Originally posted by Ploki If I wasn't getting a Pentax I'd probably get either a Nikon or a Sony. No idea where Canon gets its market share
People (general public not into photography) know Canon, they use their calculators, they use their photocopiers, they use their scanners, and when they walk into a camera store they see their logo.
People don't know Pentax, the name doesn't come up in the public eye very much at all beyond maybe seeing a tiny Pentax logo at the optometrist (glad to say that I look through Pentax lenses every day :P)
People these days usually start off with an iPhone, download instagram (then assume they're a professional) and take photos.
They then decide they need a better camera and buy an SLR since "that's what the professionals use" when the time comes to buy an entry level SLR, and if you've got very little knowldge of cameras, they often go for a familiar name "canon".
Once they've used the camera for a while and learned about photography they will tend to stay with that brand, it's familiar and they've already got lenses/chargers/cables.
Canon is much like Apple. They've marketed themselves very well and become a household name, they have devoutly almost religious fans, and they just keep growing since people want easy support, and support comes from commonality.
Think, you buy a Canon, don't know how to change aperture, there will always be somebody in the area who's used one and can help.
Meanwhile, you buy a Pentax, and you don't need to ask how to change the aperture because it uses a logical system that anybody can work out. (sorry, I hate Canon's ergonomics. A mate had borrowed one for a while, after two of us spent 30 minutes looking for a way to change the aperture we gave up. Later on that same mate bought a Nikon, took me about 20 seconds to work it out. obviously Pentax is easier for me since I've used them for 15 odd years)