I agree with most cited below except the speculative part. I do think Pentax is about to introduce a new lens mount interface but I can't see any reasons to assume that they won't make an easy upgrade path. This path will be visible in upper end models; not bottom of the line film and digital SLR's.
Pål ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bojidar Dimitrov" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 12:08 PM Subject: Pentax's future (was: *ist D revisited) > Hi Peter, > > > Giving the option of stop down metering with K mount lenses would > > have cost nothing in hardware and no more in software development > > than has already be expended. It to would have made the camera no > > less attractive to beginners with no difference in cost and would > > have kept at least some semblance of K mount compatibility. > > I agree fully. > > > The decision to kill K mount compatibility is a blindingly stupid > > marketing move. Nothing more. > > I do not think so. I think that Pentax's future really lies in the > crippled (AKA FAJ-mount, AKA Kaf3), and if they are to do this thing, > then why not now? For the kinds of customers that Pentax is after, it > really makes sense economically to leave out the aperture ring and the > aperture simulator. These are complex mechanical shapes that require > lots of machining and complex assembly, and they are a source of > problems due to wear and tear. > > The decision to make K and M lenses obsolete (DO YOU ALL BELIEVE ME > NOW?) is an economically sound one, and with it Pentax hopes to cut down > production costs and to limit the amount of explaining that goes into > their operating manuals. > > Now, this is all a speculation on my side, but just like the prediction > that the *ist and *ist D will not work with the K/M lenses, it is my > prediction that Pentax will not release another camera or lens that > supports aperture-ring operation. There might be another limited lens > that has an aperture ring, I don't know. Or there might be a Limited > lens without an aperture ring, and if it is a good one, you will all buy > it. This will ease your move towards the crippled mount. > > It is also my prediction that if Pentax survives this transition (from > Kaf2 to crippled-mount), there will eventually be a further mount > evolution that will support IS lenses. I am sure that the *ist and ist > D mount does not support any unknown-to-us features. At this time > Pentax is barely hanging on, but if they make it, it is clear to them > that they need to follow up with IS. > > Good luck to Pentax, > Boz > >
