michael_kuhne

Right. The concept of the KP is for lighter weight, slimmer, more compact advanced-built model for outdoor mobility. While burst shooting is there, doing a lot of that is not the emphasis, and indicates it is not a K-3 II replacement. Most likely we will see a K-3 II replacement within 6 months.

Outstanding shot, Doug. That situation is not one that is easy to come by and with the right gear at the right time. You nailed a catch of your own! I'm wondering what equipment and what focal length, shutter speed, ISO, etc.

Once you get your hands on the very efficient, fast electronic thumb and finger dials, and other controls of theK-1, you will not miss having an aperture ring! Trust me, when I first started there was no auto anything. You had the aperture ring and a shutter speed dial, to work with a meter indicator in the VF- period. The control features of a modern DSLR are a wonder of efficiency, especially with the Pentax Hyper Program and Hyper Manual Modes. That system goes into effect automatically when shooting in Program and Manual modes. Years ago, when I first started using this system with my new Pentax PZ-1p 35mm body, I did not know what "Av" and "Tv" meant!! Of course, the "Av" being for "Aperture value" for the thumb dial and "Tv" (?) is for shutter speed controlled by the finger dial. These days the Pentax exclusive Hyper system is rarely mentioned. Poor marketing. It is not the same as program shift in all other brands. If shooting in Program mode with a Pentax DSLR, and you want to change either the aperture or shutter speed, you just use the thumb or finger dial and do it! The camera then shifts right into aperture or shutter preferred operation- immediately! And you can switch back and forth- immediately! It will remain so until you turn off the camera, turn the mode selector to a different mode, or simply hit the green button to return to full Program mode. In Manual mode, you can achieve your settings according to the meter reading the usual way by using the thumb and finger dials to set your aperture and shutter speeds, OR with Pentax, simply hit the green button and the camera will instantly set both according to the meter reading for you! If that is not the aperture or shutter speed you wish, just use the thumb or finger dial to change- but at least you have an exposure-read setting right away. Also, after hitting the green button to get that, and say you want to make an aperture change, hit the AE-L button first and the shutter speed will change and follow along as you change the aperture to preserve the exposure setting! Visa-versa if you are changing shutter speed! This is the quickest, most efficient way of taking spot-meter readings around a scene you will ever experience!! I think you will be amazed once you have this advanced technological instrument in your hands and are using it!

I can highly recommend the FA 35mm f/2 prime lens. I still use mine on my APS-C DSLR bodies, but have long used it on my film bodies, but don't shoot film much any more. Since I like it better in its original FOV, I'll use it more again if I get a K-1! Great even wide open, fine edge-to-edge quality for landscape work. Top of the line for yet wider angle would be the very highly-ranked FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited. I don't have that one, but it is ranked great in every way. The new DA 15-30mm f/2.8 has been getting very good reports, and offers weather sealing and a quiet AF motor. Since you are new to digital, I'd suggest you start by shooting just jpegs at first to get orientation. The K-1 is reported to be a bit under sharpened in jpeg mode, but you can increase a notch or so in the custom images menu. And while there, I have always gotten better results by adding "fine" sharpening with all my Pentax DSLR models.

I agree about the price. It is already being offered at $1099 which is $100 less than at release announcement. The K-S2 is still available, now at only $500 and the K-70 is already down to $600. It has most of the advancements of the KP, but also with a more fully articulating LCD screen and a stronger built-in flash. I think the K-S2 will be phased out, the K-70 will settle at $500, and the KP will at around $800 or $900. It is certainly worth the extra money in my view, with its mostly metal body construction, quieter shutter, and interchangeable grip sizes, along with an available battery grip for using larger lenses plus an optional longer-lasting battery (same one I use in my K-5 IIs) and continuous vertical shooting. With the new forthcoming K-3 II replacement, Pentax should come out with an impressive quality lineup at reasonable prices for what you get.

Imaging Resource has put their first series of test images on their "comparometer" (compare images). These are shots of their still life image at various ISO settings. I compared the KP images at ISO 3200, 6400, and 12800, with the same from my Pentax K-5 IIs, K-S2, and with the K-1, K-3, and K-70. I have found it important to adjust eye distance to the screen, because of differences in image sizes perhaps due to output sizes from the different models. Otherwise, at a larger blowup size noise can appear greater than in a smaller image. Detail is affected too, which can look better preserved if smaller. To bring up a discontinued model, it is necessary to indicate "all cameras" at the top of the column. You have to click again on a selected ISO image to get the blowup. I looked for noise in areas where shadows were of similar depth. I looked at detail in numerous images on bottle labels, including the Greco-Roman figure and the printing on the Samuel Adams bottle. I found that my K-5 IIs performed surprisingly well, staying very close but not quite with the KP in noise at ISO 3200, and right with it in detail preservation! But at ISO 6400, the KP pulled away, yet with the K-5 IIs being still quite usable by my standard. At ISO 12800, the KP left the K-5 IIs well behind in every respect. The K-S2 exhibited very near as good noise control as the KP at ISO 3200, but already began to lose slight detail, the K-5 IIs being actually better. At ISO 6400, the K-S2 detail was definitely compromised, though noise was still handled fairly well. At ISO 12800, IQ was far behind the KP in every way. The KP and K-1 ran quite close at all 3 ISO settings in both low noise and detail preservation in these JPEG comparisons, but keeping in mind JPEG sharpening is conservative at default in the K-1 design. Even so, this is a very impressive outcome for the KP! The K-3 came in well behind the KP in both noise control and detail preservation at all 3 ISO settings. The K-70 ran close to the KP in noise control, but could not quite stay with it in detail preservation at ISO 12800. The KP also appears to have reduced or eliminated the tendency towards magenta colorcast at default seen other Pentax DSLR models. If this is true, you'll perhaps have to dial in more saturation with the KP to get a similar result!

<p>$1,819 at both, body only. Adorama also offers a free accessory kit package. Definitely the best deals around in a quality full-frame DSLR. </p> <p>A new Pentax KP and a new K-1 sounds like a very desirable coupling for having a very high-quality pairing of a lightweight mobile DSLR and a FF DSLR having the on-body pro style control set. Both could be had for not much difference than many other FF models alone! </p>

<p>I'm not good for posting links, but there's a thread on Pentax Forums regarding sample high ISO images from the KP by a German source. It can be found in the Pentax News and Rumors section. </p> <p>The results are very impressive, to say the least! The images are probably just JPEGs out of the camera. Not only is noise minimized, but even more impressive is the excellent preservation of detail! Easily the most outstanding performance I have seen. One contributor took the images and ran them through a program called Neat Image 8, which made the results really phenomenal!</p> <p>I came across other reports of Ricoh-Pentax having stated the KP's sensor to be even better than that of the K-70, and that the KP is the realization of their goal for IQ being very near that of the K-1, but in an APS-C body. Not only does the KP look like a K-1 junior, it also performs like one!</p> <p>Most likely, we'll also have test shots from Imaging Resource as early as late March.</p>

<p>Well, the KP size is actually slightly wider than a K-70 to accommodate the fact it simply has more on-body controls. From a downward view, the layout does not appear to be cramped. But the K-70 flash housing is thicker, allowing a larger flash within, which is fine since one does not have the extra controls to manipulate. Though I'd as soon have the extra flash power, the KP flash should be good enough for nearly 20' at 100 ISO according to spec. We'll see how well it actually does in test reviews Built-in flashes are generally used for closer range. A higher ISO would also increase range. </p> <p>My K-S2 is not that old, is about the same size as the K-70- a bit smaller than the KP and even slightly lighter. I will keep it even if I get a KP, as my smallest body when I need that, and also if I need the stronger built-in flash as well, for say group shots in somewhat more spacious settings without having to take along a hot-shoe flash unit. I especially like the built-ins for fill-flash. </p> <p>Nothing wrong with considering a K-70 if it has features more well-suited for one's needs. Whether the K-3 II replacement will have a flash remains to be seen. </p>

<p>I am wondering about the reason for the reduction in built-in flash power. 6 meters at ISO 100 guide no. vs 12 meters for the K-S2 and K-70. I suspect it may be to reduce the width of the housing at the top for better handling of the knobs being located so close. Since the battery used is the same, I can think of no other explanation.</p>

<p>Of course, I was referring to on-body controls. Control-features wise, it seems the KP bristles aplenty.</p>

<p>It is due to hit the shelves in about one month. I think it will create a stir and tests reviews will start coming within a few months. I agree 2 bodies are better than one, and having the K-5, K-3 style as well works for me. Each provides a certain set of advantages. The K-3 replacement should provide far better low noise performance than the K-3, I expect, but of course in a heavier body than the KP.</p> <p>In using the K-r for some years as my compact model, and now the K-S2, I have become used to doing without more on-body controls and top LCD (though missed), and the smaller battery has not been such a problem since it is easy to carry an extra one. My impression is the KP will be an in-between model control-wise. More controls than the typical consumer K-r, K-30, K-S2 bodies (of which only Pentax offers WR), and less than the pro-style K-5, K-3 controls, in order to save weight.<br> Imaging Resource will likely be first to offer out-of-camera JPEG shots from the KP for comparison, even before their complete test review.</p> <p>For me, this high-quality mid-range concept has a lot of appeal, especially with also the potential for improved performance and features.</p> <p> </p>

<p>I am likewise NOT getting rid of my K-5IIs, which has the deeper buffer, long battery life, quick on-body controls, top LCD, etc. and great IQ. And my smaller K-S2 as well for when I need small as possible. It is my K-r replacement. I don't often need the larger buffer, as I seldom do fast series shooting. The KP's slight extra width is to accommodate the finger-tip controls atop the camera body. Weight-wise, nearly the same as the K-S2. It is about 3-1/3 oz lighter than the K-3, and interestingly, only about 1 oz lighter than my K-5IIs. For those wanting a better K-S2, the K-70 is the answer. All these will be better than the K-3 in low light, high ISO. A K-3 replacement should soon be appearing.</p> <p>With the KP, I think Pentax has in mind the serous photographer who likes doing a lot of trekking, cycling, etc. hence my own interest. It has certain interesting new features like astro photography and GPS with the accessory, yet should turn in better low noise/ detail preservation at high ISO, (I hope) like the K-70 has shown over my K-S2, but with superior build quality and controls over the K-70. A few months ago I bought a new Pentax 20-40mm Limited zoom lens at a great deal through Amazon, around $550, and somehow having a premonition of a high-quality silver camera body showing up sometime, I got the silver lens. It would look and perform great on the silver KP. The lens has been delivering wonderful imaging quality. I can go with an extra-small Limited kit, with my DA 21mm and DA 40mm and/or FA 77mm in pocket, or if needing a zoom, perhaps in suspicious weather, take the new Limited zoom having WR. My last outing trying out the new lens with K-S2 in holster, I took the 77mm in pocket. The ability to change grip size according to ones hand size and lenses being taken is a great idea!</p>

<p>I believe there will still be a new APS-C flagship forthcoming, having K-5 and K-3 style on-body controls, top LCD, longer battery life, etc.</p> <p>The KP's sensor is new, of similar size to the K-3 and K-70. I expect it will have outstanding low noise/high detail preservation at higher ISO settings, similar to the K-70. Even though about the same dimensions of a K-3, it is significantly lighter, similar in weight to the K-S2 and K70. It appears to be of exceptional build quality for a mid-point DSLR, and designed more for experienced photographers- no scene modes, etc. The extra knob, I'm guessing, might serve to more quickly access certain functions in the absence of the on-body controls, while making for less lever-cluttered handling. Looks sort of like a K-1 junior. Mostly of magnesium-alloy construction, it would likely be the lightest APS-C DSLR model of such quality build, and hence the higher price. The included three interchangeable right-hand grips, each designed for various-size hands and/or larger or smaller lenses is an amazingly refined concept! There's also an optionally-available custom battery grip as well. The price will likely drift downward after some months. A unique, classy mid-point APS-C model, I think. I hope the tests reveal that its function will live up to its form!</p>

<p>I'll take back the "ultra" compact. Just compact. The top LCD was eliminated apparently to accommodate the extra control dials. The dimensions are close to those of the K-3, but weight is significantly less, only a tad over that of the K-70.</p>