Originally posted by codiac2600 (snip)...but it does have to have one thing and thats value and it will for the prices the new bodies should hit the market for...(snip)
Chris, you don't know how much I'm hanging onto these words. Haha.
I always thought that Pentax would help itself by remaining the value leader among camera manufacturers. Hoya probably has some tricks up its sleeve to keep manufacturing costs down, and maybe the cooperation with Samsung might also help offset the costs of R&D. If Hoya can keep the synergy between Hoya's manufacturing efficiency and quality control, Samsung's electronics expertise, and Pentax's superb engineering, then they could realistically release a K10D upgrade that's, well, like the K10D is now: good value for the money, and possibly good enough for fence-sitters to choose that over the 40D, D300, and E-3.
And then Pentax can now release another body at the price point of the D300 with an even broader feature set, possibly gunning for superior IQ, possibly putting a dent in Canon's 5D/5D's upgrade sales.
What I'm curious to know is what the K100D Super upgrade will be, or will it stay as it is for the next year as it is. I still believe this segment of the market still rakes in the most money, and gives consumers a foothold in the whole DSLR system. The D3 or 1Ds Mk III isn't what keeps Nikon or Canon afloat, respectively, but the D40x and the 400D.
Thoughts?