Pentax Roadmap

The K3 looks fabulous.

Does it mean I'm going to have to wait longer for a Pentax FF?

No it's usually released the day after!

I'm guessing at least 12 months, if not longer.

But then Pentax have never actually promised Full Frame to begin with.

The situation with Pentax 35mm remains the same as it has always been. The project was cancelled in 2000 when the MZ-D had insurmountable difficulties.

There has been no officially confirmed intention from Pentax or any of its owners to enter the 35mm DSLR market.

Pentax user base is small and those who want FF is even lower.
They should make the 645 smaller and better for those who want a larger format

Comparing the 645D to FF is apples and oranges. Plus if the Pentax FF userbase is small, how small do you think the 645D user base is going to be?

Should the K3 capture a lot of interest (and hopefully some market share) maybe an FF will be on the cards. I believe Pentax will always struggle a bit, though, without an FF body to put at the top of the Xmas tree. People invest in APSC kit with an eye to one day going FF... which is one of the reasons they go with Canikon.

Why all the interest in FF. They are very expensive.

Also, I'm not disappointed with the images from all the Pentax DSLRs I have used from a *istDL2, K10 and K5.

Not necessarily, in fact I certainly didn't and I can't be alone. FF never came into the equation at all. Once the 12-24mm arrived the wide angle needs were satisfied and that was the only issue for me.

Now you see that comment just shows how ignorant we 'C fans' are. We need to remember the following:

1. FF is more expensive - which must mean we would take better photographs
2. The Pros use FF - therefore if we had one - we would be pros
3. FF handles low light better - which means we could take photographs of things we can not see
4. FF gives you a smaller DoF - so we can stop spending money on fast glass - which is just as well as we will not have any spare money after
paying for FF

Oh and let's not forget the improved fitness we will attain by carting bigger and heavier gear around.

Have I missed anything?


No FF ing to see here - move along

I'm still waiting for the DA* 16-85mm. When is that due?

It depends what is meant by very expensive. The Nikon D600 is £1361, the Canon 6D a little more. To some that is unaffordable full frame, to others the difference from the K3 is less than the cost of a decent lens. It would be nice to have that kind of choice with Pentax.

How many current lenses are FF?

Pentax does not need FF.
They need to improve the lens line up. Mirrorless is the future and they should improve upon the the APS C size K01
Pentax Q is not the future.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the brilliant FF pictures that couldn't be taken on APS-C

Aspiration affects purchasing decisions at all levels in the marketplace. I think I would go one step further than your analysis. It probably goes .... "Pros use FF - Brand X make FF cameras - if I/we buy Brand X then I/we would be (like) pros".

This is, at least partly, the reason why Ricoh/Pentax must ultimately launch a FF camera if they are to stay in the DSLR market. The other part is that, in a few years time, FF will dominate the market and APS-C sales will wither.

Andrew

Take a look at the gallery in the colour balance in the landscape feature article, particularly the night shots such as this. The clean detail in the sky is gorgeous, I haven't seen anything in APSC that can hold a candle to that.