Originally posted by mikesbike I have noticed some of both Nikon and Canon FF DSLR models are now quite dated and not moving off shelves at BH, while they have been replaced as newer, updated models have been more recently developed. The Pentax FF K-1 II appears to have been doing ok, offering upper-level high resolution, low noise performance with excellent image quality, top-level build quality, and a wealth of features at a very good price point. It seems Canon, Nikon, and definitely Sony have been slowing down as to FF DSLR advancement. Might this bode well for Pentax? Looking at the newer BSI sensors available, I am curious as to how their resulting improved low noise might be even better if combined with the Pentax accelerator.
As Pentax has been releasing new FF lenses, and with more on the horizon, it seems they have no intention of abandoning FF DSLR development. Thoughts on this?
I think Nikon is still supporting DSLR and also trying to build the mirrorless line to compete with Sony and Canon. The D780 was just released and the D850 and 500 are still very competent cameras.
As for the Z line not selling like crazy, I think that's more a function of anyone with a D750 or D810 and up probably sees no reason to upgrade as those body's still work great and the newer sensors don't really offer any quantum leaps anywhere in DR or ISO. The AF systems on those older cameras are still great and you don't really need more. Sony also was in early and got most of the mirrorless users who really wanted it when they had no FF competition.
Really the camera industry is dealing with smartphones eating up all the casual customers with Iphones working pretty well in low light now. On the other side they're dealing with people probably not updating body's or lenses for a very long time as the sensor tech has kinda plateaud in the DR and ISO improvements once we got to the 16/24mp sony sensors about 5-7 years ago. A little more DR or smidge more ISO isn't enough anymore to get someones wallet open for 2k.
I cannot see a reason to upgrade from my D750 to a Z line honestly. The sensors nearly the same and the AF is really good. Why would I swap it out? I have an EM10 ii mirrorless (mostly to give mirrorless a shot and own a M43 camera). Really mirrorless is kinda gimmicky to me, it's just liveview in the viewfinder. I find the Fuji X100 series with the dual optical/EVF setup way more attractive.
As for updating my K-3? Pentax would need a giant leap to something like Nikon D500 performance to get me to bite. That AF had better be quantum leaps better.
I think Optical will stick around with people used to it. Anyone coming from phones will probably prefer EVF in the future though as that's what they learned with. A bunch of us started on film cameras with optical so we're pretty used to setting exposure and using the EV meter.
I think the major gains are in using the image merging techniques with AI algorithms that smartphones use to take another leap in performance out of the larger sensors like with what they've done with those tiny cell phone sensors. That and much more streamlined image sharing from the camera. Take all the fuss out of that.