The news about the *ist is certainly very exciting. I agree with those (P�l and others) who sees this as an "entry level" camera (after all, that's what Pentax Japan calls it and since they designed the camera, they should know :-) ). The *ist is probably the first model in a new SLR serie that replaces the current MZ-line. It's the entry model in this serie. It replaces the MZ-7 and MZ-6 (MZ-L/ZX-L). I believe the MZ-60 will be sold as long as it's bought by consumers, but I feel that Pentax is not going to make a new model for the P&S SLR market sector.
It will probably come a *ist which replaces the MZ-3 and MZ-5n (*ist L?). Perhaps with true glass pentaprism, 1/6000 shutter, 1/250 flash sync, exposure compensation/autobracketing dial instead of the menu dial, same HyperOperation as in MZ-S. Perhaps this model will have KAF3 lens mount.
P�l speculates about Pentax working on very different *ist, but since they're going to be built upon the same chassi (according to Pentax UK marketing director who said that Pentax is developing a new SLR chassi for future Pentax SLR's) I doubt that they can be so different. But, who knows?
I welcome the FAJ serie, because leaving out the mechanical aperture coupling means that Pentax can spend more money on the optics. The two new FAJ lenses features aspherical lenses. The FAJ 75-300 is the first telezoom from Pentax with one. The FAJ 28-80 seems better specified than the FA 28-80 f/3.5-5.6 and 28-90 that it replaces. This is not a bad thing - good optics at low prices. Next FAJ is probably going to be a wide-angle, or a 28-200 super zoom. I doubt that Pentax will make prime lenses in the FAJ serie.
I believe that the FA serie will retain (with distance info scale, aperture ring and DOF scale) for more advanced shooters. Perhaps we will see a better FA 80-320 now, that would be nice. FA* is likely to continue, and future FA* will probably have image stabilisation (Image Shock Absorbtion) and internal AF motors.
Best regards, Roland
(opti*ist)
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