Originally posted by IchabodCrane Do we know the K-S2 isn't the K-50 replacement? It can be even though they may sell both side-by-side for a finite time. If we look at the K-50 and the plethora of colors it's available in, that mid-range offering starts to look more and more like the "something different" category Ricoh explained the "S" line represents. K-50 in colors is already quite visually different than the Rebel and D3xxx/D5xxx lineups. The K-S2 might just be the next logical progression of their thinking.
Hmm... possible. But the way they have said it (or so I imagine) anything goes in the S line. So using that for the midrange models is a bit... weird. I was thinking S is special for Pentax... otherwise any Pentax could be called that, if you take other brands as a reference point.
You are more optimistic than I am, monochrome, but I am heading that direction. Still, it would be nice for Pentax to have a) brand recognition (I'm thinking ads and other things that aim to build awareness of the brand and of it's long history) and b) to have cameras in store and salesmen nudging potential buyers into trying them.
Better AF sounds like a given, since Pentax does have that tech, and how would they profit from limiting this camera? Not having a display on top is enough for me to not be interested in buying it.
@Steve: Why not a touchscreen? It can be useful at times... but all functions should also be accessible through buttons.
@RGlasel: Who says mirrorless can't be reasonably sized and well balanced? Just look at cameras like the GH4 or the NX1. Relatively compact, but not excessively so. However the overall package can be more compact and lighter. What you see in an OVF has no relation to what you'll get, while EVFs give you a much more accurate view of what you'll be getting... plus a bit wiggle room (think <100% OVFs... what it showed was guaranteed to end up on the photo, and you'd get a bit more). And don't forget the tech is improving. My HTC from 6 years ago had a 480x320 screen, and that was as good as it got. My Xiaomi from 1-2 years ago has a 1920x1080 screen. Before that I had a Samsung with a 1280x720 screen with a big dynamic range, inky blacks, ... and there are much better screens out there already. The lag has been reduced to something like 5 ms for the Samsung NX1, so that's also getting really close to an OVF. Plus for APS-C sized cameras there is simply a limit on size and brightness, and we have reached that (unless fancy mirror tech makes way into the camera, that can adjust the transparency). EVFs can be bigger, brighter at low light (depending on the sensor), have different aids to judge focus, exposure etc., ... Don't count the tech out on the basis of what we have had so far.