As an (EX) Aviation shooter wanting to get back into it again, I've had my eye on this ever since it was put on the road map, if it's any good, I'll throw in my DA*300, to part pay for it, as the 1.4x convertor seems to be a photoshop job.
it's all price dependant but I just can't see why every lens over 300mm has to be built like a tank, I'm hoping for a truly radical lightweight weather resistant (Not sealed) DC lens, that does not break the bank, someone has to do it and Pentax like to be different.
380mm/F5.6 = 67.8571428571mm, so a 72mm thread would do it, will keep the size down, in keeping with the Pentax ethos, Like it so far...
The 18-70mm could be the Lens I have been waiting for to kickstart my lightweight kit along with the K60, I'm not looking a anything now until CP+ announcements are made, going to be a long two weeks and I hope I'm not disappointed!

http://photorumors.com/2014/01/29/rumors-new-pentax-k-60-camera-and-two-lenses-f...#more-54088

This rumour to me seems the more credible since both of the Lenses are kinda on the road map, the convertor which I'm pretty convinced is just a Photoshop job (Would be disappointed if it's not!), the Body, well as I said earlier they need some kind of model lineage/hierarcy and the K60 would do just that, wheras at the moment you have the K500/50 same sensor and the K5II which to the average Joe Public is the same as well.
Or you can have lightweight and weather sealed (K50) Or Heavy and weathersealed (K5IIs), the other stuff doesn't matter diddly squat to Mr Average and so you could conclude that all Pentax's are the same...
This could be a great step, if it's true at all! Kind of forced on them as Sony Ain't made a 16Mp sensor in a while now, having moved on to the 20...

The Thick Plottens...
http://photorumors.com/2014/01/29/rumors-new-pentax-k-60-camera-and-two-lenses-f...#more-54088

Pro's list gives Ricoh Pentax a lot to work with, to create something pretty darn good.
Sensor wise that is, obviously some of these details don't count for phooey here!
Pro:
•New 20.1-megapixel sensor delivers excellent (and upgraded) resolution
•Capable of very large prints
•Above average exposure accuracy
•JPEG engine does a very good job at reducing noise at high ISOs
•Good dynamic range
•Full-time phase-detect AF
•Excellent autofocus speeds
•Very fast prefocused shutter lag
•Useful multi-frame modes (Handheld Twilight, HDR, Multi-frame NR, Sweep Panorama)
•DRO works well when dealing with high-contrast scenes
•Lots of optional in-camera lens corrections (distortion, CA, shading)
•Very good video quality, with Full HD 1080p recording at 60i/24p
•Movie mode allows for Program, Priority, or Manual exposure settings
•External mic input
•Multi Terminal
•Crisp and bright high-resolution OLED viewfinder
•Accurate EVF and LCD monitor coverage
•Multi Interface hot shoe allows for external flashes and other accessories
•Built-in flash supports wireless mode
•Good flash range and recycling time
•Very good battery life, particularly for an EVF-equipped camera

Con:
•Plastic lens mount may not be as durable as metal
•Video downgraded somewhat to max. 60i/24p frame rate at Full 1080p HD resolution
•Reduced burst shooting rate of only five frames per second maximum at full resolution, down from a reported eight fps on the A57
•Mediocre kit lens with high barrel distortion at wide angle, and soft corners
•EVF instead of optical viewfinder may be a turnoff for some
•Downgraded LCD no longer fully articulating
•Support for IR remote dropped (but a new wired remote is supported)
•Some aliasing artifacts (when used with very sharp lenses)
•RAW files are a little noisier than competing models at high ISOs
•Sluggish startup and mode switching
•Shallow buffers (though common in entry-level models)
•Narrow flash coverage
•Autofocus can struggle in low light
•User manual not very detailed

If the KL appeals it'll be a good stand alone camera but I fear not as a second or even Main body with another Pentax as the handling will be too different, retro = clunky in my book, K5/K3 = peerless in the same book...
Each to their own of course...

In a nutshell, that's about it really, add to that the GPS Power drain, I had a Sony A77 for a couple of months and when the GPS was on you could very nearly see the power meter counting down, don't know why it consumed so much power but it did...
For an outdoorsman like me it's quite useful feature as is the wifi as I want to be able to transfer pics over to my tablet in order to be able to update my website blog, otherwise I forget to, nice to have but not necessary, ok on a second body but not on the main one I guess I'm trying to say...
I'm assuming it will only be 12 bit, a pity but I may live with it

I must admit I only looked on Imaging Resource today and only at the noise, not the DR but they seemed pretty impressed...

Both A7 sensors are represented in the Nikon D800/E and the Nikon D600/610, so YES! It is a sensor in search of a Camera!
Sony A99 also uses the 24Mp one and that's pretty darned good actually...

Far as I know Steve, it's the Sony unit, so we should at least be able to look it up on Imaging Resource and DPR to do some kind of comparison, which by the way I think I'll go and do now...

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-a58/sony-a58A.HTM

This is a good review on the Sony A58 but I reckon this is the Sensor we will be looking at, thru, into...Whatever...

Erm, it would seem to be very good indeed!

Much better Translation...
In 2014 Pentax will have a range of four reflex cameras, the K3; the KL retro, the K60 and the K600. Pentax is keeping the most advanced features for the K3 , with a simplified exposure system from the K3 used for the new models and a 10 point AF sytem for the K60 ,whilst using the SR and AA simulation for the KL.

Using an improved chassis for new models and new electronics.

The K600 uses the body of the K60 except the back panel will be the same as the K500, only available in black. Faster and more reactive with an improved AF using the K500 AF module. The AF points will now be highlighted in the viewfinder.(great news). Using the existing 16Mps sensor and no WR.

The K60 will have a new front and back panel design and new covering in keeping with the KL and also a body grip available in many colours. A new 20Mps sensor with an AA filter and a new AF model derived from the K3 with 17 points of which 15 are F2.8 cross type. WiFi is built in as well as WR.

The KL will have a plastic body in black or silver (limited ed.) with the back panel from the K60, it will use the K3 battery and have a LCD top panel. The 20Mps sensor has no AA filter using the SR and simulated AA filter of the K3. AF also comes from the K3, however the shutter is from the K5, larger buffer. WR and HDMI. Also includes a traditional dedicated depth of field control.

K60 wifi built in...
K60 should be at least as sharp as the K5IIs and with decent AF/WR and some sort of colour meter. Game on!

The models stated here have a nice hierarchy to them, ordered, and you can see why you'd be buying each of them, it's a much cloudier view at present, which they seem intent on changing, a good thing...

http://www.4photos.de/camera-diy/Super-Fast-Tele-Lens.html

You're probably right... how long after the K-5 did the K-5II come out?[/quote]K5II/s came about for the need to put something on the table when Ricoh took over, and sort of interfered with the natural cycle a little.
I think, I remember Ricoh having a very long think about what sensor to use in the K3, I know they looked at both the Sony and Toshiba ones and rejected the Toshiba, in any case they weren't really ready to release the K3 last year and that's why we got the K5II/s...