Originally posted by Nicolas06 All is relative.
- The processing power and advenced electronics included in a smartphone is much more advenced than in any camera. Even the a cheap smartphone beat the most advenced mirrorless here. In particular for the price. Electronics doesn't hold its value.
- DSLR have great autonomy this is because they consume less power and can have bigger batteries because they are bigger. This is not a problem for such devices.
- A7 & NX series camera are even more niche than Pentax. What sell mirorless are m4/3 or Sony APSC mirorless.
- Samsung sensor in NX was no better despite being BSI. It didn't shine.
- Sony concentrate on sensor and miss the point to get great ergonomics. When the most basic camera out there more than fit the bill and a 400€ APSC has already a 24MP that does lot of FPS, great video (with a video lens) and perform well at high iso, electronics might not be the primary factor for a great camera anymore.
I disagree. To reply to your points:
1. If electronics does not hold its value and is replaced every half year Pentax better should be on the forefront to remain competitive.
2. DSLRs also are heavier. And electronics has a lot of headroom. Have you ever seen the internals of an iPad? There is about 10% chips the rest is battery. There may be quite some space to use for larger batteries in mirrorless cams.
3. Reportedly, Sony is giving up APS-C and developing a cheap entry FF mirrorless. Should Pentax reply with an APS-C DSLR to be competitive price-wise?
4. Not better, but neither was it worse than the best on the market. Plus the NX can fire at 15 fps, has excellent 4K etc. Any competitors?
5. Yes, Sony focused on the sensor and somewhat missed on the usability and the system. Samsung did not miss on the usability but on the system. Nikon won't on either. Concerning the price: when an APS-C DSLR for 400 € will be great in the near future you will probably get the same specs in a mirrorless for 200 €. Why? Because it has only about 125 screws compared with 300+ in an DSLR. Especially in the low cost entry models the price will rule - and there is little hope DSLR designs will proof competitive here, e.g., they will need a PDAF system while the mirrorless will just make use of its sensor. In expensive cameras this might not be important but in entry models with low margins it will be crucial.
---------- Post added 12-03-2015 at 01:41 AM ----------
Originally posted by Pål Jensen But electronics is a commodity. Almost no one who makes products containing lots of electronics makes the circuitry and parts themselves. Chip and parts manufacturers seek customers and are rarely involved in the end product.
But you will need cutting edge technology to remain competitive. Sony has it all in their own company: EVF, sensor, memory etc. Pentax and Nikon already have to wait for half a year to use the 42 MP sensor. What will be in the future? The market is concentrating. How many manufacturers of the electronic parts will stay in the game when the big three decide to use just their own resources? The big ones may not need third party chips and electronics anymore. Pentax will.