I've got a feeling it's coming back with a vengeance, which is too bad 'cause I'm still lusting after a 67D! They could rebuild that system with in-body auto-focus with sensor movement (a la Contax...).
So Ben, you've managed to get everything pushed back to the end of the month just to torment us even more! Way to go...
Please see my post in your 'finger for sale' thread for what I think of that!
Exciting times for Pentaxians - too bad Herb's not around anymore to share in the 'triumphs' that are about to be unleashed - he'll sure be missed. For those of us who weathered 'the dark years' (2001-2003) still shooting film, I must say, it's about time Pentax came back. Let's hope they've figured out the dynamic range conundrum, as well as the wimpy flash systems we've had to endure. It'd be really nice to see a wireless macro flash system at some point, and that flash in those leaked pictures seemed to be a radically new shape, as well: perhaps no more weak and breakable flash shoe attachments, but a more square solid base support system which would also go well with the weatherproof concept.
Some big lenses with powerzoom would be great, as well: I used to use image-size tracking quite a lot when shooting dogs and horses in action. That would be amazing for sports photographers; it's too bad Pentax never made a really good pro-body back in the early 90's to support it. Maybe it's time for a comeback, but based on the recent designs (DA* series) I doubt if that is going to happen. And it's been a LONG time since we've had ANY tele-converters or extension tubes, like not since auto-focus came in in the mid-80's...
And I still think somebody should do a digital hyper-focal scale, even if it was in-body; now, with a chip and a screen, it could be compatible with zooms as well. That was always one of my favorite ways to shoot reportage shots, with a wide angle lens set to f=8 or so; you didn't even have to wait for focus, because everything from 1.5' to infinity was already in focus - just fire away.
The anticipation is killin' us, Ben, just killin' us.
Cheers,
Cameron