On 2/25/06 10:51 AM, "Pål Jensen", <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> "I hope that again, this hasn't been reported before, but a German Pentax > dealer (www.tekade.de) lists the new camera with the features > > - 10 Megapixel > - "Shake reduction" > - improved AF > > to be available after the Photokina in Cologne." I like (tend) to believe it. In Japanese sites, 10mp was correctly predicted and SR is also being predicted. I have two Canon IS zooms and bought this mostly out of curiosity. Despite the arguments that skilful photographers won't need it (which is probably true), IS saved me a lot of otherwise cull pics. When the subjects stops in viewfinder, it gives a lot of confidence too. So, if the choice is given, I am all for the RS/IS, provided that there won't be too much cost addition. The fact that it is a body mounted system is interesting as it will make ALL k-mount lenses RS compatible, unlike other makes for which you have to pay for each lens which has it. It has to be proven but it was adopted by KM and I understand that it worked surprisingly well. Now, Sony took it away :-) and I am sure that the next Sony DSLRs will have it. Besides, Pentax already adopted it for their P&S digital. I suppose that installing it on (much) smaller sensors might be a lot different from that on larger and heavier sensors, but I am sure Pentax already figured it out (Well, KM did it already). I am not quite sure yet if Pentax 10mp sensor is the same as the one used for Nikon D200 (CCD). Rumour says that it could be a CMOS. But if it's Sony's, it must have been developed in conjunction with Nikon who usually have the exclusive license for the first year. Then anyone can modify it, and the fall release of Pentax model makes sense. However, D200 has been plagued by banding noise and noise in higher ISO. I saw many examples of this problem and they are fairly prevalent. OTOH, some users might be too fussy because many of the noise issues are only visible in 1:1 or larger pixel peep. It should be noted that both N/C publicly stated that the 1:1 pixel peeping would eventually cost the consumers. C's R&D executive, in his interview, said that the photos have to be ultimately enjoyed in printed form. I do not mind the banding noise of D200 but N has not exceeded the high ISO performance of C's CMOS. I hope Pentax somehow dealt with it. BTW, C's 30D stayed at 8.2mp without going any higher, which I appreciated. It is not "Canon-like", but they are also saying that the higher pixel pitch has already exceeded the resolving capability of (some of) their Non EF-S lenses. 5D is not a "do-all" solution either, seeing some of the samples. Also, shooting 10mp in RAW will significantly increase the file size, which affects on everything storage media and the computer capability etc. I hope the mp race will have a pause and makers concentrate more on improving the existing sensor. Re Pentax lens road map, obviously, more compact system package seems to be their philosophy, but I do not think they abandoned so called FF. Both Pentax and Nikon said that, if FF becomes what the market demands, they will certainly consider it. I guess it won't be too difficult to go FF as long as the sensor price comes down. But the lens lineup has to be revised for the true FF digital. I cannot see that Pentax completely abandon former FA lenses (for 35mm film format) particularly on tele end. If I exercise the wishful thinking, they are probably revamping all lens lines to conform to digital requirement (more/better coating and tweaked optical formula etc) which is DFA on normal to tele end. They might also be taking this opportunity to reduce the mfg cost while maintaining the optical performance, much like they did for the macro lenses (which means more plastic :-). I just cannot imagine that Pentax simply discontinue FA type lenses. There must be something happening. The capacity of the lens factory in Vietnam has been vamped up by 160% and come into stream by this fall. Cheers, Ken
