Crazy Leica Fox
Certifiable
How about compromise and call it Konica Minolta? That would be a brand that's sure to succeed in the camera industry!
waynec
Established
It looks like they’re gonna be starting at the bottom with a compact camera and then slowly adding features as they move up until it gets to a full feature still camera.
I don’t think that that would be the route that I would go due to the fact that fads come and go. I’d just settle on a platform, give it a few features and go for it. If It survives evolve it a little bit.
I don’t think that that would be the route that I would go due to the fact that fads come and go. I’d just settle on a platform, give it a few features and go for it. If It survives evolve it a little bit.
CMur12
Well-known
The Konica-Minolta merger just seemed to signal the death of both venerable brands.
I would love to see the resurrection of Minolta-branded cameras, as I have had numerous Autocords (still have two) and many manual-focus 35mm SLRs (SR-Ts and electronic models). I also have three Minolta handheld meters.
Even so, I have a lot of respect for the Pentax brand and would love to see a new Pentax film SLR.
- Murray
Dralowid
Michael
As someone who has been around Leicas for most of his adult life, the Ricoh GR came as a complete surprise. Surely one of the best compacts of the period. Perhaps it wouldn't be stretching the imagination to imagine a re-launch with an emphasis on longevity this time round.
I was frightened into selling mine before it broke. Sometimes I wonder if it is still working...
robertofollia
Established
I think it's great news and I will probably buy it. It's good bringing some new material to the market.
Best regards and Merry Christmas to all
Best regards and Merry Christmas to all
leicapixie
Well-known
I love my Pentax system. The last of K-1000 were very badly made, the 50mm lens garbage in results and construction! It was a simple camera, originally very well constructed in the Spotmatic.
price will determine! I think though Too late. That goes for most cameras film or digital. The PHONE!
price will determine! I think though Too late. That goes for most cameras film or digital. The PHONE!
leicapixie
Well-known
In Far east there are new Minolta brand!. Renamed Sony models.
Easy to do, they kept the Original Minolta Menu when they Sony, took over!! Even the CIA can't figger it out .
Yokosuka_Mike
Abstract Clarity
Even though I live in Japan I was not familiar with this Jet Black K-3 III camera & lens thing, so I googled it (of course). Holy bat-sh1t! That is one of the coolest cameras I have ever seen - damn!
My hat's off to Pentax. And, a thank you to Marty for bringing it to my attention.
All the best,
Mike
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
I remember reading an article back in the 90s comparing an original K1000 to a later "made in China" one. Not only there were more plastic parts involved (which wasnt much of an issue as it was deemed to be of good quality plastic in non essential places) but the machining of certain parts was less precise on the later models.
Very similar conclusion about an SRT and a Chinese equivalent to whom Minolta sold the licence and some machinery.
sooner
Well-known
This is encouraging, for sure. Was at Walmart the other day and they actually had a section selling vinyl records, so as the film niche grows don't be too grouchy about where things might end up. My take is it makes more sense for the big players like Fuji to license new production runs of older cameras like the 645Zi to smaller, upstart camera companies that don't need huge sales to satisfy shareholders.
JeffS7444
Well-known
In the video "Film Project #01", the disassembled chassis shown appears to be that of a circa 1985 Pentax P3/P30 SLR. But near the end of the video, there's a very quick glimpse of an unfamiliar, 3D-printed camera with stubby wind crank. Which certainly suggests that they're already produced something tangible. But whether it's sufficiently polished and production-ready is another matter. Perhaps it's something similar in spirit to the Olympus XA2?
aizan
Mentor
I’m excited about this announcement, but still a little worried.
The elephant in the room that they didn’t discuss in the video is the loss of manufacturing infrastructure. Where are they going to get suitable shutters, P&S autofocus and motorized film advance systems? The Reflex kickstarter died because the infrastructure had disappeared. Can Pentax meet Copal’s minimum order quantity for a non-digital shutter? I don’t even know who made the other stuff. I would not expect a ‘90s to ‘00s style P&S like the GR1, nor an autofocus SLR with motorized film advance like the MZ-5. Whatever they end up making, it’s going to be novel.
The elephant in the room that they didn’t discuss in the video is the loss of manufacturing infrastructure. Where are they going to get suitable shutters, P&S autofocus and motorized film advance systems? The Reflex kickstarter died because the infrastructure had disappeared. Can Pentax meet Copal’s minimum order quantity for a non-digital shutter? I don’t even know who made the other stuff. I would not expect a ‘90s to ‘00s style P&S like the GR1, nor an autofocus SLR with motorized film advance like the MZ-5. Whatever they end up making, it’s going to be novel.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
Yes. If Ricoh/Pentax intends to start with a compact camera, an amazing choice would be the revival of the film GR series - perhaps a slightly revised model plus a parts and repair service for all those people whose GR no longer works. That would be welcomed and would be an astonishing unprecedented action in the world of camera manufacturing.
However, I have the impression they would start with something simple - a Pentax version of a Canonet 28 perhaps. Manual setting of shutter speed, aperture, manual winding and hopefully a rangefinder rather than scale focusing.
If it’s to be a simple but capable SLR, a re-issue of their 35mm MX would be nice.
Steevo
Established
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
Yikes! What is that? Looks big enough for 4x5 but then with that short focal length it’s got to be an ultrawide.
Pre-ordering now…
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Is this for real? "the new Pentax analog 4x5 film rangefinder" -- as if this was a generally known thing. I have never heard of this.
Retro-Grouch
Well-known
Looks like a one-off homemade kluge, a category of cameras dear to my heart! If someone offered me one, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat. Maybe a Contax IIA and a Speed Graphic hooked up for a night, and this camera is the love child?
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
It's odd that the nameplate above the lens appears to be blurred out.
