On Aug 24, 2005, at 11:27 AM, Tom C wrote:
I understand what you're saying and do not doubt the truth in your words. However, I use the ill-fated MZ-D as an example... Pentax obviously had a FF model designed and close to production. Understandably, either the sensor was of comparatively poor design, or the price point would have been too high, so it was canned. The size of the lens mount does not seem to be the factor with Pentax.
The MZ-D experiment was replicated, whether anyone said anything about it publicly or not, by every one of the 35mm SLR manufacturers. Contax even shipped a camera based on the Phillips sensor ... and it was a disaster. Why? Because whether or not the lens mount is ideally suited to the sensor, the compelling desire to use the same lens line is worth big bucks.
The opportunity to sell new, smaller format coverage lenses exclusively for half-frame sized digital sensor cameras is not a shoe- in for profit because, until the release of the Canon 300D, DSLRs sold in tiny tiny numbers compared to film SLRs and fixed lens digital cameras. Any company producing lenses specific to the reduced size format, until this very year, has probably not yet seen a substantial profit from their design and manufacturing process investment. The 300D, the DS, the D70, and the other follow-on DSLR bodies under the US$1000 price point will now change that scenario. I think Pentax is actually in a sense at the forefront of this amongst the SLR manufacturers, now producing six or seven lenses tailored for the 16x24mm sensor format (DA14, 16-45, 18-55, 40, 50-200, upcoming 12-24) and two more that are well optimized for both film and digital use (D-FA 50 and 100). That's a whole heck of a lot of lens development for just a couple of years.
Thanks for the Canon info. Weight or size is not an issue for me.
lol ... I can't believe how many people say that. I watch my friend Mark with no less than three Canon bodies and 4-5 Canon 300, 400, and up lenses, tripods, etc, go out bird shooting. I see the pain his feet cause him and the amount of time he spends at the chiropractor too.
Not for me. I ain't getting any younger and all that stuff I leave to those who are willing to endure it. ;-)
Godfrey
