there's some real "classics" in there, I had to use one of the Sony Mavica FDs at work at one point, that was a bizzare machine even for its time. The 10x zoom lens was surprisingly good though.

I'll echo the comments above. I was particularly interested to see the Pantheon shot, I was there a few years ago with my istDL2 and tried something similar. If I can find it I'll post it up because it really highlights how low light performance has improved!

with an APS-C or larger sensor I'd be tempted, the older cameras with non-crippled mounts work so much better with older glass, not to mention the enjoyment of just using something like an ME-Super or K-1000. It's an experience which is totally different from using a DSLR and a well executed digital film concept could remove a barrier to that enjoyment.

I'm not saying the older bodies are better than a DSLR, clearly the latter is more technologically advanced and can do things an old film SLR just can't, but it's a totally different experience which some enjoy.

I get that, but his largest suggested option is 4/3rds which is a 2x crop factor.

Clearly APS-C or 35mm sizes would generate more interest and he must know that, so either going that large is prohibitively expensive or it's technically unfeasable.

it's a neat idea and I hope it works, but unless it's at least an APS-C sensor it's not going to sell. Sensors of the sizes he's talking about will only be any use if he can get them into a 110 cart.

my appologies, I thought it was you arguing for a new mount in APS-c earlier in the thread, that'll teach me for not checking back before responding!

I do agree that in a mirrorless that makes a lot of sense, there's certainly a minimum registration distance possible in a FF camera due to angles of incidence, but the registration distance on the Leica M mount is 24mm compared to the K mounts 45.46, so you could certainly make it thinner.

but junking the K mount doesn't suddenly magic into existance a huge lineup of modern lenses. Quite the opposite in fact as Pentax will have to re-engineer an entire lens lineup which is no small undertaking.

You also, at least temporarily, lose access to the Sigma and Tamron lens lineups while those companies make up their minds whether or not the new Pentax mount is popular enough to be worth their time and effort

Access to a massive catalogue of older lenses is one of the major selling points of the Pentax system and always has been. I would be very surprised if Pentax don't make more money from additional body sales and people trading up to modern versions of older lenses than they loose by, for example, the odd person buying an FA 80-320 second hand rather than a DA 55-300 new.

All this when the K mount is already an electronic capable mount supporting both screw and lens motor driven auto focus and power zoom if you want it?

A new mount for mirrorless makes some sense, particularly if it was adaptor compatible to the K, but a new mount for APS-C DSLRs would kill Pentax off once and for all.

M42 should be much easier, there is an official adaptor which maintains infinity focus.

You have to use one of the ones which fits inside the mount (like the official one), some of the cheap ones extend in front of the camera body and these will loose infinity.

Some people have reported problems with build quality on the cheap versions of the in mount adaptor, there are small springs involved which could potentially come loose and damage the camera. I wouldn't go as far as to say only use an official one, I've had cheap ones which were fine, but it's something to check before you put it inside your expensive camera.

I used to read Pentax User with interest, alas no longer

Lol. JINX.