Pentaxians... Any out there?

Freakscene said:
I met Maitani, twice. He was very humble and emphasized that his main input was an idea and an aesthetic. The team designed the OMs, at least according to him. And the pool of knowledge around camera and opto-mechanical design at Olympus at the time was huge. But one thing he told me that is very relevant here is that of the story of the OM cameras, the only parts people are interested in are the idea and the end, the camera. He was acutely aware that the design, qa/qc and testing processes were of no interest whatsoever to the average person.
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Maitani’s story is absolutely fascinating. What an honor for you to have met him!

From what I’ve been able to read about him and his Pen and OM camera development, I was a bit surprised Olympus gave him so much responsibility early on as a very young man. Most likely, though, I do not understand the Japanese culture and development environment. Regardless, Olympus (the company and the teams) were obviously wise and I respect them for the transformative designs they created.
 
Pál_K said:
Maitani’s story is absolutely fascinating. What an honor for you to have met him!

From what I’ve been able to read about him and his Pen and OM camera development, I was a bit surprised Olympus gave him so much responsibility early on as a very young man. Most likely, though, I do not understand the Japanese culture and development environment. Regardless, Olympus (the company and the teams) were obviously wise and I respect them for the transformative designs they created.
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I lost a lot of people who were personally important to me early in my life. So, whenever I got interested in a person, or thing, lateron when I was independent, I sought them out: NYT Robert Frank: New Orleans Trolley so as not to miss them. It was an honour but it was also the end result of a lot of hard work. Japanese people are very private and clues to where they live are few and hard to find.

In general, even (sometimes especially) people who didn’t like being formally interviewed reacted positively to a person coming with a curiosity and an aimless polite interest. I turned up to see Maitani with an OM-1n and nothing particular to ask about. He gave me some tea and we talked quite a while. I think he found me very curious, and not in the way that I was curious. But you can learn a lot from talking to a camera designer about their other interests, the old car parked outside, the flower boxes in their windows, and how their street has changed over decades.
 
Freakscene said:
I lost a lot of people who were personally important to me early in my life. So, whenever I got interested in a person, or thing, lateron when I was independent, I sought them out: NYT Robert Frank: New Orleans Trolley so as not to miss them. It was an honour but it was also the end result of a lot of hard work. Japanese people are very private and clues to where they live are few and hard to find.

In general, even (sometimes especially) people who didn’t like being formally interviewed reacted positively to a person coming with a curiosity and an aimless polite interest. I turned up to see Maitani with an OM-1n and nothing particular to ask about. He gave me some tea and we talked quite a while. I think he found me very curious, and not in the way that I was curious. But you can learn a lot from talking to a camera designer about their other interests, the old car parked outside, the flower boxes in their windows, and how their street has changed over decades.
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Beyond meeting Maitani, there is some good life advice here. Respect and humility go a long way, and a lot of photographers might see a vast improvement in their work if they practiced those virtues more. Lookin' at you, Bruce Gilden...
 
Pentax has stated numerous times that this new film project is for the younger people who want to experience film cameras, so a bunch of old and crusty photographers like us sitting around and criticizing the amount of time spent in the video covering small details of tactile experience is silly -- that isn't for us, but it's exactly what the target demographic is interested in. That's why they are interested in film photography.
 
agentlossing said:
Pentax has stated numerous times that this new film project is for the younger people who want to experience film cameras, so a bunch of old and crusty photographers like us sitting around and criticizing the amount of time spent in the video covering small details of tactile experience is silly -- that isn't for us, but it's exactly what the target demographic is interested in. That's why they are interested in film photography.
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Somewhat true, but I suspect that the "target demographic" has reasons for an interest in film that are as diverse as those of us RFF members. And just because someone is old and crusty (a description I embrace with pride) doesn't mean they don't have some wisdom and experience to bring to the table. When I was a wee sprat starting out in photography, I would have benefitted from some of that old crusty wisdom from my instructors, instead of the wishy-washy "It's all good!" nonsense that was the norm, and too often still is. It's a bit patronizing to think that new (to film) photographers are only seeking "fun". My experience with younger folks has shown me that they are often, admirably, dead serious about pursuing an artistic vision, something far beyond fun.
 
Retro-Grouch said:
Somewhat true, but I suspect that the "target demographic" has reasons for an interest in film that are as diverse as those of us RFF members. And just because someone is old and crusty (a description I embrace with pride) doesn't mean they don't have some wisdom and experience to bring to the table. When I was a wee sprat starting out in photography, I would have benefitted from some of that old crusty wisdom from my instructors, instead of the wishy-washy "It's all good!" nonsense that was the norm, and too often still is. It's a bit patronizing to think that new (to film) photographers are only seeking "fun". My experience with younger folks has shown me that they are often, admirably, dead serious about pursuing an artistic vision, something far beyond fun.
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Oh, totally agree. I'm the target demographic as well, because I'd probably be first in line to try any new Pentax that I can reasonably afford! I think Pentax/Ricoh knows this, and they just like to geek out about the details. A visit to one of their "special sites" for the GR series, or the K-1, will prove that. I love how much they nerd out.
 
agentlossing said:
covering small details of tactile experience is silly -- that isn't for us, but it's exactly what the target demographic is interested in. That's why they are interested in film photography.
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My hope is that the camera isn‘t too simple and allows some creative control.

As for tactile experience, you’re right. But I think many of us geezers enjoy that as well. My choice of the X-Pro1 was so that I could adjust the dials.

Maybe I’m weird or just easily amused, but when I used pack film for the very first time about eight years ago, the whole experience of opening the sealed pack, loading it, and pulling the tabs after each exposure was amazing.

Even more odd: I enjoy loading Hasselblad film backs. It’s therapeutic. In fact, I like loading the film back more than using the camera.

I think a lot of enjoyment in things, such as shifting a manual transmission, comes from how engaged we are in the process, how we influence the result. Now, if the digital folks are engaged in the post-processing aspects of their shots, that’s cool too.

It will be interesting to watch what Ricoh/Pentax does with this.

So many questions:

-Would the camera allow interchangeable lenses? M42 mount?

- Would the camera have a direct viewfinder? Would it allow accesory viewfinders?

- How much control over exposure will they offer?
 
Pál_K said:
So many questions:

-Would the camera allow interchangeable lenses? M42 mount?
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Given that Pentax is still actively developing and selling K-mount lenses (including a rumoured update of the classic 7/6 50/f1.4), it’s incredibly hard to imagine that they would release a SLR that wasn’t also K-mount.
When was the last time they had a M42 lens available for purchase?
 
From what I remember, Pentax wants to develop several film cameras, and I think what they said was (1) a fixed lens compact, then (2) a premium compact, then (3) a film SLR... assuming the venture succeeds in each of these stages.

I am hoping the premium body is close what the film GR series is/was.
 
agentlossing said:
I am hoping the premium body is close what the film GR series is/was.
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Likewise! Personally, I’d love to see a new film GR (and maybe even a re-release of the GR 28/f2.8 LTM?) and I also feel like it’s a solid business choice. Prices for premium compacts are insanely high, and literally every single existing option is a brick waiting to happen. The GR line has the heritage, reputation and performance to justify a $2k street price, which is about where I suspect a new version would land.
 
Sorry but why should a camera like that cost 2000 ? The technology exists like many years, the lenses are already very good and dont need a new design and the electronics are something pentax know very well. Everyone can sell at whatever price he wants but for such a camera, knowing that a digital version costs around 800-1000 and used even less i wouldnt pay more than 800. You must also think that we are not on the film prime time but on its old fart days and a roll costs 10 euro and even more and lets not forget the scaning and procesing costs too.
 
Gzisis89 said:
Sorry but why should a camera like that cost 2000 ?
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Whether consumers like it or not, a film camera in the 2020s is a niche item with highdevelopment costs and low sales volume. It will be much more expensive to make and market than higher volume digital versions, irrespective of whether the technology was settled 20+ years ago or not.
 
Yes sure its a niche item but dont forget the huge amount of working+cla cameras that you compare it to. With 2000 you buy a leica not a pentax and that wont change to most peoples minds.
 
Gzisis89 said:
Yes sure its a niche item but dont forget the huge amount of working+cla cameras that you compare it to. With 2000 you buy a leica not a pentax and that wont change to most peoples minds.
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There isn’t a huge amount of used premium 35mm p&s left, and the ones that are still around sell for serious money. Contax T3 routinely go for more than $3000aud. Minolta TC1 for around $1300. Ricoh GR1s for $800. Nikon 28Ti for $1300. Etc etc. These are all decades old and *will* fail irreparably at some point.

$2k for a brand premium compact is absolutely ballpark. If you seriously reckon they’ll get it to market for $800 you’re kidding yourself…
 
Gzisis89 said:
Yes sure its a niche item but dont forget the huge amount of working+cla cameras that you compare it to. With 2000 you buy a leica not a pentax and that wont change to most peoples minds.
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A used camera and a cla is not the competition. A new film Leica is $5,295-5,695 depending on model. That’s the competition. Everything else that you can buy new is plastic junk.

Marty
 
The rumour of the demise of the FA 50/1.4 was greatly exxagerated. !
us.ricoh-imaging.com

HD PENTAX-FA 50mmF1.4 - Ricoh

A standard lens, featuring the latest, high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating to deliver clear, high-contrast images This single-focus standard lens features the latest, high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating, which effectively reduces the generation of flare and ghost image to deliver clear...
us.ricoh-imaging.com us.ricoh-imaging.com
1684338966257.png
 
Gzisis89 said:
Yes sure its a niche item but dont forget the huge amount of working+cla cameras that you compare it to. With 2000 you buy a leica not a pentax and that wont change to most peoples minds.
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Really? $2000 is about halfway to a digital Leica with anywhere near modern sensor, and then you have to factor in the lenses. Unless you're willing to go third party, $2000 barely gets you a hipster Summicron.
 
titrisol said:
The rumour of the demise of the FA 50/1.4 was greatly exxagerated. !
us.ricoh-imaging.com

HD PENTAX-FA 50mmF1.4 - Ricoh

A standard lens, featuring the latest, high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating to deliver clear, high-contrast images This single-focus standard lens features the latest, high-grade, multi-layer HD Coating, which effectively reduces the generation of flare and ghost image to deliver clear...
us.ricoh-imaging.com us.ricoh-imaging.com
View attachment 4821807
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The version with arguably inferior lens coatings costs a bit more - but it comes with an ND filter in the box! I'll accept it.
 
Zuiko-logist said:
Totally speculative - I suspect the inflationary adjusted price of a 1980s/1990s premium P&S in today’s money is around $2,000?
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I’ve been trying to find the list price of the GR-1 in 1996 - that’s when I bought mine new.

That was such an amazing camera at the time: shirt-pocket compact, 28mm lens, great viewfinder information, so many controls. Mine still works, but I’d buy it again today for $2000.
 
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