On Tue, 25 Mar 2003, Roland Mabo wrote: > >From: Chris Brogden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 16:29:11 -0600 (CST) > > > >Agreed. I'm not saying that the *ist is mid-level, just that I can't >see > >it being the least-expensive 35mm AF SLR in Pentax's lineup. > > Ok, on that we don't agree. Pentax entered the low-end with the MZ/ZX-50. > When the Z-serie was released, Pentax had the Z-1 (semipro) and Z-10 > (beginner). Then came the Z-20 (advanced). Z-50 was only sold in a few > countries, and some sort of a mix between the Z-20 and Z-1. The Z-20 was > replaced by the lower featured Z-70. At this time, the Z-50 and Z-10 were > gone. And when the lineup was Z-70 and Z-1, the MZ-5 entered the market. > Then the Z-70 was replaced with the MZ-10. Now, the MZ-50 appeared. Pentax > first low-end model. So, with this I simply mean that it's not part of > Pentax AF history to have a model in the absolut low-end.
To take a page from your book, stop thinking about the distant past and look what they've done since the MZ-50. Since then, Pentax has had an absolute entry-level SLR camera priced either the same as, or lower than, comparable N/C models. The MZ-50, MZ-30 and MZ-60 bodies show that Pentax is committed to the absolute entry-level market, and the FA-J lenses confirm them. > >How on earth do you figure? We sell the MZ-6, F65 and Rebel Ti for >about > >$500 CAN. We sell the MZ-60, F55 and Rebel 2000 for $380-$400 >CAN. The > >MZ-60 with the new FA-J lens will sell for about $350 CAN. >There is no > >way that the *ist will sell for $350 CAN with a lens in >the forseeable > >future, and there is no way that Pentax will abandon >that market segment. > > As I said, I believe that Pentax will sell the MZ-60 as long as there > is a demand for it. The *ist will compete with the F/N 65/75, EOS 300V > (Rebel Ti) and Dynax/Maxxum 5 and 4. Not with the bodies below this. > And I don't believe that Pentax will make an *ist below the current. I > believe that those who takes SLR serious, will want a more advanced > model. Those who wants a p&s camera will buy a digital zoomcompact > instead. So, the absolut low-end SLR market are likely to disappear. I don't agree with most of what you wrote, but I don't feel like getting into that right now. Pentax may sell the *ist for $350 CAN or so in the future, but I doubt it. I don't buy the argument that people are suddenly going to stop buying the extremely-popular $380-400 CAN cameras just because they can get a digital for the same price. People buy film SRL's because they want better quality photos, more flexibility (esp. longer lenses), and more manual overrides than p&s's. It doesn't matter if the p&s's are film or digital; both suffer from the same limitations that drive people to buy an entry-level SLR in the first place. I sell cameras. I see on a daily basis what people want. chris
