What would peoples reaction be If...

The latest Pentax 'offering' said to be in production for release in next few months/next year turned out to be a MF DSLR?

Possibly a retro model I would assume if they were going to do that.

Also let's assume using K-Mount due to all the legacy lenses out there and new lenses would be cheaper to introduce.

Reason for question is, like many on here I do follow the US site, and some strong hints from there tending to hint at this outcome.
Does seem like a plausible route from what Pentax management have said in the past and wouldn't necessarily exclude further development of existing or recently discontinued FF/APS-C models.

Over to the floor...

What an interesting post. I look forward to comments from this insightful and knowledgeable group. MF does interest me. Thank you, Karlo.

Aha, a camera for macro. Perfect! AF is just unnecessary clutter, weight and expense when looking at little things. Unless it can be used for in-camera focus stacking, in which case perfect again! (And I believe would be a first for a non-mirrorless camera.)

Of course, the big question for a MF DSLR is what focusing aids would be built into the viewfinder screen. Without a split screen it wouldn't really be retro .

However, I doubt whether a MF DSLR will ever be produced. But a MF SLR (film) to complement the Pentax 17 ...

Steve

For all that manual macro work (and landscape ) a digital LX retaining the interchangeable viewfinders would be perfect - I would even forgo the in camera focus stacking

Unfortunately I suspect there are a million reasons why it will not happen, but one can dream

I believe a stripped down full frame or APS-C would appeal (size of LX or Super A), but no AF would be a deal breaker .

There are a few people over on the US forums who are very excited at the possibility of a manual focus DSLR but it's an idea they came up with on their own, not something based on any kind of rumour or leak. As much as I enjoy a good manual focus film SLR, getting an equivalent in digital is just not going to happen because the proportion of potential buyers for whom MF-only would be a deal breaker is far higher than the number of people who would love to see such a camera.

Plus, Pentax would make no money on sales of additional lenses as everyone would be buying vintage MF lenses instead of shiny new AF ones.

And, of course, you can always turn any Pentax DSLR into a MF DSLR by turning the focus switch to MF and taping over it so you're not tempted to turn AF on again .

Steve

KAF4 lenses could be key. You could still have on-sensor AF points and use live-view to get the in-body focus motors to work their magic.

It'd create a pseudo mirrorless mode that could eventually bring Pentax back into that market if it proves successful with our stubborn, viewfinder loving userbase.

The end of the AF module and screwdrive isn't necessarily the end of AF. It's potentially a way to ditch old lenses by creating another 'necessary' product pathway for new tech adopters.

The key will be an excellent prism finder or electronic finder to aid manual focusing. Or perhaps some iteration of Fuji’s rangefinder style focusing aids.

I'm still waiting for K3 Mk5 or K1 Mk4.