Originally posted by bossa I think they will announce a K-5 replacement but it won't be the full deal everyone expects - they need an upgrade path within the format unless they intend to downgrade it to 'enthusiast' only.
I was trying to figure out why you would conclude that. A FF will be an upgrade even if the previous upgrade were a full featured APS. Or perhaps you were saying that because you think Pentax needs to keep to a lower price point for the flagship model, considering the new FF models from Nikon.
One possibility is that Pentax could come out with a FF-ready model, regards internal dimensions, in preparing for a FF model later in 2013. It would be equipped with an APS 24mp model in 2012 but then come out with a FF sensor in 2013. This would allow them to spread FF development costs over 2 model years.
I have seen printed output from Sony's 24mp sensor from a Nex7 camera at my photoclub and it is really quite nice. If you go to dpreview.com and enter the Nex forums you will find threads discussing the question as to whether an individual should choose the 16 mp Nex camera or the 24 mp camera. Thats probably whats in our future, if Pentax comes out with a 24mp model this fall.
Another alternative is for Pentax to simply do a brush-up on the existing K5, reuse the 16mp, but upgrade the AF as in the K30 or even better - whatever that is, include focus peaking, include upgraded video stuff, and issue it as the K5s. Save the development dollars for the future FF model.
I like the existing 16mp from my quietly shuttered K5 and won't upgrade this time around in either case. But whatever happens, photokina and Pentax will be fun to watch