Originally posted by jake14mw My last question is, what are the advantages of the mirrorless design other than being able to make the camera smaller?
There are only two advantages other than size:
- use of EVF - some people may not like it, but it does allow unique capabilities
- a smaller registration distance allows the design of smaller, more compact wide angle lenses
As you may notice, none of these advantages are being offered by the K-01. It does not have an EVF and it does not have a small registration distance mount. The only thing that it has is that it can be called a mirrorless camera. It should have been called the Pentax ME-2.
Originally posted by jogiba However, that adapter makes the NEX into more than a K-01, by providing PDAF. That is why it is expensive as well as large.
Pentax could have provided the same functionality that K-01 provides (CDAF) with a much less expensive (and smaller) adapter.
Originally posted by Wheatfield Ny using the K mount, Pentax is staying with it's reputation for good backwards compatibility. Also, had they changed the flange distance, then they would have had to release a new lens line upon release of the camera.
Well, Pentax is already releasing a new lens line - the XS line. And some of those lenses appear to not be compatible with DSLR cameras.
However, backward compatibility with DSLRs may be moot if Pentax intends to kill DSLRs - after all, their lenses have never promised backward compatibility with older camera bodies - only the new camera bodies are meant to be compatible with any older lenses. How can new DSLRs be compatible with XS lenses - only by not being made anymore.
Here is a picture of a proposed future member of the XS line.
It sounds to me like people would buy a potato if there was a K-5 sensor in it and they would at the same time applaud it as innovative for being edible.