Originally posted by Digitalis 
Because the sensor design is at least partially owned by Phase one, and I doubt they are going to just allow one of their competitors to use the same sensor in a camera worth only a fraction of theirs. Even if pentax took a loss on each body sold and put the entire cost of the camera, how many would buy it?
How can you be so sure? Sony developed and produced several different 36 Mp FF sensors, at least one of them in collaboration with Nikon. Still, they may sell varieties of the same sensor to other brands.
645Z is a huge success for Pentax (/Ricoh) both in terms of sold cameras, profits and market share. Do you really think it isn't a market for two different 645 models at the same time? Just like there is market for APS-C and FF at the same time, I think its a market for both crop 645 and full frame 645 at the same time. Sharing the same mount there is an upgrade path, important for marketing psychology and after sales. A cropped wide angle lens wont be a show stopper.
My guess is that a FF 645 will come out within two years, at about 15 000 $, and that a 645Z replacement (around 8 000 $) will come out within three years.
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