Can only chip in here with some random thoughts from my own personal perspective.
I used Pentax film camera gear extensively from 1978 onwards. My first MX in 1980 was my proudest moment in gear - and it extended to my photography as I explored new lenses and techniques. I can truly say that that era for me was my most photographically exciting. A real buzz, and the gear helped a lot. Fast lenses and fast music, plenty going on and as I started into my TV career, the photography was able to boom with me. Much later, and another MX in the bag, and then various MEs and ME- Supers coming and going, and finally an LX! Manual focus all the way baby - it wasn't until after the turn of the century that I owned an autofocus body. But at some point I bought a ridiculously big Apple Quicktake digital camera <http://news.cnet.com/i/bto/20090727/Quicktake_OVR.jpg> and arsed about with it. Crude, like a child's toy, with awful results - but the fact that one didn't have to buy film - it was amazing. At this point, the only DSLRs available were Sony and Canon/Kodak hybrids at eye-watering prices. Some snappers I knew had them. Purely professional and nowhere near the realms of the hobbyist photog like me. And then, in 2000, Canon brought out the game-changer, the D30. <http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/slrs/canon_eosd30> This was truly amazing - a camera that looked, felt and handled like a film SLR - except you didn't have to spend a fortune on filling it with celluloid. Instead, you coughed up the fortune in the purchase price. I wanted one. Desperately. But I thought I would wait and see what happened with Pentax. And sure enough - this camera was mooted by Pentax: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_MZ-D> <http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/bodies/prototypes/MZ-D.html> Perfect! The MZ-D was exactly what I wanted. I had lenses that would fit it. (Sure, later it transpired it would have been a dog, but I would have had one in an instant, no questions asked). I was prepared to wait. And wait I did. I waited quite some time. The MZ-D was coming - and coming. And - Then a couple of years after the D30, Canon brought out the D60: <http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/slrs/canon_eosd60> I waited a bit longer. I was beginning to doubt Pentax's ability to actually play the digital game. I had never doubted Pentax before. It was strange - I had grown up with the brand. It was uncomfortable. Sure they had point-n-shoots out, and even things that looked a bit like DSLRs (EI-2000!) but honestly - what the hell were those? Surely you bring out your best hardware first. The MZ-D! The flagship! The ones that the pros would buy, we'd all see them being used, then when the MX- D came out, would all buy them because we could afford them. That's the way it's supposed to go, right? It didn't seem to be going that way. I am sometimes given over to whimsy and so in 2003 I forked out over 2000 GBP for a D60 and kit lens. The following two weeks saw me with a grin that refused to leave my mouth. It was exhilarating. But, I hear you cry, why didn't you go for an *ist D - they came out in 2003?? In truth, the name and target audience of the camera didn't include my idea of what I wanted. I wanted the MZ-D - a professional camera targeted at accomplished photogs - not that I would ever include myself in that group - but that's what I aspired to. My choice. It seemed to me that Pentax had deviated from The Plan! Don't ask me what The Plan is, I can't really describe it. I only know it when I see it, and the *ist D was not it. I reasoned that even if Pentax did bring out the MZ-D or similar, that would be some time away - and Canon had an upgrade path already out there - the 1D series (out in 2001). I could keep on waiting, or I could go now. I thought - hmmm we'll go play with Canon for a while and see what happens with Pentax - might come back, who knows. The D60 introduced me to 'proper' digital photography, and for that I am grateful. It was very 'plastic' and made strange creaking and groaning noises. But it handled well and got me into the game. I sold some K mount lenses and the LX to fund some Canon glass. I kept my old MXs and my best Pentax glass. Just in case. In the ensuing years, I sold the D60 and got a 1D mark II and had a few Canon professional lenses (24-70/2.8L and the 70-200/2.8L IS and 2 or 3 others, plus flash - even a Quantum Turbo battery - fun!) It was great fun and I was well into it for a few years, but then I kinda fell out of love with photography. I was all tooled up but I lacked Clarity of Purpose. So, on another whim, I got an Epson R-D1 and 3 Voigtlander lenses - to see if this would make my Purpose and Clearer <http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/epson-rd1.shtml> and lo! Suddenly I realised that I didn't need bags of gear to make the pics I liked making - so sold all the Canon gear and kept the Epson. Fantastic camera! It had a winding lever to cock the shutter! Brilliant! But my photographic doldrums returned after a year or so. Eventually I sold the Epson - loved that camera and would have another. But it was a bit big and slow. Leica didn't interest me at all. We had an *ist Ds that was ostensibly my wife's but got used by whomever. It's actually quite a capable little thing - but doesn't inspire me. Not that gear is supposed to. But anyway. So for a few years, nothing - stills photography goes on hold. Then, recently, I got a few photographic twitches - did I miss it? By Jiminy I did! But what to get??? Enter Fuji. They're making stuff that look and feel like quality gear - and more importantly actually produce excellent quality images. But they're quite new and have glitches. Or did. I have an X-10 and will for sure be getting an X100s when funds allow. Not if, but when. Why? The biggest selling point for me was optical viewfinder. The X-10's isn't great but it can be used effectively. I know because I use it. The X100 OVF is excellent. So let's see - a camera maker puts faith in optical viewfinders when the trend is seemingly away from them? THAT'S a camera maker I am interested in! Let's see more... I'm enjoying the picture-taking but - as and when I can. The career is taking up too much mental space. I think that when I retire in about 7 years, I'll get back into [photography] much more. Who knows, the MZ-D might make an appearance about then! That would be handy. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying Fuji's gear and passion about pictures, and I keep an eye on Pentax. Just in case. Cheers, Cotty -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
