Pentax Japan discontinues Marc Newson-designed K-01 compact system camera (UPDATED)

 

 

Pentax Japan's website has a new addition to its "Discontinued Model Lineup": the barely more-than-a-year-old Pentax K-01 compact system camera. Announced in early February 2012, the 16-megapixel K-01 immediately made waves with its unusual form factor, created by famed designer Marc Newson, and its compatibility with the entire back catalog of Pentax lenses, thanks to its standard K-mount.

Unfortunately for Pentax, the K-01 was not warmly received. Its design was widely mocked, and the K-mount necessitated a body significantly larger than most other CSCs on the market. The mixed reviews and generally unpopular camera body seem to have played a role in Pentax Japan discontinuing the K-01. The K-01 is currently available for just $400 in a kit, which is a fraction of its original $900 asking price. (If you're not bothered by the K-01's design, we found that the camera actually produced very good image quality.)

UPDATE: Pentax Ricoh USA has just responded to our query on whether the K-01 will also been discontinued in the USA with the following quote.

"Pentax does not make official statements on topics of this nature," John Carlson, Pentax Ricoh USA's senior marketing manager told Imaging Resource. "But, I can let you know that despite the production run of this product being complete, we are still actively selling this product and will continue to support firmware updates and product repairs."

(Via Rice High and 1001 Noisy Cameras)