Pentax FF Dead, Maybe

Not sure I agree actually - Leicas are hardly massive. FF mirrorless shouldn't require SLR-sized lenses. Hence my suggestion Pentax should out-Fuji Fuji and consider a FF competitor to the X series, but complete with a new mount. Heaven knows, they need revenue from lenses too. An adapter would allow people to use K mount lenses if they insist.

Sony look like they're going to get there first. The silver lining is at least it will take Pentax lenses (MF only).

The first generation of FF digital bodies probably continued the design characteristics of the top pro film slrs, which were bigger for a variety of reasons, mostly high speed motor drive and additional controls added for efficient handling and adjustment while shooting.

The film size obviously didn't affect this, it was all extra control and ergonomics. Now there's more options as to the design and user targeting. The traditional user base of pro spec DSLRs, the paparazzi etc or commercial studio people, will presumably continue to value the added control and handling of larger bodies (especially when used with long wide aperture lenses).

It is less clear who will place such value on smaller FF bodies, which will by design continue to provide most of their fine control through menus. Advanced users choosing FF surely are not the sort of people who will be content to operate on 'auto' modes?

Why? Leicas are not menu driven and appeal to those who like to take control.

Well then, identifying that category of person will be important for Pentax I'd have thought - if there's actually a market there (I know all Leicas are sold before they're even made - but thats because of the niche / luxury nature of the particular brand) then Pentax should try and push in. Keep the quality and premium nature but with additional flexabiblity on lens options and a bit of a price undercut.

Pentax don't need a price undercut, they need to remain reassuringly expensive, we certainly don't want every Tom Dick and Harry owning one

But the point was related to FF and showing it is possible to have an FF camera that isn't a breeze block

I nearly choked when I saw the price of that Sony FF compact though. £2.5K - ARRGHH!!!

Another point was why not have FF version of something like the K-01? I can't see any reason why you've need a body bigger than the K-012 to house it

I've just checked the Fuji X Pro against a FF Leica....it's bigger! The Leica is slightly wider and taller than a K-01 but nowhere near as deep. In short, no reason why a FF body has to be much different to the K-01, and certainly no bigger than the Fuji X cameras...... If one ditches the K mount. That is the killer issue.

they won't ditch the K Mount

The Q isn't K mount. No reason why they have to keep the K mount on ALL cameras they come up with in the future. The K-01 would have been nicer if it had a set of lenses designed for a shorter reg distance, and an adapter to use K-mount lenses. The body would have been more compact and there's no reason the lenses need to be massive. Not a pocketable package maybe, but perhaps more like a classic SLR and less like a housebrick.

But I don't think Pentax have (had) the resources to pull something like that off and go head to head with the NEX/NX's already in the market.

They need to though. Both the K01 and APSC DSLRs would be better if they had reduced registration distance mounts optimised for the format and an adapter to allow K mount lenses to be used.

Can you imagine the furore if Pentax ditched the K mount? Why on earth would they abandon one of the best DSLR mounts and one of the strengths of the system?

An additional mount with adapter for a CSC maybe, like the Q mount. Or a bigger adapter for medium format to fit a 645 mount? It seems we have the mounts already, without any need to ditch the core K mount!

OMG no, it would definitely not be worth it for DSLRs... ditching lens compatibility for what would be a few mm difference (since there is still a mirror to clear, albeit slightly smaller), and scrapping any possibility of developing a FF camera?

Well I see little likelihood that they can compete profitably with a me-too FF dSLR using the K mount....immediately reducing their income from sale of new lenses. A more compact mirrorless FF body could have a new mount for smaller lenses (no mirror) but offer an adapter for those who wish to use K mount...offering best of both worlds. Not sure I buy the argument that K is one of the best dSLR mounts. Not any more. And not enough to generate a serious revenue stream to keep them in business.

I maybe wrong yet

link