Is it not interesting that people are predicting Pentax's Future from crippled (and mostly LowBall) bodies? Hell, I am too. Well, the old glass is still cheap, may get cheaper, and as long as my eyes can still focus, the hell with it.
Chris Brogden wrote:
Now Pentax users know *exactly* how Nikon users felt when the F80 (N80) was introduced, with its deliberately designed inability to meter with pre-autofocus Nikkors.
That wasn't the reason why I abandoned Nikon for Pentax, but it was probably *one* of the reasons. Now Pentax have done it, and Canon and Minolta did it a long time ago, I have nowhere to go!
So if the Nikon D100 will stop down an MF lens in manual mode (no meter), then it's actually a step ahead of the *istD, which won't even stop down an MF Pentax K-mount lens. That's sad.
I was scared of this happening when Pentax first started messing with their entry-level bodies. First the MZ-50, which would only meter at full aperture but would still stop down a K/M series lens properly. Then the MZ-30 and 60, which won't even work with non-A lenses or with A-series lenses taken off the "A" setting. Then the FAJ lenses, which don't even have aperture rings. And now we have their first, and flagship, DSLR, which essentially works like a digital MZ-60. This completely and totally hoovers.
Canon users must be feeling some rumblings of unease, considering that Canon's new 18-35mm lens for the Digital Rebel won't fit on their 35mm bodies, but Pentax has a history of excellent body/lens compatibility, which they now seem to be doing their best to throw away. Pentax can't hope to compete with N/C in many ways, but they've still been able to carve out a niche for themselves by offering inexpensive entry-level bodies, high-quality lenses, and excellent compatibility. Once their compatibility decreases, and the lenses they produce (like Nikon's G-series) stop working on MF bodies, then they've just alientated a lot of people. They'll still make money selling cheap SLRs and p&s cameras, but they'll simply be a lesser company than C/N instead of a different one.
chris
