Originally posted by falconeye The discussion about my claim could be endless. I cannot prove it and I may be wrong. So, it is just my opinion I wanted to share.
As for a timeline, I'd say in 5 years from now, Pentax will look very different without adding FF. I didn't say Pentax would die, I said the K mount will. Just like what happened to Olympus and the FourThirds mount. One of the two died.
Indeed, you said the K-mount (I don't see Pentax without the K-mount, that's why) - but this doesn't change anything.
I'm certain Pentax will look very different 5 years from now,
with or without FF. I'm also certain the K-mount would not die because of that. For you to be right in your prediction, the following conditions must be met (in the 5 years period):
- Pentax should not launch a so-called FF camera
- FF cameras should still exist, and DSLRs in general. No dramatic technological breakthrough would occur, e.g. contact with aliens (which would give us better than OVF electronic viewfinders)
- APS-C DSLRs should become non-viable
- as an effect, Pentax should stop making K-mount products
I don't see it happening.
The APS-C only K-mount survived a hostile take-over (followed by cost cutting and downsizing), two natural disasters and a buyout. 5 more years, with Ricoh at the helm - piece of cake.
The 4/3 survived 7 years, but it didn't die because the lack of a FF - Olympus simply miscalculated the sensor size and shape. I believe it's the lack of APS-C that killed it