Fun Pentax rumor at DPReview and Pentax Forums

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I couldn't resist posting this here. I like my current DSLR and probably wouldn't upgrade, but this is so conceptually cool that I must permit myself to be seduced by it....

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The mythical large-sensor K3D* 22MP body. But rumour has it as a 1.30x crop bridge-format...with an important twist (or lack of twist, if you will).
The concept is to finally shake the creative shackles of the 35mm 'full-frame' format legacy which is based around motion-picture film format. In the digital age, it is an anachronism to rely on a physical selection of a landscape or portrait modes.
The newly coined DFX sensor will be a _square-format_ (23.5 x 23.5mm).

The width is that of the current Pentax APS-C DX sensor, while the height is that of a full-frame FX sensor. (Hence, the "DFX" bridge designation between DX and FX formats.)
Because the image-circle of the square DFX format is no larger than that of rectangular DA format, it could allow complete compatibility of Pentax DFX bodies with DA lenses (and of course FA, A, M, K, S lenses).
The total DFX sensor area is 1.5x larger than APS-C. Based on the same pixel-pitch as the K20D's sensor, the new DFX sensor in the K3D* should field 22 megapixels (21.94MP).
The standard shooting mode of the K3D* will be with an APS-C sized image crop. The user can change the crop orientation from landscape to portrait _in-camera_. This eliminates the need to rotate the camera to achieve a portrait orientation.
However, full sensor RAW data will be captured (except for high-speed shooting) from the DFX sensor, no matter which crop is selected in camera. The user then has the full square frame to make the full-latitude of creative decisions later at the editing stage. They can change the crop-orientation, reposition the crop, fix rotation on the crop, or keep the full-square image.
The user also has the option to shoot square in camera.

The continuous shooting speed of the K3D* is 3.5 fps in square format. In high-speed shooting mode, the continuous shooting mode increases to 5.5fps, however this mode is only available in crop-format, as the camera only captures the image data in the crop-area.
While the K3D* body will be taller than the K20D body due to the taller sensor, taller viewfinder and taller rear-LCD, the K3D* will not be bigger than the K20D+vertical grip, and much smaller and lighter than 35mm full-frame cameras.
Since a vertical grip is no longer desirable or necessary, the elimination of hardware and contact points for a vertical grip simplifies the internal design and frees up space for improved features that are important to photographers:
- 100% pentaprism viewfinder

- Vertically articulating 3.2" square-format LCD, high-resolution (530K dots) with SMC anti-glare coating for shooting at all angles indoors or out
- Improved Live View

Another benefit of in-camera image orientation is that on-camera flash (either the built-in flash or hotshoe-mounted flash) will always be above the subject. This eliminates unsightly side-shadows or the need for unwieldy off-camera flash-brackets.
There will be one new flash accessory, a Fresnel lens which fits on the AF540FGZ flash to refocus the flash output from it's current landscape pattern to uniform square-pattern.
In summary, the new 22MP K3D* will offer the photographer greater creative control than possible, compared to current APS-C offerings, while in a relatively compact and convenient package, compared to current full-frame offerings. In the great Pentax tradition, there is full backwards compatibility with the legacy of Pentax SMC lenses.
(I would expect the K3D* body-only price to be just under USD2000 which would be very competitive against the D300/5D/E-3 considering the K3D's larger-than-DX sensor and effectively built-in vertical-grip.)
-Dave
Click to expand...
 
I love me some Pentax!

This actually sounds like quite an interesting concept.
The idea of automatically cropping to APS-C sounds bizarre and gimmicky. Is it seriously so difficult to rotate a camera 90 degrees? Much more interesting to me is the idea of 22 megapixels of square format goodness. All the better if I could keep using my Tak glass with it.
 
I think it's freaking brilliant. A 22mp square-format camera that uses current crop sensor Limiteds? If this isn't true, Pentax should quick make it true...there will be nothing else like it on the market.
 
That's a rumor as breathless as some of the digital rangefinder ideas that have flown around here and DPReview in the past year. Keep dreaming, guys. :angel:
 
I'm trying to imagine what the mirror and prism would look like...big, I guess. Interesting concept, but I'm not fond of the square format, and I'm not convinced there would be enough people willing to pay the extra cost for it.

However, a sensor with the same width as an APS-C and high enough to make a 4x5 format instead of 4x6 (or square), now that would be useful and less expensive to produce than a square sensor/mirror/prism.

Paul
 
I love the square format. This would be a step forward and consistent with Pentax's knack of finding a niche in the market. I'd buy one.
 
At least the rumor-mongers should get their math right:

Because the image-circle of the square DFX format is no larger than that of rectangular DA format, it could allow complete compatibility of Pentax DFX bodies with DA lenses (and of course FA, A, M, K, S lenses).
Click to expand...
The diagonal of an APS-C sensor is 28mm. The diagonal of a 23.5 square is 33mm. (Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem ).

In other words, the image circle of current DA lenses wouldn't cover the square format, and would show on vignetting at the corners.
 
Wow that sounds really cool. Just when I thought things were getting boring in the 35mm Dslr world, an idea like a square format dslr blows my mind.

Here's hoping!
 
antiquark said:
At least the rumor-mongers should get their math right:

The diagonal of an APS-C sensor is 28mm. The diagonal of a 23.5 square is 33mm. (Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem ).

In other words, the image circle of current DA lenses wouldn't cover the square format, and would show on vignetting at the corners.
Click to expand...

You are absolutely correct on the math. However, in practice most of the Pentax DA lenses have a fairly generous coverage; several are usable on 35mm.
 
ChrisN said:
You are absolutely correct on the math. However, in practice most of the Pentax DA lenses have a fairly generous coverage; several are usable on 35mm.
Click to expand...

That's right. Only the DA35 and DA21 show any significant vignetting, and the 35 is fine at most apertures. I use the DA70 on film all the time. They would likely all work on an APS-H sensor, actually, and this is another rumor floating around, that their next DSLR will be APS-H.

I suspect the square frame thing is nonsense, though. It would be really cool if it wasn't. Pentax is never going to beat the competition making regular cameras (though I love my K20D). They ought to become the manufacturer of interesting, unusual products, like the DA Limiteds themselves are...
 
Cool idea. I like reading about ideas that are different from the status quo. Lets hope there's some truth in it.
 
Since the early 60's I have been a Pentax fan, but as described I wouldn't want this new one. Square sensor wastes pixels and resolution unless you want a square image, which I seldom do. I'm fine with rotating the camera even without a "vertical grip." The larger size carries no advantages in this case, and I'd be much more interested in the Leica S2 aside from the price horrors. :)
 
stitching

stitching

its very easy to produce 3:2 or whatever ratio(e.g. panoramas) by simply using the stitch method. i wonder why heavy 617-cameras rather than lightweight hassi 66 are used for panoramas.
its easier if you use a shift-lens. btw: zoerk was announcing something special. we dont know yet.
if i were pentax i would offer a 28mm-shift-lens with m42-mount. existing k-type cannot be adapted on some cameras. or a multi-adapter-one like schneider super-angulon 28.
 
I'd be happy with this...

k105l.jpg


k107l.jpg


k109l.jpg


Just get samsung onto a full frame 16-22mp CMOS with a MASSIVE dynamic range and little or no AA filter. Make it half the size (a'la 5d) but have a beautiful pentax battery grip which moulds to the body. Samsung have the resources and technology to make some insane sensors - they already make some of the better commercial LCDs etc.

I would buy one if it performed as good as it looks!
 
Say,

Although I'm not a Pentax devotee, I can't help but wondering where they have been?

With Canon, Nikon, Sony, Oly coming out with new models, I don't seem to recall anything - significantly different - from Pentax as of late.

Are they going to merge with Samsung?

I'd love to see a full-frame K-(one digit) battle-ready monster (like that one above from Gavin) that will give Canon/Nikon/Sony something to sweat about. :D
 
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