Originally posted by DSims Lot's of inside information or pure speculation?
Because it's awfully hard to believe considering the financial strength of Ricoh.
Mea culpa. Wanted to say "Pentax
was so poor".
However, after the purchase for about 2% of the value of Nikon (consider how poor the company was, yet unrealistic users want it to rival Nikon in FF delivery!), the aim as to
1) integrate the company into the Ricoh first, then
2) optimise the planning, development and manufacturing processes
The result of previous poverty, plus two following steps, have left the FF out of the question for a while. FF can be done, though, but introduced at a competitive price and features only if everything else works well, systems are integrated, there is clear development plan of all camera lines, shared components, etc.
There was also no point introducing the FF before some crucial new technologies come, like the new AF, image processor, metering sensor, so forth. All new tech was prioritised to go into the APS-C line — the K-3 first — and shared between the 645D and the FF.
The FF launch is expected to follow the K-3 launch scenario. Revamped FA limiteds will be introduced, then the new FF body, and at least two new lenses (zooms) with an FF image circle. One of them will go beyond 300mm that was mentioned vaguely in the last interview. Interestingly, little is known about the image stabilisation solution in the new FF.