Originally posted by rparmar Fair enough. Maybe I can make my point a little clearer. It's all about being pragmatic and playing to the Pentax strengths, which I see as being compact high quality primes, excellent ergonomics and weather-sealing at a reasonable price point. If you want the biggest system, best pro support, longest glass, fastest AF, highest resolution, etc. then you should be looking elsewhere... and paying the appropriate price.
What many of us have been calling for is a smallish-form FF body with WS to shoot the already-small FA Limiteds and some new optional lenses. This stays with what many see as Pentax's strengths. Also, whatever Pentax does in FF doesn't make their small/rugged/WS strength in aps-c go away.
Quote: Likewise it is obviously not a Pentax strength to produce the fastest lenses, because they've released only one faster than f/2 in the digital era (IIRC). Now, one can rail against this reality, but I prefer they stick to their strengths. Otherwise the brand will disappear in short order.
Was this really a strength, or just a
choice made from necessity and lack of resources? Additinal K-mount funding from Ricoh could mean slower/smaller DA lenses
plus faster, slightly larger FA-style lenses - for both FF and aps-c shooters.
Quote: Well, me too, but I am also struggling to get shots in focus. Faster than f/2 and the law of diminishing returns sets in, since the technology in place cannot accurately focus at wider apertures than that. Everyone knows the Pentax fast 50s that top out at f/1.8 are better than those that go to f/1.4. The nicest rendering of the bunch is the FA43 Limited. And the sharpest 50mm is the slowest.
Not sure what the point is there actually or how that ties in. FF allows you to shoot an uncompromised f/2.8 lens for example and enjoy the DOF you'd see at f/1.8 on aps-c. The superb FA 43ltd doesn't become any more compromised on FF, yet it becomes equivalent to a 29mm f/1.2 lens with respect to FOV/DOF. You may not want to shoot it wide-open, but that f/1.2 equiv would be available to you if you did.
Quote: Oh yes, I own two f/1.2 lenses, because I do like experimenting. But my argument in this thread has little to do with my own preferences, only what I think is wisest for the company. Perhaps that was not obvious.
For me, it's both, honestly. I think it's going to be even harder to compete at the aps-c price/performance tier than it has been in years past. If Pentax mostly lives there, without a strengthened K-mount, we may be in trouble. IMO.
Quote: By the way, I deny the claim that you need faster than f/2 for subject isolation.
Depends on the situation and what you're going for.
Quote: Likewise you don't need faster than f/2 for shutter speed, now that high ISOs are commonplace.
I often do. You may not for what you shoot, but I like having a lot of stops available in my options bag, gained from aperture and/or ISO.
Quote: I have stated very clearly I would love a full frame or medium format camera. I have never once argued against 35mm as a superior medium to APS-C. But since I cannot even afford a K-5 I'd be presumptuous to call for a camera I can afford even less! Yet certain forum posters expect Pentax to bankrupt themselves delivering hardware they'd never actually buy. Whether that's a $4K full-frame or a 600mm lens.
The single best argument against FF is the cost, even more than the size, IMO. You'll get no argument from me there, it's fun to shoot, not fun to pay for
Quote: So this begs the question: What's wrong with your D700?
It doesn't mount the FA Limiteds.
(only half kidding.) EDIT: someone beat me to it.
Seriously though, I would have rather bought a Pentax FF if it even came close to matching up. It also represents to me yet another missed opportunity for Pentax, a continuation of a kind of
lack of institutional will that's led to Canon/Nikon surging ahead of them in the past 30 years.
Canon and Nikon hold no magic, they've just invested more and took more risks over the years. Now maybe Ricoh can really bring Pentax fully back to the table. My hope.
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