Thought for future Pentax DSLRs

Photomy · 11-06-2009, 09:36 AM

Originally posted by knoxploration

Who's to say they can't fit an FF sensor in the current body size? That said, who's to say they actually want to? Full frame brings advantages in some areas, but it also brings disadvantages in others.

Certainly, I don't think they're foolish to focus on providing a compact, near-pro grade body. It's something nobody else is really offering, and it pays to differentiate. I'm quite sure it has attracted new customers for Pentax - and I should know, I'm one of them. The size and weight of the K-7 body relative to other mag-alloy weatherproof DSLRs was a major selling point for me.

Now they just need to keep improving the AF speed (and keep accuracy) to within a hair of Nikon D300s or D700 and more pros will consider the K7. This might involve revamping the SDM system, not sure.

Marc Sabatella · 11-06-2009, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by sebberry

I think they're a fool for not offering a larger body that could be used for both a FF and APS-C sized sensor.

Do you think they've somehow forgotten how to make the K20D body?

**Lowell Goudge** · 11-06-2009, 10:59 AM

Originally posted by sebberry

It seems as tho Pentax is aggressively pursuing the average consumer with their new DSLR cameras. They're small, lightweight and appeal to a broader audience than bigger bodies. Even the flagship K7 is a small camera in comparison to the K20D and mid range Canikons.

I call this the "M Disease" as they went through the make it small phase with the M series film bodies also

Quote:

Two thoughts:

Does having a full lineup of these smaller bodies turn off pro and semi-pro photographers who would rather shoot with something that doesn't seem targeted primarily at consumers?

many many pro's shoot multiple bodies with canikons and many of the back-ups etc are also consumer bodies. Today as then, depending on need, they will shoot with anything they have

Quote:

Would Pentax benifit from having a "classic" DSLR camera design like the older film SLR bodies in their line up? That could appeal to photography veterans who are used to the older bodies.

by "classic" do you mean big, and the K10/K20 is therefore a pro body because it is big, and the K7 a consumer body because it is small? Regardless of the fact that the K7 blows the K10 away?

I think the issue of pro vs consumer has more to do with a few other things.

Nikon has a flash system that is second to none, even canon, and both have more pro lenses in the line up. what is the point of pro bodies with the limited range of lenses available? Lenses are first and foremost, because they span many many generations of bodies.

**janosh** · 11-06-2009, 11:39 AM

The metal cladding on K7 is nothing more than decoration, like a fake leopardskin...that's cool, takes all kinds...but P should continue to offer the undecorated, more rugged K10/20D body (no metal skin to make noise and dent)..improved operationally for more professional use with simplified Leica-like knobs rather than scrolling readouts.

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11-06-2009, 09:36 AM	#16
Photomy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 174	Originally posted by knoxploration Who's to say they can't fit an FF sensor in the current body size? That said, who's to say they actually want to? Full frame brings advantages in some areas, but it also brings disadvantages in others. Certainly, I don't think they're foolish to focus on providing a compact, near-pro grade body. It's something nobody else is really offering, and it pays to differentiate. I'm quite sure it has attracted new customers for Pentax - and I should know, I'm one of them. The size and weight of the K-7 body relative to other mag-alloy weatherproof DSLRs was a major selling point for me. Now they just need to keep improving the AF speed (and keep accuracy) to within a hair of Nikon D300s or D700 and more pros will consider the K7. This might involve revamping the SDM system, not sure.

11-06-2009, 10:38 AM	#17
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by sebberry I think they're a fool for not offering a larger body that could be used for both a FF and APS-C sized sensor. Do you think they've somehow forgotten how to make the K20D body?

11-06-2009, 10:59 AM	#18
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,887	Originally posted by sebberry It seems as tho Pentax is aggressively pursuing the average consumer with their new DSLR cameras. They're small, lightweight and appeal to a broader audience than bigger bodies. Even the flagship K7 is a small camera in comparison to the K20D and mid range Canikons. I call this the "M Disease" as they went through the make it small phase with the M series film bodies also Quote: Two thoughts: Does having a full lineup of these smaller bodies turn off pro and semi-pro photographers who would rather shoot with something that doesn't seem targeted primarily at consumers? many many pro's shoot multiple bodies with canikons and many of the back-ups etc are also consumer bodies. Today as then, depending on need, they will shoot with anything they have Quote: Would Pentax benifit from having a "classic" DSLR camera design like the older film SLR bodies in their line up? That could appeal to photography veterans who are used to the older bodies. by "classic" do you mean big, and the K10/K20 is therefore a pro body because it is big, and the K7 a consumer body because it is small? Regardless of the fact that the K7 blows the K10 away? I think the issue of pro vs consumer has more to do with a few other things. Nikon has a flash system that is second to none, even canon, and both have more pro lenses in the line up. what is the point of pro bodies with the limited range of lenses available? Lenses are first and foremost, because they span many many generations of bodies.

11-06-2009, 11:39 AM	#19
janosh Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 243	The metal cladding on K7 is nothing more than decoration, like a fake leopardskin...that's cool, takes all kinds...but P should continue to offer the undecorated, more rugged K10/20D body (no metal skin to make noise and dent)..improved operationally for more professional use with simplified Leica-like knobs rather than scrolling readouts.