Originally posted by Winder I don't think it matters how many they have. The important issue is do they have the right lenses available for a FF body.
Do they have the lenses they need?
24-70mm F/2.8?
70-200mm F/2.8?
24mm prime?
Professional grade 50mm?
Professional grade 85mm?
Professional grade 135mm?
The LTD lenses are nice, but I still want to see some in depth tests of these lenses on a high resolution FF sensor. Hopefully Pentax redesigns these lenses with modern coatings, a new version of SDM, and weather sealing.
I think Pentax would argue their DA 55 and their FA 77m are both professional grade. Of course there are some limitations, but presuming Pentax launches a FF camera with a 24-75 or similar (and they would be stupid not to), Pentax will have launched a 'new' mount with more lens options than any (actual) new mount launch I'm familiar with... far more than the A-mount or 4/3 or micro 4/3 at launch.
The K-5 is, in my opinion, almost certainly more demanding of the lens than any FF camera will be. The dropoff in resolution across the lens (corner performance) sensor is almost always less of a factor than the increased magnification required from a smaller sensor. The vignetting performance will be a bit worse, of course, but I've never found that to be too much of a problem with the FA lenses.
Pentax shouldn't attempt to 'eat the elephant' in one bite. Give us a camera, and we'll make do without the 135mm lens for a couple of years. The 24-75 is required at launch. The 70-200 would be smart to have at the same time. I'd prefer a 24mm prime to either, but I think I'm in the minority.