Originally posted by mattdm Many people are perfectly happy with their current cameras. However, it's a very safe bet than in a few years, these cameras will be very far behind the state of the art. The future health of the system is important do decisions we do make now, like whether to buy more K-mount lenses (or to sell the ones we have while the selling is still good). If Hoya intends to just milk Pentax's camera division for the money it can get and then just dump them (or worse, make them into a cheap-crap brand), then there is no future and it'd be nice to know that as soon as possible. On the other hand, since we do like what we have, we'd really like to know that there's a place to go next when the time comes.
That's not unreasonable at all, and if you're tired of it, stop reading the rumors threads.
I'd like to recommend the K10D to a friend of mine, but I have no idea if future offerings from Pentax are going to continue to meet her needs or if I'm suggesting to buy into a dead end system. If I recommend one of the big two brands, I know that not only will there be a company there when it comes time to upgrade, but that they'll continue to offer a range of cameras from which she'll be guaranteed to find a fit for her evolving needs.
Then recommend her some other brand. What's the big deal? Are the two of you going to exchange lenses and flashes?
The problem with "where will Pentax be when time for upgrade comes" will be arising every time some other brand pulls another new toy from a hat and Pentax does not respond within weeks. Every time some people will herald doomsday for Pentax, and others will insatiably gulp rumors to make them sure that "they've made the right choice".
A camera is a thing. Electronics to be more precise.
Can you imagine what people felt when computer industry switched from AGP to PCIExpress graphic card slots? After they bought super-ultra-turbo-injection graphics card thinking "This card kicks ass. I will upgrade my computer, but The Card is here to stay".
This is the same thing.
Let's be realistic. Entry level dSLRs now are kicking rear end of almost any nonpro 35mm camera. In 5 years time (or, in my case, more) who knows which cameras will be produced. Maybe Pentax sues Nikon and ends up like Minolta. Who knows. Maybe it happens the other way around
My main problem is that I LIKE TO READ RUMORS.
Having said that, I have to repeat that it is becoming counterproductive. I am nauseus of tantalizing innuendos. I hate posts like ones before Salon in Paris.
Does that make me a machohist?
So, ignore my rant, I will read threads like this one no more (as if I can make myself
).
Branimir