Ricoh Confirms Plans for "Full Frame" Pentax DSLR

Hopefully it won't take as long to happen as the digital 645 did. :D

More seriously, not only is this good news for the Pentax faithful, it also confirms Ricoh's intention to try to lift Pentax back to a more competitive position. The newer APS-C cameras, like the K3 and the K5 before that, have been excellent cameras so I think Pentax/Ricoh has the capability.

The problem, as it has been for many years, are they willing to develop the lens lineup it will take for them to truly be taken seriously. Their primes have always been top notch. What is needed is a great lineup of fast zooms with Limited build quality.
 
It'd want to be special to be this late.

Assuming it uses the Sony sensor 24-36MP, they'll need a whole new set of lenses to keep up anyway, so might as well start from scratch (offer an adapter for fanboys) and give us something exciting (other than no LCD - its been done already!).

That's just my (non Pentax user) point of view.

Michael
 
Let's pray that we'll be able to use our trusty Takumars and Pentax-A lenses with full open multi-pattern metering and decent in-viewfinder focus confirmation.
 
At this point introducing a FF DSLR is like introducing a 4 barrel carburetor :p
It better be mirrorless, wireless, wightless, and wafer thin if it wants to make a splash.
I thought Ricoh /Pentax would haul this camera out at PK this year.
They are at this point very late to the party.

Sarcasm aside...
I love the Ricoh/Pentax Sensor color aesthetic.... I really hope for the best with this FF camera.
My old Takukmars are standing by :D
 
I find the whole idea rather appealing, if for no other reason than it should hopefully permit manual focus M42 lenses to be used with infinity focus on a DSLR body without cropping the image and, presumably, also with the Pentax body-installed stablity functionality, making it a better option than Eg. an M42 adapter and a Canon EOS. As someone who only uses 35mm and medium format film, I have zero interest in using my older M42 lenses on a DSLR that changes the angle of view/aspect ratio of the image frame compared to the 35mm body I would undoubtedly also have with me. So I'm a little excited, and I've never been really excited about a digital camera in my life.
 
if pentax keeps doing what they do, it'll have built-in image stabilization, a 100% viewfinder, great controls, top notch build quality, and weather sealing in a compact body. they'll probably add wifi and make the screen tiltable, too.

it'll be old news by the time it gets here, but it'll also be good news because i just don't really like all of the other full frame options.
 
btgc said:
This would be something I'd account as a replacement for my IstD :)
Click to expand...

My istDS has been used so much that the focus motor finally died. I installed a Katzeye screen and superglued the function dial to "M" and just keep on using it. It was my very 1st digital camera and the only one I really bonded with. :)

But yeah, I think I could finally retire the old DS and replace it with one of these if it is any good at all. I think they should call it the Spotmatic D.
 
And lots of blinking lights ;)

aizan said:
if pentax keeps doing what they do, it'll have built-in image stabilization, a 100% viewfinder, great controls, top notch build quality, and weather sealing in a compact body. they'll probably add wifi and make the screen tiltable, too.

it'll be old news by the time it gets here, but it'll also be good news because i just don't really like all of the other full frame options.
Click to expand...
 
Sarcophilus Harrisii said:
I find the whole idea rather appealing, if for no other reason than it should hopefully permit manual focus M42 lenses to be used with infinity focus on a DSLR body without cropping the image and, presumably, also with the Pentax body-installed stablity functionality, making it a better option than Eg. an M42 adapter and a Canon EOS. As someone who only uses 35mm and medium format film, I have zero interest in using my older M42 lenses on a DSLR that changes the angle of view/aspect ratio of the image frame compared to the 35mm body I would undoubtedly also have with me. So I'm a little excited, and I've never been really excited about a digital camera in my life.
Click to expand...

Don't wait. The Canon 5D/ii/iii/6D etc are great full frame cameras for M42 lenses.
I've used my old Takumars and Zeiss M42's for years now on both 5D and 5Dii.
Really great!

I want to try the Pentax as well and will get this FF body when available.
I also have K and M lenses. Having auto aperture linkage and hopefully IBIS will be great.
Again.... I really like the Color aesthetic of Pentax and Ricoh Sensor output. The RAWs just look better than any other Bayer sensor right out of the camera. Canon does not have that although it's also quite good.

An Eos Sample
Zeiss DDR Pancolar 80mm f1.8 on 5Dii
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4086/4965727642_736a54e5ed_o.jpg
 
As a fan it's nice to have a FF Pentax but they're entering a market that's oversaturated already and looking how they faired/struggled in a APS-C market, it won't get any easier.

IMHO, having already digital MF experience then brand reputation- and marketing- wise they should focus on a digital Pentax 67 mk3 instead with a true unique 70 x 55mm sensor, develop their own multi-layer chip. At this size the pixels doesn't matter much - non-interpolated (3x) 30-60MP is enough to outperform the best IQ in the market, maybe cooperate with Sigma-Foveon (I'm sure they wouldn't mind competition-wise since they have no MF-lenses or experience, while they have sensor-design experience) and drop all the digital MF competition into dust. At a price of course, but this would be an iconic move by Pentax/Ricoh brand, based on their legendary 6x7 system, just like Hasselblad has done, but at much better quality due to raw sensor size and ratio. They produced world-class SMC 6x7 lenses just recently, some with unique (in MF-terms) aspheric design so it'd be a proven battle-ready solution to catapult them back into pro and high-end market with literally no competition.

Just me 2c anyways,
Margus
 
Sarcophilus Harrisii said:
I find the whole idea rather appealing, if for no other reason than it should hopefully permit manual focus M42 lenses to be used with infinity focus on a DSLR body without cropping the image and, presumably, also with the Pentax body-installed stablity functionality, making it a better option than Eg. an M42 adapter and a Canon EOS. As someone who only uses 35mm and medium format film, I have zero interest in using my older M42 lenses on a DSLR that changes the angle of view/aspect ratio of the image frame compared to the 35mm body I would undoubtedly also have with me. So I'm a little excited, and I've never been really excited about a digital camera in my life.
Click to expand...

I'm there with you. Whether Ricoh/Pentax is late to the game or not is not an issue for me, since I do not own a DSLR at all. I want something that will do the job for some time to come.
 
the FA Limiteds would finally get the FF sensor that they deserve. too bad i sold mine :(.
there were some pictures on PentaxForums way back where someone modified their 5Dc and FA Limiteds to work together. The results looked fantastic, I'd imagine they'd be even better with the latest Sony sensors.
 
FA Limited said:
the FA Limiteds would finally get the FF sensor that they deserve. too bad i sold mine :(.
there were some pictures on PentaxForums way back where someone modified their 5Dc and FA Limiteds to work together. The results looked fantastic, I'd imagine they'd be even better with the latest Sony sensors.
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I don't own any of the limited lenses although... I do have the 77 in my target.

Is there an issue with using the limited lenses with the 5D/ii/iii ?
I'm aware of mirror interference with a couple of my Contax lenses at infinity.
I only spend time on RFF at this point. I think I miss some of the other internet FUD (and fact) that is talked about on other forums :)
 
f16sunshine said:
I don't own any of the limited lenses although... I do have the 77 in my target.

Is there an issue with using the limited lenses with the 5D/ii/iii ?
I'm aware of mirror interference with a couple of my Contax lenses at infinity.
I only spend time on RFF at this point. I think I miss some of the other internet FUD (and fact) that is talked about on other forums :)
Click to expand...

From what I can remember from internet readings:
canon has the shortest flange distance, but the pentax isn't much larger therefore it requires some messing around. a PK adapter on Canon works only on crop bodies because the lens will hit the mirror. I have heard about people shaving their 5D mirrors to alleviate this.

what other people have done is to mess around with the lens mount and make some adjustments but I cannot recall the particulars. then there were people bitching about how you were ruining a nice lens.

the problem now is the FA limiteds are so damn expensive compared to 5 years ago, that they don't make too much sense compared to other comparable Canon/Nikon FF options besides their smaller size and nice builds. the lenses are not really designed for digital sensors either so who knows what kind of funky stuff may happen at the edges. it's not like the 43 and 77 were sharp wide open at the corners on crop.
 
seriously? they already got 645z, in my mind its price competitive with high end dlsr, would be my next choice. why do they want a low 2k price range full frame that doesn't have the modern lenses line to go with it?
 
FA Limited said:
From what I can remember from internet readings:
canon has the shortest flange distance, but the pentax isn't much larger therefore it requires some messing around. a PK adapter on Canon works only on crop bodies because the lens will hit the mirror. I have heard about people shaving their 5D mirrors to alleviate this.

what other people have done is to mess around with the lens mount and make some adjustments but I cannot recall the particulars. then there were people bitching about how you were ruining a nice lens.

the problem now is the FA limiteds are so damn expensive compared to 5 years ago, that they don't make too much sense compared to other comparable Canon/Nikon FF options besides their smaller size and nice builds. the lenses are not really designed for digital sensors either so who knows what kind of funky stuff may happen at the edges. it's not like the 43 and 77 were sharp wide open at the corners on crop.
Click to expand...

I see , Thanks for the reply. I don't have a PK adapter for my 5D rather only M42, OM, and Contax/Yashica.
The M42's all work great with no mirror issues at all for the lenses I have now.
I did have a 21mm Flektagon that had an issue but that lens is long sold.

Thanks again!
 
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