We already know this from Paal's sources, but with a slightly new variation of the same theme:
> Dear Mr. Hood, > > Thank you for your email regarding Pentax and the availablity of the Digital > SLR. You have made very many valid points in your email. > > We were all disappointed to learn that the MR-52 (or MZD as you refer to it) > was cancelled. However, I am sure that the the engineers gained invaluable > knowledge from this project and will use this knowledge when developing > future models. > > I am pleased that I can now tell you that a Pentax Digital SLR will be > available soon. There will be an announcement coming in Spring 2003 on this > new model. I can also tell you that this new Digital SLR will have a mount > that will allow the use of many current Pentax lenses with the body. > Engineers are also working on a new wide-angle zoom lens for this new > camera. > > We have enjoyed much success with our Optio line of compact digital cameras. > I am confident that the new Pentax Digital SLR will meet the expectations of > photographers like yourself, who have been waiting for this camera for quite > a while. > > With regards to your comments regarding the MZ-S camera, I will pass this > information on to our offices in Japan. > > We thank you for your continued support of Pentax and our line of products. > I hope that you will wait just a bit longer for our new Digital SLR. > > Sincerely, > > ______________________ > Christine Otani > Marketing Coordinator > Pentax Canada Inc. > [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:cotani@;pentaxcanada.ca> > ______________________ > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Customer Service [mailto:custserv@;pentaxcanada.ca] > Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 1:30 PM > To: Christine Otani; Stratis Tsapoitis > Subject: Fw: DSLR > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Cameron Hood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 1:39 PM > Subject: DSLR > > >> I am a semi-professional photographer, and have over the years ammased a >> beautiful assortment of FA* lenses (24mm f2, 28-70 f2.8, 85mm f1.4, > 80-200mm >> f2.8, 300mm f4.5) for use with my PZ1-P. 95% of my work now gets scanned >> into a Powermac for digital imaging, and all of my prepress work is now in >> digital only format. >> >> I know of the unfortunate demise of the MZD full frame digital SLR a year >> and a half ago, but there has been (seemingly) no word on a replacement. >> This lack of a high end digital camera is now costing me thousands of >> dollars annually, not to mention thousands of unneccessary hours being > stuck >> in an analog to digital workflow situation. An all digital workflow would >> cut my costs by 95% and my time by 85%. When will Pentax be resolving this >> situation? I am personally sick of waiting through the many photo shows > like >> PMA and Photokina with no announcements and no apparent movement on this. > I >> am now seriously considering selling all of my Pentax gear, and going with > a >> manufacturer who does support current technology. >> >> Surely to goodness it could not be that hard to just stick another sensor >> and the appropriate software in the wonderful camera you showed two years >> ago? The MZD (MZ-S digital twin) was a great concept, with a twin film >> camera available. Canon and Nikon have introduced how many cameras in the >> time Pentax has said nothing? Two years is a long, long time in the > digital >> world. >> >> I am also not at all happy with the film camera situation. I have not > bought >> the MZS for a number of reasons: >> 1) Waiting for a digital SLR >> 2) Metered manual mode is very awkward with large hands and the > recessed >> aperture ring on the large pro lenses (ie FA* 85mm f1.4, 80 - 200 F2.8, >> etc.) Aperture or shutter priority is fine, but the lack of a separate >> aperture wheel on this camera was a major gaffe. >> 3) Slower true flash-sync speed >> 4) Frames-per-second rate (I do a lot of pet action shots for a pet > food >> company; need the speed) >> 5) Lack of a wrist strap (like the PZ1-P grip strap) >> 6) The companion flash (360 FTZ) is not powerful enough for my needs. > I >> currently use a Metz MZ40-2 and a Pentax FTZ 500. >> >> I have been hoping for a replacement film camera with specs to match or >> exceed my PZ1. All that camera really needed was an up to date auto-focus >> sensor system, better mirror damping, and a grip that took AA batteries. > The >> ergonomics and function set of that camera is superb; that is why I bought >> it over the competitors products. I am still waiting for a replacement for >> that; it is now extremely long-in-the-tooth. >> >> As an avid subscriber and contributor to the Pentax Discussion Mailing > List >> on the Net for over 6 years now >> (http://www.mail-archive.com/pentax-discuss%40pdml.net/), I can tell you >> that the (lack of a) digital SLR has been the main topic of discussion > since >> the demise of the MZD, and Pentax is slowly but surely losing is support >> base of professional, semi-professional, and avid amateurs over this. >> >> As a (currently) loyal Pentax customer who is rapidly running out of >> patience, I can tell you that you really need to address this situation >> immediately, or you will have a very hard time selling anything with the >> huge glut of used lenses, cameras, flash units, and accesories that will > hit >> the market as people wholehearted 'jump ship' and buy into a brand that >> supports high quality digital cameras. >> >> I have already been looking into other makes of cameras and lenses, and >> although I am still convinced of the superiority of the high end Pentax >> lenses (esp. the 24mm f2 and the 85mm f1.4; nothing really comes close, > does >> it?), economics is demanding that I move on. This is now costing me a LOT > of >> money. >> >> You need to make an announcement immediately, and address this situation. >> >> Sincerely, >> Cameron R. Hood >> Photography, Graphics, & Jazz
