Moving from MZ-5n to DSLR

[bsbxl]

I am going to move from analog to digital (finally). My most used analog camera is an MZ-5n. I really like the MZ-5n form factor (compact, well built, ergonomic and just the right feature set for me). So, basically I am looking for a comparable Pentax DSLR. This would be something in between the K10D and the K100D (Super) I am afraid... Feature wise the K100D looks to be comparable to the analog MZ-6 and the K10D to the MZ-S. Would that be a correct assessment?

Does Pentax have something in the works that would fill the niche between the K10D and the K100D (Super)? I am not really in a hurry to buy the DSLR so I could wait for some more months. Otherwise I think I would go with the K100D Super. My brother in law has a K10D and it is a really good camera but I would prefer something a bit more compact.

Regards,


Bert

[mattdm]

Many people have speculated about such a thing, but if you look at the prices, you can pretty much see that there is no such niche. The K100D Super goes for $520; the K10D for $680 after rebate. There's no room for another model in between there.

Now, it's possible that they'll drop the K100D price a couple of hundred bucks, and replace the K10D with a slightly higher-priced new model. Then there'd be a possibility, but even then the gap is relatively slim.

[bsbxl]

Thanks for your reply. Indeed, if you look at it from a price point view there isn't much room between the K100D and the K10D. However, in the past Pentax made different cameras available at very similar price points, eg. MZ-3 and MZ-5n or MZ-6 and MZ-7 (IIRC). Those cameras had slightly different specifications and targeted different buyer groups.

Although there isn't much room between the prices of the K10D and K100D, I think there is a niche between the user groups of those cameras. In the analog line up of the past the MZ-5n catered for such a public. It had the compactness of the MZ-6 but was slightly better built. The MZ-5n had more advanced metering than the MZ-6 but lacked the differerent program modes of the MZ-6. At the same time it also lacked some the features that belong in a real pro camera (like weather proofing or high speed motor drive).

I guess it's clear that I liked the MZ-5n form factor very much and I would really love a similar DSLR. Probably I am just wishing for a camera that Pentax will never produce On the other hand, the K100D Super looks like a very good camera. I will have close look at the specifications again. There is a good chance it's got everyting I need.

Bert

EDIT to add: the price difference in Europe seems to be a bit bigger (prices from a German reseller): K100D Super body only 519 euro, K10D body only 829 euro. I don't know whether there is a rebate program in Europe.