The last DSLR: Pentax confirms work on brand-new SLR, but kills K series

Ricoh, the parent company of camera manufacturer Pentax, has officially confirmed that production of Pentax K-series digital SLR cameras will be discontinued. This move isn't surprising. Since the launch of the Pentax K1 II in 2018, the company has not released any full-frame DSLRs, and the development of new lenses appears to have been halted years ago.

However, following the success of the Pentax 17 ($496 on Amazon), Ricoh apparently intends to venture further into uncharted territory. The company has confirmed that Pentax is currently developing an entirely new series of digital SLR cameras designed to continue the legacy of the Pentax K-mount. According to Ricoh, these cameras are based on a completely new concept. However, the manufacturer has not yet confirmed details on how these new cameras differ from older models in the Pentax K series. It will reportedly take some time before these new products are ready for the market, and Ricoh promises regular updates as soon as new information becomes available.

The very fact that Pentax is developing new SLR cameras is, however, a minor sensation. After all, now that Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Leica have completely abandoned DSLRs, the technology is threatened with extinction. The mirror, which allows the user to see through the lens, has increasingly been replaced in recent years by an electronic viewfinder that displays a preview image captured by the camera’s digital sensor. This has advantages, as the precise depth of field and exposure can be checked before taking a photo, while the elimination of the mirror saves space. However, electronic viewfinders also result in higher power consumption.