A higher high-end for Pentax. Just a dream?

I don't want anyone to take this thread too seriously. But something's been bothering me for a while.

I wish Pentax offered a line of professional level bodies. The current highest-end body is the K7. A wonderful, masterfully designed machine, but with some focus-tracking and high-iso issues.

I think the success of the K10, and the innevitable success of the K7 will get some cashflow into Pentax's coffers, and maybe we'll start to see some really high-end bodies produced. Oh, how I would LOVE to have to option of buying a super highly-engineered Pentax body that could rival the Canon 1 series or the Nikon D_ series. Charge an appropriate price and just manufacture it already, Pentax! I know you're technologically capable! The k10 and K7 are building a consumer base to support it. Just do it already! As a photograpger who makes his living using Pentax gear, I'd be the first to buy. And I know a few people personally who would also jump on it.

Sorry for the rant.

And what's going on with the Kx's awesome high ISO noise performance? Can we please get a K7 Super with the Kx sensor installed? That would negate the K7's biggest downside.

The soon to be released 645D should suit your needs but pro spec cameras attract pro spec prices which for most of us will be too expensive.

How about that full frame DSLR?? It will sell like hot cakes and I will be the first one to buy!

Mannesty: I'm alright with professional level pricing. Give me something to save up for. I want that. I want an expensive, awesome camera body. I was able to buy my K7 after doing a single wedding. I want higher-end.

imagesteve: Full frame is nice. I love a good shallow DOF and increased dynamic range is always welcome. But FF is not necessary. If we could just get good usable ISO 3200 and the ability for the AF to reliably track movement, then I wouldn't have to worry so much during weddings.

Be patient, the 645D is about as high-end as you'll get with a Pentax badge on it.

There is little chance that Pentax will produce a camera with a FF sensor.

But the 645D is unlikely to have faster AF or better high ISO performance, as it's surely primarily a studio camera, so it may well not satisfy Drew.

Dan

Actually as medium format cameras went, the Pentax 645 and 67 models were very much in the field cameras.

They both operate in a very similar way to the 35mm SLRs and apart from the bulk are quite good at catching action. I say quite good because they are quite bulky!

The 645 is much slicker in operation that either the Bronica or Mamiya 645 models, and needs no add ons to make it work. The Bronica, for example, is useless without the speed grip.

The only other camera that came close was the Exakta 66, which I have never seen in the flesh but is very similar to the 67 but with square format.

What do you consider the price of the K7 to be then?

It was quite a jump from what the prices of K20 were and are.

Thinking about it again I would have thought that the K7 is a pro spec camera, or is it not? Please elucidate me. In my view its definitely not a low spec one

Fair point John, perhaps I should just have left my comment as "The 645D is unlikely to have faster AF or better high ISO performance...so it may well not satisfy Drew"

Dan

The K7 is a pro spec camera on a par with models like the Nikon D300s, but more compact and with some advantages in image quality.

If Pentax introduced a K3 (let's say) with full frame and a price tag of £2500 (let's say) it wouldn't have me running to SRS to buy one. It would do nothing to enhance the photography I do and I'd be better spending the money on travel and getting to interesting places to make images.

I will buy a K7 eventually, but when it's at the end of its run and the price is low. Our K20D bodies are not that old to warrant replacement yet.

I fully agree with this, totally.
But I assume what Drew is after is more efficient or should I say faster AF system, which I am afraid Pentax bodies do not offer at present. Up until now only Nikon had the monopoly on this front with system incorporated in bodies like the D300 as far as I am aware of in crop sensor bodies but seems Canon has come up with something similar if not better to match it. I am sure its just a matter of time that Pentax will come up with something to compete but it doesn't look like its the K7.

I also think its not fair to consider a body not to be up to professional standard simply because its AF system doesn't match other competitor ones, so may be Drew is a bit wrong in that.
One thing I agree with him though, as far as my experience goes Pentax could have provided with a better noise performance system with the K7. Not saying its bad but I think they could have done better.

Once again John has made a good common sense point - well a pair of them really. I am just thinking how I can afford a K20 at the moment but only to get the individual lens adjustments and I too would prefer to use money to travel!

That said each of us have our own needs and point of view

Mike

Simple....shoot RAW and you will not have a problem
K-7 RAW files have been demonstrated to be on par with all the other cropped sensor cameras in the competing bracket.

And what is that competing bracket cameras?

And yes I do shoot RAW. Yes I find K7 iso performance good, but I also find that it could have been better.