Ricoh Ends Production of Current Pentax K-Series DSLRs, Promises a New DSLR Concept

# What happened Ricoh Imaging announced on September 8, 2026, that it will discontinue production of the current Pentax K-series digital SLR cameras. The company says it is developing a new series of digital SLRs built on "an entirely new concept," and that it will retain the Pentax K-mount so existing lenses remain compatible. The new cameras are not yet announced, have no specifications, and have no release date.

# Why this matters Pentax has been the last mainstream brand still actively developing DSLR bodies while most of the market shifted to mirrorless. Ricoh's statement removes ambiguity after months of retailer listings and product withdrawals that suggested the end of active K-series production. For photographers who own K-mount glass, the pledge to keep the mount is the most concrete commitment in the announcement.

# What Ricoh said about the future Ricoh framed the move as a transition to a "new stage" for Pentax DSLRs. The company described its aim as reexamining the value of taking photographs and designing cameras around the enjoyment and process of shooting rather than just the final image. Ricoh emphasized the need to reach both longtime Pentax enthusiasts and younger newcomers, but it offered no further details about the new models beyond that direction.

# How we got here Retail signals preceded the announcement. Ricoh stopped production of the K-3 Mark III in January 2025, and the K-3 Mark III Monochrome and entry-level KF were later withdrawn or listed as discontinued in retail markets. Listings showed the K-1 Mark II as sold out or discontinued across major Japanese retailers, leaving it as the last Pentax DSLR in apparent circulation before this official statement made the discontinuation explicit.

# Market context DSLR shipments have been declining sharply. CIPA data cited in context shows DSLR shipments continuing to slide in 2026, with at least one month down 37% year over year. The average export value of a DSLR body is substantially lower than the average mirrorless body in the cited figures. At the same time, compact cameras have seen growth. Ricoh's move can be read as a deliberate attempt to rethink and differentiate DSLR cameras rather than follow the mirrorless trend.

# What this means for owners and buyers

• If you own K-mount lenses: Ricoh says it will retain the mount, so lens compatibility remains the main stable factor in the announcement.
• If you were waiting for a straightforward K-1 III or K-3 successor: this is not that camera. Ricoh explicitly framed the work as conceptual and long-term, and it warned that development will take time.

# Bottom line Ricoh has ended production of the existing Pentax K-series DSLRs and committed to developing a new kind of DSLR while keeping the K-mount. The announcement clarifies the current lineup's status but leaves the specifics and timing of any replacement cameras open-ended.