You don't get the point these mounts don't have to be incompatible. There are no new features that require these changes. These cameras have been purposely built to be incompatible, obviously so.
At 12:23 PM 6/9/03 +0200, you wrote:
Hi Rüdiger,
on 09 Jun 03 you wrote in pentax.list:
>> wait some more time to see the rest of the *ist lineup. I'm quite >>sure that we will see some positive surprises, too.
>From what is your hope. If they will save 5 Euro on their most >expensive body and make the software in a way to prevent using >K and M lenses and make the userinterface incompatibly to the MZ-S, >why should the work in different way on a coming mid class SLR >or high end D-SLR?
The *ist is an entry level camera. The entry level models of the MZ- lineup had always a crippled mount (MZ-30/50/60) and nobody cared about that. We now have a special situation because the entry level model is the first one of the *ist series that has been released. And in addition the first DSLR will be released soon - based on similar technology as the *ist. The *istD is a special camera as it is the first DSLR of Pentax. The most important aims of this camera will be that it works competitive and that it can be released soon. I'm quite sure that Pentax has borrowed the crippled mount from the *ist as that was necessary to realize the release date in late summer. So the crippled mount of the *ist/*istD allows neither the conclusion that the future models will not nor that they will have a fully compatible mount. We just cannot say!
In addition - there may be more options that we actually don't see. What about a whole new strategy with a crippled mount for the entry and maybe mid level and a new KAF3 mount with full compatibility and new features (IS/USM)? I could imaginge something like that, but keep in mind that Pentax is a small company in comparison to Canon. They have made a huge development effort this year: Optio 33L, Optio S, Optio 450, Optio 550 (still some more Optios to come ;-), *ist, *istD, three new lenses and maybe more to come. I really wonder how they do that. If you like Pentax and want to kep Pentax, then you have to be patient. If you want a complete IS/USM/DSLR system _now_, then just sell all Pentax stuff (I'll give some of your equipment a good home ;-)) and take a Canon 10D, a EOS30 and a pile of new AF lenses (no manual lenses at all...).
I have decided to be patient (especially as this will result in a cheaper DSLR) and bought an Optio 550 which offers me lots of features to bridge the time...
Cheers, Heiko
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. --Groucho Marx
