Ricoh Update is a Bad Sign for a Pentax K1 Mark III

A recent interview from Ricoh sales manager, Yazid Belmadi, reveals that sales numbers are shifting away from DSLR interest and that the current strategy is to focus on demographics supporting other product options like the GR series and compact cameras.
Do you think the K1 MK III is still coming? Was it ever really coming?
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[@stevenjohnson4283]

I think you're wrong. Pentax has previously stated the K-1 mark 3 was in development and due late 2024. Lately Pentax released cameras early in the year well after the Christmas rush. Canon and Nikon tend to release cameras near the end of the year in time for Christmas. While competitors offer cash back deals around Christmas to stifle sales of new release cameras. The k3iii monochrome was released at the same time as the Leica monochrome and early in the year. Pentax Japan staff affirmed Pentax's strategies of making DSLR and also making film cameras, and they want to remain traditional to that heritage. So Pentax won't release a camera at a highly competitive time when its competition are doing cash back offers/rebates on bodies and lenses, and that all happens around this time of the year and at the after Christmas sales. So some sales manager in Europe now says DSLR's are not part of their sales strategies, which is most of Pentax's business. So the big take away from that by "panicky idiots" is to short Pentax stocks as they're closing their doors. They might make film cameras apparently, but according to the sale manager, Pentax is closing down. Pentax camera business is profitable, but its shutting down according to some, and they're getting out of the DSLR business. Thats how business works, you have a business and it makes a profit, then as Forest Gump would say "For no particular reason" they just close their doors and shut the plant down. The DSLR market is not growing and neither is the Mirrorless market as its saturated and keeps declining because of smart phones. I would take that sales managers comments with a grain of salt, and maybe he was being facetious with Pentax Japan because he might have been hoping for products to sell like mirrorless Pentax because its all the rave right now.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I appreciate your comment. I didn't see anything about shutting down. What I took from this is that they make a catalog of products with varying profit margins and right now that is trending toward mirrorless or at least with the consideration of the younger crowd who don't purchase DSLR. I would love another K1 DSLR, and I do hope that I am wrong. Every year companies re-evaluate their strategies. They may re-evaluate again next year.

It all depends on the right marketing strategy!

[@CapeNightPhotography]

This sales manager is not helping, that's for sure!

[@justinmoy5584]

To me it is simple, Bring out a Mirrorless with the same focal plane and mount as a DSLR. You could use your original lenses. It may make the Camera bulky but so what. Even a Hybrid that can use both an OVF and DVF. I am sure the engineers at RICOH could figure that one out?

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I am sure they could. This is a great suggestion.

[@millsnerd]

They literally did this with the K-01 in 2012.

[@justinmoy5584]

@@millsnerd OK just looked it up, I always thought for some reason it used its own series of Lenses. Never really paid attention to the K-01. It would look interesting on my FA 150-450 🙂

[@jimzielinski946]

I'm not sure I'm remembering this correctly but I thought Pentax filed a patent years ago for a way to project a digital image overlay within an optical viewfinder. Kinda the best of both worlds. Not all patents get turned into reality.

[@michaelzurawski2676]

As a young photographer I love Pentax and hope they stick around. Possibly venture into the mirroless market it they're giving up on the K1 I think that line of their cameras is great the lenses seem amazing too... Was planning on selling my old canon 5D mark iii for a K1 and now I don't know....

[@luisalonsoyurimarroquindel659]

I am 16yo i have the pentax k5 of my dad i dont want more screens also in the school we use laptops, photography is a way to get out of the screens i have planning to buy a k3 mark iii is enought for me

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Thanks for taking the time to comment! I agree with you about the screens. I don't find it relaxing or enjoyable to just move from screen to screen with every new activity. I think you lose something about the craft when you do that to some degree.

[@HamiltonSRink]

Can you imagine a new mirror less camera with a largish mount with adapters in the box for E, R, L, Z, M, X, K lenses sold as a complete package?

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Wow, this would be quite the accomplishment!

[@musicfan82]

It would have been nice to have seen some of the K3 III patents and advancements implemented in a K1 body, but as you said the K1 (II) is a solid workhorse type camera. I would generally buy a new Pentax body full frame or 645 if it is good, and while I like a viewfinder a mirrorless would still be something I would consider, but I actually do not really expect it. That all said it would be sad to me if the K1 II would be the last of the bigger than aps-c digital workhorse type cameras Pentax would produce. My main camera is the K3 I or II and I see no reason to upgrade. I tried to upgrade twice with different brands and came back both times. I actually do not care to much about the rumors, maybe they could do a small badge of upgraded K1s for the purists like they did with the K3 III variants. I actually thought their strategy to ask their japanese customer base what they want and than going to produce it was pretty clever.

[@MichaelRusso]

The only advantage mirror-less has for me, is I can use any manual lens. Old or new.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I've been enjoying old manual lenses on my K1 for several years now which has been a really fun experience. It's definitely a nice bonus.

[@MM.]

It seems to me that when discussing DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, there's bit of a false dichotomy at play. It's either: Get a state of the art EVF with all the fancy indicators or subscribe to the "luddite" OVF with a primitive fixed segment LCD overlay that hasn't significantly increased in complexity since the late film days. I fail to see why one could not bring some parts of both worlds together and use a (by now high resolution) matrix LCD overlay to facilitate things like focus peaking and other EVF niceties whilst retaining a direct, analog look through the lens. Something that a screen cannot hope to substitute for anytime soon. Sure, there may be a number of restrictions, perhaps the overlay would have to be monochrome still, but that would be a trade-off inherently grounded in the approach to viewfinding, not an arbitrary and perhaps overly traditionalist, self-imposed restriction.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I agree and appreciate the comment. In a world of inflation and a lot of competition, the bottom line might be the real deciding factor here. Where are they making money now and how can they build on that? I suspect this is the path electronics manufacturers are taking now.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

The Fuji XPro series is just that, the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, Fuji hasn't got the "mix" right in three iterations, but there's always hope!

[@AdrianScoffham]

Bro, Japanes companies don't do lying when it comes to new product. They are just conservative.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

They certainly seem focused on the areas that are currently bringing in the money. Mirrorless is a crowded market. Do they break more into that or do they try to appease the remaining DSLR crowd? Hard to say.

[@AdrianScoffham]

@@CapeNightPhotography Pentax always goes it's own way... the GR range is bringing in money, the Pentax crop sensor models are very popular in Japan where users are more conservative. I still shoot a K1 for work and honestly, the photos produced are still incredible... that said I'd like a body with all the modern refinements that still has an optical viewfinder...

[@CapeNightPhotography]

@@AdrianScoffham Nice! I use one of my bodies to photograph high end real estate. I use a second body for my night work. I have zero complaints in either case.

[@davelawler695]

'Affordable' medium format -- probably mirrorless -- would be a great way forward for Pentax, since both Nikon & Canon missed the opportunity to get away from the 24x36 sensor size. Another product refresh would appeal only to a subset of existing users (passionate though they may be) and seems counter-intuitive, at best, to those with business hats on. Pentax needs new Pentaxians.. Give them a 645 with K1 technical goodies, then offer adapters for existing 645 and 67 glass. As a portrait/landscape guy, I'll take two.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

This sounds like a great plan. Sadly for some of us, we aren't the target demographic anymore. But there may be some sort of compromise. Time will tell.

[@kubyly]

I hope they will follow a similar way of Nikon transforming from dlsr to mirrorless with an adapter

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

The sales managers in foreign countries have not a clue as to what the Japanese parent company has planned. I do believe the K1 Mark III is in development and for Pentax that means if it comes to market we will see it in 2-5 years... The K3 Mark III Monochrome exceeded their expectations, so the DSLR isn't dead yet. An upgraded K1 Mark III would sell well. Interestingly the K1 Mark II at almost 8 years on is still the best digital photo image maker available and a TOTAL BARGAIN at $1700 new.

[@exitar1]

Designer Marc Newson is working on the new mirrorless model....😂

[@Unschaerferelation137]

Dreaming of a K-02 😊

[@philmartin5689]

I strongly suspect you are right. As for developing a mirrorless Pentax, I strongly doubt that there are the finances to do this, but maybe an interchangeable lens Ricoh GR might be a possibility. Samsung did it with their NX500.

[@christianbuhlmann7820]

I have been a Pentaxian for 41 years I have also done a lot of global business. When people in a company speak they better know what they are and are not allowed to say. This is a 180 from all the public Pentax official comments. I would be skeptical of this person, and they have done damage if they are not correct. Hopefully Pentax will put out a clarifying statement Having said that, the largest world market is the USA and maybe Pentax will not offer a mk3 in some markets or countries. That is possible . I remember a period of time where grey market camera products existed extensively because not every product was available in every continental market.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I appreciate the comment and totally agree with you on this. Quite frankly, they really just need to come out and say "We are" or "We are not" working on updated DSLRs. Besides this interview, time is ticking and people may not wait or continue to want to be riding the perpetual "it's about to be released" train.

[@chrisgreni4335]

Jumping brands is a huge investment, so does a K1 ii owner invest in a K3 iii to get more modern auto focus, or does one hope for a K1 iii? I'm happy with my K1 ii but when it dies of old age.....? At this point I don't see Pentax getting into the mirror-less market.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I appreciate your comment. Jumping brands actually saved me money when I went from Canon to Pentax because of the price points on many Pentax products. I sold my Canon gear, bought equivalent Pentax equipment and had a few bucks to spare. But I know that's not for everyone. If my cameras died, I'd likely seek out replacement models whether that be used or refurbished. But eventually, there may not be an option. And if Pentax is making lots of money on GR options or new film bodies, they may not care much about my situation. Time will tell!

[@jimzielinski946]

I still have a functioning k-10d. It works as well as it did when I bought it. I have a few more older Pentax digital cameras that also still work just fine. I'm only a hobbyist so I shouldn't be buying expensive toys, but I had to have their newest monochrome camera - no buyers remorse, I love it. Like others have mentioned, I also have a ton of k and screw mount glass that I'd hate to think of replacing.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

The real question is do you really need better AF? My photos are still sharp when I shoot my Pentax 67, or LX or MX, why then is the need for AI rocket assisted AF suddenly required to shoot digitally? 🙂

[@colinhill8967]

If not the Mk3 then hopefully a mirrorleas

[@robvandenbrink9006]

It would be a shame if that’s it. I really like my k3 mark iii, and have been waiting for that next model. I’ve tried a few mirrorless models - the focus of course is great, but essentially putting a screen inside the viewfinder just throws me for a loop, it’s just plain weird to shoot. … plus my job is all on screens, photography is supposed to be my time AWAY from screens

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I hear you. I cut out the part of this video where I referenced shooting with mirrorless as an "enhanced smartphone experience" because I didn't want to ruffle any feathers. I have a small Fuji on order to throw in a backpack on "non-photography specific" trips, but prefer my big honkin' DSLR as a primary.

[@dionhouston]

Well... I'm with you in hoping you are wrong :) I guess one cause for hope - it's not clear to me how he would represent the Japanese leadership in this, who has the biggest voice. Also, with the success of the Pentax 17, the potential successor of that is an SLR, which likely would be "full frame." There could be synergy with a K-1.3. Perhaps less likely, Pentax could introduce a K-mount full-frame mirrorless. In any case, I certainly hope for something modern. I'm primarily an M43 guy, but I love my original K-1. I've got a bunch of film-era lenses - a few more modern ones, and they all just have a different feel - it's my "fun" photography :)

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Well stated! I have been watching the market shift toward the film or "Neo-vintage" bodies like we see with Fuji and their success in the X100 series. Rumors are that Canon is trying to develop their own version of that. When he used the word "purist," it seemed like he was implying a small group that was no longer a viable target demographic for them.

[@dionhouston]

​@@CapeNightPhotography Well, yeah. The comment about "purists" (though the word is loaded - I wonder why he used it) applies to all ILCs, not just DSLRs. Pentax/Ricoh hasn't really ever been able to compete directly with the big players - simple economics of scale. The casual photography segment is absolutely owned by smartphones now, so what remains are professionals and enthusiasts. I think Pentax has done well there - they go after markets the mass-produced ones simply don't target - who would've thought of a DSLR with night photography focus? A reasonably priced monochrome? A half-frame film camera aimed at millenials?

[@brasileirotimon]

i believe that we are right around the corner of a giant film revolution, trends are showing that people want film now more than ever, that's why pentax 17 came out, and their next film camera is gonna be way better. Currently the only thing standing in the way of faster film camera adoption is the slow processing and costs, but that will change with innovation and new products that offer people a much easier solution to develop your own film at home. Kodak just slashed its 35mm film prices. New easier to use products to develop film at home are coming out every few months now. Just watch, people are tired of digital and using fake filters to try to get the film look.

[@ShutterKnack]

I think you are jumping into conclusions. "Its hard to promote the benefits of these devices, except to purists..." Firstly, this is coming from an unknown sales manager. Sales managers are not product managers or engineers. They are also not the board. Secondly, why would anyone spend time and money trying to promote DSLRs? Do you see Leica promoting rangefinders? No, it is a niche market so photographers will come to Pentax if they ever want a DSLR. Pentax has always been running lean and only released new products at their own pace. This makes them profitable, which they are. Last time I checked, they are much better off than Nikon when it comes to their financials.

[@XXX-vy6xv]

No, you're not wrong. If there was a possibility for a k1iii they'd hype it up in some interview for the potential buyers to have something to expect (and not jump ship if they're in search for a new cam). I believe the k3iii was their last DSLR ...and that's my thought for more than 2 years. Pentax just keeps proving me right. I as well have everything I need and there's always the used market for the future. Of course we can't rule out the possibility that they'd change their position completely (since they seem to have done so partially; they claimed that they were focused on the DSLR market and keep producing cameras ...and they also had plans on new FF lenses) and at some point we get an announcement about a ...mirrorless K1iii 😮😅

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I appreciate the comment.The interview is an interesting approach if they want people to hold on to hope for a DSLR. The good news is that these cameras age pretty well and will undoubtedly continue to be primary shooters for a lot of people. As I said, I hope I am wrong. I suspect they see a large enough existing customer base to continue to produce lenses for current bodies. That's probably where the money is for them as opposed to new DSLR development. But who knows!