[OniFactor]

my k1000d.

take the k1000, remove the film mechanisms, create a new back with digital imaging components, and a smaller, high res lcd (fit maybe a 2" on there).

voila.

[Matjazz]

my k1000d.

take the k1000, remove the film mechanisms, create a new back with digital imaging components, and a smaller, high res lcd (fit maybe a 2" on there).

voila.

It would need to have an expensive 135 format sensor how many people do you think could/would buy it?

Oh there once was a digital film replacement called silicon film. It had a sensor smaller than APS-C and I'm not sure they made anything more than prototypes.

[*isteve]

I do understand where you are coming from, but whereas I think retro LOOKs would sell, I fear retro features would not. Times have changed.

I like AF, but I would happily get rid of scene modes, SR, live view etc as long as I got 2 dials, a pentaprism, rocksolid build and a small form factor (the old *istD chassis would do) bundled with the DA 21. In fact a high speed *istD would be a great little camera! Would it sell? Who knows.

I'm sorry, but have to write this down and ask. If you're already bored with these threads, just carry on...

The reason I write this down is:
a) that i think Pentax shot itself directly in the foot, by letting Oly brag with their E420 and pancake kitlens...
b) that I can't imagine that Pentax wants to stay with two camera's only, while their competitors all have three (Oly) or more (Canikosony), if they want to be taken serious, they should give more choises...
c) purely egoïstic: I'm looking for an upgrade for my ist D (which I like a lot, but God it's s-l-o-w) and there isn't any (for me at least: I tried the K10 for half a year, but I saw myself comming back to the ist D more often, so sold it off.)
d) I think Pentax has sth in its' sleeve: the K1000 was Pentax' longest lasting SLR (it was the longest lasting ever, all brands included) hence the names K10 and K100, but we never saw a K1000D. If I keep whinning, maybe eventually they listen and introduce it just to have me shut up...

Here goes:
a) IMHO K1000D should be (in recognition of the analog K1000) a long lasting tool and not feature overloaded. Above all, it should be reliable, easy to use and attract amateurs, enthousiasts and pro's alike. The analog K1000 lasted for more than 20 consecutive years, I think we will be very ambitious if the K1000D makes it five years (but we can try),
b) hence: leave out AF and introduce it with a viewfinder which reminds of the film days. Bright viewfinder with standard split prism and microprism which is interchangeable. Viewfinder should be large 1,10 (which is 0,72 equivalent - that was the standard in the late eighties, begin nineties.) Och and make it 98% coverage (real coverage, not like the K10, where 95% is more like 90%!) The gridlines on command of the Nikons should be nice to.
c) I would leave the AF out for various reasons:

• lots of people have a Pentax because they had one or various manual focus lenses in the first place. Many of them use these MF lenses, and I'm quite sure lots of people wouldn't care if their camera had autofoucs or not.
• the Limited lenses are the first line of lenses which will have a basis in the K1000D. And these lenses IMHO are more MF lenses that happen to have AF than the other way round.
• AF is always too slow. The K20 is faster than the K10 which in return was faster than the ist D. Still, for a future K30, people will ask to have a still faster focus. If you want the K1000D to stay for 5 years, by then it will have a completely outdated AF.
• Pure nostalgia: you would like to remind the analog K1000 days.
• I don't think most people will object IF the viewfinder is up to the task.

d) In exchange, You would make it a fully compatible K-mount (not the crippled down version.)
e) Make no mistakes: Hyper modes (thus dual dials) should be present. It's one of the most intelligent feature ever invented on a camera, so you would like to keep it. In return, you could leave out Av, Tv and Sv (not sure about that last one, but I would not miss it) as well as all scene modes.
f) In return I would add a third dial: you could easily use the dial that is now present on the ist D/K10 which is used for the AF points. This would be very usefull to dial in ISO (and that is why I would leave out Sv all together.
g) Make no mistakes: it should have metal frame and it should be weather sealed. Pitty the Limited lenses are not sealed, but one can always hope. The body should be small (if you make it smaller than the E420 then YOU have the smallest DSLR, which makes for a good selling point) and like E420 not have a too deep grip (heck, you want to make it the smallest.)
h) Batteries: now I know this will not have everyone's agreement, but I would leave the AA/CR-3V solution, but I would include a set of Eneloops and a charger. Of course, it should have its' own small weather sealed battery grip.
i) Flash solution: I would include an on board flash. P-TTL (of course), dunno about TTL (would love it though)
j) Last but not least: the sensor should be low MegaPixel account, but low noise, high DR. Go beg Sony to give an update version of the 6 MP ist D series thingy, kidnap the wife of Fuji's senior officer and ask the Super CCD as ransom or keep the engineers of Samsung hostile telling them they only will be freed when they make a newly developed CMOS. It's no use to try and aim for more megapixels since 15 MP will be obsolete within five years (and, remember, you want to last it 5 years.) Come to think of it: I don't know if it's plausible to design the K1000 in a way to allow future sensor upgrades...

Price is sth I can't answer for, but this camera shouldn't be sold by the truck loads. I think it's more realistic if you keep it low volume/high margin. Something like the Limiteds: in absolute price they're expenssive for the specs, but everyone will agree that they're very nifty and have an incredible value. In the same regard you can make the K1000 a Limited (well you know what I mean.) If you design a special lens for it (say an A 28 f/1,8 Limited, but I'm open to other ideas) which you can only buy as a kit lens with the K1000, I'm sure you will draw enough attention...

The thing should of course be fast (I mean write times, not fps) and reliable. A workemans horse, more than a beautiful mare that only stands in the stable to be shown on sundays...

And then the marketing department of Pentax should go to work. Well, to help them, I already have a slogan: 'Less is More.'

Please elaborate if you should have anything to add...

[OniFactor]

It would need to have an expensive 135 format sensor how many people do you think could/would buy it?

Oh there once was a digital film replacement called silicon film. It had a sensor smaller than APS-C and I'm not sure they made anything more than prototypes.

i know about that. but that's why i said a new back. you could increase the depth by a decent amount, and fit everything in. or, just take the general shape and size of the 1000, and redo it, with digital inside. but i'm saying, keep the old fashioned items on it

[Pentaxke]

Where would you put the memory card? And the battery for that matter?

[Pentaxke]

I do understand where you are coming from, but whereas I think retro LOOKs would sell, I fear retro features would not. Times have changed.

I like AF, but I would happily get rid of scene modes, SR, live view etc as long as I got 2 dials, a pentaprism, rocksolid build and a small form factor (the old *istD chassis would do) bundled with the DA 21. In fact a high speed *istD would be a great little camera! Would it sell? Who knows.

I agree: the ist D in a new package is sth I long for...
But ok, while I was at it, I gave the matter a little more thought...

[leadbelly]

Pentax bodies are assembled in the Philippines... more specifically, in the island of Cebu. It seems that a fellow Pentaxian here in the Philippines has heard from someone working inside the Cebu plant that production for the K1000D has already started... hmmmm...

[Pentaxke]

Pentax bodies are assembled in the Philippines... more specifically, in the island of Cebu. It seems that a fellow Pentaxian here in the Philippines has heard from someone working inside the Cebu plant that production for the K1000D has already started... hmmmm...

Do you have any specifications to add?

[heatherslightbox]

Where would you put the memory card? And the battery for that matter?

The memory card slot could be on the inside of the digital back, so you would have to open it up to get to the memory card, like you would with film. Since it would be a manual camera, you wouldn't need much battery power, just enough to operate the digital sensor, so it could be included on the inside of the back, as well--I'm thinking maybe 1-2 AAA batteries or an even smaller standard or proprietary battery. The digital back could be thicker than the current film back; it would simply protrude further on the outside (this is one of those times where I wish I could draw this out on my screen and show you exactly what I'm thinking). Perhaps I could draw it out on paper and scan it and post it that way.

Heather (who wishes she had an engineering degree and could work this out herself, sell it, get really rich, and be able to retire at 35)

[leadbelly]

Do you have any specifications to add?

That's what we're trying to squeeze out of the Pentax plan employee Any more leaks and I'll be sure to post them here

When a camera starts production, how long do you guys think it will be before it's announced and released?

[MRRiley]

Who wants a digital K1000? Now give me a digital MX and I'll buy 3 of em. Mechanical shutter, all manual, with a simple meter and NO LCD! Unfortunaely it would have to have at least a small battery to run the sensor and storage circuitry so it couldn't work totally unplugged, but w/o the LCD and other fancy do-dads that battery could last a long long time.

Pentax bodies are assembled in the Philippines... more specifically, in the island of Cebu. It seems that a fellow Pentaxian here in the Philippines has heard from someone working inside the Cebu plant that production for the K1000D has already started... hmmmm...

Could this batch be the "beta" bodies for testing? It would make some sense then.

Radu

[leadbelly]

Heard it would cost less than the K200D...

[PaengBonafe]

Heard it would cost less than the K200D...

man your fast.. :P

[leadbelly]

Man, am I excited...