Originally posted by monochrome K-7 -> 05/2009
645D -> 12/2010
K-5 09-2012
K-3 -> 10/2015
645z -> 06/2014
It was reported that the K-1 was pushed back a year because the new sensor was available and the 645z was released early.
Prior to that an APS-c flagship was released every 3 years since the introduction of the 645 line up into the product rotation cycle.
With the K-3 released in 2015 (mine was pre-ordered and my first recorded shot is Nov. 2014) , there should be a new APS_c flagship in 2018, unless it was pushed back a year by the 645z and K-1. A four year cycle for that type of camera is way too long.
There's already lots of new tech, especially if the K-1 AF unit can be squeezed in there for more frame coverage by the AF points and definitely the image processing chip employed in th K-70 and K-P needs to be deployed in the flagship.
There have been a lot of improvements in Pentax gear since the K-3. (That makes it particularly infuriating when people compare their old K-7s to some other manufacturers more modern gear and claim its a relevant comparison,) None of them have triggered an early release. The 645z over the D was such a dramatic improvement they couldn't resist. Nothing of that urgency exists in APS-c, at least to my knowledge.
---------- Post added 10-13-17 at 01:23 PM ----------
Originally posted by Rondec Sure. The Canon 5D MK IV has dynamic range of 13.6 at base iso and the K-1 has 14.6 at base iso. That's worth something, but it certainly isn't a huge difference if everything else is the same.
On a day like yesterday when my histogram was running off both ends of the scale, I'll take it just for control. The images may end up looking the same after PP, but that will be my choice, not a limitation of the camera.
I can compromise on features like AF etc. which I rarely even need, to get top quality IQ from the images I do get. A buddy of mine switched from a 5D mk II to a Nikon D810, don't ever tell him the switch isn't worth it. He paid $5000 to switch after selling his Canon gear and he's still over the moon over it. He's a full time craft show vender, not an amateur with an amateur opinion.