Originally posted by juu Which recently released lenses besides the 100mm DFA macro cover FF?
One of the advantages of mirrorless is smaller size for lenses and bodies due to smaller distance between lens and sensor - however that requires a new mount (or adapters which usually limit functionality). So they may still have to support 4 lens lines to take full advantage of mirrorless even if they do it as FF.
So even if their recent lenses have been FF that wouldn't make a mirrorless FF that much more likely.
OTOH there are no mirrorless FF mounts/systems out there and being the first there would be a real differentiator, if successful.
My understanding is that the DA*55 and DA*60-250 cover the 35mm frame, and I'd be quite surprised if the 200 and 300 mm lenses don't cover the 35mm frame as well.
Regarding the advantage of small size for a mirrorless system, this advantage is there because the present mirrorless cameras are small sensor cameras. As sensors get larger, it makes less and less sense to design a short flange to focal plane distance. The present K mount flange to focal plane distance is close to ideal for a 35mm film sized camera, no matter what the capture medium is.
It isn't ideal for APS-c, which would ideally have a flange distance of ~30mm.
All this still doesn't address the very real fact that the electronic viewfinders of mirrorless cameras suck at the present level of technology, and are, inexplicably, more expensive than SLR cameras, if I am not mistaken.
We are in agreement that a mirrorless full frame camera likely isn't going to happen, at least not until electronic viewfinders improve to the point of usability.
The advantage of the EV is that it can be made larger than that of a small sensor SLR finder, which seem to be tied to the size of the capture medium.
Pentax has not been at the forefront of the technology game for a very long time. The last big gamble they took (the 6mp full frame DSLR) is probably the one that cost them to the point they had to sell the company.
Electronic viewfinders may be inevitable, but I expect Pentax won't make one until the technology has matured to the point they are both better and economically more viable than a conventional SLR viewfinder.
This may well mean they never release one, as I have doubts about EV's ever improving to the point they are better than full frame SLR viewfinders. I truly believe that if they want to stay in the SLR game, they will have to offer up a full frame camera at some point, and I think sooner rather than later is what is needed.
What confuses the thing for me is the 645 digital. It has very little market appeal. If it is compatible with older 645 lenses, there will perhaps be a steady market for bodies, but they aren't going to fill their bank account off this camera.
However, they seem to be going ahead with it, and will have to make a few lenses available for it.
There is a possibility that they could get away with skipping the 135 format and calling the 645 their big gun digital flagship.
Historically, they survived for a very long time by selling consumer grade 35mm cameras and treating the professional market as medium format.
Staying with APS-C and offering the 645 digital would mirror what worked for them in the past.
I am surprised that the I-10 (?) isn't an electronic viewfinder camera. It's a catchy looking camera, and the fake hump is probably empty, so could hold the required doodads.
It would have been a very good vehicle as a first foray into the EVF market.
As it is, it is a bit of Pentax nostalgia that may or may not be cute enough to keep alive.