It will become increasingly difficult for manufacturers to maintain growth. When digital cameras were first introduced they were poor compared to film, in many ways. Then they became better and have now reached a point where they are good enough to keep for much longer. Some people bought a film camera that lasted them for years, decades, even for life. One camera.

Things have expanded and we our selves have moved from having one SP1000 with 55mm lens to having three DSLR bodies, many lenses and then compacts as well. What can we possibly expand to next?

Our next upgrade will be because something has failed and needs replacing, and at this time I think you already know what that would be.

There are always whispers and speculation and it wouldn't be difficult to envisage a 24MP Pentax K-*, however, they are only whispers and speculation.

It's an interesting effect, very pen-and-ink, like an engraving.

One post removed, do please keep to one sale per thread, not another seller's.

You have a point there Algi.

Lens tests now need to be re-done every time we get a leap in sensor performance. Not very realistic as an expectation perhaps. Over a period of time it might be a problem, but it's probably tolerable at the moment.

Philip, moire was not found to be a problem. I didn't find any moire regardless of subject matter. Not to say it can't happen, but I found none.

I wondered about portraits and concluded that the IIs was fine. If required, diffusion can be done in-camera or in post processing.

The IIs wouldn't seem to be a handicap for weddings or portraits.

Well done! I've put this in the mirrorless section, given its content.

Those early lpmm tests were marred in various ways, but of course the contrastier shot can be read as sharper. That's why everyone was so pleased when MTF lens testing was introduced, apart from few people understanding the mysterious graphs!

Most Pentax lenses are of moderately high contrast, but they look very pleasing to the eye. Different makes do definitely have a different "look" but once we move into that territory beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Is it the optical equivalent of wine tasting?

Taking as my source the 1960s and 1970s writing of Kevein MacDonnell and other respected writers, they put it as follows:

German lenses were designed for high resolution and exceptional gradation, so a maximum number of tones could be recorded.

After the Korean war in particular, western photojournalists started to discover the high contrast but lower definition Japanese lenses from Canon and Nikon in particular and for them it was a revelation. High contrast looked sharper and suited photomechanical reproduction in newspapers and magazines. The taste for high contrast and "bite" had begun.

Meanwhile the stalwarts of 1960s camera clubs were no doubt extolling the benefits of superior rendering from German lenses. In some instances they would be right, in others the high contrast newcomers would be right, whatever right may mean.

I'll pick up your points Dodge69.

First what you call hyperbole, or at least agree with I presume, is actually my feeling towards what I saw. Now I saw exciting possibilities so what I wrote reflects that enthusiasm. Amusing or not, it's genuine enthusiasm, and I make no aplogies for that.

The Nikon D800E was mentioned in the context of there being just two options in the market where manufacturers have identified the possibilities of removing the AA filter and have been bold enough to offer an alternative model. Nikon were the first, Pentax have joined the ranks and there may be more following if it proves successful. The two options are very far apart in price level, so if the advantages appeal you have just two choices £1490 apart, which was based on the cureent SRS prices.

Please remember that the review was written for the general audience of ePHOTOzine and shared here.

You will recall that I have strssed that the images were carefully prepared so comparisons can be made for yourself. You do not have to rely on my conclusions if you don't want to. Some will embrace the advantages and make good use of them, some will reject the idea, some will have feelings in between.

That's the freedom of choice.