Originally posted by Kunzite Between copying a very old camera and spending fortunes in a futile attempt to make a killer product, there is an entire world of possibilities. I would "vote" for a K-3-level FF, and I think many of us (people willing to spend their money on it) would appreciate such a camera.
Being a better and cheaper Canikon just isn't an option.
My hands didn't suddenly shrink, nor grew - the same camera size fits them as in the past. A Pentax DSLR is quite fine; bigger is not better and neither is smaller. Isn't it good to have a camera manufacturer making medium-sized cameras, instead of only having the extremes?
A FF camera is nothing special, and Pentax can build one as easily as an equivalent APS-C. The main issue are the lenses, and to be able to sell in large enough quantities; but since Ricoh said they'll launch it, there must be a solution.
The analogy with a BMW V12 engine doesn't stand, fortunately. A FF is not that niche, they're not Aston Martins; nor does it have to target consumers (high-end APS-Cs don't, either).
Full frame cameras with mirror probably have to be bigger though, due to the bigger sensor and bigger mirror. If a FF Pentax stays the same size as it is now that is fine, but I'm afraid that is not going to happen.
And being an entry level Canikon FF camera with a Pentax badge and lens mount is just not bringing in the sort of sales that they need to make the production, let alone development of it viable. Because it will only be bought by existing Pentaxians, of whom there are only few, and also only by a few of them, because really, not everyone needs FF or is able to afford it.
Ok, what about a big V8 SUV then? Think Escalade etc.
Maybe they'll make the FF Pentax so expensive that no one in their right mind would buy it, so they don't have to bother with actually producing it. Should anyone actually order it they could basically hand build a prototype for the customer, with a metal plate with the signature of the assembler engraved into it, like with AMG engines.
Advanced compact cameras are quite an issue, I think. They exist, but do they sell? I'm not so sure about that. For that matter, Ricoh/Pentax could make a competitor to the Galaxy S4 Zoom. An Android phone, maybe developed with one of the better Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi, Meizu, Oppo, ... where the camera module is by Ricoh Pentax. Allow it to be a bit bigger, add a zoom lens, a nice sensor size, whatever they can do (there are some very slim Sony cameras with internal zoom lens that never extends).
For example. The TX30. It's just 15mm thick, with a 5x optical zoom. Up until not too long ago that was a perfectly acceptable size for a phone! Heck, the TX30 even has an integrated ring flash - sort of!
This is the T1:
The black part at the side is the camera. That's all. They can't fit THAT into a 5" phone? One side is exclusively used for the camera, the rest can be filled by screen, phone components, big battery.
At least that way they can get brand recognition and sales in the cameraphone segment.
As for EVF... does it make sense on a Q series camera? They are so small... where are you supposed to fit an EVF? If you have to increase the size of the camera, what's the point? Might as well buy a Nikon 1 or better yet a mFT camera. Now if they offer a Google Glass like EVF for the Q, then yes, that'd be interesting. You just wear glasses which let you see through the lens. But otherwise, doesn't really make sense for the Q. For a yet to be conceived APS-C or FF sensored mirrorless that's different. Ricoh could also be holding out because they want the EVF to be really good, and they haven't seen anything that is, at an acceptable price. Given that the product cycle for Ricoh/Pentax is rather long it might make sense to wait for the right component before having to commit to it for the next 2 years.
Actually, give us that thing with an HDMI input, and clean HDMI on existing and upcoming Pentax cameras. For certain situations I can totally see an EVF that's right in front of the eye at all times being better. You can get any angle, you could be with the model or product and direct/move it around, while seeing what the camera on the tripod sees. Adjust light, everything. No need to adjust, walk to the camera, have a look, adjust again, ... If they make use of the LiveView for THIS on the 645D Mk II that could be a big deal. Actual video recording is more a "well, it's there anyway, might as well offer the option" thing.
The thing is... there are plenty of batshit crazy possibilities these days, that might be interesting and differentiate them. But does Ricoh/Pentax have the balls and the money and the creativity/outside box thinking to do it? They strike me as a rather conservative company, so it'll probably be Sony who will do such mad things (like with their stick on lens with sensor for phones and tablets).