Pentax / Ricoh K-1 36MPx with 135 Format sized sensor

[Hugh_3170]

I have just spotted this release by Pentax / Ricoh:  http://www.dpreview.com/news/5348800158/here-at-last-ricoh-unveils-the-pentax-k-1-full-frame-dslr

The camera has a 36 MPx 135 format sized sensor.

[Akira]

Thanks for the direction.

I wonder how the cable of the "flexible tilt" screen is connected to the body.  Judging from one of the product images, a normal FPCB seems to be used.  I wonder if it is a safe means...

[richardHaw]

so happy to see pentax back on track. please let pentax live. i hope that they dont go belly up! 

i went to their showroom last weekend with my family and found out that it is just a simple office with a gallery in the floor below. this company deserves more than this. would i buy a pentax? maybe...

[stenrasmussen]

With my initials on the front it must be meant for me...

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The camera certainly looks nice. However, I become a little uneasy when reading about all the stuff that is supposed to move around inside. How long will that technology last?

Another interesting question is about what lenses are available to the camera, and how good they are with this level of camera resolving power. A comprehensive native lens line does not come into existence over night - nor is it cheap to develop from scratch. Of course you can use adapters and third-party lenses, but much of the desired feature set of a modern camera is lost that way and who wants to boast they have reverted to the '50s for features? (this with the caveat I really don't know what gear Pentax offers at present).

[richardHaw]

i have talked to their rep and he told me that you can use most of the older K mount takumar lenses 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

But will they function with 100% of features? AF, light metering, aperture automation? EXIF feedback?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I did notice, after going through the long spec sheet, that the camera supports GPS and in fact has a GPS device built-in. Now, that's something in favour of the camera. Still I wonder why the other major players waited so long to recognise GPS as an important feature of their camera systems. Nikon's support for GPS goes back 15 years or so.

[Erik Lund]

That pull out screen looks so funny  Otherwise a nice looking camera, I agree with being sceptical about using 'old'  lenses on this one,,,

[richardHaw]

i am guessing that it's the same as how modern nikons can support ai-d nikkors 



looking at the image, it does seem that the overall schematics is not too different from the F mount apart from the positioning of the parts.

this looks very promising. i hope that pentax gets it right this time and rise again. i have always loved pentax but company and brand stability has always turned me off. their support is also not as good as nikon from where I came from. will i buy one? not sure. but the takumars are selling from $5 each over here and some of the older takumars are pretty good themselves. i always love the underdog.

[richardHaw]

by the way, just like how you need to ai convert older Nikkors, you also need to shave something from some older takumars (baffles). 
im not a pentax expert so i do not know which one needs to be circumcised (!?) but i know some of my friends do that

[Erik Lund]

Richard, we need to get you into Chipping your Ai and Ais Nikkors - Being able to fully use these on modern cameras - I'm sure it would be the ultimate satisfaction for you 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

This is about as distant time span you can match Nikon components, yet still use with wide-open aperture metering and complete EXIF data. Nikon D3X with Nikkor-Q 25 cm f/4 (early '50s) + N-F ring (1959). The latter contains the CPU.

[Eddie Draaisma]

The looks of this camera are so reminiscent of the old Pentax 6x7...

The 1795$ asking price for the body alone seems truly very competitive, if it will help to make it a huge success is doubtful however.

[Erik Lund]

The looks of this camera are so reminiscent of the old Pentax 6x7...
...

That was my first thought as well, the Pentax 6X7 was a very nice but very big SLR though

Nice one Bjørn