I am not picking on raz here, but this post has some quotable bits in it. Basically this is a response to all those who don't understand the nature of a fixed focal length camera. If the camera is not the one you are looking for, start a thread about the kind of camera you want, don't just come in here and complain about this camera. It's going to be great......just like all the GRs that came before it.
Originally posted by raz And now comes this beautiful small camera, with the large sensor and collapsible lens that will only attract to a specific category of people,
That's called a target market. Knowing who will buy your product before you even produce it. It's a great business model.
Originally posted by raz Plus, times have changed, look please at the Nokia 808 Pureview with it's fantastic 41 mega pixel sensor and tell me if that isn't good enaugh for street photography.
The Nokia 808 takes very good photos ....... for a TELEPHONE. Do you realize that the sensor in the GR is the exact same one as in the flagship Pentax K-5IIs? The photos of the GR will LAUGH at the photos from the Nokia 808. The photos from the GR will have more in common with photos from any PENTAX DSLR than from any compact.
Originally posted by raz Who will buy this GR if the next Canon G1 X will be the same small size, the same IQ but with a zoom lens beginning at 28 mm and ending at 110mm ? I tell you who, only Ricoh fans probably. I don't want to see Pentax bankrupt in the next 3-4 years, I'm a fan like you but I'm upset when I see that they are missing this great category where they could sell really well and where they have great knowledge: miniaturization. Again I'm not saying this GR camera is bad, probably is excellent for street photography but I wish the same camera maybe with a zoom lens, an all rounder, that's it !
Cameras with zooms either need smaller sensors or need to be physically much larger...... you can't have it be compact and have a big sensor with a zoom lens.....there is some laws of physics and lens design that preclude this from happening. All camera designs are a compromise. If a zoom function is more important to you than ultimate image quality, than this is not the right camera for you.
And that's FINE. There are MANY who will buy this. Many of the same people who bought the original GR or the first digital GR or the GRDii, or the GRDIII or the GRD IV. Some people who own Pentaxes may want a quality pocketable camera for when the DSLR is too big. Not having the ability to zoom does not make the camera a failure. It makes it a camera that will have great IQ in a coat pocketable size, and I will be ordering one as soon as I able.