[aliquis]

Just a thought though...If they make a FF camera, won't they have to make a new line of lenses? Are the lenses that they have now made for FF also? If they have to make a new line of glass, we probably won't see a FF camera for a while.

FA = Full-format:
Camera Lens - Official PENTAX Imaging Web Site
smc PENTAX FA 31mm F1.8 Limited
smc PENTAX FA 43mm F1.9 Limited
smc PENTAX FA 50mm F1.4
smc PENTAX FA 77mm F1.8 Limited
D FA = Designed for digital but compatible with full-format:
Camera Lens - Official PENTAX Imaging Web Site
smc PENTAX D FA 50mm F2.8 Macro
smc PENTAX D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro
smc PENTAX D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR

So yeah, weak on zooms, on the other hand it's not that weird that they don't have much full-format glass when they have no camera =p.

Also since so many are co-developed with Tokina now maybe Tokina got some.

[aliquis]

But the whole point of these bodies is IMHO compactness, so crazy wide max aperture is not that important. For extreme shallow DOF, use FF. A 50mm f/1.4 on FF is still better than a 25mm f/0.75 on m4/3, and is easier to focus manually than the 25mm on a VF-less body.

I think that a 28 mm wide mount on a small APS-C camera should be sufficiently wide to be able to make a 28mm f/1.4 normal lens. But more interesting on such a body would be a 28mm f/2 pancake.

That depends. For people who have heavily invested in DSLR already I assume _THEIR_ idea of the purpose of those cameras is to get something more pocketable but still capable.

However for new buyers it may be an alternative / option against DSLR, and then you may want to be able to get the same capabilities. I sure do.

I'd rather take fast glass than small size. If I wanted a small size which performed poorly then there's plenty of such cameras around already.

[psdigital]

Aliquis,
Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't know FA meant that. So Pentax is not as far behind in that area as I thought. A FF camera could be on the horizon. That would make me really consider switching. The only other thing was how stable is the company financially? Sounds like they are heading in the right direction.

I think most of Tokina's current line-up is for digital. I just bought a couple of Tokina's for my Sony. I bought the older 28-80 and 80-200. They are full frame PRO ATX and built really well but I think their newer lenses will probably control flare a little better than mine do. I hope they do come out with a few more. They are very nice lenses but very heavy. The only problem I am having is the flare but these were made for film, not digital. You have to expect some. I am having a slight back focus issue. That is another plus for the K-7. If I had it, I could correct the problem.

[SCGushue]

FA = Full-format:
Camera Lens - Official PENTAX Imaging Web Site
smc PENTAX FA 31mm F1.8 Limited
smc PENTAX FA 43mm F1.9 Limited
smc PENTAX FA 50mm F1.4
smc PENTAX FA 77mm F1.8 Limited
D FA = Designed for digital but compatible with full-format:
Camera Lens - Official PENTAX Imaging Web Site
smc PENTAX D FA 50mm F2.8 Macro
smc PENTAX D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro
smc PENTAX D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR

So yeah, weak on zooms, on the other hand it's not that weird that they don't have much full-format glass when they have no camera =p.

Also since so many are co-developed with Tokina now maybe Tokina got some.

Yes these may be FA, however, on a digital FF sensor it is questionalble whether any of these optics would be sharp enough to max out the sensors capabilities.

Assuming no ghosting issues, the 43mm and perhaps the 31mm may make the transition. The others, probably not so readily.

Stephen

[aliquis]

The only problem I am having is the flare but these were made for film, not digital.

Yes these may be FA, however, on a digital FF sensor it is questionalble whether any of these optics would be sharp enough to max out the sensors capabilities.

k, I have no idea there , only had understood they had enough coverage.

[ogl]

yes these may be fa, however, on a digital ff sensor it is questionalble whether any of these optics would be sharp enough to max out the sensors capabilities.

of course. No any doubts at all.

[turbosaturn]

Yes these may be FA, however, on a digital FF sensor it is questionalble whether any of these optics would be sharp enough to max out the sensors capabilities.

I don't think that the current line of FA lenses would have too much problem with keeping up with the resolution at the center of the lens. Where I guess that they will have issues are at the corners where most of the vignetting and distortions occur.

[Tan]

Hope, pentax will release FF soon

[Digitalis]

I don't think that the current line of FA lenses would have too much problem with keeping up with the resolution at the center of the lens. Where I guess that they will have issues are at the corners where most of the vignetting and distortions occur.

+1 on that, I have used the FA limited lenses on b&w film(T-max) for a few years now and I have no doubt that they will be able to handle FF digital sensors. the FA31 delivering the highest resolution I have ever seen in it's focal length class.

[Blue]

I want to get the wife a K-X to replace her K100D so I can turn it into a full time IR Camera, but she says to wait till they announce a K-X WR camera.
Hope they will do that this year. If not I'll give her my K-7 and get the new camera they come out with.

Turn it into an IR before you give her a new one and see if she notices!

[zackspeed]

There will be three bodies this year.
1) "K-7 Super" at the end of the may - beginning of june.
2) K-5 - cam between K-x and K-7. Sort of K200D upgrade with K-x features
3) FF cam at the end of the year, after Fotokina.

Sorry,nope

[zackspeed]

Between and Higher

Much better

[gazonk]

That depends. For people who have heavily invested in DSLR already I assume _THEIR_ idea of the purpose of those cameras is to get something more pocketable but still capable.

However for new buyers it may be an alternative / option against DSLR, and then you may want to be able to get the same capabilities. I sure do.

I'd rather take fast glass than small size. If I wanted a small size which performed poorly then there's plenty of such cameras around already.

You're missing my point. If you scale a FF camera by the aps-c crop factor, you get approximately 28 mm flange distance and 28 mm mount diameter. So 1.4 lenses should be no problem. You just won't get the exotic 1.0 and below lenses, but they're IMHO irrelevant from the marketing perspective.

[VTPentax]

Still scratchin my head about what happened to the K20D I bought? It's a wicked good, rugged built, great performing piece of equipment. A great value billed as a competitor for one of those mid to higher-end Nikon and Canons. But was only around for what maybe a year? From a marketing standpoint it seem that to discontinue this model so quickly when it was gettin some great reviews.. did not make sense to me. Then replace it almost immediately with two others models which one was more expensive and aside from the video was not much of a upgrade IMO...or the other way with a new entry level camera....(sort of like puttin your summer tires back on in April don't make sense) They must of had all 3 on the kitchen table bout the same time by jezzum crow.
kinda feel like right now I have a camera that if I wanted to trade her in...I would have to look at one of them there Nikon or Cannons.
Can anyone explain this one to me?
By the way May 9th and it's spittin snow out side as I type this...still got my snow tires on

[mattdm]

Still scratchin my head about what happened to the K20D I bought? It's a wicked good, rugged built, great performing piece of equipment. A great value billed as a competitor for one of those mid to higher-end Nikon and Canons. But was only around for what maybe a year? From a marketing standpoint it seem that to discontinue this model so quickly when it was gettin some great reviews.. did not make sense to me. Then replace it almost immediately with two others models which one was more expensive and aside from the video was not much of a upgrade IMO...or the other way with a new entry level camera....(sort of like puttin your summer tires back on in April don't make sense) They must of had all 3 on the kitchen table bout the same time by jezzum crow.
kinda feel like right now I have a camera that if I wanted to trade her in...I would have to look at one of them there Nikon or Cannons.
Can anyone explain this one to me?

Your initial points (first, the K20D was a good camera, and second, the K-7 is an incremental improvement on that) are at odds with your conclusion (Pentax should have an even better camera right now!).

Don't worry -- the new models will come along soon enough, complete with plenty of disappointment they aren't earth-shatteringly better than the K-7 and K-x.

And, while we're on the subject, let's not forget the things one gets going from K20D to K-7 in addition to the video you mention:

• smaller, tougher body with impressive ergonomics
• better in-camera processing (including high dynamic range tricks)
• AF assist lamp
• 77-segment metering system
• 100% viewfinder!
• color-temp-aware AF
• faster, much quieter shutter
• much-increased continuous shooting (remember the whining about that? I sure do!)
• horizon-correction
• much-improved rear LCD
• new, better quick access to menu-based controls
• better control of pattern noise from the sensor
• way better automatic white balance

And there's more little things too. Maybe no one improvement is earth-shattering, but altogether I don't think it's fair to say that it's "not much of an upgrade".