IMHO they need a camera that differs. Pentax already does stand out, but it should even more. Pointing out its amateur orientation, take an advantage of its underdog status, introduce unique, not superior (as not trying to compete directly, not by making bad/weird products) products. It does not need to match ****on, it has to make something that ****on does not have to offer at all.
As for now if you take a look at the offer from various companies in similar price-class range, you'd basically get the same cameras with the same prices, with minor differences.
Low end range/entry level. Basic dslr camera with reduced size, some additional features and some limited capabilities for each manufacturer. Same form factor, same image quality, even the same sony sensors. Similar situation with advanced amateur etc. Its not a real camera choice...just a feature choice between same things.
Maybe during the years this has proven to be the most usefull form of camera, and i may be very wrong with my idea. But if you look at film cameras, there was such a variety of camera designs. Still only few have tried producing different type of camera with APS-C sensor, most resulting as expensive experiments. Some kind of manufacturer self-sufficiency, considering the extended design posibilities of digital devices (comparing to film), and many people who use DSLR's just for the APS-C benefits (Quality, dof) and exchangable lenses.
Does removing the mirror box, grip, decreasing registration distance and adding some non TTL or contrast AF adds so much costs.. many artsy people would love to have such a camera always by their side instead of bulky, obtrusive DSLR. Do they make such profit of lenses..? Make K-mount adapter then.
If there was a compact sized (a long the lines of canon's G's or Ricohs GR's), APS-C camera, having a small, decent, bright'ish(<=f2.8) wide-normal prime , having entry level DSLR price (and most controls - dial, hotshoe etc), many would choose it instead, others would buy this as a secondary camera instead of these 1/x" noisy evils to carry all day around.
Btw, anyone knows where can i get any APS-C sensor cheaply and how much it is for those in current DSLRS?
Last edited by ytterbium; 01-07-2009 at 06:12 PM.