F/1.0

The announcement of the k100d SUPER has sparked a flurry of speculation on the release of upcoming Pentax cameras, seemingly corroborated by a well known fashion photographer sponsored by Pentax France (Benjamin Karanek) who reported that Pentax would be releasing 2 new DSLRs (not counting the medium format 645d) this year.  Furthermore, these would *not* merely be rebrandings of the k10d or k100d. 

Now for all us Pentaxians, this is thrilling news.  Even if you are perfectly satisfied with the k10/100 (I am), it’s nice to see an aggressive approach by pentax, hopefully gaining some market share, and expanding it’s line of dslrs.  Pentax is often maligned as not having a true “pro” camera, the likes of the Canon 1d series or the nikon d2x, so it would lend them a lot of credence as a “serious” camera maker (as they were back in the old days!)

Most likely fueled by the rumors of an upcoming 18 megapixel sony sensor that will be used in the next pro Nikon body, there is much speculation that pentax will be releasing a full frame (or 1.1 crop to allow for in body SR) camera. 

Personally I think this is *highly* UNLIKELY.   Look at the evidence – all of Pentax’s recent lenses have been aps-c only.  The new DA* lenses are also aps-c only.  Now call me crazy, but I don’t think it likely that a company would revamp their entire PRO lens lineup (the * lenses are Pentax’s pro-grade, the equivalent of canon L-lenses) to aps-c size, and then release a pro camera that would not work with them. 

Now some people will counter that a few of the DA lenses have been tested on full frame, and actually cover the entire frame.  That is true, but the fact remains that is not how they were designed.  Edge performance is poor, and many vignette heavily.  Not exactly what you would want in a pro grade lens.

Not to mention the fact that if the 645d ever materializes, (and the lenses for it are on the roadmap!), IT would be the “full frame” offering, especially if they could market it at a price point to compete with the canon full frame pro model (1dsMKII right now) meaning, around 8k.   Given the fact that Mamiya has just released a MF setup for under 10k, and knowing Pentax’s penchant for aggressive pricing, I think 8k or even less may be possible.  I think the 645d would essentially make a full frame pro dslr offering kind of redundant, and “muddy” the line (especially with no upcoming lenses for it).

So, assuming an aps-s sensor, what would a camera above the k10d look like?  Here’s my take:

• most likely a 12-14mpix sensor, maker unknown. 
• weather sealing (obviously), in body AS
• improved af system (more x-point sensors etc… possibly an “open loop” focusing system like canon to improve speed)
• more metering segments.
• FASTER FLASH SYNC.  this is one weakness I see in the k10d.  1/180 is not all that great.  Very often creative use of flash requires a higher sync speed, especially off-camera flash. Most “pro” cameras have 1/250 or 1/500 at least
• likely a built in grip ala’ the canon/nikon pro bodies.
• faster frame rate (maybe 8fps?, possibly only 5)

Honestly I think this is probably about it.  It’s not particularly glamorous, but I think the above improvements are really what will appeal to the “pro” market above the k10d.   Image quality is fine.  I think that if you even took the existing k10d sensor and put in in a body like the above it would be a great pro camera.  (And for all you measurebators complaining about the .jpg softness – FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GO OUT AND TAKE SOME PICTURES INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING. – btw, do you remember when the Nikon d200 came out?  yeah, same “.jpg softness” issue. That’s right – from one of the most highly regarded semi-pro cameras out there. Same “issue”,  and yet plenty of pros are taking fabulous pictures with it.  So there.)

Anyway, I don’t have any connections to Pentax, I don’t have a friend of a friend of a cousin who works there or anything, so all this is pure speculation. ]I think it is logical, well reasoned speculation- but we’ll see in the end!

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