Why Still SAFOX VIII in K20D?

[alib99]

I am not sorry I can not keep myself asking...

On top of such pro features in K20D, why are they still using the 8 year old SAFOX VIII AF system?
(As a reminder, SAFOX VIII system is the same system with the anaalog *ist SLR camera. (And the rest of the DSLRs of course! )

[Snowcat]

It's accurate, i'd even say extremely accurate (well my GX-10 at least). So why change it?

[alib99]

Originally Posted by Snowcat

It's accurate, i'd even say extremely accurate (well my GX-10 at least). So why change it?

It is accurate but slow...

[mawz]

Originally Posted by alib99

I am not sorry I can not keep myself asking...

On top of such pro features in K20D, why are they still using the 8 year old SAFOX VIII AF system?
(As a reminder, SAFOX VIII system is the same system with the anaalog *ist SLR camera. (And the rest of the DSLRs of course! )

For starters, it's not 8 years old, the *ist was introduced in 2003 and was the first camera to use SAFOX VIII. The basic sensor used is excellent, there's some good indication that it may be the same basic design as the Nikon Multi-CAM2000 sensor used in the D2's and F6. The issue with SAFOX VIII has always been less than satisfying AF algorithms. Given what Nikon, Canon and Sony can achieve in performance with inferior sensors like Nikon's Multi-CAM1000, Pentax has a fair bit of room for improvement in AF performance via improved AF algorithms while maintaining the SAFOX VIII sensor. And frankly, SAFOX VIII is pretty good overall in AF-S mode, it's AF-C which needs work.

[ftpaddict]

Mayhaps the hardware is identical, but the electronic part has had its bugs ironed out.

[deejjjaaaa]

Originally Posted by ftpaddict

Mayhaps the hardware is identical, but the electronic part has had its bugs ironed out.

"...it's not a bug, it's a feature..." (c)... you can't iron that out