[rawr]

I note that 6-7 October is also the PIX 2015 Photo Show in Seattle being promoted by DPReview.

It's funny that the sponsors of that show (Sony/Samsung/Canon/Nikon/Fujifilm) include almost every camera maker - except Pentax. Yet given the timing of the show, the Pentax FF launch will probably be a big news item there.

[clackers]

I cant hide nothing, a Red K30 against a Black camera is too evident

You need to budget $3000 for the camera, and another $10 for the spray can of red paint and masking tape. ☺

[mee]

I note that 6-7 October is also the PIX 2015 Photo Show in Seattle being promoted by DPReview.

It's funny that the sponsors of that show (Sony/Samsung/Canon/Nikon/Fujifilm) include almost every camera maker - except Pentax. Yet given the timing of the show, the Pentax FF launch will probably be a big news item there.

Very amusing. It should prove interesting if Ricoh release this then how DPR respond to it.

[normhead]

There's pretty good odds. based on the response to the K-3 (sold out in pre-order, a couple of months to get one on the shelves) the 645z (sold out in pre-order and almost a two month wait for new ones, twice as many sold in the first 4 months as the expected production run) I think the FF when announced will be the third major Pentax release on the last 18 months to sell out in per-order and have a back log of at least a month. While Pentax might care how DPR responds to it, in an intellectual kind of way, I doubt that's even in their thoughts. They already know, if they come out with a good product at a reasonable price, pentaxians will snap them up. Anyone waiting for a DPR statement is likely to be well back in the line when the pre-orders start shipping. At least that's how it was with the K-3 and 645z.

[mattt]

I cant believe that the hopefuls here have not set up a little "pay yerself" savings plan to redirect a small sum on a biweekly basis. I'll be paying cash when it finally lands and Mrs. Mattt will be none the wiser.

[virusn3t]

You need to budget $3000 for the camera, and another $10 for the spray can of red paint and masking tape. ☺

Sadly, im a broad brush painter and no a good one XD

[mee]

There's pretty good odds. based on the response to the K-3 (sold out in pre-order, a couple of months to get one on the shelves) the 645z (sold out in pre-order and almost a two month wait for new ones, twice as many sold in the first 4 months as the expected production run) I think the FF when announced will be the third major Pentax release on the last 18 months to sell out in per-order and have a back log of at least a month. While Pentax might care how DPR responds to it, in an intellectual kind of way, I doubt that's even in their thoughts. They already know, if they come out with a good product at a reasonable price, pentaxians will snap them up. Anyone waiting for a DPR statement is likely to be well back in the line when the pre-orders start shipping. At least that's how it was with the K-3 and 645z.

Oh I doubt they care much at all. Otherwise they'd be bankrolling DPR.

But my post was just about me personally being amused by the potential situation. I await almost as much to see their reaction than I am just to see the camera itself.

That said, DPR was instrumental in me buying a K-x when I was a beginner lost in the DSLR jungle. They gave a nice review to it way back when they were less partisan. Otherwise, I'd have went with Nikon.

[Matthew Saville]

I have been wondering and searching for a long time: did anybody do even a the draft of a study to prove the harmlessness of using EVFs?

For years, we've been told to stay a good distance from screen to avoid eye fatigue/damage, and now some people put theirs against LCD screens...

What I can tell you is, it sure does hurt my eyes to have to look at an LCD display or EVF in the dark. Trying to go from night vision to squinting into a brightly lit hole is indeed painful after just a few minutes... :-(

In broad daylight it doesn't hurt, but I don't know if there may be any long-term effects. I just know that I stare at computer screens enough in my daily life, and this is just another that I'd rather avoid if I can.

---------- Post added 08-25-15 at 05:45 PM ----------

.......For similar quality/performance you will have similar size and cost between these models -- particularly once you factor in your lens, which is going to be pretty similar in size for a given sensor size and maximum aperture.....

Yup, I have this directly from the horse's mouth. I mean directly from Sony. Something along the lines of "with the high-end features we want to add to our system, (IBIS, quality EVF, 4K video in-camera...) we aren't competing on size, weight, or price. We're competing on features, and simply making better cameras / lenses, period..."

---------- Post added 08-25-15 at 05:47 PM ----------

Agree... it's really hard to give up a good EVF and certainly it will be even better (larger) on the FF camera. I suppose the holy grail would be on-sensor AF while maintaining viewing through an EVF. Maybe this variable transmission mirror is the key???

This would indeed be a holy grail. On-sensor phase-detect and contrast-detect AF, with focus point spread that can't be achieved by traditional off-sensor phase-detect AF.

Either that, or, Nikon is alleged to be working on some 100+ point AF system, but no word yet on if it is on-sensor or off-sensor.

We'll just have to see what the next generation of AF technology holds, and hope that Pentax can catch the wave early on.

---------- Post added 08-25-15 at 05:56 PM ----------

Great news indeed !!!
And i don't see why Sony's last sensor would not be in the feast !

The Nikon D810 or D810 A sensor is a venerable beast; I would put more emphasis on the high ISO performance and dynamic range, than the exact number of megapixels. Although one sensor is BSI and the other is not, both do seem to achieve incredible quality. The D810 sensor does achieve greater dynamic range and roughly equal high ISO performance, though.

But I suspect this will take us back to the "why create a 'me too!' camera?" discussion we had earlier. Personally I don't think Pentax could go wrong with 24, 36, or 42 megapixel iterations at this time, as long as they balance its shooting speed and image quality accordingly. (Meaning, if it's "only" 24 MP, then they could give it 8 FPS and make a real Nikon D750 / 5D3 killer. Or if it's 36 MP, they could match high ISO and DR of the D810, but offer it for $1K less. Or if it's 42 MP, well, then it gets to ride the wave of rave reviews that the A7R II sensor is getting...)

---------- Post added 08-25-15 at 06:01 PM ----------

next: FF will get old sony sensor

then: Pentax is doomed.

Sony bodies themselves are no holy grail yet; and even a 2-3 generation old Sony sensor is still far ahead of a Canon sensor in some ways. Considering Sony's body ergonomics and general body performance / likability are still not a grand slam, I think Pentax could do quite well even if they're "only" allowed to have a D810 generation sensor at this time. Pentax does many things with its bodies that Sony (nor Nikon / Canon, for that matter) do, and will still appeal to plenty of folks.

=Matt=

---------- Post added 08-25-15 at 06:11 PM ----------

Oh I doubt they care much at all. Otherwise they'd be bankrolling DPR.

But my post was just about me personally being amused by the potential situation. I await almost as much to see their reaction than I am just to see the camera itself.

That said, DPR was instrumental in me buying a K-x when I was a beginner lost in the DSLR jungle. They gave a nice review to it way back when they were less partisan. Otherwise, I'd have went with Nikon.

DPReview has always given Pentax as much credit as they can, considering the amazing feature set they (Pentax) have put into even their beginner camera bodies. Back when Canon and Nikon were on "autopilot" with their beginner DSLRs that offered very little, Pentax was offering weather sealing and all cross-type AF points, and some other things I believe.

All in all I think the achilles heel for DPR and Pentax has been autofocus performance. When a camera like the K-3 offers everything it does, and basically trounces the Canon 7D 2 and Nikon D7100 / D7200 in every way except autofocus, it's a difficult decision to rate a camera one way or another.

One thing I can promise, that my own SLR Lounge review of a full-frame Pentax will be as fair and unbiased as possible. I've said a few times already, I'm more excited about what Pentax is doing right now, than Sony or Nikon or Canon or Fuji. And I say that as someone who has access to all of those systems for testing and reviewing, and to some extent the ability to buy into whichever system I choose.

We'll see what the future holds! I hope to have enough $$$ to be one of the first pre-orders of the FF Pentax, if it offers what I'd like to see.

=Matt=

[VoiceOfReason]

I already have a certain amount set aside for it.

[monochrome]

I had a large cash kitty in my PayPal account but I keep buying the stuff everyone else is selling to raise cash so they can buy the FF, so now I have a small cash kitty in my PayPal account.

[Winder]

based on the response to the K-3 (sold out in pre-order, a couple of months to get one on the shelves)

In Canada maybe. I ordered by from B&H the day it was released (no pre-order) and had it over-nighted. I had my K-3 before people who did pre-order, but paid for regular for free shipping. We had no problem getting K-3 bodies here in the states.

I expect the FF Pentax will get a lot of press, but there will be a lot of people wait for reviews at this point. Ricoh had better knock it out of the park. The D750 is a great camera and pretty cheap. The A7 line up is selling very, very well.

[boriscleto]

I had a large cash kitty in my PayPal account but I keep buying the stuff everyone else is selling to raise cash so they can buy the FF, so now I have a small cash kitty in my PayPal account.

I bet if a Hollywood comes along you will have no cash kitty in your PayPal account

[monochrome]

I bet if a Hollywood comes along you will have no cash kitty in your PayPal account

If only.

[noelpolar]

I had a large cash kitty in my PayPal account but I keep buying the stuff everyone else is selling to raise cash so they can buy the FF, so now I have a small cash kitty in my PayPal account.

Since setting aside some cash for possibly a FF I've bought a K30/2.8, K50/1.2 & a K85/1.8.... then sent them all for the Dcshooter treatment! Resistance is futile.....

[Jean Poitiers]

Since setting aside some cash for possibly a FF I've bought a K30/2.8, K50/1.2 & a K85/1.8.... then sent them all for the Dcshooter treatment! Resistance is futile.....

Ooooh, nice ! Please post them when they return home after their treatment ...