Attached Link: http://www.pentaxslr.com/bodies/k20

The digital camera is still in it's early development. In the late ' 60's the Asahi Pentax was with Nikon a marketleader in the world of mirror reflex camera's or TTL.
At Pentax there is some movement to restore their ancient status, altough much of it is lost to Canon which is the  best of today, save for the Hasselblads and the analogue/digital hybrid techniques, which are superseeding qualitywise any prosumer camera.
Pentax comes in same line with the Nikon D70 annd Canon 450.
You better have a look at the lenses rather than focussing on the technical issues.

Pentax had a medium format DSLR in development for a while based off of their 645 camera. I seem to recall it was going to be around 18MP when there were 22MP cams out already, so it looked like the idea just came and went.

I had a Pentax 67 and LOVED it - beautiful glass, very sharp and with good contrast (more so than my Mamiya RZ lenses) - made really rich images! I would have bought their 645 based DSLR any way I could just for the glass!

Looks like they're sticking with 35mm based bodies now. It's a shame - they could have had something really great, instead of just trying to run with the current pack.

Yeah - sensors, autofocus, good metering, responsive controls - you can't name that brand because it's ALL of them nowadays. If their 35mm lenses are anything like their medium format lenses, they ARE worth looking into.

-Lew ;-)

http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/2007/200708.html

Found it!
Looks like they're going for 31.6MP now!
Time to start saving - or figuring out how much I can afford to lease (of course, this was in '07...)!
-Lew ;-)

I work analogue digital with the Fuji 680GXIII and there is no better than that one in the medium format scene. My fotofiles ar sometimes over 2 Gb!!!!

With Pentax : the point is that the Japanese companies have made a deal between themselves:
real competition, like in Europe, is not fitting their culture. The laziness, lousiness and lack of skills put the European cameramanufacturers out of the market.
My first TTL was the Asahi Pentax S1A, later on I bought a Spotmatic. After that a series of Nikons.
Now Nikon lost a big piece of their Pro market to Canon.

I am happy with my big monster. I make portfolio's for starting models, covers for books etc.
No, the days of the good old Pentax are definitely over.

Very interesting replies...thanks.