Originally posted by surfar Ricoh has to make a move or risk getting left further behind.
The people asking for Apsc wont hang around forever!Espescially with what the other companies have unveiled or are about to unveil.
Honestly, I think you underestimate the amount of loyalty towards the brand, and general satisfaction with the products.
Are a few people frustrated by the lack of a K-3II replacement? Yes, undoubtedly. In fact, we'd all like to see some progress in that area. But those who are ready to jump ship over the wait probably weren't all that likely to stay with Pentax in the long term anyway, IMHO. A good portion of those that move to another brand will flit to yet another a few months or years down the road, and another after that. We see those folks here quite often, and you find them in other forums too. It's a little more obvious in a brand-specific environment, though.
Most people with a decent investment in good K-mount AF glass, and who basically like the cameras they have (or had) but want the new model, aren't going anywhere soon. There'll be a few jumpers, but that's OK. I don't think they will be significant in the scheme of things
As for being "left further behind", I'll say what I've said many times already, and will keep on saying... In my opinion, Ricoh Imaging / Pentax is walking its own path. There's no sense comparing to Nikon, Canon etc. No-one compares Leica to those brands. I'm not saying Pentax is the same as Leica, but nor is it comparable to Nikon or Canon. But for those who are more concerned about whether their cameras and lenses are leading edge and market leaders, they're going to be disappointed with Pentax. If they should move on, so be it. Like I said, those folks may well switch between several brands in the coming months and years