Originally posted by Pentaxke For one, I'm not interested in the whole SDM thingie...
But whether you are interested or not, the gradual switch over to SDM is inevitable to satisfy market demand. The same applies for Live View or P-TTL. Granted, it will not be a complete switch over like Canon, as lenses like the Pancake lens still works best with the screw drive AF.
Quote: Secondly, I don't think it would have made the price any steeper if they would have combined both screwdrive and SDM.
Of course, it will be. You have to design two AF drive mechanism inside the same lens, and it is not a trivial job at all.
Quote: Thirdly, everything depends on what more it would be, but yes I would sure have paid a premium for it (if of course the optical quality was up to its expectations.)
You may but most don't. Pentax already command a premium over 3rd party lens equivalent. But if the price differential becomes ridiculous, many would pick 3rd party lens instead.
Quote: And last but not least, I think Pentax may have very well shot at their own foot for not willing to include the screwdrive AF... At least for me it is settled:
For any business decision, they win some, and they lose some.
Even if they include the screw drive AF, they will also lose some customers because of higher price. And not sure if Pentax intend to implement ring type SDM lens for this or future lenses, as that design would certainly preclude the chance of dual drive lens.