>Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:56:15 +0200 >From: Sylwester Pietrzyk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "pentax-discuss@pdml.net" <pentax-discuss@pdml.net> >Subject: Re: HOT NEWS: Pentax +Samsund DSLRs >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" >Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
>Dario Bonazza wrote on 12.10.05 12:48: >> Balancing pros and cons, I think this is a good move for Pentax, especially >> when considering that there's probably nothing better left (since Sony >> already teamed with Minolta and Panasonic with Olympus). The alternative >> (with a different vision) could only be a stronger alliance with Nikon... > > >Unlikely. The latest rumours are saying that >Nikon will make an alliance with Fuji to use >their newest Super CCDs in new cameras... This is BAD NEWS for Pentax. The reason Canon succeeds so strongly is that Canon DSLRs use Canon-made sensors. All other DSLR manufacturers have to buy in sensors from sensor manufacturers. This has led to many problems. Kyocera Contax failed with the N Digital because the Philips-designed 6 MP full frame chip was very noisy. The problem: end of Kyocera Contax. Kodak failed with the DCS 14n, Pro/n and Pro/c because their 14 MP sensor was noisy. The problem: Kodak ended the product line. Olympus failed with the E-1 and E-300 because the Kodak sensors are noisy at all but the lowest ISO settings. The problem: Kodak ended their interest in Four Thirds and decided to co-operate with Minolta, meaning Olympus have had to co-operate with Panasonic whose sensors are even noisier than Kodak's. The Kodak co-operation with Minolta means that camera makers currently using Kodak sensors are having to find other suppliers. Nikon are considering co-operating with Fuji, and Pentax desperately needs to co-operate with someone else. But who? All the major designers and manufacturers of photo sensors are already tied up or talking to other DSLR makers. So, out of sheer desperation, Pentax pick Samsung, a company with zero experience of producing APS-sized sensors, let alone the holy grail of the full frame sensor. Has Samsung ever produced any high quality photo sensors in *any* size? Samsung gets a partner with decades of experience of producing fine SLRs and even better lenses, and what does Pentax get? A firm with a reputation for low end products that sell on price alone. Samsung is a very lucky organisation. Pentax users can now say goodbye to any hope of a pro or semi-pro DSLR, and hello to a long wait for Samsung to learn how to make sensors that can even begin to compete with the best from Sony, Kodak and (above all) Canon. Canon must be laughing out loud. Colin. __________________________________ Yahoo! Music Unlimited Access over 1 million songs. Try it free. http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/