Originally posted by Winder It seems to me Pentax is limiting its appeal to new users by restricting them to only the K-mount. Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Olympus, & Fuji have all opened the door to attract users from other mounts to come use their mirror-less systems with their existing glass, and that has opened the door for new lens sales. I think it is a big mistake. If you want to attract MORE people you need to appeal to more people.
If Pentax adopted a standard 3rd party mount (eg mft), and continue buying in their sensors, they are left with virtually nothing to distinguish themselves from everyone else. That would lead to a commodity market in which at most a couple of big boys would make money, and Pentax probably wouldn't be one of them. It'd be suicide.
Quote: I just don't get it. Why limit yourself to a small user group who already own most of the lenses and wont be buying many more?
Why buy an inter-changeable lens camera and then stick with the kit lens? One of the few things that came out of the recent interviews was Pentax people saying they believe having a good selection of lenses helps sell cameras. You tacitly acknowledge this when you talk of Sony, Samung et al agreeing on a standard mount so they can share their lenses. Pentax are in the enviable position of already having a large range of lenses. That means they don't need to use an open mount. If and when they drop the K-mount, they throw that advantage away.
The Pentax line-up means they can sell expensive cameras to knowledgeable people who also want expensive lenses. They can also sell cheaper cameras to people who will then buy cheap, second-hand glass. My first prime was a 30-year-old fully manual 50mm, bought second-hand for not much. That's how I learned I liked primes. Boy was that a gateway lens. Even if you figure most new camera buyers are not going to follow through with their new hobby, at the time they buy they have pretensions, else they'd get a P&S or a bridge camera instead.
Quote: I don't think Pentax wants to be in the lens business. I think they want Sigma to fill all of the holes for them.
I have no idea where they make the most money. I think it's a synergy. I got into Pentax about 18 months ago and I now have around 10 lenses. New lenses are expensive. I'd spent more on lenses within the first six months than I did on my camera. So there is money to be made there. Even if it's true I have my LBA licked and will never buy another lens, when I replace my camera it will probably be for another Pentax that lets me use the lenses I have. If Pentax had adopted a 3rd party mount, my next camera could also be 3rd party. There's no lock-in, no loyalty. If they stick with the K-mount, they have a virtuous circle, with lenses helping to sell cameras and cameras helping to sell lenses, and the line-up of both already having passed critical mass.
Originally posted by Supernaut Can someone explain why this is better than a new mount with a full k-mount support with a adapter?
It's hard to make a good adapter. Especially if the new mount is all-electronic, so the adapter has to convert electronic signals into mechanical linkages (for aperture and focusing).
Quote: This will only appeal to parts of the small amount of old k-users. This will only attract new users if the NEX won't come out with new lenses and if Panasonic and Samsung fails to make good sensors.
See my comments above, about how having a large range of lenses helps sell camera bodies. It's not just to appeal to old K-users.
Quote: I see this as an attempt to make the life of k-mount live a few years longer, like the SLT is for a-mount.
I sort-of agree. I do think Pentax will need to retire the K-mount eventually, and switch to an all-electronic, mirrorless mount. I just don't think now is the time. This is partly because, as a company, they need to get past the Hoya years and develop a higher market profile. And it's partly because I still think mirrorless are immature. Electronic viewfinders aren't quite good enough yet. Not for people who care about more than size. I'd give it another 2 or 3 years. Then you can get an OLED viewfinder with fantastic contrast and resolution.
So I expect the K-01 to be a bridge. It was intended to be cheap and easy to design and make, a low-risk option. It's also low-end and cheap to buy. It will fill a gap without cannibalising K-5 sales. It lets Pentax dip their toes into mirrorless technology. As with the Q, it is a learning experience for them. It does not have the new mount plus adapter because the mount would be a big commitment they aren't ready for, and the adapter would be expensive and risky too.