From: "P.J. Alling"
B&H advertises what sells, and Pentax doesn't have a camera in the top
10. It's hard to build a top 10 camera position when you don't have an
entry level offering, and Pentax hasn't had a true entry level DSLR,
since the *ist-Dl, (that may change with the K-500).
They started their line in the low mid range and by perception the K10D
- K-5 II/s cameras were in the top mid range. None of those are top 10
sellers.
The K-01 was a misstep, on the international camera market, (squarely
aimed at a demographic in Japan that may or may not have been impressed).
Maybe the entry level K-500 with semi pro features and pro results will
begin to get some new momentum for Pentax.
I'm not very impressed that their lens offerings are going to help that
much.
Something else that would help might be a re-branding of the Ricoh line
as Ricoh/Pentax, and though it doesn't look like it will happen, (in
fact I think that unfortunately it will go away), they should build an
A12 module or maybe a new A16 module that accepts K mount lenses for the
GRX. Done properly it would be a less bulky combination than a K-01 and
would make a certain amount of sense, and have tradition behind it as
Ricoh used to make some very nice K mount film cameras.
Then they have to actually show a Full Frame K mount camera, even if
it's just a mock up.
Just showing a mock-up won't do it. They're going to actually have to
have a firm commitment that the camera will be available for purchase by
a date certain. And that date can't be too far in the future.
If they announce it tomorrow to be available within a year from today,
it would still be too late.
Somewhere in there Pentax needs to update the 645D, with a 60mp sensor,
(or give it more SLR like handling characteristics, higher frame rate
etc., to compete with the Full Frame Canikon DSLRs, which seems just
stupid to me, so I'm guessing that's the way Pentax will go), and
actually announce some new lenses or it will become like the K-01 a dead
end and resource sink.
Jeez, that was a long screed, Finally Pentax/Ricoh, has to somehow get
back into the public's perception that they actually still exist and
make cameras. I've had a number of photographer's be astounded that
Pentax still exists.
They need to fire their advertising agency and hire almost anyone else,
and somehow get into both the remaining local camera stores, which will
be difficult, (they did a presentation lately for Milford Camera to try
to get back on their shelves, but the store passed. The owner/manager
candidly told me that they already have Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Fuji, and
Sony and yes even carries a Vivitar film SLR, it would require extra
training for very little gain to bring Pentax back). Pentax needs to
get K-500 Kits into WalMart, Sears, and Best Buy, next to the Nikon
D3100 and Canon Rebels kits, which will be another difficult sell.
Pentax/Ricoh has to be committed to this, it's a big task, Pentax rested
on their laurels so long that they actually turned to dust
Changing advertising agencies is not going to help if they can't get
cameras into the stores where people can actually touch them. I know
Sears & Walmart both "carry" Pentax, but they don't carry them IN THE
STORE. You can order them on-line to be shipped to a store near you, but
you can't walk into a store and buy one.
I did notice in my quick Sears/Walmart/Best Buy search that they're all
pushing the K-30 real hard. Best Buy does have a K-5II kit for sale if
you scroll down the page far enough. Didn't see it offered by the other
two, but that could be because I didn't scroll down enough. Sears
appeared to offer the best selection with the MX, Q-10 and X-5 along
with K-30. Walmart leads with a GOLD K-30.
I probably should have just skipped this thread. It depresses me so damn
much.
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