*ist DL2 announced

The DL2 is announced. Added features include scene modes (kids, snow etc.) and a preview mode on the LCD display.

http://www.pma-show.com/2006/digital_camera/pentax_review/001_pentax_istdl2_slr....

As with the DS2, not available in Europe....

I think this camera will be available in Europe.

Here it is:

http://tinyurl.com/cepv9

G

I thought that the Samsung unit would be a DS2, but since it has 5 point AF so it could be either the normal DL or the DL2. I suspect it to be the DL.

But now I am reading the link you sent i see that the Samsung has a pentaprism viewfinder (DL and DL2 use a mirror box) and it has 5 point AF so it is a mixture of both???

Bl**dy hell, while I'm all for Pentax moving forward, can't they let us enjoy a new camera for a while.......without bringing out an improved version

Actually, there's really very little to choose between any of them and it can't be long before we see a totally new and different model - they've got to exhaust the possibilities of the current design soon!

It wouldn't be the first time Pentax had multiple versions of essentially the same camera - MV MG ME MES MEF anybody??!!

Who cares about bodies - I want the lens range enhanced!

True, but they only really shared the same body shell, there were significant differences between them - unlike the latest models in the *istD range.
The MV was incredibly basic - SPD cell, auto only and no self-timer. I suppose the MG and ME were essentially the same but the MES was much more sophisticated and the MEF was, for it's day, highly innovative.
Only the original *istD is radically different from the others and in some ways, it's now quite dated.
As far as I can see, the DS2 and DL2 have only very minor enhancements over the originals and for some reason Pentax have restricted the release to certain parts of the world market. Perhaps they plan to whet our appetites and will soon be releasing a completely new mega-spec pro model.