Very true, Pentax will live, no matter.

But as regard the the compact question, reviews of the Samsung compacts are average at best (that does not stop them selling though). But the Pentax have(had) a good reputation. But I am going from all those reviews that the press make (and thats a lot. they feel that alternatives to the Samsung compacts were better, but of course consumers will buy what they want rather than what is best) Having said that a Samsung did win best compact at EISA, so there is hope.
As for Nikon, I was being devils advocate, and I wont happen. If it did happen, Hoya, would build all the Limiteds with the Nikon F mount, and forget the K-mount users out there, in effect becomeing a 3rd party lens make. Which we, the K-mounters would be left out.

But like you say, it aint gonna happen!

UP THE PENTAX!

Ahh the dream. Nikon D300 with its mighty AF, with a Pentax lens on the front. I can only hope

Anyone noticed the similarities to these two cameras?

I ask this as a few months ago Pentax stated that they were not going to produce any more compact cameras and concentrate on DSLR's

So here goes:-

resolution
X70 - 12mp
Z980 - 12mp
check

Sensor
X70 - 1/2.33
Z980 - 1/2.33
check

Lens
X70 - 26-624(35mm eqv)
Z980 - 26-624 (35mm eqv)SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON Lens (pentax clone if samsung)
check

Built in IS - Yes on both. Check

ISO 50-6400 (Z980) 64-6400 (X70) Close enough

LCD 200K dots (Z980) 201K dots (K70) close enough

Media - SD both

Picture sizes
Z980-
12.0 MP (4000 × 3000)—4:3
10.7 MP (4000 × 2264)—3:2
9.0 MP (4000 × 2256)—16:9
6.0 MP (2832 × 212—4:3
3.1 MP (2048 × 1536)—4:3
2.2 MP (1800 × 1200)—3:2
2.1 MP (1920 × 1080)—16:9
1.2 MP (1280 × 960)—4:3

X70-
12M, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1, 7M, 5M, 3M, 1024, 640
(mainly internal processing, but similarities)

Dimensions

X70-

Height - 82.5mm
Width - 110.5mm
Depth - 89.5mm

Z980-

Height - 90.5mm
Width - 123.7mm
Depth - 105mm

Slight difference, but if you look at the cameras side by side, they are very similar.

I might be wrong, but both came out at roughly the same time, and have very similar specs. So......are they twins?

Not that it is a problem, the X70 is getting good reviews, but interesting nevertheless.

Samsung would be the obvious choice, but with their track record of compact cameras being average does'nt sound enticing. (their DSLR's were re-badged Pentaxes remember), but if they take the Pentax Camera R&D department, then there is hope. They could even licence the Pentax Brand name for the Cameras, so at least the camera would still have the name on them, and not Samsung. but that would never happen. would it?
Another option would be Casio, but would you want a Casio DSLR, even if it was K-mount? No thought not!

The real question here, is a camera in the future that supports the K-mount, no matter what the lens is (K, M, F, A, FA, DA, DFA, KAF, KAF2 KAF3 etc)

So how about this. Team up with Nikon, Nikon make a K mount version of their DSLR's along side their own F mount range, and along come a number of Pentaxians who want to continue to use their lenses on a great camera.
Hoya continue to make the best primes on the market to fit.

Can you imagine, Nikon D3x with the Pentax 77mm F1.8 limited on the front. mmmmmmmmmm lovely!

It has happened in the past with some success with the Kodak DSLR with either the Canon mount or Nikon mount, so why not again? (just playing devils advocate).

Ultimately its going to be a large electronics company that they will team up with (Samsung, LG, Sharp, Acer, JVC, Sanyo, Seiko Epson etc)

Finally, its not going to happen, Pentax will live on, and produce and sell the finest APS-C DSLR's in the planet and people will realise this and buy them (which is sort of happening, the K-7 is flying off the shelves during the recession)

I can understand the K20D, but the K-m? The usual life cycle for an SLR is about 18 months no matter which make you care to mention. In fact the 5D was roughly 4 years give or take (or was it 3?). Anyway that was a long time, and the K20D is getting to the end of that life cycle (Feb 2008 it was introduced along with the K200D)
With the K-m, that is only several months, a lot less than 12, and in fact the normally biased photo press (ie CaNikon press) really rate the K-m as probably the best entry level DSLR out there, until the recent EOS500D and Nikon D5000/D3000 appeared.
I can appreaciate new models coming in, but we certainly don't want the situation with compacts, where they are replaced every six months.
Pentax need to concentrate the next model in the range now (ie the K200D/K20D middle ground) and leave the K-m as the entry level, so that they always have at least a 3 tier range for consumers to think about. They will never get to the stage of the 5,6 or 7 model range that the mighty two have, but with at least a 3 model range, at least they can keep in the users mind, that they are still a player in the DSLR market, if not a major player (unlike what happend to Minolta).
Without the K-m, Pentax will struggle as they won't have a DSLR that Compact or Bridge camera users can upgrade to the Pentax system with minimal cost.
Personally I have no need for the K-m as I already have the *Ds, K10D and K20D to use, but the K-7 will be an addition in a few months.

LOL Gazump, me? surely not....

An 85mm Hefty? which one? It's not the FA* F1.4 is it? If it is, how much do you want for it?

Drooling as I type....

I can understand why the K20D would be on run out, but the K-m? A great entry level DSLR, and not that old by any means. I am sure that the K-m is not on run out, at least for the foreseeable.

Maybe they will replace both the K200D and K20D with a mid range model, hopefully not called the K-9 as that will probably be a bit of a dog!
Possibly they will call it the K-y and we will turn to jelly upon seeing it.
(sorry I'll get my coat.....LOL)

Yep, original Takumars (mainly M42 mount) were the top lenses made by Pentax. Then in the late 70's early 80's, they bacame the budget range without the SMC coatings.
However don't let that put you off. I have a Takumar 135mm F2.5 K mount lens, and although it does not have the SMC coating, it is a great lens to use. I have not even had any flaring (so far).
Worth considering buying a takumar, but don't pay too much and have fun with it. Mine only cost me £40 two years ago.

I did look at that thread, but it appears mine is a thick band rather than lots of small bands.