Pentax First it was the K-r, now the K-5

Rumour has it that the Pentax (ricoh now) K-5 is to be discontinued, and that production has ceased. This is after rumours spread that the K-r was to be discontinued... and it seems thats very probably true, given that stores are running out, worldwide.

Pentax K-5 also discontinued? | Photo Rumors

I hope Ricoh didnt buy Pentax just to cannibalise it. Also, there's no news about the K-mount lenses, whether staying or going.

With PMA and CES next week and no announcements yet of new stuff, I guess we all just have to wait and see. Its not awfully encouraging though :(
 
Rather sadly I'm getting rid of my Pentax gear. I just don't know where they are headed and I want that new Fuji badly. I may hang on to a couple of lenses in case Ricoh makes a GXR K mount module.

I'm in two minds about what to do. In reality, what I have is good enough. I don't really care if there are no new bodies, but if there arent, *and* if Ricoh doesnt make a K-mount module for the GXR, we can watch the lenses disappear too, and THAT would really tick me off. Because thats when Sigma and Tamron would stop making K-mount lenses (Tamron doesnt do much for k-mount anymore anyway).
 
... For example if they made a K mount GXR module a lot of Pentax's prime lenses would be good. ...

If I get rid of the Pentax gear would you be interested in a Lensbaby Composer. Just pay for the shipping to AUS and it's yours. No hurry just let me know.

I would definitely cave in and get a GXR if we do see a K-mount module.

Lensbaby... Nothing about it ever really tweaked my interest, to be honest. Its a generous offer, but one which would be wasted on me.
 
So... I put my Nikon and Leitax-converted Leica R lenses on my GXR with the aid of a Novoflex adaptor. What is to stop you doing similar with K-mount lenses?
 
Sue as someone who jumped the Pentax ship about 6 months ago I am going to be very little help - as I've not looked back since alighting.

Granted the Kr, and even more so K5, sensor is amazing at high ISO. WR on the higher speced bodies is a godsend and the lenses - especially the older FA Ltd offerings are excellent. But I never got a rush from the Pentax - I must admit getting more of a buzz from using my old Olympus E1 - honestly! Yes, the diehards want a FF body but really what does Pentax give you that Canon, Nikon and Sony can't? So in the dSLR world they had a small stall in an overcrowded marketplace. Their compacts are uninspiring - sorry Q fans. So I was very happy the day the Pentax kit was all shipped and I just had Serious Compacts.

I certainly hope Ricoh can move the brand into a new and positive direction and I think dropping their SLR line is a prudent move - this segment is losing ground and their K line has lost a little more share each year (and especially after the arrival of Sony and their compact translucent mirror line). I think perfecting the 645 (and giving Hassy a run for their money as prices are almost equivalent) is a possible avenue. But otherwise I'm not sure what remains for Ricoh to do with the brand....I'm even struggling to see where they can cannabalise..unless, as you say, they look at incorporating the DA lenses in their GXR line.

Pentax has always been far too conservative and now they are paying for it. Gone are the heydays of the Spotmatic and LX...unfortunately.

Sorry Sue, but the future looks grim.
 
Any K-mount module for the GXR would need to utilise some form of phase-detect AF to operate the autofocus efficiently. Using contrast-detect AF on a lens designed for PDAF may seem bearable at first but ultimately is an exercise in frustration.
 
Hmmmmmm. That is a temptation. $1049 from DCW for the GXR and A12 module, $65 for the adapter, and I have a bunch of lenses already. I just LOVE the Pentax prime lenses, they are so light and small
Sounds like a way ahead Sue....especially with the likes of the DA15Ltd, DA35LtdMacro and FA43Ltd already in your arsenal.

So why the GXR rather than the NEX (e.g., the NEX-7) with an E-mount to PK adapter?

Love Ricoh personally but am merely curious..
 
A word of warning... DON'T buy a cheap adaptor from eBay... I did, and my lenses rattled and drooped. I had the devil of a job getting my money back from the seller, eventually getting eBay to sort it out as a dispute. The Novoflex adptors are well made and cost about £150-160. I bought mine from SRB Griturn. Buy cheap, buy twice - I did...! :rolleyes:
 
Sounds like a way ahead Sue....especially with the likes of the DA15Ltd, DA35LtdMacro and FA43Ltd already in your arsenal.

So why the GXR rather than the NEX (e.g., the NEX-7) with an E-mount to PK adapter?

Love Ricoh personally but am merely curious..

No particular reason except I guess that I've never seriously considered sony since I didnt get their A700 years ago. The Nex7 would be a nice bit of kit, for sure. But then again, so is the K-5, and I already have that. So I guess I am on a "wait and see" thing at the moment. The temptation to jump ship right away is very great, but I dunno... I would still use my very old Minolta 303 were it not for the jammed shutter. I'm just starting to think the pursuit of new/better/bigger/faster/more is probably just fraught. I have a GREAT camera and some really nice lenses. I also have some nice little compacts... and the X100. I don't actually need anything more.

So I've decided that for me, whether the K-5 is discontinued or not, it doesnt matter. I have a good kit. Incomplete, perhaps, but its good.
 
A word of warning... DON'T buy a cheap adaptor from eBay... I did, and my lenses rattled and drooped. I had the devil of a job getting my money back from the seller, eventually getting eBay to sort it out as a dispute. The Novoflex adptors are well made and cost about £150-160. I bought mine from SRB Griturn. Buy cheap, buy twice - I did...! :rolleyes:

It doesn't take much to sort out loose fitting adapters:

Problems with loose lens adapters - Micro Four Thirds User Forum

A year later and the three adapters I adjusted (Nikon, OM, EOS) still fit snugly despite fairly frequent use. Not ideal to have to play fixits, but if it makes adapters worth $10-20 work as they should...
 
Sounds like a way ahead Sue....especially with the likes of the DA15Ltd, DA35LtdMacro and FA43Ltd already in your arsenal.

So why the GXR rather than the NEX (e.g., the NEX-7) with an E-mount to PK adapter?

Love Ricoh personally but am merely curious..

Just a note.......these PK adapters to M-mount adapters only work with the FA (or older) lenses......those with an aperture ring. The DA's need a different type of adapter not available (yet) for the M-mount.

R
 
Back
Top