----- Original Message ----- From: "Francis Alviar" Subject: Pentax's dSLR future?
> I can't wait to get an *ist D. However I would like > to ask everyone's opinion whether it's a good time to > jump in now or wait for the next Pentax dSLR. Where > do you see this going in the near future? Will Pentax > release a higher resolution camera (8 or 9 MP) or just > continue to update the *istD with more features. Or > will they release another 6.*MP dSLR based on the MZ-S > or PZ-1p platform? How long are you prepared to wait, and for what are you waiting? The ist D, while not perfect, is certainly a nice little camera. Pentax doesn't realy give a lot of hints about direction, and you can't depend on past performance as an indication of future products either. I expect that they will release a higher resolution camera at some point, as hardware becomes available, but count on them being on the trailing edge of the technology curve, as that does seem to be where they have positioned themselves of late. If Nikon or Canon releases a nine MP camera, then count on a Pentax a couple of years later. If you don't have an investment in K or M lenses, then the loss of usage of these two lens series won't be an issue, but if you do, then you also need to look at this. All of your lenses are no longer usable for what you are used to using them for, because of the format change. I don't think K or M lens compatability is in the cards at the moment, though I would love to be proven wrong. A release of a full mount compatable camera would probably coerce me into opening my wallet again. William Robb
