K20 discontinued; Mike Johnston

Mike Johnston is a convinced pentax user (who would'nt be if pentax stuck one in your open hand?) and has always given a good press to the brand. Today he mentions that the k20 was to be his 'number 2'in his list of the top 10 cameras,...but it did not get there because it is being discontinued

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/blog_index.html

Also, scan down for his review of pre-production k7.......

Hmmm. This is what he wrote:

"The trouble was that literally mid-way through the list, Pentax contacted me and asked if I'd like to take a look at the new K-7, confirming that the K20D was at the end of its lifespan."

Did they actually confirm that the K20D was being discontinued, or did he just assume it? Because I thought that a senior Pentax bod recently said that the K7 was NOT a replacement, implying that the K20D would continue in production.

And that would seem to make sense. Having only two bodies, with such a gulf between the two, would seem a bit strange. But, Pentax is a quirky outfit, so who knows.

G

All great things come to an end sooner or later


but I still prefer my k10 to my k20 sometimes.

whys that,

As with most modern technology it is superceeded soon after you have purchased it!

Shining examles are PC's, the new car that is depreciating as soon as you drive away from the showroom, and now it seems my beloved K20D is to join this list.

I can only say that the K20D works for me, and the time to change it, is when I win the lottery, or when it no longer performs the tasks for which I purchased it in the first place!

Regards,

Peter

Yes, why's that? I'd have thought that in use they would be so similar that you'd barely notice the difference.

But then, I don't have a K20D.

G

It's just that enitial exitement scott when i got my K10 it was something new.

When i got the k20 it wasn't as exiting probably because they both physically they look the same.

The k20 is definately a better camera but like everthing it's psychological

Virtually identical in operation, which is why I liked the K20 being an upgrade of the K10 and not a total redesign .

You can pick either camera up and not have to think where any particular control is located.

If this is true, it seems to have had a very short product life cycle. Looking back through the forum, it seems to have been about fifteen months.

The K200d came out at the same time and that's been discontinued for the past couple of months!

Maybe they need the capacity to produce more sensors to get the price of the K-7 down.

The product life cycle in one way has been a bit longer than we might at first think.

The basic *istDS design has carried forward, with modifications, to the K200D. The K10D design has carried forward to the K20D, again with modifications.

So the underlying chassis has actually had a reasonable life span whilst allowing constant upgrades.

I know what you mean John, my K110d and K200d look the same. There is a size difference though. An *istD I recently looked at felt the same as both my bodies, the lineage was evident.

The K10d and K20d look and feel the same to me when I've handled them, I don,t recall seeing them side by side for a direct comparison.

The K-7 is a new shape though so, presumably, has a new chassis as well as overcoat, so to speak. I'll reserve full and proper judgement until I've handled one.

The new sensor, by the way, is much faster. According to this anyway