Originally posted by boriscleto
Pentax got a late start on the DSLR market. Nikon introduced the first affordable DSLR in 1999, before that you only had Kodak converted Nikon bodies that retailed for tens of thousands of dollars. Pentax didn't have a DSLR until 2003 a year after Nikon introduced the D100 and three years after Canon introduced the EOS D30.
That's right. Unfortunately Pentax got off to a false start. They developed a full frame 6MP camera early on (2001), the MZ-D using a 6 MP sensor from Philips. Contax did the same. The sensor never worked well, and Pentax abandoned the camera before it hit the market. Contax did bring their camera out with said sensor, and that broke that company.
Pentax regrouped and came out with the *ist D wirh a 6 MP APS-C sensor. That body actually has room for a full-frame sensor but over the course of the next years Pentax decided to focus on APS-C and at a point even declared that they had no intention of producing a full frame becasue they APS-C would be capable of plenty of image quality. That was an unwise decision and now they are again playing catch up.
Press release form 2001:
PENTAX PREVIEWS A NEW PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL AUTOFOCUS SLR
CAMERA
DENVER, Colorado (February 10, 2001) . . . PENTAX Corporation will preview a new digital
autofocus SLR camera (which has not yet been named) at the PMA (Photo Marketing Association)
Show held in Orlando, February 11-14, 2001. The addition of this advanced digital SLR camera
complements one of the most extensive photographic lines of any manufacturer in the industry
including 35mm, APS, medium format and digital for various levels of photographers.
Created along the same developmental concept lines as the new PENTAX MZ-S professional 35mm
autofocus SLR camera, this high-end digital SLR will feature a 35mm-film-sized, six megapixel CCD
image sensor as well as a DSP and other digital processing components. This package was jointly
developed with Philips Electronics in order to realize high-grade image quality, top-level
performance and compact dimensions simultaneously. Offering compatibility with the existing
PENTAX KAF2 lens mount, it will also accept PENTAX 645-system and 67-system interchangeable
lenses (when used with an adapter). This high-performance digital autofocus SLR camera will be
ideal for advanced amateurs and professionals who demand top quality images and SLR
maneuverability.
The camera will be compatible with four new accessories introduced for the new MZ-S 35mm SLR
camera including: 1.) BG-10 Battery Grip, 2.) CS-105 & CS-130 Cable Switches, 3.) TS-110 Release
Timer Switch, and the 4.) AF360FGZ Dedicated Flash Unit. The final product specifications, pricing
and marketing dates will be announced at a later time.
The attached images are borrowed from dpreview.