Originally posted by Winder The question is: Is the market for FF big enough for Pentax to join in and turn a profit. Pentax might be better served to develop the 645D system and get the price of the body down to $6,000 or $7,000.
Of course the market is big enough; the key is to realize that the market for Pentax FF isn't the same market as C/N/S. If Pentax chose to sell 100,000 units of a FF body, I bet only 10 would be picked up by full time pro C/N/S shooters.
And while I love the idea of a cheaper 645D, that's a whole 'lotta mirror to slap around at anything faster than it does already, so frame rates are going to suck. And probably no video capability, so no carving out a 5Dii /1Dx/C300 style pro video niche.
What does all this mean to me, and my purchasing?
Pentax, by being handed around like a $2 whore, has basically screwed itself by splitting it's own market:
Full-Frame-Noser: "I should wait till early 2012, because I think Pentax will release a FF body".
MF-Noser: "I said I'd buy the 645D when it came out, but it's performance is soooo last year, I should wait for the 645D-jr in stormtrooper white."
Full-Frame-Noser: "Hmm.... that big sensor of a 645D is really appealing, even if they release a FF, maybe I should wait till they release the next 645, so I can compare."
MF-Noser: "Boy, $8k is really a lot to pay. If the next 645 is only $6k, well, that's the same as a pro-spec FF, but FF will have a faster frame rate, and maybe some extra toys like video.... hmmm..."
Full-Frame Noser: "I'm confused."
MF-Noser: "Me too."
Full Frame Noser: "The D800 sure looks nice."
MF-Noser: "But the 1Dx is soooo fasssst."
Noser: "Sigh. I guess I'll keep shooting the K20D."