Originally posted by quant2325 There are fewer electronics is a DSLR than a smartphone. The sensor is the big issue. The Pentax model seems to purchase SONY sensors after they hit the market, when the pricing is optimal for Ricoh. Moore's Law is finally slowing down for chips, but not for sensors. Phase One is introducing a 100MP back. For a FF, whatever SONY sensor Pentax has will be easily good enough.
New models often have new sensors, true, and obviously somewhat more expensive than last years sensor. But I guess my question is, how much of the insides of any of the new camera bodies are "new", cutting edge parts or electronics? Probably not as much as they would like us to believe. I'm not being critical of Pentax here. They have been a few months behind the others but have continued to release excellent camera bodies at prices well below what Nikon is asking but often using the same sensor. And despite being much smaller and selling considerably fewer cameras, they have managed to stay in the black. That suggests to me that there is a pretty good profit in DSLR's.
It's pretty clear that overall, the digital camera market has peaked. I'm still very satisfied with my K5 after 4+ years and there's not much that is enticing me to upgrade although the improved low light AF capability of the K3 would be one reason. A few more pixels isn't. I'm waiting for my K5 to break. By then, the FF will be reality and maybe even a new aps-c body too. I'll decide what to buy when that happens. I'm semi-retired now so I can no longer just go out and buy whatever I want. Photography is one of my less expensive activities. I have much more invested in fishing if you include the cost of my kayaks, which I also use for photography BTW. A top of the line fly rod costs more than a Limited lens. Then there is my Harley.......that new Nikon D5 that got announced yesterday wouldn't pay for my chrome. I don't know how many backs Phase One sells but probably not many. At $49K, they don't need to sell many which brings up the biggest factor in pricing. Products sell for what what the buyers are willing to pay for them. A Harley cruiser sells for much more than a Honda Shadow, even though the Honda may arguably be a better bike. Why? Because Harley riders are willing to pay the premium to ride one. The same thing happens in the camera world and Pentax, at least in modern times, is a "value" brand.