Originally posted by Winder It will be tough to pump more than 5 fps at 24MP (14-bit) without some improvements in the internals. Dual image processors and a bigger battery will require a new larger body. Bigger VF with a higher level of magnification and 2 SD card slots.
Sony has a lot riding on this sensor. It will be the heart of the A77 and D400 and will need to offer enough performance to be relevant for 2+ years. A friend of mine works for Sony (Entertainment) and is a Sony fanatic. He said the 16MP sensor would rival FF sensors and I did not believe him. He claims the new sensor is a significant improvement over the 16MP. I still find it hard to believe.
there has been not A700 or replacement for 2+ years. Sony has a lot riding on the A77.
Winder,
I appreciate your surfacing this rumor. My comments pertain to the industry not to the rumor.
Just got my K5 in Feb, love it and its solved a lot of problems i had with using my K20 in low light theatre work.
But i have to say, my reaction to a 24 megapixel camera is pretty negative. It hasn't been that long ago that the biggest issue on these forums was sticker shock over the K5. Does anyone really think that the new K3 with its 24 megapixel sensor will be at the same price as the K5? Its going to be a lot more expensive and in the world's current sick economies, i wonder at the ability of Pentax's enthusiast level customer base to buy such lofty products.
Besides, when i read the posts on PF, i haven't seen one ask for more megapixels. I do see a lot of posts asking for more reliable flash, more up to date autofocus, better movie mode, and perhaps 2 SD card slots. I would much rather see Pentax bow out of the megapixel race this year, and put out a K5 II that had improvements like these and fixed infrastructure problems like a lack of any TCs.
Who needs it and why? And can the target audience afford it? Those are the key questions. Americans has seen its domestic car manufacturers almost disappear entirely because the men at the top lost track of who their customers were and what they wanted/could afford.