Looking at that size comparison picture at DPReview, Pentax's digital strategy becomes really obvious - smaller is better (as if the Optio S didn't tell us that already). In that case, the DA lenses are always going to be smaller than their FA/FAJ equivalents so we are going to see a lot more of them, just as the M lenses supplanted the K lenses. I also think it may be a while before a full frame chip drops to Pentax's price point.
For those of us who don't want to drop a bundle by selling off Pentax lenses to buy canon or nikon what we should be praying for is more DA lenses, not less. Specifically we should be hoping for high quality primes instead of low quality zooms. The only reasons to want a full frame camera are a) I don't have to buy any new lenses to cover my favourite focal lengths b) The full frame sensors theoretically have less noise for the same number of Megapixels (i.e. a larger 6mp chip outperforms a smaller 6mp chip) Given the huge cost difference to go to a full frame chip it makes a lot more sense to simply buy the various wides that you need in the smaller format and save your existing lenses for your film gear. Of course those wides don't exist yet, but I doubt that the new DA zoom will be an orphan for long. A DA prime should either be smaller and lighter or have a faster aperture given that the mount size has remained the same. So provided they are built to a standard matching a $1500 camera, a DA prime should in fact be a much more useful lens than an FA prime. If the "smaller is better" marketing ploy allows Pentax to carve its own niche separate to the Canon/Nikon battle then they may just choose to stick with the smaller sensor, and why not. Sure, it's just 6mp now, but in the next couple of years that will improve. As soon as it allows for an A3 size print (with maybe a little cropping) then most of us will be well catered for. At this point the fact that a body and six lenses weigh less than a full frame DSLR and two lenses becomes a big plus point. So, don't cry for a full frame Pentax D-SLR, plead for decent DA primes! Paul Ewins Melbourne, Australia
