"Film is popular again, especially with young people. However, old film cameras are becoming harder to repair as parts become scarce and the people who repair them retire, taking their knowledge with them. Consequently, film camera prices have increased, as has the cost of film itself.
To address these concerns, and no doubt to capitalize on what Ricoh sees as a business opportunity, Pentax has now launched an initiative to create, not just one, but an entire range of new film cameras."
If I'm reading this right, they're looking at three tiers of cameras: An inexpensive point & shoot, something in the $500 range, and a prosumer $1000 model.
That last one should be easy: Unlike Sony, Canon, and Nikon, who have all basically abandoned single-lens reflex cameras for mirrorless, Pentax has remained firmly committed to the DSLR.
Their existing top of the line full-frame DSLR, the K-1 Mark II, sells for about $1800. Strip out the image sensor and its associated IBIS mechanism and image-processing hardware, remove the articulated 3.2" TFT LCD screen from the rear, and replace all that with a film back and motorized transport mechanism, and you should be ready to offer a rugged, weather-resistant turnkey prosumer film SLR for around a grand.
I guess the midrange camera could be a K-1000 reboot?
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