predications Pentax 2010

The fastest leaf shutter SLRs (late 1950s/early 1960s) could complete a shutter cycle in around 50ms. Current DSLRs are not that fast, I think around 90ms. The Spotmatic is about 14-17ms as I recall.

I had forgotten about the distortion for fast objects but then I rarely shoot such things have no reactions at all!

I have never used studio gear (oh well once and that was lights not strobes - it was the university camera club 35 years ago. I can't recall whose idea it was to have a figure session certainly not mine but I was tasked with finding a model and it was something of a shambles although to me credit the model wasn't. The young lady I shared an office with walked really sniffily when the potential model turned up for an interview. I was the only one to get a decent shot which appeared in Amateur Photographer) nor indeed have I used ND filters which I ought to get.

I would love to have the confidence to do portraits but I haven't so I don't. So all this will remain an interesting mystery to me

Mike

Many interesting things and some contradicting each other

Leaf shutter sounds interesting, might be nice to see that.

I'd like (but doubt I'll see) a retrospective firmware upgrade for all Pentax DSLR's allowing you to switch off the P-TTL and set the pop-up flash's output manually (even if it's just 1/64, 1/4 and 1/1).

What I think I'll see is:

645D + 3/4/5 DA645 lenses.
K20/200D replacement to sit between K-x and K-7.
Weather sealed DA12-24 cosmetic update.
Weather sealed DA55-300 cosmetic update.

Wonder if I'm close

Your first idea would be a great one Hefty or they should release a SDK version so we can do it ourselves.

I thought about that one too but the problem is that the K7 will get cheaper over time so probably down to a level that the K20D cost so I wonder if it's wise for Pentax to do that since the K30D would be very close to the price of a K7 then, also the KX isn't super cheap either so it's a small band where the K30D will need to fit in

I wished they had used the K200D body for the KX, weather sealed and with focus indication in the screen.

Would like to add the DFA50WR macro in the style of the new DFA100 macro to that list.

and...
I would love to see DA* 28-70/2.8, tehre is already a FA* lens so a simple redesign would be enough.
But that range would be lovely for in the studio with two people in the portrait.

You forgot to stipulate weather sealing and SDM compatability

I predict if they do I wont be buying one

Not wishing for much but I would like a firmware update that allowed us to switch between SDM and screw drive. This should be easy for Pentax to implement.

Probably will not happen but a DA* 400 f/5.6 would be nice, as would a TC 1.4 SDM WR
I'd certainly save up for a DA* 400

Well so at the end of the year we know what the new things are.

Two new camera's
K-5
K-r

Two new lenses.
DA-l 35mm
DA 18-135mm WR

Lets see who got the most right...

Graham came very close he had at least the camera's right and the lion battery for the K-r so that's quite impressive. Wished they also had put in WR in the K-r though.
No body guessed the lenses which is not really surprising.
Although we had some discussion that good cheap prime lenses might be interesting, wished they made it a DA instead of a DAL but once again you can't have everything

And we are still waiting for the 1.4x tc
At least one shop here was so optimistic to put it in their sales list though
http://www.fotovideoboom.nl/producten/p/pentax-da-1-4x-rear-converter-sdm/15819/
Who knows... maybe next year with WR.

Dunno about who got the most right but I can take a guess at who got the most wrong

That's Funny!!

I was never good in this

So who does grahamwalton know at Pentax????.

Shame about the TC though.

I don't think we'll see a DA* 30mm f1.4 this year. First because it would crowd out the 35 f2.4 (ignore the fact that they have different target markets), but more because I think a 30 f1.4 will only arrive if Pentax withdraw the FA Limiteds.

As it stands Pentax's entire standard lens lineup is structured to avoid stepping on the FA31's toes: that's why the hugely popular FA35 was withdrawn, and it's also why the new 35mm is relatively slow compared to the Canikon equivalents.

So I don't think Pentax would introduce a weather-sealed, silent-focusing f1.4 30mm unless they were ready to put the FA Limiteds out to pasture.

As to what I think they will do, I think the most likely is a telezoom "premium kit" counterpart to the new DA 18-135. Maybe a 100-300mm f4-5.6 DC WR?

Like you said a DA*30 f/1.4 would be in a very different price range.

I actually wouldn't mind if they would upgrade the FA limiteds, keep the same glass add the new coatings, weather sealed but keep the aluminum just like the DFA100 WR and add quick-shift or SDM.
Make them DA* limited so to say
Probably the price would be quite high but it would be stunning lenses.

The thing about the DA*30 f/1,4 is that it was already at the roadmap, it was placed there the same time the DA*55 went up there and it was suggested the DA*30 would have the same optical arrangement as the new DA*55.

The SDM TC was also on the road map.
They no longer publish the road map.