Originally posted by wildman But the question was essentially about the future. Logically it's really a stretch to compare a mature technology that goes back to the late 19th century to one that is barely 10 years old.
If I was a CEO of a DSLR company I would worry more about how far EVFs have improved in the last decade rather than pat myself on the back for how good my OVFs are after over a century of development.
My guess is that's exactly what's going on right now at the board meetings of Nikon.
That was the heart of my topic:
Ricoh Pentax is a small company in the decreasing ILC camera business.
They cannot, afford to have too many ILC systems, and they face the fast improving performance of mirrorless systems even in high end pro gear. Even Nikon failed, only Canon is big enough and profitable enough to do so.:
-Hasselblad and Fuji medium frame challenge the 645Z system
-Sony A9/A7 system chalenge the FF DSLR systems
-Sony A6*00, Fuji and M43 challenge the APS-C DSLR systems
-1" fixed lens cameras are challenging the lower tier of M43 system ILC
IMO, the question is not whether Ricoh-Pentax will have to move towards mirrorless to survive in the future.
The question is when and how:
Too early, could ruin them, but being too late to the party too.
A too bold move could mean very few sales for two or three years, yet having to fund high R&D and marketing money to settle the new system.
They always have had a very conservative and slow innovation pace, because they cannot afford boldness like Sony does, and, as Ricoh is restructuring its main business, I dont believe this might be different tomorrow..
That is why I was reckoning whether their first step into mirrorless might be an enthusiast/advanced mirrorless body in K mount, with KAF-4 features (electronic aperture support) but also, like in K1, an aperture lever and screwdrive AF ability to benefit of the whole K mount echosystem, and being able to operate all Pentax glass ever made without adapter.
Mirrorless allows easy manual focusing on legacy glass, thus postponing the urge to develop new lenses.
Some will of course complain that it would not benefit of the smaller size a new flange distance might allow, but for FF cameras the benefit is not so obvious, save in the 35-80mm FL range: wider lenses dont really benefit of a smaller flange distance, as digital sensors require to avoid oblique light incidence, and telephoto lenses need anyway to be long. Also FF ILC adress a different market segment than M43, Fuji APS-C or Sony A6*00.
But what would be decisive is that it would really need less investment, most R&D being focused on on sensor AF performance, and avoiding to cannibalize the K1 and D-FA lenses sales (if Ricoh-Pentax moves to a new mount, K-mount sales would immeditely collapse).
No need for massive advertising, just another FF body in K mount, aimed to compete with the Sony A7* (Sony A9 being in another performance league and price tag, targeted at pro shooters and needing a world wide pro support service).
This new body would generate lots of buzz on the web, thus no need for expensive advertising.
It doesnt need to be cheaper than its A7 competition, and, if Pentax can offer the same performance as the latest A7 models, even at a higher price, it could beat it on WR, ergonomy and handling, which are Pentax main force.
The move towards a new mount could be postponed a few years until Pentax will have sold enough FF Pentax K cameras, both K1 and this new mirrorless which could appeal to both the K-mount users, including K1 owners, and to newcomers, as an alternative body with different features, and of course a much better video experience.
---------- Post added 05-01-17 at 10:31 AM ----------
Originally posted by Tony Belding I tested both the A7 and a K-S2 with manual lenses. Sure, I could get focus in the K-S2, but my speed and confidence with the A7 was far better. And it's simply more pleasant to use that way.
I agree: focusing Pentax MF legacy glass at f1.8/f2 using K3 OVF is a pain, even with an OVF magnifier.
On a M43 body with cheap adaptor MF is as easy and faster than it was in the film era with split screen stigmometer and microprism, and much more precise as you get up to x10 focusing loupe in the EVF, whether full screen or local. And the results are very sharp. Thus I trust it must be even better on A7.