Originally posted by davidsladek Of course one cannot expect consumer level pricing on such products, but if Pentax or whomever would be the only player in the class/size, assuming they have a good product, they can charge as much as they feel is reasonable and not worry about competition so much... but, hey, we're in a hypothetical dreamland here anyway
Pentax wouldn't be the only player: Hasselblad and Phase One are still there, with a range of more modern lenses and all the services required by the professional photographers who can afford to buy or rent such cameras. There aren't many of them since they have to be able to charge their own clients accordingly.
The market for cameras above $15,000 is very tiny (a couple of thousand cameras or digital backs per year) and the players have to propose lenses and services on par with their cameras.
On the other hand, the clientele of wealthy amateurs has been captured by Fujifilm and Hasselblad with their mirrorless offering.
What remains to Ricoh Imaging is Pentaxians and people interested in a low-cost entry into medium format territory. This clientele does not overlap with that of expensive full-size 645 cameras.