Lubbyman wrote:
I think there is scope for radical innovation inside the DSLR that can result in a smaller, lighter, pocketable, more easily used camera which still gives the full 'real camera' experience for people wanting to take a step (or two) up from a phone. If I were head of R&D for the next gen Pentax DSLR, I'd have the team look at:
- Saving space and weight by using a switchable reflective coating rather than a mirror with mechanical mechanism. Such coatings exists, I've no idea whether they are good enough for a camera. But what an ambition for the descendants of the people who gave the world the pentaprism viewfinder.
- Changing the optical paths to make the camera thinner and more pocketable. Does the sensor have to be immediately behind the lens and the viewfinder up above? Look at the complex optical paths in phones, can they be adapted for DSLR? K-mount flange distance would then not dictate the thickness of the camera.
- Easy, 'one button' download of images to wherever you want to put them, including cloud storage and social media. Build this into the design from the beginning, not as an afterthought.
- Alternative user interfaces. one without access to all the bells and whistles for people who don't want to know about them, and an advanced one for people who do want access to everything. Let the user choose. And make both interfaces user friendly and a pleasant experience.

See, there is a potential future chapter!

Steve