Originally posted by Aegon Last year the D7000 and K-5 came out at about the same time with pretty much the same Sony sensors. The Pentax version cost a little bit more. I think the same would hold true of a Pentax D800.
I agree, but I think they could also match the price or come in a bit lower, considering that:
1) It would be released
much later
2) It wouldn't have to match the specs (e.g. 24MP, or 16MP if high ISO like the D4, would be great). In fact, I'd love to see 16MP high ISO - keeping the MP lower would also avoid perceived overlap with the MF 645D (notice this is something neither Canon nor Nikon needs to worry about).
Come to think of it, this would make Pentax unique (having both FF and MF 645D). It would make them simultaneously look more old school and a bit more serious then
any other camera manufacturer - go Ricoh! Think about it,
no one else is in both MF and standard DSLRs. And if the D800E can truly rival MF (which I rather doubt for at least another generation) Pentax would already be poised to enter that market, as long as they were already into FF and had the FF lens line going.
What Pentax really needs here is to get third party lens makers to more completely support K-mount again, as well as specifically sponsoring/promoting third party tethering and improving flash/strobe support (like working out deals with Pocket Wizard and Paul C. Buff to support Pentax TTL).