I think we WILL see several makers having 'full- frame' models in their product inventories,...perhaps there will also be different sizes/shapes of sensors also.

I think that the Sony company holds the key to this hypothesis.

Trying to see into the future is a "fool's errand", however, we can be absolutely sure of two factors about future camera product ranges;

a) Makers MUST keep on bringing out new models even if these are simply cosmetic revamps of previous models.

b) Makers MUST look at new or diversified product ranges as saturation levels are reached in existing ones (and profit margins diminish due to competition), in order to attempt outflanking moves on their opponents.

When Sony aquired the Konica-Minolta technology earlier this year they made it known that they were set on gaining 20% of the SLR market quite quickly and that Canon were their main opponent, at least in the long term.

K-M had already allowed various people to suggest that a full frame camera was in development. if this did indeed exist, albeit in developmental form then this presumably passed to Sony since K-M gave up on camera products to be active elswhere.

Since Sony is the 'other' big sensor maker to Canon and has stated that it intends to chase Canon as the market leader, then we will presumably see full frame sensors appearing in pro level bodies from Sony.

Although Nikon has stated that it will NOT be going full-frame, it's statements are probably neccessitated by the lack of FF sensors. However since Nikon buys it's sensors from Sony it seems highly likely that it would have to aquire the Sony FF sensor if only to stay in the game.

With these three major makers gone Full- frame the rest would be forced to follow.

Pentax is in a very interesting and unique position of having a stated interest in larger still sensor cameras,..ie., the 'digital 645' Perhaps this is why it's been so long appearing,.....perhaps Pentax is really waiting to target the FF models from other makers with a better cost effective alternative.....

Incidentally, I understand that the APS sized sensor has already reached a 'max-out' due to the laws of physics and would reqire revolutionary changes of direction to go further in terms of pixel count and resolution. This is certainly borne out by the new 6 meg models (and decreased high ISO performance of 10meg models) and by several makers now looking at improved signal processing,..as in K10D.

"........Personally, I'd rather see someone come up with a sensor with a more sensable aspect ratio....."

Here, here!..........But it's a folorn hope and i'm not holding my breath....

The reason so many "wedding", and indeed all kinds of pro photographers offer prints with a 4:5 or 4:3 ratio is because it makes a much nicer product to actually look at. The same goes with most media use of images such as book illustration etc......actually, if you have a look inside any decent art gallery you will see it is long established.

The 2:3 is yet again a throw over from 35mm,...one can only hope that eventually 2nd generation digital cameras will appear which have been properly designed rather than the '35mmSLR with sensor' models which they think everybody wants.

Personally, I want a 23mm X 23mm sensor with the choice of vert. or horiz. JPEG's instantly chosen by pressure switch under my right thumb and RAW square images so that i can decide during editing as I have for the past 30 years with roll film,..and the opportunity to make square images if i wish to without wasting pixels. The Rolleiflex and Hassleblad didnt get to be the pro workhorses they were for nothing.

When you stop and think about it, it is quite laughable that with all this amazing technology, not to mention the mindless complexity, that you still have to actually flip cameras over physically to get vert. images.....!?!! It's a pig on tripod as you need all kinds of brackets and paraphenalia.... IF I DO go the K10D route this is one of the big penalties for me which caused me to give up on 35mm (Canon F1) all those years ago.

Surely the essential point with using RAW files is that you are archiving the best and most detailed file of your image (?)

As with filing ones transparencies and negatives, you cannot be sure what uses you will want for them in the future,....if you are absolutely certain that you will only want fairly small images as JPEG files then why bother with the hassle of RAW? However, if there is a chance that you may want large prints later,..or, you are storing your files against the day when one complete wall of our living room is an emormous monitor, then RAW is the best file at the moment.

I have already made the mistake of not resetting the small digital P&S which i use to the full 7meg when i have been making 'small' JPEGs and then finding that later images were not sufficient for any serious use or decent prints.

"........ but how much more than a Pentax DSLR I haven't had the opportunity to find out..."

When 5D appeared it was featured in several side by side shoot outs with Nikon D200 and the image quality DID seem to be on another level,...and, as we know, the D200 is probably the nearest to K10D in image quality.

To be fair, there are some very good photographers producing some escellent work with the 5D,...here are a couple;

http://www.durhamtownship.com/index.html

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/

Interestingly, both these photographers moved up to 5D from APS sized DSLR's....kathleen from Nikon and Sean from Canon.

And yes, the reintroduction of Velvia changes the whole ball game for us landscape protagonists.

"........except if you're taking snapshots - which is not what we're talking about..."

Er,..No, that's NOT why I thought people here might find it interesting....obviously, few people are going to buy a 'serious' camera just to shoot snaps with.....

What i was trying to draw peoples attention to is the very mediocre performance of 5D for the money, at least 'out of the box'......maybe it's just my age showing but in my book a camera costing several £k should certainly work 'well' straight from the box and blo**y brillantly with decent set up.

For landscape work, NO 35mm or DSLR is going to beat a half decent medium format camera with a good, even flat-bed, scanner......and 4x5 sheet film is on another planet,..and with sensible choosing, not that much heavier to carry up the hills.....

Waiting now to cast an eye on the K10D and it's production model images but what with the mindless complexity of these, essentially, 'consumer items', may stick with 'real' cameras......

A 'full-frame' camera at £1000 would be very tempting since the cheapest current model, the Canon 5D, is a lot more than this.....

I have also been considering the 5D compared to a k10D with all the pro's and con's....

However, see this for an interesting take on the 5D;

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/150-vs-5000-dollar-camera.htm

Try contacting him thru his site which i have now found here;

http://www.lepingzha.com/

Look at these;....!!!?!!

http://photo.net/photodb/member-photos?user_id=53127&include=all

After a long 'brain bending' session and an hours detective work on the web I have managed to find the Chinese photographer......by name, Leping Zha. You will have to work thru the links for his tech info.....you won't be sorry to look at his work. It looks like he is still with the P67 kit.

http://www.google.com/custom?q=Leping+Zha&domains=www.photo.net&sa=Searc...

A few years back there was an incredibly talented Chinese landscape photographer,..unfortunately I can't remember his name but he hit the 'photonet' forums like a bolt of lightening! He used the '67' to fantastic effect and I read a very interesting item about his method of aquiring several 45mm lenses and after testing to find the best performer, modifying the mount by adding his specially made assymetric shim to give a permanent down tilt for increased depth of field. The bloke was a scientist and had recently moved to the USA where he was making 'Chinese landscapes' of the Arizona desert and Virginian autumn etc. If anyone knows his name I would love to have another look at his superb work.

The '67' had/does have some very serious users,....it is much used by Met. police, one of whose photographers told me that he was waiting fairly desperately for a body with interchangeable backs as it would make his life a lot easier,.....that and better flash sync. which is only 1/30 for the non shutter lenses if I remember(?)

I have been trying to get an overview of all the lenses in pentax bayonet fit which could be used with a potential K10D purchase...

What other lens makes were/are there other than pentax's own range and those of independant makers such as Sigma, Tamron etc?

I know about the Cosin/Voight. lenses in P bayonet.......

Do I remember Zeiss lenses for this fit?......or were these only M42/Praktica?

Also, what lenses with BOTH tilt and shift are/were there?