Straight from this weeks Amateur Photographer 'THISWEEK' section; PENTAX UK HAS CONFIRMED plans for the launch of a new flagship digital SLR next spring. It has also pledged to continue making film-based SLR camera bodies and medium-format bodies.
Responding to rumours on the internet about an upcoming launch, Pentax UK's marketing manager John Dickens told AP: 'We cannot deny that we are launching a digital SLR in spring 2003. All information concerning this model will be released in its final form nearer the time. There is enough time to make modifications between now and the launch in spring. Commenting on suggestions that the company is to cut its range of cameras, Dickens said Pentax's move to reduce the number of 35mm compacts already reflects the growing consumer demand for digital models. 'This also allows us to free up R&D for digital that people really want, ' he said. He confirmed that the company's MZ-series of film-based SLRs will continue. 'SLR camera bodies will carry on being developed and a brand-new SLR chassis will form the basis of the digital SLR and other SLRs. We will also continue with medium format cameras.' Last year Pentax shelved plans to launch a six-million-pixel flagship digital SLR, saying that it wanted to move away from the 'cost no object' must-have, best possible quality' area of the digital arena. The camera had been code-named MR-52 and was first unveiled at the Photokina trade show two years ago. It was due to be based on Pentax's 35mm SLRs and was to be compatible with Pentax K-mount lenses and use a digital chip which was jointly developed with Philips. Nothing that we didn't know but it is now in print, so roll on Spring 2003......
