Originally posted by Ash And that's the trump card Pentax can easily win with - if newbies (and even some enthusiasts) do the research and find the 35/2.4 outperforming any other 35mm kit prime at f/2.4 onwards, then the K-r + 35/2.4 will be a formidable combo.
Ash: I want to commend you for your posts in the 'Sea of Angst.' I saw this info of the Kr and the DAL 35 come up and you provided a lot of great comments to the (as expected) deluge of negativity which occurs with each Pentax announcement.
I have seen many posts comparing it to Nikon's offering. I guess to me given the target audience (noob) it is unlikely that anyone will be swayed by the difference in the mount or the max. aperture or price. Most don't know what aperture means let alone what if any difference they will see in their pictures. Moreover, most won't know what a Prime lens is anyway. Thus the decision to buy Nikon or Pentax will not have anything to do with this lens it will be about marketing the camera. After a person buys into Pentax or other, the decision on which 35mm prime is moot. Don't you think?
To me the real concern/gamble for Pentax is whether or not spending R&D and manufacturing costs to run a line of 'cheap' prime(s) for the masses will pay off. Which soccer mom, etc. is going to run out and by a prime lens? It is clear that not many here are happy with it for various reasons and were kind of into gear here
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That being said the color option is great if available in your area. I was in the small minority of loving the addition of colors to the Km. IIRC, there was a lot of hatred and doom speak after that announcement. In the end, the colors that have continued on with the Kx and now Kr may just be what saves the company we love.