Originally Posted by Samsungian 
I think its been years since Nikon topped Canon in global annual sales. I can tell you canon takes this top dog competetion seriously. From early december until last few days ago Canon dropped their minimum advertised pricing they impose on dealers. Likely 90% of all their lens line was 10% off. Example 300mm 2.8L IS usually sells at B&H for $4100 got down to $3728 and free delivery. It was very tempting for me as this is last item I considered getting to complete my eos system. But for same $3800 I can instead get D700 and their 14-24mm/2.8. Two items I'd really to add at somepoint soon. 5 days ago canon re-elevated their 300mm 2.8 IS to $4,100 so that bridge is burned and i am no longer tempted until next 3rd week of December 2009. Also in week before Christmas B&H included next day FedEx to all dslr sales. So with this observation I'll guess Canon ends 2008 #1 again.
For Pentax it is the fight with Olympus who makes truely "waterproof" E3 dslr and pricier "waterproof" lenses and larger than 1x optical viewfinder and articulated viewscreen. E3 was at $1298 for Holidays, now $1316. So 11 months after K20D was announced E3 was within a few bucks where Pentax launched K20D at 1-23-2008 for $1299.99.
We won't see IDC report until some media outlet pays their $4,500 to excerpt the report. Me I'd rather buy $4,500 in equiptment than get the unit number sales for 2008 but someone will buy it and report the dslr sales ;^)
I agree that Olympus does present competition for Pentax's intent to build rugged cameras. They already know about proper sealing both in DSLRs (E-x) and compacts (mju series). I still think the niche (but certainly not a small niche) market for an affordable weather-sealed system is still up in the air, though. Olympus has the affordable lens, but no affordable body. On the flip side, Pentax has that affordable body (take your pick - K20D, K200D - both go for much cheaper than the E-3) but no affordable lens to go with it.
I had hopes that the E-30 would have sealing, just to goad Pentax to make affordable sealed lenses, but it was not meant to be.
I think the first manufacturer to offer a fully-sealed package for $1000 wins the hearts (and pockets) of photographers who venture to harsh conditions (and might get mountaineers, kayakers, etc. interested, too).
$4,500 for the report? Geez. I could've already gone two systems with that money.
Originally Posted by Samsungian Olympus last year changed the way they are sold in camera stores. They acquired the Sony business model where as a dealer you must buy $100,000 a year minimum product to keep your olympus dealership viable. This business model dropped Olympus from all but one local camera shop. Costco does carry olympus but not at any other local retailers except the area proshop. I was told Pentax did this too and has since back peddled and modified their $100,000 annual buy in. Now my local dealers buy pentax from Amazon for resale as special order. Me, I can order up my Pentax online so theres no need for me to have a sales clerk order it for me and bill me full msrp plus the govenor's take. There are numerous stores locally I can handle high dollar Canon and Nikon product to make informed decisions.
I really still don't like this new-fangled system wherein small dealers are left out of the loop. For one, many new buyers for DSLRs (I'm thinking new hobbyists) would probably go to those specialty stores and browse available offerings there instead of going to big-chain electronics stores. Not to mention those specific consumers, being hobbyists, are the ones most likely to buy additional lenses and accessories in the future.
I do understand the need to expose the products to average Joe consumer (who might buy a DSLR on impulse when shopping in big-chain stores), but would it kill camera companies to give leeways to specialty stores?
For the rest of us who already do research over the internet, online is fine. I'm just thinking about others who think they're best-served going to specialty stores to make inquiries.