I would like to throw all my zooms in the bin, and have all three FA Ltds, plus the A*135/1.8 mentioned above, alongside my DA15 Ltd which I already own. That would do me nicely!

That's a seriously nice and comprehensive kit!

The proliferation of mirrorless and low end DSLR systems in different kit configurations push many of the more serious and expensive cameras down the rankings.

The Pentax Q double lens kit is currently at no.22, beating the D7000 (18-105mm kit, no.28 ) and K5 (18-135mm kit, no.33).

http://www.dslrphoto.com/dslr/space.php?do=jranking&view=all

FF models traditionally seem to get refreshed less often, compared to the APSC models... there'll always be people who value a larger sensor with more DOF control and less dense pixels, no matter how many newfangle innovations APSC models come up with!

I would like Pentax to 'do an Olympus' and go after professional and enthusiast users of FF bodies, with their own smaller and more elegant offering. Although Algi argues that this somehow led to Olympus's demise (from a 35mm SLR point of view) in the 80s, it was actually a pretty successful strategy and it was Olympus's failure to implement autofocus which did them in.

Whether the time is right now, or if other avenues such as mirrorless are more promising, is up to PRIC to decide!

Every so often I get it into my head that I want a compact, and naturally I incline towards Pentax particularly as it would allow me to post images to this forum ;P

But I go through the same thought process every time, after comparing dozens of image samples online. The Pentax images are always extremely oversharpened and noisy, with lots of compression artefacts. Canon compacts seem to produce smoother images which look more natural - even their cheap cameras seems miles better. And then you have cameras like the S95 are better still. But scrutinising the images really closely, even the best compacts (including the Q!) aren't exactly perfect.

At 800px, the images would be fine, however. But then again, so would the Pentax images which looked so bad close up. As we can see here with Shaun's excellent shots. So I think 'Hmm maybe the Pentax is actually the way to go after all'. But what always stops me pulling the trigger is the fact that if I resize my phonecam pictures to 800px, they're also actually pretty usable. And if I need better quality, there's the K7. So I conclude I do not need a compact camera!

I think people are concerned this might be some sort of portent of doom for Pentax! We're never quite happy unless we feel Pentax is staring down some sort of abyss....

Pentax are not Olympus though, and it isn't the 70's. Sony produced FF cameras which, despite not doing amazingly well (producing multiple models was definitely over ambitious) they were well reviewed and presumably gave the brand a little more credibility?

There is a halo effect from the 645D too, but there's a yawning chasm between the K-mount and MF systems, for an upgrader, they might as well be made by two different manufacturers.

It comes down to PRIC's marketing assessment of course, and I respect that, but I don't doubt they could pull off a FF body with minimum effort. They certainly have the knowhow, and probably even a prototype on the back burner.

Yay we can go back to being panicky and doom stricken again! Let's face it, us Pentax users are never happy if we aren't!

But seriously I don't think the fact that B&H has discontinued the Kr means a great deal... Jessops haven't discontinued it, Adorama haven't... Maybe B&H have just decided not to order more stock, or maybe Pentax are supplying other dealers exclusively. Who knows. Who cares!

And I thought you'd been out on the pull in Leeds!

But Canon has SIX bodies in that line up, and who's to say their success isn't partly due to the fact they have top of the range FF bodies - it shows they're at the top of the game, and of course users of the lowlier cameras may fantasize about 'upgrading'.

The 5DII also obviously has sold a lot more units than the K5, and probably pulls in a lot more profit per unit.