Mike,
At 02:37 PM 10/22/2002, you wrote:
All that said...I'll ask the question one more time. Does the "APS sized
sensor" that Pentax is referring to possibly mean they are becoming a 4/3
format player?
Nope. Check out this link (below) to see that a 4/3" sensor is _much_
smaller than even an APS sized sensor, which in turn is quite a bit smaller
than a full frame 36x24 mm. A lens for a 4/3" would be unacceptable for
APS and one designed for APS would have the same problem as the D-30/D-60
do with focal length multipliers when using standard 35mm format lenses.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0210/02100402sensorsizes.asp
If so, that makes four (Olympus, Fuji, Kodak being the first
three).
Alas, no. It is a real shame that Pentax, Minolta and the three above
can't come to agreement on one interchangeable mount. I don't think it
will be a healthy for the "smaller format" players to fragment the market.
At this point, the only hope for Pentax or "KodaFuPus" lies in quickly
showing that a full "solution" (APS or 4/3 sensor, plus a few lenses)
produces a imaging system which is smaller, significantly cheaper and as
good (or better in at least a few cases) than the full framed
competition. Otherwise, market momentum will settle in on full-frame
sensors and they'll be roadkill.
Pentax and OlyDak are not pursuing a common solution, that's a verifiable
fact.
My extrapolation that suggests both camps (APS or 4/3") will suffer if they
don't quickly get a beachhead is just opinion. That said, nobody has
released a spec sheet, so there is still time for a "backroom deal" to get
everybody in one big tent. I hope that happens.
I really want to see the "smaller is better" approach explored. A 300-600
f4 of any quality would be an expensive monstrosity for 35mm. It could be
entirely sensible on a 4/3" sensor.
Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com
Stuart
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