Now this is not something you hear every day. Ricoh, the company that currently owns the Pentax brand, has announced the development of a new full frame DSLR that will use the Pentax K-Mount.
There is no name for the new DSLR yet, but supposedly, it will be shipping by the end of the year. The prototype will be on display at CP+, so if you happen to be in Japan, you can check it out. The only other detail we really have about the camera, at this point, is that it will be compatible with DA lenses through a crop function, and that two newly announced lenses will cover the full frame sensor.
I can’t help but think that this is such an odd move from Ricoh/Pentax. We expect to hear about mirrorless companies developing full frame technologies, not new DSLR full frame systems. The DSLR is dying, or so we are being lead to believe. I find it funny that now, with mirrorless closing virtually every gap, Pentax decided to finally do a full frame DSLR.
[REWIND: Pentax 645Z Review]
It will be a while before we get to see it, but I am curious to see what they bring to the table. If it is ‘just another FF DSLR’ then I will wonder what the point was, but maybe if they bring something new along with it, it may help extend the life of the DSLR against the rising tide of mirrorless systems.
What are your thoughts on Ricoh/Pentax decision to come out with a FF DSLR? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!
[via Ricoh Japan]
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