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View Full Version : 31mm gives 50mm lens; 77mm gives 100mm???


Paul Zabodal
28th January 2005, 04:19
Hi,

A bit of speculation, here. Maybe Brendan could shed some light.

The 31mm ltd., when multiplied by 1.6, gives a 50mm lens on a 6MP d-slr. Pentax has produced two such beasts.

The 77mm ltd., when multiplied by 1.3, gives a 100mm lens. 11MP d-slr??? Will Pentax produce this beast?

Can't see it happening real soon but it would be great for Pentax to put out a camera which as ALL the features of the MZ-S with a 11MP sensor. And, if they could do to that sensor what Nikon/Sony have done with the D2X (12 effective MP - 6 + 6) i.e. 11 + 11, so 22 effective MP, that would really be icing on the cake.

Is it possible to do this?

I guess, though, that Pentax does not have enough of a professional market to warrant such a camera, even if it was possible (unless they make it viable for the 645 lenses to work with such a camera). I've heard the joke that they've got a BPU (business prevention unit); wouldn't you think that if they wanted to expand market share, they need to do something extra to entice people?

Alternatively, would it be possible to make the 645 digital, which I've heard is going to be a 22MP, perform a dual role as a full-frame 35mm d-slr, i.e. when 35mm lenses are mounted on the 645 22MP digital, only a portion of the sensor is being used (the centre 11MP, for example). If it was possible to produce such a camera, they have killed two birds with one stone! Nikon have done a similar thing with the D2X and the crop factor.

I'm more than happy with the quality of the Pentax gear I have but I've always been curious why a business (with shareholders, I imagine), seemingly "cruise" along, not appearing to try and expand their market share but rather look like they are just holding. (And even that's probably being charitable, as I imagine quite a few have crossed over from Pentax to Canon or Nikon.)

Why would a business behave that way?

Cheers,
Paul Zab

Lumica2
28th January 2005, 15:13
The 31mm ltd., when multiplied by 1.6, gives a 50mm lens on a 6MP d-slr. Pentax has produced two such beasts.

As far as I know the crop factor of the *istD and *istDs is 1.5, not 1.6.

The 77mm ltd., when multiplied by 1.3, gives a 100mm lens. 11MP d-slr??? Will Pentax produce this beast?

And the second thing: the 31 and 77 had been both in the market long long before any Pentax DSLR had been. I dont think it has been planned this long in advance how large the focal multiplier will be.

I'm more than happy with the quality of the Pentax gear I have but I've always been curious why a business (with shareholders, I imagine), seemingly "cruise" along, not appearing to try and expand their market share but rather look like they are just holding. (And even that's probably being charitable, as I imagine quite a few have crossed over from Pentax to Canon or Nikon.)

Why would a business behave that way?

That I do wonder too. I cant help you with any other speculations, though - maybe PMA brings news.

Quite a few people dont understand Pentax marketing. I would love some insight what they want to achieve with this strange information and selling tactics, but I dont think anyone will tell us.

Sam