"We never rule anything out..."

Interesting conversation...

link

Surely is.

"'It's nice to see us coming back with a good high-end DSLR'"

It is indeed. I've invested in it. I had no interest in the K-7.

Well done Pentax!!!

Now I'll come across as grumpy, trolling or worse ... but I can't see much interesting information in that pathetic piece of journalism. Try doing this test: insert a negation and see if it makes sense, if not it is generally an indication that someone is just stating the obvious.

'if a product makes sense, and is feasible economically, we'll come NOT out with it'

or [Pentax is] 'very much [in tune] out of tune with what is happening in the marketplace'

This is a remarkable admittance, though:
When asked about how much input Pentax had into the design of the (Sony-built) sensor in the K-5, Pound explained: 'we had less input than we did in the previous generation, where we worked with Samsung.'
The less Pentax is involved the better it gets?!

Shoot!

I see Sony has just brought out at CES a range of £200 compact cameras featuring (basically) the K5/D7000 sensor. I'm sure they'll sell a whole bunch more of them than they do of the DSLR variations... but will be happy to use the prestige of the sensor in the (pentax/nikon) DSLR's to sell their own compacts. Food for thought...

Isn't the K-5 sensor also in a Sony DSLR?

yes and the nikon d7000. but it is sonys sensor.

Interestingly, Pentax seem to get better quality out of Sony's sensor than Sony can.

Clearly the sensor itself is not the only factor.

Maybe Sony concentrate on not getting "A String of Pearls"






They may also be using a half silvered mirror?
I don't follow their camera's very closely

Are you sure it's the same size sensor and not just a sensor of smaller form factor using the same technology. I'm not sure an APS-C sensor could fit in a compact. Or could it?

I've noticed that too. I know someone who has a Sony Alpha with (we think - they're both 10mp) the same sensor as my K-m, and there's a definite difference. It might be because the K 28mm f3.5 I was using at the time will cheerfully embarrass brand new DA Limiteds let alone a Sony zoom, but the different electronics coupled to the sensor would also come into play.

A sensor is only half of the system. I bet Pentax use a different filter in front of theirs (they'll want to SMC coat it, and there's no way they'd let Sony in on that) as well as naturally developing their own electronics to drive it.

Its a smaller 'exmor' sensor, same technology behind it. I wish sony WERE using the k-5, or any APSC, sensor in their compacts though!

Just been looking into this ... These new smaller sensors are 'Exmor R', rather than just 'Exmor', and are backlit versions which is different to the version in the K-5 I think ...

Exmor

Exmor R

I'm waiting for the next generation, the Dartmor sensor.

Sorry.

hehe