Originally posted by Robb Lincoln IMHO, going mirrorless doesn't make sense unless you go really big--medium format 6x6 big. this way you greatly reduce the bulk and weight of the body and end up with a camera usable outside the studio. MF users often make do with far fewer lenses then smaller format shooters do, so the need to pump out lots of new glass is reduced to a manageable level. Perhaps Pentax could work out a deal with Fuji or Mamiya to license a few of their lens formulas since they don't have much in their design portfolio that would accommodate the short flange distance.
I partly agree. If Pentax makes a MF MILC, then I think it should start with 645 digital crop and move its way up to larger sensors when the time is ready (sensor prices and availability). The mount should be compatible with at least full frame 645 image circle, maybe all the way up to 67 image circle. In current MF cameras the mirror and view finder system takes up a huge space that may be removed if they choose MILC. I just took a look at
Mamiya 7 II and like the size and shape, bearing in mind the format its using.
With future MF sensors we should expect very high resolution and good results when cropping "digital zooming" more. This will reduce the need for lots of primes with slightly different focal lengths.
Another thing to expect is much smaller wide angle lenses and smaller large aperture normal lenses. Tele lenses may be the same size if cropping to smaller formats is a part of that equation (using the same physical focal length as on a smaller format, cropping get the same field of view). If I had a system like the one I describe I would probably reduce my lens selection to 3 lenses. Ultra wide, normal and tele primes, and I actually expect my photo bag to become much lighter.