How long before DSLRs become extinct?

I'll just make my own damn paper then

right now a set of rechargable nickle metalhydrates costs about the same as two sets of name brand alkalines cost six years ago... but can be recharged 100 times..

apples retina display for the iphone is close to the cost of the glass in the pentaprism of your camera. optical glass is expensive....

Newer imaging systems and other technologies WILL come along. 3D/Holo, ultra-res, the high-speed video mentioned, extended spectra, light-field, minisensor arrays, much that I can't even think of. We currently use cameras still designed around filmic models. But we'll have more ways to capture, torture, disseminate, and display images Real Soon Now. How soon? I don't know. But even when the new devices are widely used, SLRs will still live. Hay, some people still use wet-plate technology! And blacksmiths will always make a living. Think of your dSLR as a horseshoer's anvil...

I am very happy with my DSLR and I honestly cannot see me needing to upgrade from a K5 at all. Therefore by the time it bites the dust I may find a direct replacement is no longer for sale- maybe 10 years?.

I think manufacturers business plan preclude the launch of a "revolutionary" design because they need the profit that incremental improvements bring- I imagine Canon and Nikon and Sony could show us the camera intended for launch in 10 years time if they wanted to. That would be an interesting half hour!

The only thing that could rock this boat is a new player in the market, they would need a very big cheque book.

So slow evolution. Pentax must make most of their money from k mount lenses lets hope this continues for a very long time.

Of course you may not NEED a new camera in the next ten years but if you are like most of us you will probably WANT the next shiny new innovation that comes along. The camera companies would all go bust if everyone had a ten year replacement cycle.

you saw straight through me Helios!

I have just recovered from a bout of LBA. I am determined not to buy anything else because it is silly to do so and hurts my bank balance too much.

In the last 4-5 months I have acquired a Sigma 10-20 4-5.6, Pentax DA17-70 f4 and Pentax DA*50-135. The latter 2 used from the forum.

That should be all I need!

Who am I kidding.

I should have gone for stamp collecting

EVF also have optics in them for the diopter, it's only missing the prisma and i've no idea what the price is off that.

But back to the topic, EVIL will not replace DSLR because of the simple reason that something like your mobile phone will over take it most likely... and who knows what the future hold.
They are already capable to retrieve an image that you see so it might be only a matter of time before everything is build in...