The End Of The Pentax K-Series Era?
Ricoh Imaging has officially discontinued all of its current Pentax K-series DSLRs, bringing the current chapter of Pentax digital SLR cameras to an end. This is not exactly unexpected. The Pentax KF was discontinued earlier this year, followed by the full-frame K-1 Mark II just last week, leaving Pentax without a current DSLR in production. Ricoh has now confirmed that this is part of a wider transition and fortunately not the end of Pentax DSLRs altogether. The company says it is moving into a “new stage” and has thanked photographers who have supported the K series over the years.
Pentax’s digital SLR story stretches back to the *ist D in 2003, followed by cameras such as the K100D in 2006, which introduced sensor-shift stabilisation to the lineup, and the K-1 in 2016, Pentax’s first full-frame DSLR. What is more interesting, though, is what happens next. Ricoh says it is already developing a completely new series of K-mount DSLRs based around an entirely new concept. The company is not ready to show the cameras yet and admits that development will take time, but it specifically says it intends to build on more than half a century of K-mount history.
Ricoh President Yasutomo Mori also explained that simply making cameras for existing Pentax owners is not enough to keep the brand going. Engineers are apparently looking at what a modern DSLR would need to offer to attract younger photographers, while still keeping the experience that separates an SLR from a mirrorless camera. Ricoh has not said what that means technically, and there are currently no specifications, model names, prices, or release dates for the next generation. What it has confirmed, however, is that Pentax is not moving away from DSLRs.
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