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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / October 2006Will Pentax carry on shrinking
Do you guys think Pentax will spend more effort in shrinking the size of their dSLR ? I am about to enter the SLR market, but having problems to make a decision on which system to go with, Pentax, or 4/3 (which is basically Olympus). I want a good quality camera, but if it's not small enough for me to carry it around, I just won't use it. If I look at the market today, there's the Pentax K100D and the Oly E-500 that are almost the same size, and in the same range of price. If the market was frozen and no new camera was ever to be produced, I'd go ahead with the Pentax. Olympus has shown that they are trying to get smaller (E-400 smaller than any of their previous ones, chances are the next one will be even smaller). Now what about Pentax ? Right now I see the pros and cons of the two systems as: Pentax: -Bigger sensor, better inherant quality -huge choice of used lenses -quite a bit heavier -slightly bigger -commitment, or at least proven track record to stay compatible Olympus: -smaller sensor, which will be a bit noiser for the same amount of MP -smaller/lighter lenses -no used market to get lenses from, and tiny choice of lenses -smaller/lighter camera -commitment to go small What do you think ? Will Pentax go smaller ? Can they ? Or have they reached the limit ? Was the K100D a fluke, or was it designed small on purpose ? Thanks. x...@x.com wrote: > Do you guys think Pentax will spend more effort in shrinking the size of their > dSLR ? I am about to enter the SLR market, but having problems to make > a decision on which system to go with, Pentax, or 4/3 (which is basically > Olympus). <snip> > What do you think ? Will Pentax go smaller ? Can they ? Or have they reached the > limit ? Was the K100D a fluke, or was it designed small on purpose ? The K100D is larger than the previous series of *istD cameras. Based on your pro/con list, your choice seems to be Pentax. I don't know how much bigger the K100D is than the Olympus. Personally, I'd take image quality over size (within reason of course - I don't want to lug around a D2x or Canon 1D.) Mike >x...@x.com wrote: >> Do you guys think Pentax will spend more effort in shrinking the size of their [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >quality over size (within reason of course - I don't want to lug around >a D2x or Canon 1D.) Are you confusing the (larger, newer) K10D with the K100D? The K100D is pretty much the same size as the *ist-DL (and the DS, and variants). I don't expect Pentax will introduce a DSLR significantly smaller than the K100D; that's already pretty much as small as you can make a (DSLR) body with a 24x16 sensor. If size is the most important criterion then a DSLR isn't necessarily the best choice. Personally I already find the DS/DL to be slightly smaller than I like; I can't imagine trying to use anything even smaller than that regularly. Equally, though, I expect Pentax to keep their entry-level body at around this size (or maybe a teeny bit smaller); after all, Pentax used to tout the diminutive size of the MX & ME as a feature. > I don't expect Pentax will introduce a DSLR significantly smaller than > the K100D; that's already pretty much as small as you can make a (DSLR) > body with a 24x16 sensor. If size is the most important criterion then > a DSLR isn't necessarily the best choice. I agree with you ! I'd actually be happy with a good EVF if that'd made the camera slimmer (it should be if they get rid of the mirror, right ?). But the industry seems to be splitting cameras in three segements: -compact -SLR lookalike -SLR The good compacts are missing a whole bunch of stuff, eg: the Fuji F30 does not have a WB histogram, and no wide angle, the Cannon G7 has no wide angle either, the Panasonic LX2 is supposed to have a very noisy sensor, Fuji is not upgrading their E900 etc... The SLR lookalikes are as big as the small SLRs, but they have the same small sensors as the compacts, and no possibilities of changing lenses (although this could be a plus if they started with a good lense). This is when I started to focus on the small SLRs, and ended up looking at Pentax and Olympus. >> I don't expect Pentax will introduce a DSLR significantly smaller than >> the K100D; that's already pretty much as small as you can make a (DSLR) [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >I agree with you ! I'd actually be happy with a good EVF if that'd >made the camera slimmer (it should be if they get rid of the mirror, right ?). I'm not sure you would - all the EVFs that I've seen are ok for checking framing, but not much use for anything else. >But the industry seems to be splitting cameras in three segements: >-compact >-SLR lookalike >-SLR Well, there's always the Leica digital rangefinder. Small, light, with interchangeable lenses (and high-quality optics, naturally). >> The K100D is larger than the previous series of *istD cameras. > Are you confusing the (larger, newer) K10D with the K100D? No, he's not. Although it is not a big difference the K100D actually IS bigger and heavier than it's predecessors. (My best guess is this is because of the SR system) It's true though that the K10D is bigger than the K100D. Sander > much bigger the K100D is than the Olympus. Personally, I'd take image > quality over size (within reason of course - I don't want to lug around > a D2x or Canon 1D.) Sure, but I come from the compact world, so the 4/3 system is actually an improvement for me ! If you are interested in the 4/3 system you may want to check out the new Leicasonic. > If you are interested in the 4/3 system you may want to check out the new > Leicasonic. Not exactly smaller, and a lot more money (even if you only look at the Panasonic version). > Do you guys think Pentax will spend more effort in shrinking the size of their > dSLR ? I am about to enter the SLR market, but having problems to make [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > -smaller/lighter lenses > -no used market to get lenses from, and tiny choice of lenses Where did you hear that from? You can get digital lenses used, you can buy older OM lenses and use them with an adapter. The lens choice for new is large enough so it's likely you won't need a focal length you can't get. They range from 7mm (14mm) to 300mm (600mm). Additionally, other 4/3rds lenses will work with the Olympus gear. Aftermarket suppliers have been weak in support for 4/3rds, but Sigma has a few and more coming. > Do you guys think Pentax will spend more effort in shrinking the size of their > dSLR ? I am about to enter the SLR market, but having problems to make [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Now what about Pentax ? The new K10D is bigger - a substantial, but not too large, model. Nikon D80-D200 size. David >> Do you guys think Pentax will spend more effort in shrinking the size of >> their [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > David Here is a good comparison. http://nedbunnell.blogspot.com/2006/09/body-size-k10d-vs-k100d.html >> The new K10D is bigger - a substantial, but not too large, model. Nikon >> D80-D200 size. >> >> David Yes, and that is why I would not buy the K10D - But the K10D will be sold along the K100D, it's not replacing it. > Here is a good comparison. > http://nedbunnell.blogspot.com/2006/09/body-size-k10d-vs-k100d.html Good page - thanks. I do wonder if the K100D is that small to keep its price down, or if it was intentional to satisfy people like myself who want a smaller body. > Here is a good comparison. > > http://nedbunnell.blogspot.com/2006/09/body-size-k10d-vs-k100d.html It looks quite a big in comparison to the K100D but the last two pics comparing it with the EOS make it look tiny even with the battery grip on. Sander >> Here is a good comparison. >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Sander It is pretty much the size of the D70 and 20/30D but slightly heavuer. |
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