Originally posted by mattdm Dear Pentax: please come to grips with reality.
Originally posted by jay_akita I've been looking seriously at Nikon lately which I had never done in the past.
Originally posted by jay_akita I'm a big Pentax fan and own a bunch of gear but I agree their prices are getting out of control relative to their performance (mainly AF and warranty with SDM)
Originally posted by rawr Thanks Matt, it's useful to remind Pentax of competitive pricing.
Originally posted by eddie1960 but i think the competitive issue is not at the entry level rather on the higher end,
Originally posted by fikkser I agree 100%. Prices has gone insane in pentax land.
Originally posted by parsons Pentax need to make the ship more water tight.
and on and on and on and on.
I am getting absolutely sick and tired of self-proclaimed Pentaxians bitching and complaining about how expensive the Pentax offerings are. Are some of their lenses more expensive than their Canonikon counterparts? Sure. But at the end of the day, we always say a camera company is judged by it's flagship lines. Hence why "Pentax will never be considered a pro camera maker until there's FF." On that I call utter bullshit, and you should be ashamed of yourselves. Is the K-5 not good enough for you? Are you THAT GOOD that you personally have outresolved it's sensor and capabilities? Are you better than all those "pros" that have ditched their FF gear for the K-5?
No, instead we just bitch and complain because that's all we do. I got it, it's human nature - but it has gotten to the point of spoiled and entitled brats that we are unable to even catch a glimpse of the forest for the trees.
So how about we judge the flagship counterparts offered by the Big 3?
PENTAX Pentax K-5 Body - $919 - 740g (with battery) - 100% Weather Sealed
DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 SDM - $1,099.00 - 565g - 100% Weather Sealed
DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 SDM - $999.95 - 686g - 100% Weather Sealed
DA* 60-250mm f/4 SDM - $1399.00 - 1040g - 100% Weather Sealed
DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM - $669.95 - 375g - 100% Weather Sealed
DA* 200mm f/2.8 SDM - $964.95 - 825g - 100% Weather Sealed
DA* 300mm f/4 SDM - $1,199.95 - 1070g - 100% Weather Sealed
Total: $7251.80, 5301g
CANON Canon 7D Body - $1,699.00 - 860g - 100% Weather Sealed
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - $1,599.00 - 953g - No Stabilization - NOT Sealed
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM - $2,299.00 - 1490g - "Resistance" to dust/water
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM - $1,699.00 - 1,380g - NOT Sealed
EF 85mm f/1.2L USM - $2,199.00 - 1030g - No Stabilization - NOT Sealed
EF 200mm f/2.8L USM - $799.00 - 765g - No Stabilization - NOT Sealed
EF 300mm f/4L USM - $1,449.00 - 1190g - No Stabilization - NOT Sealed
-*EF 100-400 -
Note that this lens has a variable aperture that is from f/4.5 to 5.6 while it's APS-C counterpart, the DA* 60-250, is a constant f/4 throughout.
-*EF 85 f/1.2 -
Note that this lens is faster than it's APS-C counterpart, the DA* 55mm, however Canon does not offer an 85mm f/1.4 Total: $11,743, 7668g
NIKON Nikon D7000 Body - $1,196.95 - 780g - 100% Weather Sealed
Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G - $1,886.95 - 900g - "Resistance" to dust/water
Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II - $2,396.95 - 1540g - "Resistance" to dust/water
Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR - $1,529.00 - 1,360g - NOT Sealed
Nikkor 85 f/1.4G - $1,699.95 - 660g - No Stabilization - "Resistance" to dust/water
NO 200mm f/2.8 OFFERED Nikkor 300mm f/4L - DISCONTINUED - 1440g - No Stabilization - NOT Sealed
-*Incomplete lineup by Nikon - unable to completely compare -
Note that without 2 telephoto lenses, Nikon kit still exceeds price and weight of the entire Pentax DA* lineup.
-*Nikkor 80-400 -
Note that this lens has a variable aperture that is from f/4.5 to 5.6 while it's APS-C counterpart, the DA* 60-250, is a constant f/4 throughout. Total: $9211.85, 6680g
Other lenses that Pentax offers (i.e. you don't need to go straight to the pro-line with Pentax in order to get weather sealing).
Pentax DA 18-55 WR - $179.95
Pentax DA 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 WR - $459.95
Pentax DA 50-200 f/4-5.6 WR - $249.95
Pentax DFA 100mm Macro WR - $649.95 (
Canon equivalent is $1049 and Nikon equivalent is $879)
Guess what the brand new guy or gal who comes to PF.com or DPReview looking for information on Pentax's offerings sees?
"Pentax sucks"
"Pentax is way out of touch with reality!"
"Pentax's pricing is completely egregious!"
And guess what you just did - you just scared away another potential Pentaxian. Multiply that by several hundred, if not several thousand, and that would have helped fund the R&D and products we crave by adding revenue and market share to Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company.
So go ahead, keep your camera in its case, let the batteries go stale, and spend all of your time here complaining about what a terrible company Pentax is and they can't seem to deliver anything right.
I hope you're proud of yourselves.
Does Pentax have it's shortcomings? Of course it does. Guess what? Nikon and Canon and even Leica do too. But I don't lose focus of the greater perspective: I, for one, couldn't be happier with any of my Pentax gear. And I look to add to that as needed, even if that means paying a bit extra for the Pentax equivalent if there is one - because that money comes right back to me with more and better products.
Respectfully,
Heie