Hi Peter, > Giving the option of stop down metering with K mount lenses would > have cost nothing in hardware and no more in software development > than has already be expended. It to would have made the camera no > less attractive to beginners with no difference in cost and would > have kept at least some semblance of K mount compatibility.
I agree fully. > The decision to kill K mount compatibility is a blindingly stupid > marketing move. Nothing more. I do not think so. I think that Pentax's future really lies in the crippled (AKA FAJ-mount, AKA Kaf3), and if they are to do this thing, then why not now? For the kinds of customers that Pentax is after, it really makes sense economically to leave out the aperture ring and the aperture simulator. These are complex mechanical shapes that require lots of machining and complex assembly, and they are a source of problems due to wear and tear. The decision to make K and M lenses obsolete (DO YOU ALL BELIEVE ME NOW?) is an economically sound one, and with it Pentax hopes to cut down production costs and to limit the amount of explaining that goes into their operating manuals. Now, this is all a speculation on my side, but just like the prediction that the *ist and *ist D will not work with the K/M lenses, it is my prediction that Pentax will not release another camera or lens that supports aperture-ring operation. There might be another limited lens that has an aperture ring, I don't know. Or there might be a Limited lens without an aperture ring, and if it is a good one, you will all buy it. This will ease your move towards the crippled mount. It is also my prediction that if Pentax survives this transition (from Kaf2 to crippled-mount), there will eventually be a further mount evolution that will support IS lenses. I am sure that the *ist and ist D mount does not support any unknown-to-us features. At this time Pentax is barely hanging on, but if they make it, it is clear to them that they need to follow up with IS. Good luck to Pentax, Boz
