Originally posted by Digitalis If pentax went mirrorless they would have to shrug off the K mount, and develop a new line of lenses suited to a short flange more appropriate for a mirorless system. Building a flagship FF mirrorless camera but using a flange distance equal to that of an SLR would probably be one of the dumbest things ever done so far in the history of digital photography.
Actually they don't have to. You only need a proprietary adapter or extension tube with the right length to fill the gap ( in this particular case either term means the same k mount to k mount depending on the body you are pairing it with. Works as coupler if used with shorter flange distance camera and extension tube if used with current DSLR ) with or without electronic coupling to make all k lenses work. That's how old lenses are made to work with Sony mirror less and MFT cameras. The length of the adapter filled the gap to meet the lens' flange distance requirement.
It may sound stupid to make a k mount adapter for a body that actually accepts k mount but that's the only practical way to go if you want a thinner body and still use your current lenses rather than create a new line of lenses specifically made for short flange distance body.
Shorter flange distance also means your pentax body will be ready for AR, SR, F, FD, and M39 lenses with corresponding adapters.
Again it may sound stupid creating a body ready for lenses that may compete with your own lenses.
Perhaps yes but then again that's how Sony accidentally caught the attention of Canon, Nikon, and even Pentax users. I believe fitting other brand's lenses was not in their agenda when mirror less camera makers designed their cameras, but the accidental compatibility of other lenses to their camera created a positive effect rather than negative and that is their names were further made known in the market
That's how Sony is silently robbing Nikon and Canon a share of their cake.
IMO Pentax is not yet late for the mirror less race as it has in body SR and more lenses to offer.