New pentax models

i thought it was only one of the K-D models that comes with the shake reduction?

(i probably didn't read it that well...)

I did think itwas both - in fact, if you read the advertised specs by Park cameras it's quite amusing because they are identical. It might leave a lot of people wondering what the difference is.

unless pentax have changed polatics like the copy-cam company nikon and minolta i carnt see pentax screwing its users by changing lens mounts or selling da lenses only to change sensor size

pentax toyed with 35mm D chips when thay went in with contax about 5-6 years ago with the MZ-D but decided it was to unreliable and to costley for its users

i was gutted having bought the MZ-S to see them not produce the MZ-D but then the price would have made us all deffect to the oposition

i think we're all safe buying DA lenses

Thanks John

According to Pentax, only the K100D has shake-reduction.

This makes perfect sense because there wouldn't be a single reason to buy a K100 over a K110. In real life, the average user would not notice the difference between the pentaprism or the pentamirror.

Both new models are near identical, they are replacements for the DL and DL2, not the DS or DS2, the DS2 has been reintroduced in the states (appears the the original D can also be had new in the States).

Both the K100D and K110D will have pentamirror finders. The K100D has shake reduction while the K110D does not. The list prices in Germany put the K100D only €50 more expensive than the K110D .

If the only difference is the shake reduction and a small amount of money then why on earth did they introduce two different models???
If they make one model the price could be even lower.

I don't know for sure as I don't remember much from the late 70s/early 80s that's photography-related (except that I had a Polaroid called "The Button"!), but isn't Pentax's bizarre strategy of releasing lots of cameras with similar specifications (K100D, K110D, *ist DL, *istDL2 etc.) the same as what they did back then with the ME, MVand MG? Did it work back then? And why are they doing it now?

Jonathan

I think they are adding in new features that photographers may want, keeping the "It's New!" syndrome that makes some people buy things, but managing to maintain a basically identical production line with its economies of scale.

To be fair, this will generate profit that can be used to grow the business, and to compete with Canon and Nikon it will have to grow. There have been real improvements along the way, though, which we can all benefit from. Not least of which might be the incredibly competitive pricing.

i just hope that when they set a price for the new proper D-DLR (K10D?) that it's competitive.

Sadly if it's £1200 or so like the D was then against something like a Canon 30D it will get blown out of the water.

(Well i'll buy one in a couple of years once the price has dropped and keep my D as a backup)

I am just guessing that the replacement for the *ist D will be called the K1D (or KD1/2), the replacement for the *ist DS could be called the K10D and the replacements for the *ist DL are, as we now know, K100D and K110D. Is this making much sense? If it seems sensible to enough people then Pentax obviously wont do it. Why call a camera an '*ist' something in the first place and, now we are used to that unusual moniker, it appears that '*ist' name will not be around much longer... it keeps thing interesting though.

The new *ist D / D1D / D2 (or whatever it's called) will top my shopping list too... 10Mp, superior processing power, larger LCD (great quality of course), 100-3200 ISO with less noise above 400... that's my mini-wish list. Pentax UK, if you're reading this then please send me the new D to road test it, I'll be your friend forever.

S