Compared to point-shoot and "pro-sumer" digicams, pro-level digital SLR's are expensive for the following reasons:
1) Big, high-quality imaging arrays 2) Small shutter lag 3) Really fast shot-to-shot processing 4) Lots of buffer memory The Nikon D1 family, Canon EOS-1D and D30, and Kodak pro-level digital SLR's cost between $3000 and at least $6000. The cost of the Pentax 6MP digital was high not only because of the expensive imaging array, but also because of the costly electronics required to achieve 3) and 4). Further, I'll bet that Pentax realized that the pro market consists largely of people who already have lots invested in their lens system (probably Nikon or Canon) and are reluctant to change brands. Consider now the true Pentax digital SLR market. It's us! Photo enthusiasts who appreciate fine equipment but do not have to shoot 24 consecutive images of John Ashcroft or Michael Jordan in 5 seconds. I'll bet that many of us would be happy with a camera that is more like the Olympus E10 and E20. These cameras have 1) and 2), lack 3) and 4), and cost less than $2000. My ideal Pentax digital SLR has a 4 MPixel imaging array, small shutter lag, and K-mount compatibility. Kind of like an Olympus E10 that takes K-mount lenses (with the groovy MZ-S operator interface, of course).... --Mark - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
