Ricoh & Pentax rumors 2026
Being one of the most intriguing camera brands in the business, there are plenty of Ricoh rumors to digest – particularly as it also makes Pentax cameras. This is a manufacturer that truly marches to the beat of its own drum.
It remains absolutely adamant that it won't be going mirrorless with its Pentax brand (after briefly flirting with the Pentax Q mirrorless system years ago) and instead will concentrate on making the best DSLRs – a category that is very much an open goal, with Canon and Nikon both ceasing development of new products.
It's also going to keep cranking out some of the best compact cameras, with the recently released Ricoh GR IV and its ongoing line of Pentax waterproof cameras.
Its most exciting plans, however, revolve around the renaissance of analog photography. Some of the best film cameras in history have born the Pentax name, and the first new entry in 21 years – the Pentax 17 half-frame camera – seeks to start that tradition all over again.
So what exactly is the company up to? Here are the latest Ricoh and Pentax rumors…
Pentax K-1 Mark III
Chatter about the Pentax K-1 Mark III has been hard to come by, but recently it was confirmed by noted Ricoh insider Kimio Tanaka that "the new camera is not only a speculation or still a project. The production is in process."
Tanaka did not state that the camera in question is the K-1 Mark III, but all signs (including hints by the manufacturer itself) point to this being the camera that Pentax has been working on for the past few years.
Other than that, we know exceedingly little about the camera. I've heard that it is being manufactured in Vietnam, for whatever that's worth, and there were some specs being whispered a while ago that may or may not have credence.
Apparently it will have a 61MP back-side illuminated sensor, potentially the same one used by the Sony A7R IV and the Sigma fp L. It will also be stabilized, giving it an important equalizer against the mirrorless competition (though Pentax has made DSLRs with IBIS before).
It's also been said that the K-1 Mark III will boast 4K 60p capture and use twin CFexpress B memory cards, though I wonder if Pentax might take a leaf out of Hasselblad's book and eschew video in favor of making this a pure photographic device.
No mention has been made about Astrotracer – the brilliant astrophotography tool that uses the IBIS and GPS systems to compensate for the Earth's rotation while shooting the stars – but it's such a unique and signature feature that I'd be astonished if Pentax abandoned it.
Ricoh GR IVx
It seems like a no-brainer that the GR IV will follow the template of the GR III when it comes to variants and special editions. As much was confirmed, when Ricoh revealed the a GR IV HDF was on the way – so it's almost certain that a Ricoh GR IVx will join the lineup sooner than later.
The key strength of fixed-lens compact cameras is also a key weakness: the lens is fixed. The Ricoh GR IIIx addressed this, offering identical tech to the Ricoh GR III but with a longer 28mm lens (compared to the original's 18.3mm).
This set a new industry trend, with the Leica Q3 43 (offering a 43mm lens compared to the Leica Q3's 28mm) following Ricoh's lead, so it's a safe bet that a Ricoh GR IVx with a 28mm lens is incoming.
Pentax Film Project on hold
Pentax's film camera development was dealt a huge blow in March 2025 when Takeo "TKO" Suzuki, lead designer of the Pentax 17 (and other Pentax digital cameras), announced his retirement.
Concurrently, if not consequently, Pentax stated that "we need time to gather feedback, meet with customers, and learn what they appreciated – or felt was missing – before making decisions on future film products."
The company noted that, "while TKO played a significant role in the Pentax Film Project, his departure does not affect the possibility of future film models" – though it's obviously hard not to join those particular dots.
Either way, it appears that rumored plans for one more affordable compact camera (perhaps, per Pentax / Ricoh tradition, with a different focal length) and two traditional SLRs are on hold for now.
Pentax K-3 Mark IV
File this one under "maybe" for now. However, recent rumblings are that Pentax is ready to drop an "interesting" new DSLR this year. Quite what that means, I haven't been able to find out.
However, the Pentax K-3 Mark III was an interesting camera itself in that it felt a lot like a hybrid between DSLR handling and mirrorless innovation. Could that "interesting" DNA be what's being whispered about?
Here's something else that's interesting: Pentax officially discontinued the K-3 Mark III in January – unlike the K-1 Mark II, which is widely expected to be replaced but is still listed as a current product.
So, you know, signs certainly point to a gap that could be neatly filled with a very interesting Mark IV of this great little camera…
More camera rumors: Canon rumors • Nikon rumors • Sony rumors • Olympus rumors • Fuji rumors • Panasonic rumors • Hasselblad rumors • Leica rumors
