Originally posted by Supernaut So you mean that while Pentax makes probably the best aps-c camera on the market it is impossible for them to make a competitive FF?
Imo, FF price is coming down which reduces the possibility to make a high margin aps-c cameras. I see two ways to gain money in the future, a FF that they can sell for more and/or a mirrorless line that is cheaper to manufacture.
Yes. Because they don't have to be just competitive. They have to be BETTER. A lot better. Can they do their own 5D, at least in terms of stills? Yeah. Probably. But why would you buy one? You don't have stabilized lenses. You don't have a stabilized body. You don't have the ecosystem to support it. And the to be expected low sales figures mean you also won't have attractive pricing! Now maybe Pentax CAN develop something that will wow the camera world, but that takes time, and it takes a lot of resources. I wouldn't want to not get an upgrade to the K-3 for the next few years cause of that, and I wouldn't want prices to go up either. For Pentax FF would be what the Bugatti Veyron was for Volkswagen. They lost money with every single car they sold, and who knows what ridiculous sums they poured into the project! But it's VW, they are big, rich and can afford such a prestige project. Pentax though...? Pentax is already a prestige project for Ricoh, I'm afraid.
A high margin APS-C camera is still possible, IMHO, IF it has some stand out features. I wouldn't buy a 7D over a 5D if I had the budget. Both are huge and heavy. But a K-3 over a 5D? Hell yes. (Ok, actually, I'd probably buy a 5D Mk III, but that's because of video). You see, my wrist just doesn't like the 7D/5D. Neither does my arm, my neck, ...
As for mirrorless not being a big deal... yes, for now many people seem to think that bigger is better. But how long will that continue? mFT sensors have become rather good, APS-C even more so. The Super 35 sized sensor in the RED Epic Dragon is somewhere between APS-C and FF (closer to APS-C IIRC) and has beaten the D800E in DXOMark. Yes, FF sensors will improve too, but aren't we reaching a point where it really doesn't matter that much anymore? How much better is a MF sensor compared to a FF or APS-C sensor?
Asking Pentax to build a FF camera is like asking BMW to build V12 engines, when actual consumer needs (except for a few bigger is better enthusiasts) is moving towards 3 and 4 cylinder engines. Which can be quite powerful.
Nikon is embracing video (well, sort of. The D4/D4s suck, but the D800 is pretty damn good, and the D5300 is bloody amazing for the price (though lacking in usability, but I guess that's cause of the price and positioning. The D7200 should be a killer though, if they can give it the same video quality AND a better, more professional user oriented UI/controls)). I hope Pentax realizes that.
The Fuji's are exciting because they are LOVELY to use. They make me want to take photos all day. Just to have pressed that shutter button. Just to have looked through that viewfinder. The quality of the photos... meh, but I enjoyed using them.
Doesn't Nikon/Pentax tend to use Toshiba or Sony sensors anyway? At least Sony is developing the sensors for themselves too, and to them APS-C is quite important I reckon.