of the 17. I can also vouch for the K3iii Monochrome which blew me away with the image quality and what's possible at super high ISO.
I want so see a few lenses! DA* 50-135 or 50-150 PLM AW or a DA* 35mm f1.4 PLM AW!!!
Astromodified K3mk3 or K1 mk3 with maybe a digital filter, so it can be used in normal light as well.
I'd like to see a K-1 Mark III especially adding the faster, bigger buffer and UHS II SD card slots. I think later on it would be great if Pentax added an articulating screen to the K-3 Mark III.
@@steverobinson9801 That's somthing I forgot about, the faster memory card slots. But to be fair that might only be needed if they upped the buffer and fps capabilities?
How much would you pay for K1III?
@@xmeda The original K-1 sold for about $2500 so somewhere near that would be acceptable although inflation would likely increase that.
@@LeeIveson I agree. UHS II cards will need to have a much larger and faster buffer.
the problem is that they cant just use the same sensor since its not being made anymore (as I heard on The Forums). What I'd love to have on K1 most of all are smaller AF points
I have the K1 II and the 645z.
I would love to see an upgraded version of 645z, such an amazing camera, slows me down, fantastic colours, and the lenses are razor sharp.
Been bleeding Pentax since 1990.... P30n, mz5, K-01(yellow of course.) and K70. Cheers from Australia !😎
@@AdamSuperAC Cheers! And they have pretty much come full circle now with the film project!
Great video Lee, and very thought provoking ideas and insights from a company that is unlike its competitors. I just hope that they never stray from their original vision of great quality cameras 📷 at amazing value for money 💰 and phenomenal quality build and features. I say long may they continue to succeed and innovate with their unique engineering and technology. Fabulous video with the sound of the buzzards aloft over the farmers field.
@@b.2221 Well they have definitely started to carve out a unique path, which some may disagree with but on the flip side has probably brought a new set of users to the brand.
I like to see Faster AF like in Nikon & SONY & a more advanced video system with AF.
I want a mirrorless!
@@seanho3095 K-01 😅🤟
For me it would have to be a K1 iii with in camera focus bracketing and stacking plus a whole load of upgraded and even new lenses with the PLM.
@@barryhiggott9458 I'd love to see the PLM lenses 🤞
small ones like limited and plm
bought KP years ago used in Tokyo.... waiting for some new gear!
@dunnobutwayne Never owned the KP personally, it looked to be a great camera and still stacks up in many respects. It will be interesting to see what comes next for sure 👌
Great video Lee, thank you. I am a K1ii user and love the camera. I bought a really good used one. I too would love to see a Mkiii version. Better autofocus, UHS II cards in both slots and a higher resolution sensor. To me the existing body is wonderful, as is the screen, although the latter could be upgraded with higher resolution. After that, flesh out the FA lens line. An F4 24-120 would be awesome. If none of this happens, my existing body and lenses still perform wonderfully for my needs.
@@chriskelly6218 Thanks for the comment Chris 👍 Indeed the K1 & K1ii are still fantastic cameras, especially for landscape. A 24-120 f4 would be a brilliant all rounder!
In regards to what next, I think a new K1 is needed before it is too late.
Also I think they have to capitalize on the K3 and update it with an articulated screen and something like bracketing in camera which is so useful.
But most of all I would like Pentax to make a retro full frame like the zf from Nikon, just make it better ergonomic wise, I think such a camera would put Pentax on the map again so to speak.
As you say, I’d love a Pentax full frame with a retro style like Nikon have done with the Zf. Also smaller and lighter than the K-1. Retain Shake Reduction and weather sealing but shrink it. It’s more niche but that’s their market now.
How much would you pay for K1III?
@@xmeda be ok if a K-1iii wasn’t more than $3,000
The K3-iii has lots of bracketing options, exposure, depth of field, and motion modes. People want an articulated screen, but they also like the ergonomics and don't want it to be heavier. I think few people actually use it in practice. On my old K-70 I would use it, but rarely, and with the K3-iii in the rare case I need it I can just use the phone app for the shot. They did upgrade the app to make up for the fixed screen and it is plenty fast enough.
I'm not sure they would introduce a new screen to the K3iii. I know most wanted to see a flip screen on that camera (myself included) but I can say I haven't missed it. I like the idea of a retro full frame camera, that would fit into the niche route Pentax seem to be taking. I'd still like to see all the weather sealing if they did go down that route.
Lee, I really like your video style. I look forward to seeing your Pentax 17 shots.
@@welshskies Thanks! I've come back to this style of video to see how they go down. I don't mind doing the indoor videos either but love being out walking & talking with the camera. Cheers 🍻
Hallo Lee, wieder ein sehr gutes Video von dir. Vielen Dank dafür. Mach bitte weiter so!
Schönes Wochenende.
Grüße aus Bayern /Deutschland.
Gruß Bernd
The 17 has been received well, and judging from the design it would be easy to put a FF 35mm ish lens on it, FF viewfinder, possibly AF and make a FF version. I think that may well be the next Pentax camera.
@@richardhale9664 Yeah I get the impression the Pentax 17 could be a camera to test the water so to speak & it's gone well so far! We may well see more film cameras from Pentax.
I love my k1 11. An update would be fantastic.
Hmm.. maybe they will put that monochrome sensor into the Ricoh GR👍
An updated K1 is definitely a model many Pentax users want. I would add that since the K3 Monochrome was such a success, a K1 Monochrome seems an excellent option too.
I could see a K1 monochrome, it fits in with the niche cameras they have been producing. What size sensor do you think they would likely go with for a full frame mono camera?
@@LeeIveson I think somewhere between 45-60 MP based on the type of sensors that would most likely be available to Pentax currently.
@@epstar83 The low light performance would be insane! You never know they may go that route next.
K1 is done, sensor no longer manufactured and that camera is 10+ years old technology. Modernized and BW would be around $4500+ and since BW is niche, more towards $5000+
@@xmeda The current K1 sensor may be outdated, but the K1 line definitely still has a dedicated user base. An updated sensor with the autofocus capabilities of the K3 III and some full frame PLM lenses to match would make for a strong product. Also people who want a dedicated monochrome camera in full frame may well consider paying 4500+ for the body. It is still a lot less than one would pay for a Leica body.
I am on my vacation now in Europe and have been using the mark3 with the 16-50mm plm lens and it has been wonderful. But I must say I think I like the old menus of the original k3 better, this updated version is much more complex to learn, especially the focusing system setup, also when hiking in the Alps with a lot of bright light, I found out two times that I had shifted the focus points by the camera bouncing around on my peak design strap and not notice it until taken a few photos 😂
But it is a wonderful camera to use and for once the hit rate is in the 90+ %.
That's currently my favourite combo too, the K3iii & 16-50 PLM. The images produced are just fantastic & need very little post processing. You will get used to the new menu system, I felt the same way but I actually prefer it over the old style menu now. Plus it has lots more in-depth features! Have a fantastic time in Europe 📷
I'm a Pentax fanboy. I have a K1II and I love it. However, I use a different system too. And I use it more and more, because of all the fantastic lenses that are appearing at different brands. Can't wait for Pentax to finally make a move. It is time wasted.
I picked up my Pentax after a year of mirrorless. Pentax doesn't need to aim for perfection. Celebrate the niche. But ... just for fun they could make the k1iii the fastest DSLR in history 😀
@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x It will be very interesting to see what they implement in a K1iii if it comes to market! It could go a few different directions.
Personally I would like a full frame budget digital single lens reflex camera from Pentax. However, would there be any profit in producing such a camera.
Interesting view point, but like you say would there be much profit?
I still use my K70 which at the time I was shopping around for a replacement, I preferred to the K1. Ok the K1 is lovely but it's so heavy compared with the K1, at least for me anyway. I love my K70 and have had some great results with it. I don't understand the reason for the Pentax 17. Youngsters just dont appreciate how flexible and cheap digital photography is. What would I like Pentax to make? How about a Pentax version of an Olympus Pen or Lumix S9??
I would like to see the Pentax Q series resurrected. Imagine how great that little 5x crop factor could be given the advances in sensor tech and new software tweaks that are appearing in cellphone sensors. Give it a flip screen and cable remote port that the original sorely lacked.
@GringoLoco Admittedly the Q series completely slipped my mind! Look like fun cameras.
Great video!
For me, I’m hopeful that they put the K3iii smarts together with a higher res FF screen for the next K1 model. If they aspire to compete with the Z8/9, they won’t get all the way there, but hopefully they’ll get far enough that those of looking at other brands will stay “in the family”.
Current pricing is great, if they get too pricy then a Z8 starts to look like a better option on price as well as function
If they added a 200-600-ish lens I’d be over the moon, the 150-450 can be a bit on the short side for shooting wildlife. Just don’t make it a huge as the old 250-600, the 150-450 form factor or a tad bigger would work though (ie, needs to fit easily in carry-on luggage without taking the entire bag)
Thanks mate I appreciate it. This seems to be up there with what people want to see, I've recently read a fair amount of comments that people would love to see a long reach lens pushing towards the 600mm side of things, as like you say the longest modern lens available is the 150-450.
I would like to see more updated APS-C lenses with fast focusing modern AF motors & more FF lens releases.
After the K-1III, were probably not going to see any other cameras for a long while. The only other possible camera release would be an "entry level" FF camera, similar to the KF or KP. My guess is that a K-3IV won't appear until 2030 at the earliest. That's if they're even considering the possibility of releasing one.
But yeah. You never know with Ricoh. They're gonna end up doing whatever they want to do.
If Pentax does it right, film cameras could be for Pentax what Instax is for Fuji. Of course not at that scale, but Pentax' scale isn't on par anyways. Strategically they do a lot of things right, going for markets competitors left behind, but people still have interest in. It will be seen if those decisions come to fruition in a few years when maybe other companies abandon DSLRs altogether.
I very much want to see the K1 MKIII be released. I've been running a MK1 for a few years now. It's still a great camera, but shows it's age in a couple ways (auto focus, write speed, slow wifi, etc). There are some features of the K3 MKIII I'd love to see "up-ported" to the next gen K1. But more than anything, I'd like to see Pentax confirm that a long release cadence between flagship cameras isn't a reason to give up on the company. By you know...actually releasing a product instead of a "tweak". Like I said, I'm still rocking a Mk1 and I love it. It's one of the best cameras I've ever had. But I also have 5 other Pentax cameras. When I start doing the math on MY next camera I have to decide if my next upgrade is a K3 MKIII, a K1 MKIII (if/when it's released) or if ti's time to start looking at a used Nikon. I shudder to think of that last option (I have a ton of Pentax glass collected over 30+ years). But the truth is there are a lot of people asking themselves "What am I going to do if Pentax isn't a viable platform?". I think Pentax needs to quicken the pace at answering that question with a real product as soon as possible. Otherwise their already small market share is just going to continue to shrink. The latest firmware option released in Japan has me hopeful. And with any luck that will be available in the US soon. We'll see!
I still use a Pentax K5 and the only improvements I would want would be better AF and a tilting rear screen. The K3iii has the better AF but I wish they would have fitted a tilting rear screen as well. The KF has an articulating screen but I don't like those, so my only other option is the K1 which I may get one day :)
@@mindyourownbusiness5589 I wanted to see a flip screen with the K3iii but can say I don't miss it now. I do see situations where that would be advantages though, maybe they would go with a flip screen on a K1iii?
Well i want a revamp da 35mm plastic fantastic lens, that has a metal mount and an aperture of f1.8 that would be nice
I snapped the mount on my little 50mm plastic fantastic not long ago 😪 Would be nice to see a metal mount.
Not sure what I'd be after in a new Pentax, as I'm still looking to update from my K200D to maybe the K-70. Looking forward to seeing your 17 photos. Regarding that bird you caught at around 8:00, is that what you call a buzzard? That's a hawk here.
@@donwallace7354 I've always called those birds buzzards but I'll admit I don't know if that's correct 😅 it may well be a hawk.
The KF from what I've heard does not have the apature block syndrome that the K-70 had just something to think about if your looking to upgrade.
@@LeeIveson Thank you for the tip on the KF vs. the K-70. I hadn't realized the aperture block issue extended that far. Regarding the buzzard, I must apologize. You captured a beautiful shot of a ... buzzard. I guess I grew up with the mental image of a buzzard being a large, ugly scavenger. It turns out that the vulture, or turkey vulture, is also referred to as a turkey buzzard, which is what stuck in my head.
@@donwallace7354 🤣 no need to apologise, I'm a complete novice when it comes to bird photography, I should really learn more about the different types of birds & what they are called 😅
K1 MIII, i think like K3 III with all benefits of K1 MII. May be a new processor PRIME VI for greather Buffer and improve common workspeed. Focusstacking! Global Shutter for first DLSR ;p. Greetings from Germany.
@@piesacken7770 A global shutter would be huge! That would open up so many new opportunities with flash! Cheers 🍻 from England
I’d like to see the k3iii, more lenses released with PLM. K80 and perhaps a high res apsc body k3 r
@@sdhute definitely would love to see more PLM lenses! Which focal lengths would you want to see?
I’d like to see APSC 23mm, 28mm, 33mm, 56mm all PLM.
I would like the 50-135mm f/2.8 lens with PLM focusing abilities. The current version hunts too much.
@@slimphotog I would love to see a 50-135 PLM too, the rendering from the current version is very nice but the focusing speed & accuracy let's it down in my opinion.
Frankly, the K-3 Mark III is bound to become a true Pentax classic, and it will be hard to improve it meaningfully. Well, next time around, maybe a more extended buffer, a return of the dust mapping feature, auto AF fine adjust, in-camera focus stacking, a more sophisticated eye detection, and perhaps - for a bit more cropping leeway - a 40 MP BSI sensor. But other than that, I find it hard to think of earth-shattering improvements to this fine camera. Otherwise, Ricoh, slowly but steadily revise your lens line-up. Give the FF shooters their long-awaited K-1 Mark III, and continue your film project if you must (been there, done that, can't be bothered), although I find the digital monochrome road more interesting, but don't lose sight of your regular bread-and-butter APS-C system, which for many is still the portable yet capable sweet spot in digital photography. Come up with a bit more enticing entry model than the solid-but-stopgap KF. And please, and I mean this, don't go down that pathetic path of retro for the sheer sake of retro. The K1000 sure was an iconic film camera that many people learned on and have fond memories of, but it's not a great template for a DSLR. Continue giving us form-follows-function informed designs and ergonomics, and keep refining the classic DSLR, just as Leica is doing with its rangefinders. As always, only my to bits - others' mileage may vary.
I think all of the K3 series of cameras will go down as some of their best! I like the idea of a 40mp BSI sensor too, that would be a step up for sure. Lenses will also come into play to really get the best out of the cameras I'm hoping more in the way of PLM!
I've turned my attention to film a little more, as well as developing my own negatives. So, I'm more eager to see how Ricoh Pentax deal with the Pentax 17 and what the future of that will be. In terms of digital, the K-1 ii is way more than I need, even the K-70 is plenty for me! I simply prefer the ergonomics of the K-1 though.
To be clear, it's 100% a hobby only. I have no need for more resolution, as I print my own photos on 13" x 19" and even a 14 mp sensor is overkill for that.
I've slowly switched from APS-C lenses to the FF counterparts - mainly the Limited lenses that have aperture control - so that I can easily switch them between the K-1 and any film body I use. So, I'm probably a super niche minority, but for myself, I would really like to see a refresh of an old-school lens for FF digital, but with aperture controls to maintain film body compatibility and the HD coatings. Something in the likes of a 35-70, 28-70.
On the side of digital, I really wish we could get the 20-40mm Limited in FF format. Naturally, I don't even have the slightest hint of expecting these. Just ramblings really.
I enjoy that Pentax aren't releasing new things every few months, or every year. I seriously get to appreciate and hang on to products a long time.
@@GODSPEEDseven The buzz around the film project has been more than alot of people expected I feel. So you might just get your wish if the Pentax 17 keeps selling. And by the sound of it your going to be ready with all the full frame glass! BTW I made the video in regards to receiving my first scans! It's due early next week (I'll not say how they turned out 🤣) 👍
@@LeeIveson Haha! No worries. I've messed up many shots myself. I need to often remind myself to select the proper zone for the focus. 🍻
As far as cameras go, K1-iii is the obvious next thing, and like you said, just put the features that the K3-iii has on it.
What I really want to see though is updated lenses; 100 Macro and 300 prime with PLM.
Yeah I think it makes sense, the sensor & screen would be very important if they did go that route. And I'm with you on the new lenses! I've had my fingers crossed for a 50-135 PLM but would love to see a 300 PLM or even a 200 prime PLM lens.
100mm Macro cannot use PLM, you are moving whole barrel. Also that lens was recently modified, so forget about any other updated for next decade. Not to mention, that AF for macro lenses is not the most important part. DA300/4 has much more problems than just sudden death motors, that lens would need serious optical redesign and since sales of such lenses are tiny, there is no justification for investment into RnD in foreseeable future.
K1III - how much would you pay?
@@xmeda It was updated 5 years ago. And as an engineer, I think the idea that you can't update it with an in-body motor is... not worth arguing about. From your other comments, you're not a Pentaxian, so... why comment? As far as price, what you don't understand at all is that before the K3-iii launch the K3-ii was selling for 1700, and right now the K3-iii is selling for 1700. Right now the K1-ii is selling for 1800. So I'd expect it to launch under 2500 and eventually drop to under 2000. When you upgrade technology, a lot of the new better parts are actually cheaper than the old parts were.
You're not the Oracle of Doom, you're just an angry guy on the internet.
Next Pentax is a 17 or 18 NG compact flash.
Lee
It's obvious that the k'1 series Is do for a upgrade , how much is the question they could do another K70 to KF which is not much of a upgrade or really upgrade the the camera with a better autofocus system. Pentax needs to reintroduce a K Mount interchangeable lens full frame 35mm film camera and keep it simple like a updated K1000 with a autofocus system instead of manuel focus so it can use the latest K mount lenses with film it would make it the most up to date film camera on the market with a modern autofocus system no other film camera could come close to a modern autofocus K mount full frame film camera
Hopefully the K1iii is in the works. We may see a 35mm film camera with those features seen as the Pentax 17 has done so well.
K-3iii infrared. Much better than sending a new camera out for modification.
And a K-1 iii
@@secretrat That would be interesting sitting alongside the Monochrome! But yeah I think a K1iii would be the camera most would like to see next?
I have, in order of purchase, a K20D (still gets used now and then) A K3, and a K3iii. I don't need any more camera bodies but I would like to see a fast 16mm; f/1.8 would be a good balance between light gathering power and size. A 24mm of the same speed would do the same job for full frame, and make a fine =36mm lens for us APS-C users. These two lenses would fill the gaps in Pentax's wide angle prime range.
As you said, a K1iii with all the tech from the K3iii would be the next step; while I don't need one every new Pentax camera or lens sold means more money for developing new products. If the K1iii was developed to make the most of the differences between full frame and the APS-C format, rather than just cramming in the maximum number of megapixels, I think it would do well.
I would also like to see a DSLR with a simplified user interface, for people who want to learn about photography, not how to operate a complex, and for the newby, confusing device. That doesn't mean it would have a low spec, mind.
But whatever you do, Pentax, it's high time you rethought the PC socket cover. Abandon the easily lost, tiny screw in cover and just find another way!🙂
Get Sigma 18-35/1.8. That is my go-to lens whenewer I need some wider lowlight or shallow depth of field. Don't expect any lenses coming from Ricoh anytime soon.
@@xmeda I did consider this lens, but it's bigger than my 16-50 PLM and much heavier, and not quite wide enough. It has to be 16mm; that's just how I see things. Good suggestion, though.
To be fair I always thought the K-70 was a very user friendly camera, it had a very easy to use menu system & less on body buttons. The KF is obviously now that entry level camera.
They need to put some effort in lenses. The current lineup is a bit too heterogeneous. Too many old designs. The aps-c system needs to replace the 18-135 and 16-85 with a solid, dependable standard zoom like a 17-70 F4 PLM or something like that. A well though out design with solid IQ already from wide open, and good mechanical design less prone to decentering than for example the 16-85. A companion for the 55-300 PLM. Even a slightly more premium tier of lens, like around 700€ or so. Still considerably cheaper (and lighter) than the 16-50 2.8. I would buy such lens at day one.
I am afraid that they do not have the resources to keep both an aps-c and FF lens lineup up-to-date...
I understand it is a niche brand. It would be foolish to expect highly specialized stuff like a variety of tilt-shift lenses. But at least the key lenses, standard zooms and tele-zooms, must be rock solid offerings and covering at least a couple of different price points.
Hey you never know, Pentax may well bring out something like a tilt shift lens! It would fit right in with the niche direction they are pushing towards.
Can someone please explain why can't we have animal eye tracking on a DSLR camera while using live view?
Make it happen 😅 in all seriousness that would be a very nice feature to have!
Pentax 6 x7 mark 111 please
K1 iii with 50+ mpx
@@MrdjMob I would be very interested to see what sensor would be used. There's a lot of debate over what the "sweet spot" in terms of sensor size is.
@LeeIveson every one moved to 50 now so its quite obvious as an update in mark iii
But as i ve been with pentax for over 10 years most likely it would be same sensor but if they d move to 50mpx. They will come up with new model for it some 5 years later
How about A.I. focusing and A.I. exposure...
@@exitar1 I'd have to give that a hard pass! I appreciate AI tech is useful for post processing but I prefer to operate the camera even if that means making mistakes. 👍
@@LeeIveson Have you seen what the R1 can do?
@@exitar1 No I've not looked into that camera, I can imagine it's pretty crazy though!
Hi Lee. What do I expect from Pentax? I left my Pentax KP in 2022 to switch to a Fujifilm mirrorless and recently bought a used Canon 6D. Dear Pentax, please recover from the torpor you've gotten yourself into and give yourself a makeover! Why the Pentax 17? I much prefer my Pentax MX. There is not only the Japanese market. I would like an entry level FF reflex and a mirrorless.......come on you can do it! Thanks.
I also use an old Canon 7Dii purely down to the lens (EF 70-200mm f4) as its fast & reliable, as much as I love my 55-300 PLM the external zoom kills me at the dusty Motocross tracks sucking in all the dust! I've been wanting to use the FA 70-210 f4 paired with the K3iii, I think that would be a fantastic combo.
I am using pentax k10d + 18-55 kit lens but slowly and bad low light performance.
What do you recommend? Can it be used professional photography? I am using the v 1.31 firmware. Is there any other specialized software like Magic Lantern for Canons?
@@imam-icereyan5471 I personally wouldn't use that setup for paid work purely due to not being 100% sure I'd get the shot. Not to mention it would be hard to find a quick repair for that model these days.
@@LeeIveson In the hands of a master warrior, a stick transforms into a weapon; in the hands of an unskilled warrior, a weapon turns into a stick.
We see many photographers taking poor photos with very expensive cameras and lenses.
@@imam-icereyan5471 There's definitely truth in that!
50th anniversary of the K mount next year. I'm expecting something special.
Oh really! That's interesting! We could get something nice then?
That would be nice, but if their history is any indication of what's to come, I wouldn't be holding my breath. Their Asahi Pentax 100th anniversary left a lot to be desired. Only limited edition knick knacks. Nothing major. 😑
Yeah, get ready for that ultra special rehashed 43mm limited version in 'anniversary colors'.
A K1-iii is the obvious choice along with a new telephoto lens with a bit more reach than the 150-450. They need something in the 600-800mm range to compete with other brands . An updated sensor which keeps the superb dynamic range and image quality and improved autofocus and burst rate. Also a large buffer and decent battery life. Basically take the specs for a Nikon D850 and improve on them to make the worlds best full frame DSLR.
I mean that would be pretty impressive if they managed to bring both a super telephoto & top tier full frame DSLR to market! I do think that implementing & improving on what has been done with the K3iii would give us something very close to what your describing. What spec sensor would you like to see them use in a K1iii?
They might sell maybe 50 of those lenses. Imagine the price that will absorb development since nobody else is now building DSLR lenses... and 800mm.. you can try to find Sigma 300-800, but prepare more money than your car probably cost.
K1III obvious..ok.. how much are you prepared to pay for it?
@@LeeIveson a triple layer sensor to give full colout depth . If they wanted to be groundbreaking a modified version of Sony's 126MP sensor might draw some interest, but I'd settle for anything thst could match the D850 sensor. Reviving the old 200-600mm with improved HD glass and coatings might be an option if it could be produced at a competitive price point.
Id like some faster wide angles for nightscapes with a nice deep telephoto. Maybe they should just beg sigma to start making the k mount lenses again lol.
I brought the K70 in 2022, solenoid died in 8 months and Pentax replaced it with a KF
The KF has everything I need in a DSLR but it's battery life is terrible. I would happily buy a longer life battery for the KF. The K5II i now use for shooting jpeg monochrome.
I can say that I had to buy a few spare batteries for my K-70, I found when I shooting long days at the Motocross events I would burn through battery fairly quickly. One of the reasons I love the K5 & K3 series is the bigger battery. It would have been nice to see a battery grip for the K-70 & KF, I'm sure they made one for the KP which uses the same battery?
I’ve heard there is some magic in the K5ii monochrome picture profile. Have you experienced this ?
@@LeeIveson 4 batteries now and a Ricoh USB battery charger. Keeps me going for 14 hours
@@sdhute yes it's jpeg profile monochrome is amazing
@@melbournepixs thanks I’ve heard that before I will have to pick one up. I shoot quite a bit in bnw. The k70 monochrome profile is good compared to what I’ve experienced in most brands
Hopefully film SLRs, hopefully mechanical, but probably electronic. For digital? Meh. They'll keep trying to design around having a mirror box, which is a huge challenge. Are they relevant to any sort of professional photography? No, but they haven't been relevant for a long time. They need to consolidate around only making full frame lenses and 3 body lines - a full frame, a high-end APS-C, and a mid-spec APS-C. Then all FF lenses, no new crop. Then the FF glass can be used on the pending film bodies - allowing full hybrid owners, pulling in anyone that wants film / digital sharing of lenses without adapters. Taper off existing crop glass, fill in the gaps in full frame. Re-brand either the Tamron 150-600 or Sigma 150-600. License OM-System phase-detect autofocus so Pentax Live View doesn't suck anymore.
I's like to see some longer reach lenses, I believe the longest in production at the moment is the 150-450?
@@LeeIveson Yes, which is why I mentioned they should do what Olympus did and re-brand one of the 3rd party super telephoto lenses. There isn't nearly enough money to be made designing / manufacturing their own.
I've been using Fujifilm since 2018, but I'm considering a full-frame, and the only full-frame I liked so far was the K1 MKII, but it's a little long in the tooth. I'll wait until the MK III.
@BB-ft6nd It seems like the next logical step. I think if Pentax did go ahead with the K1iii it would be well received.
Next steps?
a) Dump K mount, create nice Kmount adaptor for all lenses and move to modern camera layout possibly APS-C only like Fuji (would be nice, but not realistic with this gutted R&D)
b) Replace K3III and K70/KF with new cameras, focus on live-view usability including AF, video to stay at least remotely competitive, articulating LCD nad larger buffer of course (still not very realistic to expect that anytime soon, but doable)
c) Let K mount die without customers and support like they did with Q mount and 645 mounts already
d) K1III makes no sense, because there is only limited portfolio of lenses for such system. Even original K1/K1II struggled with sales after first 1/2 year. You can add AF from K3III, but that does not cover whole frame and will need significant rework = price going up. 36Mpix FF sensor is no longer produced, so it will need new sensor and new processor = price going up. And improved live view performance = price going up. The result would be $4000+ camera that barely any pentaxians will buy (especially too much to justify such investment if you already have K1 which was not cheap already) and certainly will not attract new customers or drag guys from other systems.
And those lenses - Tamron stopped production of all DSLR lenses. DA18-270 already left the party and DFA15-30/2.8, DFA24-70/2.8, DFA70-210/4 are following soon. There is no replacement for them, we are waiting for fast 35mm and some 70-300 lenses for AGES now. And of course there is no 3rd party support in general.
APS-C K mount at least still has some lenses in porfolio that cover the range with interesting things, they reworked the 16-50/2.8 and now they should focus on 50-135(150)/2.8 and some wider fast lens. But FF is toast without Tamron. And they are not going to keep production line just for few lenses for Ricoh when they already decided to dump whole canon/nikon variant production, where they were selling much more lenses. Who wants nice FF body buys Nikon Z5 or Z6 lines. Pentax cannot compete with these using obsolete AF or some decades old lenses with all those weak edges and chromatic + lateral aberations. Those times are gone now.
Pentax 17 is just strange niche toy. There is some initial hype, but that won't last long, don't worry. Watching the disassembly of that thing yesterday, there is nothing interesting inside, basically cca $100 assembly and rest of the price is just to cover development cost and margin for Ricoh. At least it seems that they can easily replace lens unit with different one. So we can see Pentax 17 wide or maybe some telephoto. But still limited by that 1/320s shutter that prevents any thoughts about some faster lens or so.
Dark times are coming for K mount.
From what your describing it sounds like they would need to go down the mirrorless route to tick the box's?
@@LeeIveson They can keep DSLR and pentaprism, but then advanced AF will only work in live view and looking at screen is cumbersome, so it will be nice to provide some EVD module like either add-on like Olympus had those VF2/3/4 on older bodies in hotshoe. Or simply use dual finder with option to switch. That would be awesome. Problem is, that cost of such solution will be prohibitive for most customers.
So Mirrorless camera AND proper AF adaptor seems to be better way. They can utilize existing lenses with adaptor, keep nice back-compatibility and later build new lenses for new mount. Or join L-mount maybe.
But Im afraid they are stuck in their own bubble.
while the Pentax stuff is mechanically impressive, nothing more is coming out of it anytime soon. Hope is gone.
😪 Not even more film cameras?
@@LeeIveson There are tons of film cameras around. But when I want to buy film and then get it developed, it cost a lot. If also scanned, then even more.
@@LeeIveson There is a lot of photography that does not require fast focus, but the K1 III should already be there. I have a feeling they are about to stop.
@@xmeda I think there's a fair amount of photographer's who enjoy the process & are willing to pay for film, even just going off the Pentax 17 sales it's obviously a popular option.