[Paul the Sunman]

Sony's stacked CMOS technology appeared first in their pro-level α9 and later in consumer-level cameras. Stacked sensor technology now features in the pro-level sports-focussed Nikon Z9. The lightning fast readout rate makes an electronic shutter (ES) feasible for fast motion subjects, and the Z9 does away with a mechanical shutter entirely.

All this makes sense on mirrorless cameras intended for sports. High burst speeds with continuous vision through the EVF during the burst make it a game changer there.

But does it also make any sense for DSLR cameras still using a mechanical shutter? The burst rate on a DSLR depends on mechanical things as well as read-out speed, so would there be other bottlenecks? As the sole remaining DSLR brand, does Pentax even care about matching those high-end burst speeds?

[UncleVanya]

Pentax/Ricoh isn’t the only remaining DSLR brand but they are the only ones with only DSLR APSC and FF and MF offerings. Nikon and Canon may still release a few bodies. See this article for context:

Is the era of DSLR cameras coming to an end?

[luftfluss]

Yes, eventually.

But who knows if Pentax will utilize the RAM built-in to the sensor in the same way that mirrorless makers currently do. Is it possible Pentax can create some sort of realtime noise reduction?

[UncleVanya]

As for these features in a dslr. Liveview can use them. The KP can do electronic first curtain with OVF from what I read (never tried it) where only the mirror must go up, the shutter is already open.

Perhaps in some way the extreme readout speed can be leveraged with DSLR bodies in these niche areas.

---------- Post added 12-06-21 at 04:07 PM ----------

Yes, eventually.

But who knows if Pentax will utilize the RAM built-in to the sensor in the same way that mirrorless makers currently do. Is it possible Pentax can create some sort of realtime noise reduction?

It certainly means pixel shift would potentially improve. Imagine if all 4 images were taken in 1/1000 s? Movement becomes less of an issue. Frame and focus using ovf, fire using electronic shutter after the mirror flips up, take several shots…

[Paul the Sunman]

Pentax/Ricoh isn’t the only remaining DSLR brand but they are the only ones with only DSLR APSC and FF and MF offerings. Nikon and Canon may still release a few bodies. See this article for context:

Is the era of DSLR cameras coming to an end?

Their answer seems to be "Yes".

---------- Post added 07-12-21 at 08:14 AM ----------

It certainly means pixel shift would potentially improve. Imagine if all 4 images were taken in 1/1000 s? Movement becomes less of an issue. Frame and focus using ovf, fire using electronic shutter after the mirror flips up, take several shots…

That's a good point!

[UncleVanya]

Their answer seems to be "Yes"

Yes I know. But my point wasn’t that DSLR’s are ending but that Nikon and Canon are expected to continue making a few more models as they did in the 2004 timeline with film (F6). That doesn’t mean they’re going to drive massive developments but they will have some interest in sensors etc.

[biz-engineer]

More expensive to make. But why not. Electronic shutter + mirror (for the optical view).