Given Rollei and Hasselblads 6x6 systems both take digital backs, and
have done for quite a few years now, it would be nice for pentax to at
least follow suit with its medium format gear too.
Antonio
On 29 Jun 2004, at 01:30, P�l Jensen wrote:
Jens wrote:
So, my point is: Don't expect line up of 3-5 digital SLR's
from Pentax. The never claimed they would try to compete with N and C
in the
pro market. If they really wanted to, they would have produced the
digital
full frame MZ-D, which was announced at the same cost as the current
11MP
Canon - 10.000-15.000 USD. Pentax do not dare to make investments of
that
kind, trying to "beat the competitors or die".
Pentax *ist D and it's line up of glass and accessories is the
enthusiasts
camera. It will be top of the line for some years - then there will be
another one. Pentax will make models that can cash in further on the
developments/research cost spent for the *ist D by making 1-2 Baby D
variations. In a couple of years, they will make a new top enthusiast
camera. ETC.
Pentax may have to consider how to replace the income from the lost MF
market. Perhaps by making some kind of special camera for a niche of
the pro
market - perhaps a digital back 645 or 67.
Bottom line: Pentax will not make a pro digtal SLR above the *ist D.
Weather
they will enter into the IS market is a big question.
Minolta did....?
REPLY:
Pro or not pro. The fact is that the market has totally changed from
the good old film days and the realities of those days are long gone.
Pentax is in a particular tight spot and in a particularly good
position as well.
The problem is that the volume marked for Pentax, the market invented
and dominated by them; the zoom P&S, has totally collapsed and
replaced by digital. Pentax was for years the market leader in this
segment. Its growth coincided with the demise of Pentax SLR (35mm)
involvement. Not a coincidence. The problem for Pentax is that this
profitable sector, the expensive P&S, is facing much stiffer
competition from far more players; some of them electronic giants,
than ever was the case for film P&S and Pentax can never even dream
about conquering similar market shares in this segment for digital.
Now the good news is that DSLR sales now are so high that some models
sells in larger numbers than any film slr before! Hence, theres a huge
market potential for Pentax (and Minolta for that matter). Very few
companies can and will make full blown slr systems for digital. There
are really only five: Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta and Olympus. There
is in fact room for all of them.
The slr field is a natural way for Pentax to aquire market share. In
order to do so they need a three model line-up at the least. Without a
model above the *ist D they simply have no chance. Its no accident
that the first Olympus DSLR (with interchangeable lenses) is a pro
model (according to Olympus that is, but I'm sure someone with a Canon
will claim that Olympus has never catered for the pro market anyway so
no model of theirs can be pro) Also, as DSLR are fully electronic,
making cameras at various price point with various sensor size and
built quality is simpler than ever as lot of the enginering and
production could be shared for all models.
Another area particularly open for Pentax is DSLR's that take the
medium format system lenses. Pentax can make a high-end DSLR with
K-mount, increase mount/sensor distance with 1,2 cm - inflate
prism/mirrorbox etc as necessary and put in a larger sensor and they
have high-res DSLR. The cost saving must be significant compared to
the other MF manufacturers who are strictly niche and have no volume
products to share developing cost with.
P�l
