With Entry-Level Pentax KF, Ricoh Tries to Keep SLRs Alive

Ricoh Imaging is striving to keep SLRs alive via its Pentax camera imprint, even after the rest of the swappable lens camera makers have moved on to mirrorless cameras with electronic viewfinders. The strategy is an interesting one, the bet being that photographers who don’t like the EVF experience will look to Pentax SLRs when shopping for an optical viewfinder model.

An Entry-Level SLR for 2022

The company already has high-end options in its catalog, including last year’s K-3 Mark III, but at $2,000 it’s not exactly a camera that’s priced to bring beginners into the system. The current entry-level model, K-70, is now six years old, and while it’s still on sale, a representative from Ricoh tells us that it can no longer source all of the electronic components that go into the camera.

(Credit: Ricoh Imaging)

Thus the updated version, dubbed the Pentax KF, is nearly an exact clone on the outside. The two cameras use the same plastic molds for the body shell; inside, the KF sports the same 24MP sensor, 5-axis IBIS stabilizer, and 11-point autofocus system as its predecessor. The only notable change is a better rear LCD—the KF’s vari-angle display sports a 1.04 million dot pixel count, so it will appear a bit sharper than the K-70’s 921k dot LCD, but touch support has not been added.

There are some upgrades to the image-processing features, however. The KF is getting the special-edition JPG film looks that have come to the K-1 Mark II and K-3 Mark III via firmware updates. These include Satobi, which works with all lenses, along with the Katen and Kyushu looks that are limited to select lenses. For video, the KF supports up to 1080i60 or 1080p30, as well as 720p60, but only offers 4K for time lapses.

(Credit: Ricoh Imaging)

Ricoh is bundling a new style charger with the KF, a battery cradle with a USB-C charging cord and AC adapter. In-camera charging is not supported, though, and the KF itself has the old style micro USB port. Likewise, the memory card slot is limited to UHS-I transfer rates, though it does support the newest SD standard, SDXC.

Dust and and Splash Protection

Even though the camera is pretty basic in terms of focus and burst rate (it supports 6fps Raw capture), the body sports an all-weather design and a glass pentaprism viewfinder, putting it on more even footing with midrange competitors in terms of construction quality.

(Credit: Ricoh Imaging)

Still, there are some long-term questions on the KF’s reliability. Users have reported premature solenoid failures in the K-70 and a pair of earlier models that share the same body style (the K-30 and K-50), a problem that makes photos come out severely underexposed. A few class-action lawsuits have been filed, though the most recent was dismissed in February(Opens in a new window).

PCMag asked Ricoh if any of the parts changes in the KF were made to address the reported failures. Unfortunately, a representative was not able to answer the question. The team at Ricoh US “has not been provided any information about the solenoid” in the KF.

Pricing and Availability

Crystal Blue (left) and Crystal White (right) are sold only through Ricoh’s web store, are limited to 700 pieces, and cost $50 more than the standard KF.
(Credit: Ricoh Imaging)

The Pentax KF goes on sale later this month for $849.95 on its own or for $949.95 in a kit with the weather-protected 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR lens. Ricoh is marketing this KF in black at authorized retailers.

If you prefer a bit more color, you can opt to spend a bit more on the KF in Crystal Blue or Crystal White, each priced at $899.95 as a body only. The Crystal editions are limited to 700 units a piece and will be sold exclusively through Ricoh’s web store.