On page 2 of this CitiGroup report about Hoya (the owner of Pentax), you will see the following sentence:
"Hoya plans to release a mirrorless camera under Pentax brand that is distinct from models already on the market."
No further information is provided. It is really weird that a financial corporation like CitiGroup would report rumors on their official report... unless they know something about this project.
Rumors of a new mirrorless camera from Pentax have been floating around for a while. Here are some of the recent quotes on this topic:
“Pentax engineers are continuing to pursue the possibility of launching a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, as the firm points to an ‘exciting’ few months ahead.”
“It’s quite clear that we don’t want to be seen as the same as everyone else. We would go down a different route. We are looking to grow. We want to grow. It’s going to be an exciting year. I think everybody will see a change in Pentax.”
Related posts:
20 Comments
great. what about a 24mm x 24mm FF sensor ?
bad news they have statet that they are going only one path FF or EVIL. Now, no FF for a looooooooong time
or never?
Mirrorless does`nt mean no FF, No it only means no mirror, i think the additude of Pentax is to reacte to products like Red Epic or Scarlett.
I really think mirrorless FF will not be seen anytime soon, but marketing speaking it would be a huge leap for Pentax…it would put Pentax back in the game against the big ones with power…
“It’s quite clear that we don’t want to be seen as the same as everyone else. We would go down a different route”
Pentax EVIL = APS-C compatible with K mount? YAWWWWWWWWWWN, clearly the same exact route as Sony and Samsung. Unless they decide to go small sensor and IBIS, then I’d be compelled to show them my bank card for purchase, along with my “O” face.
They don’t need full frame, they make the 645D MF. Now, they just have to get the price below 6k.
“No further information is provided. It is really weird that a financial corporation like CitiGroup would report rumors on their official report… unless they know something about this project.”
Wowhohohoh…. CityGroup isn’t anything spreading rumors. If they write something like that in OFFICIAL report than they obviously know it’s true.
Good good, Pentax after recent period of doing-nothing could really use some innovative thing being deployed on the market.
Could it be a Full-Frame mirrorless EVIL?
I would rather want them to make a digital Auto110.
I was hoping that would be the path Nikon choosed, but it might look like they also go for DX-size, with the “big” lenses as a consequence.
Not I, the 2x size of 4/3′s is as small as I’ll consider owning. Anything smaller and you’ll have to use all f/1.2-1.8 glass to have decent DOF control.
In-fact, since I almost always shoot between 28-85mm’s I’d love to have a full frame EVIL. Primes in that range can all be made small enough for my needs (just look at the Pentax 43mm 1.9). Obviously telephotos will still be quite large, but thats of no concern to me.
An evil-cam will never be my primary camera. For that the AF is too limited (as of today). I have a D700 as my main cam, so my interrest in a evil-cam is just as a walk-around camera, and for this size is critical.
Also a f/1.0 – 1.8 is doable with a small sensor, and STILL keep the lenses small. Look at the lenses made for m4/3 and APS-C evil cameras, they are slow, and they are not small.
Nikon already patented a 1.2 prime for their mirrorless system….if im not mistaken…as for the AF if the new promissed sensors from Sony really have the AF during video it will be just a matter of time before they hit the mirrorless cameras….
@Carlos R B
That’s right. The patent is for a lens with imagecircle approx 18mm, which implies a 17mm sensor. But there are sign popping up that these patents are just a cover up for a DX sized mirrorless cam. Then this 1.2 prime will all of a sudden not be so small after all.
Nikon also has patents for a sensor with AF points embedded.
Fuji just released a P&S with AF points on the sensor. I haven’t seen any experiences so far, but the sensors that are introduced now (new generation of sensors) will have improved AF. Time will tell how much it will improve from traditionally contrast AF.
“patents are just a cover up for a DX sized mirrorless cam” – LOL. This should go to top 10 ridiculous ideas in photography rumors.
I don’t say they do, but what is striking it seems like at least one lens patent is filed in both US and Japan with different image circle. Where the US patent is for a 18mm image circle lens, in the Japanese patent all the numbers are upscaled to a DX-sized image circle. Drawings are the same in both patents.
If it’s a full frame EVIL camera from Pentax, I’d switch from the dark-side if the price is right.
I think everyone would consider Pentax as a great option…(but will not happen IMHO) but the price would be very very expensive….
Not necessary. Sensors ain’t as expensive as people think. My best guess would be that today Pentax could release FF Mirrorless camera in a price of Olympus EP-1 during it’s release, maybe 10% higher, but still something close to this. If they’ll make it exclusive-alike product (going a bit towards “Leica” syndrome, though in EVIL market, and with acceptable price) and sell with pancakes (Pentax is pancake master, so it might work) than this could work!
a FF mirrorless