Pentax/Samsung full frame speculations
Pop Photo Editors have speculating about future pro-grade Pentax DSLR based on the full frame sensor that is probably in development by Samsung:
Pentax We have heard talk of a new pro level camera in the works. The next big offering from Pentax is likely to have improved noise levels and include a full-frame sensor from Samsung.
Samsung The company isn’t likely to make its own DSLR, as its consumer market is more in the big-box and electronics stores. The company probably will continue working closely with Pentax. A full-frame sensor for a Pentax DSLR is likely in the works.
Such rumors are floating around for more than a year, but the sources are becoming more and more credible.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Given that Pentax has been investing heavily in reduced-frame lenses, I think this story is unlikely. There are now only six (or seven, depending on which Pentax web site you look at) full-frame compatible lenses in the Pentax line, with no zooms. That means in the event of producing a full-frame DSLR they will either have to put (rather dated) lens designs back into production or design a whole new range. Given that Pentax don’t even have the resources to produce a digital version of the 645, draw your own conclusions.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Yes, but unlike Canon’s EF-S Pentax DA lenses could be mounted on the full frame body and could be used in some kind of “crop mode”.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I think it’s unwise to underestimate what Samsung could do if they so decide. They’re bigger than Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Olympus *combined*.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
i guess we’ll have to wait and see!
June 20th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Samsung is really a big player. but i don´t like to handle it. canon is better in my eyes. it´s just like i don´t like other mobiles than nokia.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
If Samsung will make its full-frame sensor it will share it with Pentax first, so we will have the choice between two full-frame bodies.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Ｉ really want Pentax to release the FF DSL for amateur-grade soon.
June 24th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Jimmy D — don’t hold your breath. No one else is doing it, and I doubt pentax will be the first.
June 29th, 2008 at 11:08 am
We are very much satisfied with the present Samsung’s sensor inside K20D. They
have done really an excellent job. Due to their presence in semiconductor industry, it is very likely to ship full size sensor soon.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:00 am
With the release of the Nikon D700, I think that Pentax and or Samsung will need to step up to the plate really soon with a viable full frame DSLR, if they want to compete in the pro or serious amateur Market. However, I do agree that Pentax’s focus on the DA lens line will mean a serious and costly change developing lenses for a full format system. I am eagerly awaiting a reasonably priced full frame DSLR that will work with my Pentax FA lenses.
July 6th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
As I said the future of DSLR’s is Full Frame. And as different manufacturers come out with their FF camera bodies the market for DSLR will level out in terms of Technology.
People will buy a FF DSLR based on three factors:
- The amount of money they have to indulge on buy such cameras.
- The features such cameras offer &
- The Service / Upgrade facility available.
Believe me People who have got the Moolah to blow on High End FF cameras are the ones who are proffessionals who recover the investment within a years time. Its people like us who have to think twice.
Nikhil
July 31st, 2008 at 7:12 am
The future of DSLR’s is Full Frame. I am convinced that Samsung and Pentax are wised enough and soon they will produce FF DSLRs!!
August 20th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I’m really amazed by the number of wealthy amateurs who now buy FF DSLRs and hang around with it as a kind of social status. There is a market for it, and it does not deal directly with the usual photo amateurs, who used to buy expensive stuff and really “think” about such an investment because of their passion for photography.
Another point in favor of such a FF DSLR strategy for Pentax deals with the wonderful lenses Pentax still produces with the “limited” edition series. Most of the K10/K20 users also use a mix of DA*, DA, and KAF lenses (so do I, including in picking some specific lenses from the old KA series). Just think about a KAF50mm:1.7 with a K10D !! Another sign of this strategy for Pentax deals with the macro-lenses (50mm and 100mm): they never dared thinking about those in DA format…
Last point. I agree with Mathew Miller’s point: Samsung is HUGE and they have all the possibility to invest in FF DSLR, because it may represent now a prestige thing in photo. In the next future, you ‘ll have a dichotomic market with the industry able to produce FF and the other ones working for the mass market. As a huge player in the semeconductor and sensor industry, Samsung has to be part of it sooner or later. And Pentax (Pentaxists) will benefit from it. The strategic question deals with the price for a FF camera and for the strategy Pentax will accept to play with: K20D and K10D are really unexpensive cameras for their quality. The only issue deals now with lenses. The difference with Canon and Nikon will clearly relate to it. Pentax always had huge lenses, but hardly succeded to have a whole series of top lenses as Canon is able to develop it. Think about the glorious “ancient” time with the LX and its competitors in this perspective, or about the comparison between the KA/KAF 300/2.8 and their competitors. Pentax 400/2.8 was much less diffused as the others. The question is then: will Pentax come to FF for the wealthy amateurs or for the professional market? I bet Samsung will not have much incentive to try catching the pro market. They just want to remain among the big players in the sensor industry and need a FF DSLR for prestige only.
Be sure about it: I’ll get one anyhow.
To come along my MX, my 4 LXs, my 3 SuperA, my 2 Z1s, my Z1P, and my IstDS, my IstDL, my K10D… :o)
August 20th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
So far, Schneider’s participation with Samsung has been in name only, or so it seems, lending their brand identity to lenses made by someone else. A pro-level camera might be even more interesting if they were involved. That is, the project might not be limited to Pentax/Hoya’s ability to produce the optics.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I could care less about the full frame issue. I just want pentax to introduce a new post K20D dslr with faster focus, better metering, and much much better white balance.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:48 am
With this week’s announcement from Sony for the a900 24 megapixel FF DSLR, I’d just bet Pentax / Samsung have something up their sleeves. Let’s hope there’s a great array of features no-one else has … interchangeable finder system a-la the LX anyone???
September 19th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
“I’m really amazed by the number of wealthy amateurs who now buy FF DSLRs and hang around with it as a kind of social status.” Well, a ot of us want to use FF for the wide angle, with APS I have 18mm true, I liked to shoot wider on film and have used my Sigma 12-24 on my film body.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:35 am
How sad!!! no news since – June 16th, 2008
Pentax, pull your finger out.
October 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
waiting for this maker is hopeless ……….
development is turtle-slow………..
honestly i own pentax camera kit for long time
just need to migrate to canon……..
because pentax too slow in development
October 17th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
The new sony a900 is a very tempting. It has all the features I would love to have in my next camera. Pentax needs to act fast. I am seriously considering buying the Sony.
December 5th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I understand that Pentax 67 lenses can be fitted via adapter to K mount, Pen/Sam DSLR, so why not just start buying up P67 lenses on E-Bay ?
January 4th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
[quote]josh sullivan:
October 17th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
The new sony a900 is a very tempting. It has all the features I would love to have in my next camera. Pentax needs to act fast. I am seriously considering buying the Sony.[/quote]
This IS fast for them – it’ll be out in time for Photokina – 2016.
April 20th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I agree with Mathew, Samsung is a huge manufacture and they have all the possibility to invest in FF DSLR
October 15th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
A FF is very desirable, but I think the current line of K10/k20/k7 is getting progressively better though in an evolutionary rather than revolutionary way. That said, and noting the slow development process, the better prospects for consumers would be served if they released a post K7 APS-C is released and they use that time to come up with a range of up to date lenses , after that, they can hit the market with a ‘full frontal’ assault of kit.
The up side is that to get people to move to such a system , they would have to come in very competitively priced , as the technology is flattening out , the FF would be priced close to the current range (X 1.5-2) , then once people are on board , the will want o consider if they want to go head to head with the big FF bodies from Canon and Nikon …
November 29th, 2009 at 4:29 am
Every year we hear the same thing; “A digital FullFrame in the works!” Well they had one. Several years back. Either something was incorrect with it or the market just didn’t pan out because they stopped selling it.
I’ve said it before and will repeat it many times that I’d love to see a Pen/Sam digital FF on the shelves but that doesn’t seem likely. Time will tell if they’re ready to hit the market again.
Should Pen/Sam come out with a digital FF again, they had better get their ducks in a row! To do that, they desperately need to have a large bunch of AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS! Sure they have a few but not really too many.
I’ve been a Pentax lover since the mid 1980 and could find lots of 3rd party supliers then. Went digitals started up, a bunch jumped ship! Come on Pen/Sam, talk with and help aftermarket groups. They are the ones that advertise the good things your cameras can do! That attracts the public! That creates lots of camera sales so the public can use the 3rd party goodies! That makes a bunch of money and everyone wilds up happy!
February 5th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
As a part time pro photographer (I am a professional in the TV industry) I wonder if market research has not indicated to Pentax that the pros (the main FF purchasers) have thanks to their slow delivery, gone with other systems. The problem might lie not in the development of the sensor and supporting system for Pentax but in the loss of any of there pro market share. How would they gain the pro’s business back for there new FF offering. There is some mighty fine competition out there and the idea of Pentax as a pro line has now been lost as not even the mighty 6X7 or 645 are around anymore to fly the pro flag! I don’t know a single pro using Pentax and I used to know quite a few! Races are won by getting out of the blocks fast and running hard. In my opinion it would at this late stage be bad business sense for Pentax to try to compete in the pro arena with a FF, they have left it to late and even in the days of 35mm AF, never managed to fully crack it as a pro brand. They do well enough in the larger amateur market where nobody knows what FF is and a great camera for a good price is all important. I am just totally out gunned as a pro with my Pentax gear in AF speed, AF accuracy, noise, flash control and options. My loyalty has me compromising my photographic career so I must move on but I will go to my grave with my K1000, Super A’s, P’s, D’s, K and my beautiful gorgeous precious 6X7′s Part of each image from my new system will be Pentax because that is where my passion began, and was nurtured. Sob sob! I must say that I am angry that Pentax dropped me at the gate and did not take me inside to show off!
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Hm, just wait to see this, full frame with Pentax colours. :)
March 9th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I use Pentax 35mm gear. Ive put off going digital because I dont want the reduced field of view from an APS-C sensor. If I go full frame with another brand Ill have to start all over with lenses.
So long as my current lenses fit the body I dont care if the “Auto” functions dont work. I shoot everything manually now anyway. Id love to see a full frame Pentax body and I dont see how Pentax can avoid getting into this market at some point. It may not happen overnight but I believe they will develop this and bring it to market. I look forward to it.
As I recall over the years Pentax has never really been a leader in innovation and technology. They never really catered to pros either. Pentax was an enthusiast camera with sort of a “cult” following. I think that still applies and its why they are in no rush to follow the leaders. When they have developed what they want they will bring it to market and Pentax enthusiasts will still be there. Market share doesnt seem to be a Pentax concern.
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:42 am
So far my K10D has given me superb service and pictures but now I’m thinking about an upgrade as I hope to be selling more work in the near future. I have so far resisted investing in a K7, despite the fact that it is a cracking camera, as I might as well now go for a more pro spec FF system that will provide larger high quality reproductions and enlargements.
I was rather hoping that Pentax would step up a notch to fulfil my near future requirements. They could leave out the built in flash and HD Video to keep the price down and I could still use the cheaper Pentax APS-C bodies as back ups when required as the FF lenses will further enhance the quality of the cropped sensors.
Hurry up Pentax before I jump ship !
May 19th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
I also hear the clock ticking…it’s only a matter of time before I have to do the unthinkable – abandon my plan of keeping all Pentax gear and using my P67 lenses with the adapter to use on my Pentax DSLRs. If they don’t come out with a full-frame sensor I may have to go Nikon. Not a bad choice, but I am still a Pentax fan and have so many cool P67 lenses that I’d like to use with a FF sensor Pentax camera.
May 21st, 2010 at 1:19 am
I also have a K-10D, and have resisted buying a K-7 because even though it has some nice features, I think the controls are a step down, and it is a little small for my hands. Menus are harder to use than the K-10, and the upper left mode-wheel is a pain to switch due to the button in it.
A “K-5″ or similar with real live-view, better ISO for shooting sports inside (hockey games) and full frame would be a real hot seller, including to me. Also, put back dials/buttons that were on the K-10 for more serious shooters so we don’t have to futz with layered menus just to change meterinig type, etc.