Originally posted by ben-pentax What *I* want to see in the K1iii is the end of SAFOX. PDAF is s dead end. Sensor based detection is the future.
And we already has the start of this in the rgb sensor and the way it is used for af assistance in the K3iii.
Time to move forward, discard PDAF and do something like CANON's Dual Pixel AF, based on an improved rgb sensor.
This way we will also get a brighter viewfinder since no light needs to be transmitted to the PDAF system without a need for a K3iii type prism. The whole PDAF mechanism will be gone - size and cost savings. And more.
That's the main thing in my opinion.
Ofcourse a new sensor - no need for a huge jump in resolution, just a current one with a future.
And ofcourse the K3iii new hardware.
And hopefully faster cards.
But mainly, let's move the AF system to the future.
There is no tech that would allow for on-sensor AF with enough af point coverage and mirror. You would need some ultra-funky glass material and really sensitive AF points to keep mirror and get AF on sensor with speed and accuracy of PDAF. Of course it would be great to get on-sensor AF while retaining mirror, but I doubt it will ever happen. Maybe when Pentax still had enough money to do funky stuff and camera sales soared through the sky, but not now.
Well, I suppose you could use other wavelengths from outside of visible spectrum that are not absorbed by glass, but you will need an emiter for this, new sensor and software - nope. And on the other hand I doubt it is possible to get PDAF on mirror though that would be funky
As for K-1 Mk III while I am not sure I will ever be a customer, I think we will see up-scaled, maybe a bit reduced (no new pentaprism) version of K-3 Mk III. Same AF system, same image processor, 40-60 Mpx sensor, same software as K-3 Mk III. Probably new body to accommodate same design philosophy as K-3 Mk III with enhanced ergonomics, maybe moon-lander v.2. I do not think it will be revolutionary camera.
If there is another revolution in Pentax I think it will be K-3 Mk IV, and then K-1 Mk IV will get tested and improved maybe tech from smaller brother and cycle will continue.