The black blob goes silver...

We have the options of DSLR in the traditional 35mm sense, Bridge cameras, Micro 4/3, compacts, medium format digital, large format digital, scanning digital, camera phones.....

How about a Rolleiflex 2.8GD 6x6cm digital TLR....not yet, but I'll bet someone has thought of it.

viewfinder, in what direction would you move on the design?

Just to add a couple of points...

1) It's not the K-mount that makes it large. It's the mirror

2) I agree with the idea of a square sensor. BUT, that makes the mirror larger. In fact, you'd probably find you couldn't fit a square mirror in between the focal plane of the sensor and the mount of the lens. The camera would also be deeper - probably as deep as the K20D+Grip to accommodate the extra height of sensor.

3) Unless you dispense with the mirror and go with an EVF (yuck!) I can't quite see how you can change what we've got by much (Unless you move over to Medium Format...)

Matt

The mirror would not have to be excessively large for a square sensor....

Assuming a 23mm square sensor the mirror would need to be the same depth as that in one of the dinky pentax film bodies such as the ME or MX. The whole proportion of the camea would of course change, and for the better!!

Rollei and Zeiss Ikon made square format SLRs for the 126 Cartrdige format (24x24mm) and they did look rather bulky and strange. I would suspect a DSLR based upon a similar format would end up equally "boxy" in appearance.

The whole world is going "wide screen" and it's what the public are now getting used to, so I would be interested to know if some research has been done on the acceptability of a square format camera.

My suspicion is that it would be rather unpopular, but would have a very small serious amateur following.

I don't think we will see much change in the DSLR as we know now and also the pixels will settle down at the current amount.
The only thing I think that will improve alot is the dynamic range and the iso noise of the sensor.

I also believe that Pentax will come with a new image processor to improve the current continuous shooting rate and maybe also to at new features. Samsung is getting very good with there DDR3 production so I wouldn't be surprised we will see that one to when a new processor will come. A new AF would be welcome to and if they can make the camera lighter it would be nice

To be honest that's all I really want though.
I'm happy with the concept and it doesn't need to change for me.

To follow John's comment, would the 'small' following of a square sensor make it worth while.

I doubt it.

Manufacturers need to get away from 'this is how we've always done it' attitudes and start thinking about how to do it better with modern materials.

I know I'd like a metal body on on my camera, in fact my much missed Optio 550 had one. But I don't want a brick that needs a harness to carry!

Pentax could, and should look at cutting the size of their DSLR's, then utilising a larger count sensor and make it appeal to canikony users.

They're going the right way with the K-m.

I can't see how the KM,..even in 'paintball' version is anything other than the wrong camera at th ewrong time for too high a price....

It's not even a very good camera,..well below par for pentax, It's got horrible ergonomics,..or rather it soes'nt have any!! It does nothing that any of the other pentax models does not,..indeed it does less and offers less!!

And, the final nail;....it's as expensive as the k200, or very nearly so!

In short, it has nothing going for it and merely apes what the others were doing two years ago....

How many Kms have been sold then? Do you know, Viewfinder? And how many more will be sold if the price comes down in a couple of months time?

What it has going for it is its small size. And I would prefer a Km to an entry-level dSLR from any other make.

My point exactly.

Keep the small size, add waterproofing, a larger sensor, some whistles and bells, live view' that works with a twist and turn screen and watch Canony panic.

Pentax need to be innovative to survive.

When I had a good look at the KM at my local so called 'pro dealer' (although they gave me wrong info on two pentax models,..but that's another story) I was surprised to see that it was the same price as the k200 sat next to it. I noted that both cameras were virtually the same size,..the KM is VERY SLIGHTLY smaller, just fractions of an inch different.

The 'sales staff' in the pro dealer told me that they had not sold any KM's over the Christmas period and I was not surprised.

Hardgravity is right; pentax MUST innovate if it's to survive.

Perhaps we should all change to the Pentax X70, with an excellent specification: Poor battery life: No ability to shoot RAW files: No hot shoe for external: No filter thread: Off-centre tripod bush: Poor high ISO performance:Zooming into shots on playback slow: and one you will all like and appreciate: It looks and feels a little plastic box:
Now could we find something credible to exchange our views on please

How many Kms (and K2000s) have been sold in TOTAL worldwide so far?, and how many more will be sold if/when the price comes down?

As well as innovating, it is vital that Pentax competes with the popular entry-level models from the other makes. That means small lightweight cameras. I agree the Km's price is too high at the moment, and hopefully it will come down.

No

As soon as the UK stocks of Pentax have been depleted, there is only one way new imports of Pentax equipment are heading! Upwards - a most recent prediction is by 25%, of course, that applies also to the rivals as well.