I am sure that Pentax is/was working on an APS-C mirrorless camera but I don’t know if the plan changed after the Ricoh acquisition. Anyway, here is again a new rumor via dpreview forum: “According to my source, Pentax will release a 35mm full-frame DSLR and an APS-C EVIL (mirror-less) in 2012. No other details were given except that the source seemed to believe the full-frame model will likely use a Sony 24MP sensor.“
The new Ricoh GXR zoom module will use the same Sony NEX-5n sensor. Could be that they will use that sensor for the upcoming Pentax mirrorless camera too?
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I like the look of the 5n sensor and would be interested in a camera using that sensor, a built-in viewfinder, and a good system for manual focus.
Pentax are very good at designing small lenses with high IQ (and design cameras with excellent usability) – an EVIL from them can be very competitive.
During 2012, see if Sony improves on the lens side + m4/3 Pana zooms + now maybe Pentax EVIL, which system to go for…
Hhhmmm, and how will they manage to make lenses for all the systems? I guess the full-frame camera will use the same K-mount as the k-5, but I’m not sure if all lenses cover the full frame or not. And to develop lenses for medium format, the q system, the k-mount and the mirrorless APS-C seems too ambitious to me.
A five system lineup sounds like a bit to much, I’m not aware of any other company having more than two. Especially if they are redoing the K-lineup for fullframe as well. Sure, APS-C K-mount and 645 are quite mature and don’t need much new lenses but still…
Q, APS-C mirrorless, GXR, K (+FF), 645.
I still want to consider in their own high-end Pentax mirrorless, use the Foveon X3 CMOS.
Sounds interesting and exciting for Pentax. I think they can manage it.
The K-Mount was originally for FF and Pentax still makes many FF lenses. Pentax could bring back some of the film lenses and update them to quickly fill in the gaps.
As for APS-C mirrorless, they might use another company’s mount (as the world doesn’t need yet another lens mount for APS-C argh). If they do, it could very well be Samsung’s NX mount. Pentax and Samsung already have a history together, e.g. they co-developed DSLR sensor, Samsung used Pentax’s K-Mount and is currently using Pentax’s hotshoe, etc. In addition, the NX have a more appealing lens line-up than the E-Mount. With the NX’s longer flange distance, it would be easier for Pentax to make slimmer (or more pancake) lenses as well as fit in sensor-shift IS. Finally, there is currently only one NX body from Samsung (the NX200), so there is definitely room for a Pentax body.
Oh yes, a nx200++ with swivel screen, evf, ibis, microphone input, that really a great tools.
I don’t think the Samsung NX cameras use the Pentax hotshoe.