Last couple photo group events I went to in S.D. with my Pentax gear, I noticed the N & C crowd looking down at me a bit, and I felt a bit on the outside (the only Pentax shooter there), even at the zoo "no respect at all" while before I switched from Canon this Spring, I'd show up with my "L" lenses and get treated very differently. I know I should be a bigger person and be more confident when I'm out in public amongst photographers, but that's a different story.
get used to that. Pentax is the underdog, always has been and a lot of canon and nikon shooters look at Pentax as second rate... always have. just take solace in the fact that you have an excellent camera, excellent lenses with
superb IQ, all at a much lower price without sacrifice in quality. just smile to yourself and enjoy being a 'Pentaxian', its a club with some of the best people you'll ever meet.