Haven't had time to read this whole thread, but if you want some
evidence that THIS TIME it is more than just a pipe dream, check out the specs on NEW Sigma lenses for Pentax mount:
Was searching B&H and noticed that Sigma has some new lenses for
Pentax that B&H has listed as "New Item, Not Yet Available". Some have
pricing already set:
12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG ASP HSM II Wide-Angle Zoom Lens (For Pentax)
120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Pentax)
150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro Lens (For Pentax)
180mm f/2.8 APO Macro EX DG OS HSM Lens (for Pentax)
Not sure whether we want to read anything into this, but all but the
180mm say: "
Designed for use with full frame digital SLR cameras".
I suspect that the 180mm macro is also made for full frame, though it doesn't say so. (A 180mm 1:1 macro with a 1.5x focal length multiplier doesn't make a great deal of sense to me.)
Link to NEW lenses (scroll down)
Gee. Think Sigma knows something that we don't?