Originally posted by cxdoo Actually they do. APS-C lens can be made smaller and take the benefit of not needing to cover full FF circle. Also cheaper.
Given the limited production capacity and the focus on FF now, it's reasonable to say that's happening on expense of APS-C.
They can be, but in reality that is not always the case. Many of the currently available APS-C-lenses have not really been optimized in this respect. Especially when it comes to size. And this is not limited to Pentax lenses by any means. Therefore I donīt think there is that much to lose, as FF lenses continue to provide full functionality for APS-C bodies.
However, the key thing here is that the whole APS-C market is facing increasing pressures. Pentax/Ricoh has a business to run. They need to secure their profitability, expand their user base, and get rid of their current cheap and cheerful image. By opening up a new, hopefully lucrative, product range they can secure the future of the brand, as well as support for their existing product lines. In this case the future of the APS-C product line is certainly brighter than by getting forced into a corner without outlet.
Thatīs the way it goes, the market keeps on changing!