Originally posted by thibs That's a key for getting a lower priced 645D 'I'
Not necessarily.
Although the original KAF40000 sensor is a beauty of the CCD imaging in itself, and well worth preserving (like the 18MP in a Leica M9, now in Leica M-E) the original 645D camera package may be shipped alongside with a new 645DII, and have an all new sensor in it.
If there are two variants of the new 33x44 mm CMOS sensor Sony is now making (and people are talking about two variants), one with lower res may go into the updated original 645D (if the KAF40000 is no longer made) and one with a higher res into the 645DII.
This is just a speculation, of course. But I do hope Pentax will do something worthwhile with the entire 645D exercise, and not just 'another long-overdue update'.
All right. Ogl, what about the new 645DII — the announcement is today?