Why do people want pentax to gain market share?

[nickthetasmaniac]

Originally Posted by Ash

What other lenses (apart from your desired APS-C equivalent 'fast fifty' which you want faster than the 31 ltd) do you actually want Pentax (or Tamron or Sigma) to make?

Assuming that Pentax actually does stick with APS format, I'd BUY:

DA* 12-24 (ish) landscape lens with sealing.
DA* 70-200/f2.8 for sports (50-135 is too short, 200 to limited and 60-250 too slow)
DA* 28/f1.4 (yeah there's the 31 Ltd, but they cost well over $1000 in Aus...)

It's not good enough for a primary manufacturer like Pentax to rely on third party brands like Sigma/Tamron to fill gaps in their line-up. And if Pentax is going to commit to APS as a format, claiming that it's the best balanced format in regards to quality, cost and size, then they can't keep relying on old film lenses (ie. FA Ltds, 50mm and 100mm macro...) They need to do an Oly and make lenses that actually take advantage of the format size (50-135 i an excellent example).

[johnmflores]

Lens prices are up this year (not just Pentax either AFAIK) because the market has shrunk in this down global economy.

At current sales volumes, prices have to remain elevated to support the current level of development - 2 bodies a year and a couple of lenses - unless Pentax can cut the cost of Operations and/or Marketing (gasp no!) or some other function like Sales Channel support (already smaller than people like, that's why fewer shops carry the line), etc...

I for one would like to see greater profits through increased market share and smart operations, so that Pentax can fund more product development, more marketing, more channel sales, more pro support, etc...

That doesn't necessarily mean being Canikon big.

[Ash]

Originally Posted by nickthetasmaniac

Assuming that Pentax actually does stick with APS format, I'd BUY:

DA* 12-24 (ish) landscape lens with sealing.
DA* 70-200/f2.8 for sports (50-135 is too short, 200 to limited and 60-250 too slow)
DA* 28/f1.4 (yeah there's the 31 Ltd, but they cost well over $1000 in Aus...)

Only problem for you would be that all of your suggestions would cost way over AUD$1000 each anyway.

Is f/4 at 250mm really too slow? The 60-250 is sharp wide open, so it would be a reasonable sport lens, only it probably wouldn't suit having an SDM TC added onto it too well...

[Ash]

Originally Posted by lithos

That's a vicious cycle, I think. Someone goes into the store, asks for something from Pentax, sales rep says, sorry, we don't stock it, can have it in two weeks, customer realises it'd be quicker just to order the damn thing off the net, and, bingo, store's lost a sale.

Bad for local stores, but no different for Pentax...
As much as we Aussies want to support local businesses, the inflated local prices always gives us a reason either not to buy or go online.

[Zarkon]

Speaking of inflated lens prices - I shudder to think what lens pricing is going to look like 5 years from now when the US dollar has lost even more ground...

[reeftool]

Originally Posted by Zarkon

Speaking of inflated lens prices - I shudder to think what lens pricing is going to look like 5 years from now when the US dollar has lost even more ground...

That is one of the reasons I am holding on to my K10D rather than upgrading to the K7. I want to fill the holes in my own lens lineup. Last spring I watched prices on a couple of lenses I was considering go up over $100 each in the couple of weeks time that I did my taxes and received my refund. I only could swing one of them. All of us have a pretty good investment in Pentax gear and would stand to loose if Pentax closed up.

[AdrianN]

Originally Posted by Zarkon

Speaking of inflated lens prices - I shudder to think what lens pricing is going to look like 5 years from now when the US dollar has lost even more ground...

Australian-like prices in the US!

(eg. paying a retail price of $2650 USD for the 60-250/4)

[waqas]

Originally Posted by reeftool

That is one of the reasons I am holding on to my K10D rather than upgrading to the K7. I want to fill the holes in my own lens lineup. Last spring I watched prices on a couple of lenses I was considering go up over $100 each in the couple of weeks time that I did my taxes and received my refund. I only could swing one of them. All of us have a pretty good investment in Pentax gear and would stand to loose if Pentax closed up.

Yep, the more Pentax users out there, the more the equipment out there, the lower would be the prices (at a certain level that'll be true unless Pentax gains too much share and starts charging a extra premium). At least in the used camera market it'll be easier to buy and sell one.