Local Pentax presence (open thread)

[ryan s]

So as I said in another thread, I was in my local shop, The Camera Company on the East Side of Madison, WI yesterday.

While taking a moment to try out the DA* 16-50, I also took a moment to shoot the Pentax section.

First I'll start with the big view. On the "back wall" of the store, there are 4 glass display cases. Left-most is dedicated to used stuff and Promaster products. There is a used K100D kit available too



Next to the right is the PnS/Oly/Pentax section. From top shelf to bottom: Fuji and Casio PnS...Casio and Panasonic PnS...Olympus...Pentax. The PnS is the Z10.

As you can see, the next section over is all Nikon and Nikon-mount products. To its right is a Canon display, filled equally.



The Pentax display includes a K20D, K200D, 360FGZ flash, couple 18-55 kit lenses, couple DA 55-200s, a DA 55-300, a DA*16-50 (empty spot, on my camera ), DA 18-250, random Tamron and Promaster zooms, and a couple battery grips. They had at least 2 of each camera body down below (cabinet was open).

There were also a couple models of Pentax binoculars on display.

And a little 16-50 wide-open-fringing-action-100%-crop for you Regardless...I want one.


The Canon consumers a couple feet from me were complaining about the cost of IS lenses...here I was shooting at 1/8s

(Don't mind the Zooomr account...free, infinite space to dump stuff)



Please feel free to post pics/impressions of what your local place has to offer since this is an open thread.

[AndrewG NY]

Sad but typical, Ryan. At least they have this section--lots of stores don't. Strange that none of the fine mid-range DA lenses are present--55-300, 16-45, 17-70...but they have DA*.

[vinzer]

I'd happily take a snap of the Pentax section of one of the frequented brick-and-mortar stores here, but I'd be better off posting a studio shot of a K200D box. That's all they have.

Kidding aside, I believe the local distributor here has only given the green light to two camera chain stores to sell Pentax. That, or the more frequented stores in our camera district just don't see it worth it to stock Pentax. We're a predominantly Canon and Nikon country.

[ryan s]

It's funny how the store has everything for Canon and Nikon...70-200L f/2.8 IS...Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8...etc

Such a demand for the other brands...ours...not so much

[8540tomg]

My local camera store is Henry’s, a fairly large Canadian bricks and mortar outfit here in Canada. For our international friends who may not be familiar with the name. Henry’s carries all the major brands with pride of place going to Canon and Nikon products. There is a fair selection of Pentax products in stock with all of the DA Limiteds, consumer zooms and DA* zooms in stock. The DA* 200 and 300 are special order items and, alas, not there to play with. All the flashes save the ring light and all current accessories for the K10/20 are in stock. The staff are all Canon and Nikon users but are familiar with Pentax products and always helpful. Overall I would say Pentax has a fairly good presence in this store and this area of Southern Ontario. While not the mainstream brand Pentax is at least in the game around here.

Tom G

[djayvo]

I agree with you 8540tomg. Pentax has still a good presentation here in Canada but when I went to buy my camera they did push Sony first, Canon then Nikon but when I told them my camera will be outside for most of it's picture taken days and not having the option of running indoors when it rains then the talk shifted to Pentax. One thing to note, used lenses seemed to be priced different at different stores so you still have to shop around.

[Votesh]

Of the two camera stores I've been to around here lately 1 has no Pentax DSLR stuff, and the other has a limited amout of stuff. The most recent Pentax body they have, on display at least is a *ist D I believe. They have a few lenses, I got my DA*16-50mm there, and some accessories. BLargely it's useless to look for Pentax around here. The place that does have them generally charges way to much, and as far as used Pentax stuff there is even less of a selection. I think Indianapolis is just a Pentax black hole, although I did get a kit of mostly Sears K mount stuff recently from a local guy.

[ghost]

While they carry lots of Pentax stuff, the used lenses at Henry's can be outrageously priced. An FA 28-90mm f3.5-5.6 was about $180 while they are about $50 on ebay. You can get some deals if you wait though.