Originally posted by emr I don't know what you know and what you don't know, but I seriously hope that Pentax lives up to the hype that's been built up during the last couple of months. With comments like yours, any incremental or evolutionary progress of their cameras will feel like a disappointment. Only FF or FF/EVIL or perhaps a kick-ass pellicle system with super-duper AF and video might be up to the hype - and even then many would be disappointed in the direction that the company's taking. And I'm afraid that we're not going to see that (I have zero inside information and don't even pretend to have).
I perfectly understand emr. Nubi and I were able to discuss this to some length and here's the thing, many users are more than happy with the IQ of the current bodies. AF and the flash system seem to be the larger concerns as well as long glass. I personally feel excited about the upcoming bodies and feel that people will be pleased and happy in the end.
IQ wise, aps-c and ff do not have as much of a difference today as it did a few years ago. DR, dof, and noise though still has room for improvements. I think the high end aps-c will be this comming year and FF will come along in next year. That will give Pentax a full range of bodies with the 645D heading the pack. So I think the line up will be, in a year or so, 645D, FF, K-5, K-7 (or replacement), K-r, K-x (or replacement). That's what I think will happen.
We all know that Pentax needs a pro network and that takes time to happen. You can't make one up overnight. The 645D and the K-5 will i think in that end help to establish the network, and FF will then jump into the foray. Otherwise, a "professional" looking for ff will not get the support they need or want even if in 2 months a FF from Pentax hits the market.
Just my .02
theperception2008