Hi P�l, on 18 Nov 02 you wrote in pentax.list:
... >They have different names. Can't remember the names at present and they might >start to get hard to find. Absolutely worth having; a must in fact. At Boz's webpage I found some information that there were newer screens for the LX2000. They have numbers between 60 and 70. But isn't there a problem with the metering if you have the wrong screens? You can't use the LX screens for the MX as they are brighter than the MX screens. >> I agree that this platform strategy seems to be necessary. But I guess >> that the new models will be settled below the MZ-S. >Thats very likely. On the other hand, if Pentax three model line-up is to be >believed, and provided that the MZ-60 and the MZ-6 are going to be part of >this line-up, then it follows that the new film slr will replace all models >above the MZ-6. Yes, but where does this three model line-up information come from? I don't remember such an information. I know this intended reduction of analogue line-up but I assume that this is meant in the long run and in short term will focus on the compact camera market. >>As we have discussed some time ago, the MZ-S seems to be a quite >>successfull niche product >Perhaps this is an argument for that the next body is not that niche- >like. It may cost the same but offer more. Maybe. >> So the digital addon to an analogue SLR seems to cost something between >> 200 and 400% of the conventional camera. If the Pentax DSLR will really >> cost only 1600,- Euro, than the analogue sibling would cost between 530 >> and 320 Euro. This can definitely be no MZ-S competitor. It would be a >> plastics chassis comparable to the MZ-3/5/6. >I sort of suspect that Pentax have been sitting on the fence so far in >order to wait for this percentage to come down. I don't expect a 200% >price boost for the digital version. That might be right. Especially as the new platform is designed to result both in a digital and a conventional camera. Maybe those Canons and Nikons are so expensive, as the belated integration of digital technologies is more complicated than a complete new chassis. >All this is speculation of course, but the only thing that make me >suspect that the camera might be higher end is the possibility that the >MZ-60 and the MZ-6 continues as part of the line-up. If not, the new >body is probably the MZ-6 replacement. I guess, that Pentax will keep its current SLR line-up for some time and offer the DSLR at first. After that they will release that analogue sibling and reduce the MZ line-up to MZ-60, MZ-6 and MZ-S. If they have established that new chassis, they will gradually replace the MZ models with models based on the new chassis. Of course pure speculation. But its a kind of anticipation...;-) >> Might be. But what about the MZ3/5-niche of the "classic" user >> interface? Will Pentax release a DSLR with classic user elements? Or >> will they drop thsi concept? >I don't know, but if Pentax want to have only three film based bodies theres >no room anymore for niche products. Thay have stated that they want to >increase the sales volume for each body so something new seems necessary. It >might be that the conservative AF camera has played out it's role. Pentax >(only) knows the current sales volumes of the MZ-M/5n/3; perhaps they aren't >selling that well anymore? I was in Dortmund last week. The two major department stores "Karstadt" and "Saturn" no longer sell Pentax. Also in two of three photo shops there was no more Pentax gear at stock. I talked to two shop assistants and they told me, that the SLR sales have dropped so dramatically that they have reduced their product range to the two big ones (Nikon and Canon). This seems to confirm the descent of conventional SLR cameras. On the other hand this makes niche products more promising. Hard to say... >> I assume a complete ne design with similar functions as the MZ-6 has. >That was what I initially thought as well. I was certain that the whole >MZ-line would dissapear and that we would see a brand new series of >three film slr's and a digital slr. However, Pentax UK have also stated >that the MZ-series will continue. If this is true then either the new >slr will be a true stand alone camera or it will be inserted into the >MZ-series. Or there will simply be a transitional period with both MZ- and new line-up. Regards, Heiko
