Originally posted by Kunzite
No offence, but the people who actually do the job told us the camera will be ready by the end of the year. I would rather believe them, than empty speculation.
Half a year represent about 1/6th of a camera development lifecycle.
none taken, this is all speculation, after all. However I wouldn't say the marketing folks at a trade show are the ones who actually do the job. They are responsible for drumming up interest and hyping up a product. Deadlines come and go, I wouldn't put much stock in it until they actually show a working prototype. The fact that they did NOT show a working prototype causes me to *speculate* that they are not that far in the development cycle yet. Else why wouldn't they show at least a more advanced prototype than a lump of plastic? I'm pretty sure they are NOT afraid of their competitors stealing their trade secrets, seeing where Pentax's market position is. If anything Pentax is *EAGER* to get the news out that they will have a FF in the future.
It's not like this is the first time they showed a FF prototype, right? And that other one was way more than a lump of plastic... So IMO, it's all speculation at this point. If you believe the marketing folks says that you'll be able to get this camera by EOY, that's fine - I am more realistic/pessimistic and based on what they have publicly shown, it sure appears iffy.