Quote: Based on an earlier post you want a killer semi-pro with super long tele primes and a serious brand image
Camera brand is not the point here. The camera is a tool. But you cannot build a house with just a screw driver. If Pentax offered a camera that could compete with the 7D or one of the 300's, and some readily available long glass, it would be a no brainer for me to stick with Pentax.
The point is, there are no choices in the higher end cameras and lens' with Pentax, and I just dont see them going in that direction.
The KX is a compromise, high ISO in an entry level camera, with serious mirror slap and shutter noise, no grip, and no third party accessorizes. Like a dedicated camera plate for one.
My current long lens is a Sigma 150-500. Again, a compromise. It was mentioned that the FA 600 could be special ordered. I looked on the Pentax Imaging web site and found nothing about it. A quick google search said it was discontinued in 2004. Even if it could be ordered, how long would it take to get? If I were able to get one, what about a 1.4 TC? Could I get one if I wanted it?
As for kicking myself if they improve the K7, it is still pointless if there are no long lens readily available. There's not even a TC available for the DA* 300.
If I was going to shoot landscapes or macro with my Pentax gear, I would buy into the limited lens' and get a K7. At base ISO it is a remarkable camera. The only reason I have not done so is because I have the Mamiya system for that. I did rob a guy of a Sigma 105 macro for 200 bucks off Craigs List though a while back. A very nice lens.
My interest with the digital gear is wildlife and birds. The Sigma 150 500 is a very nice lens, slow, but the little KX makes up for a lot of that, but if we are honest about it, it's not near the quality of a good prime lens.
Take a quick look over on KEH. A 400, 500 or even 600mm lens can be had today for 2000 to 3000 bucks used. A new 500mm F4 can be had for 5,000 at B&H and delivered by Monday.
If I thought there were any chance that Hoya was going to let Pentax come out with a good 400 F4 and a matching TC, I would wait for it and be ready to jump the day it arrived. A 500 F4 or even F5.6 would be worth waiting for as well. But Hoya is not aiming at people in this market. They want to sell a ton of $500 cameras. And in truth, I don't blame them. For everyone who says they want a good 400 or 500mm lens from Hoya, 1 in 100 will actually buy one. There is no money in it. The reason you don't see Canikon coming out with a rainbow colored T1i or D50 is because they don't have too. Hoya has too. There corporate sites are now set on the younger generation, the casual photographer, the enthusiast who just wants a nice simple camera that is a step up from a point and shoot and takes good pictures that they can e mail and plaster on their Facebook walls. The KX fits that bill, and they are going to run with it until they run out of room to run. They've found a niche, and they are going to exploit it as much as they can. I think, what that means is, there isn't going to be a whole lot of time and effort, let alone money, put into developing camera's that are going to have to compete with canikon and will for the most part, just sit on shelves and cost them money in the long run.
Anyway, it's really not personal. I may hold out until September and hope for the best, but I just don't see it coming, and like Salty, I'm not getting any younger.