Where to find k-5ii in Los Angeles?

brudy · 12-10-2012, 12:23 PM

I've been trying to find a store in LA that actually has a k-5ii to handle and I'm turning up blanks. Anybody know of a place? Samys only has the k-30.

It shouldn't be so hard to get a hold of one and I'd rather play with one first before I buy...

**crewl1** · 12-12-2012, 06:56 AM

Use to be you could see the K-5 at Fry's, but haven't checked recently.

brudy · 12-12-2012, 09:11 AM

Originally posted by crewl1

Use to be you could see the K-5 at Fry's, but haven't checked recently.

Thanks, I'll have to check over there. I hadn't thought of that.

BradH · 12-12-2012, 04:50 PM

I've been looking for a k5 II in LA for weeks now - no bites.
I tried Fry's and they told me its mail order only - did you have any luck?

Incidently I went to Samys on Fairfax to try and find one (like you discovered, they are only carrying k-30) and there was a "pentax specialist there" - I told her I was looking to upgrade from a K-x and she told me she had never heard of it!

Kind of weird.

LeDave · 12-12-2012, 04:53 PM

Originally posted by BradH

I've been looking for a k5 II in LA for weeks now - no bites.
I tried Fry's and they told me its mail order only - did you have any luck?

Incidently I went to Samys on Fairfax to try and find one (like you discovered, they are only carrying k-30) and there was a "pentax specialist there" - I told her I was looking to upgrade from a K-x and she told me she had never heard of it!

Kind of weird.

Maybe she was a worker at Samys where Pentax paid them to have Pentax specialists without any special Pentax training

brudy · 12-12-2012, 05:29 PM

Originally posted by BradH

I've been looking for a k5 II in LA for weeks now - no bites.
I tried Fry's and they told me its mail order only - did you have any luck?

Incidently I went to Samys on Fairfax to try and find one (like you discovered, they are only carrying k-30) and there was a "pentax specialist there" - I told her I was looking to upgrade from a K-x and she told me she had never heard of it!

Kind of weird.

Wow, that's nuts. Pentax needs better field sales people and marketing. The word needs to get out about these cameras. I'm leaning now towards renting a k-5iis and the 31mm from lensrentals.com. I figure at worst I'm out about $130 but at least I get to play with it for 4 days. I'll have to wait till post holidays so I can make sure I have the time to get out with it.

Someone somewhere (maybe on dpreview) said that there's a Ritz that was taken over by another company in Riverside that carries the k-5, but that's too far for me.

BradH · 12-13-2012, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by brudy

Wow, that's nuts. Pentax needs better field sales people and marketing. The word needs to get out about these cameras. I'm leaning now towards renting a k-5iis and the 31mm from lensrentals.com. I figure at worst I'm out about $130 but at least I get to play with it for 4 days. I'll have to wait till post holidays so I can make sure I have the time to get out with it.

Someone somewhere (maybe on dpreview) said that there's a Ritz that was taken over by another company in Riverside that carries the k-5, but that's too far for me.

Just called Samys - they said they don't have any plans to carry the k-5ii or iis - just the k30.

I think its crazy that in the entire Los Angeles county there are 0 authorized pentax dealers. I called the ones listed on the Pentax/ricoh website and none of them are carrying pentax gear anymore - except for Samys, which apparently is only carrying the k30.

Sounds like Pentax is not supporting its brick and mortar presence at all - not a good sign for their comittment to these cameras?

**crewl1** · 12-13-2012, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by BradH

Sounds like Pentax is not supporting its brick and mortar presence at all - not a good sign for their comittment to these cameras?

It is not a new situation. I was hopeful things would change with the Ricoh buy out, but if it is changing it is moving at a glacier pace. The Hoya period did a lot of damage that will need a good effort to repair.

brudy · 12-13-2012, 03:10 PM

But these things can begin a death spiral. If you're not out in front of potential customers, it's hard to stay in their minds. The k-5s seem to be tremendously underrated (and under the radar). There should be a lot of marketing around them. But then, I can't find one in a region of 12m people so maybe marketing needs to wait.

BradH · 01-29-2013, 12:48 PM

just FYI if anyone still cares- Samys camera on Fairfax now has the k5-ii. Not sure if they also have the s or not.

**crewl1** · 01-29-2013, 01:33 PM

Not sure if you guys are aware but we are planning an LA meetup for World Pentax Day. Join the group and get in on the conversation https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/groups/54-california-pentax-users/2290-wh...al-meetup.html

formercanuck · 09-01-2013, 01:18 PM

As a note - Samys doesn't really carry Pentax anymore - at least not in stock.
They did have a K-30 demo model in-store for me to try out, but do not have ANY models of Pentax for sale on the shelf.

NotaxPen · 09-02-2013, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by formercanuck

As a note - Samys doesn't really carry Pentax anymore - at least not in stock.
They did have a K-30 demo model in-store for me to try out, but do not have ANY models of Pentax for sale on the shelf.

That's not good. The last time I was in Samys in L.A. I got my first hands-on with a Pentax 645D.

formercanuck · 09-02-2013, 09:45 PM

I've only seen the 645d at CES and on a cruise ship in Alaska (rare - taking a picture of a photographer taking a picture).
I just want to upgrade my red k-x to a red k-30 or k-50. The store offered me the demo model for $599 and it didn't have the wr lens .

Looks like I'll be ordering online through a different retailer.

Deedee · 09-03-2013, 02:01 AM

Gentlemen, thought i'd share this post is from December last year - 2012. (I guess it doesn't matter).

I think the best place to buy Pentax K-5 II would be as announced today from Adorama or B&H. The deals are great.

Cheers!

12-10-2012, 12:23 PM	#1
brudy Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12	Where to find k-5ii in Los Angeles? I've been trying to find a store in LA that actually has a k-5ii to handle and I'm turning up blanks. Anybody know of a place? Samys only has the k-30. It shouldn't be so hard to get a hold of one and I'd rather play with one first before I buy...

12-12-2012, 04:50 PM	#4
BradH Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 29	There might not be anyplace in LA to find one... I've been looking for a k5 II in LA for weeks now - no bites. I tried Fry's and they told me its mail order only - did you have any luck? Incidently I went to Samys on Fairfax to try and find one (like you discovered, they are only carrying k-30) and there was a "pentax specialist there" - I told her I was looking to upgrade from a K-x and she told me she had never heard of it! Kind of weird.

01-29-2013, 12:48 PM	#10
BradH Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 29	Samy's just FYI if anyone still cares- Samys camera on Fairfax now has the k5-ii. Not sure if they also have the s or not.

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12-12-2012, 06:56 AM	#2
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Use to be you could see the K-5 at Fry's, but haven't checked recently.

12-12-2012, 09:11 AM	#3
brudy Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12 Original Poster	Originally posted by crewl1 Use to be you could see the K-5 at Fry's, but haven't checked recently. Thanks, I'll have to check over there. I hadn't thought of that.

12-12-2012, 04:53 PM	#5
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Originally posted by BradH I've been looking for a k5 II in LA for weeks now - no bites. I tried Fry's and they told me its mail order only - did you have any luck? Incidently I went to Samys on Fairfax to try and find one (like you discovered, they are only carrying k-30) and there was a "pentax specialist there" - I told her I was looking to upgrade from a K-x and she told me she had never heard of it! Kind of weird. Maybe she was a worker at Samys where Pentax paid them to have Pentax specialists without any special Pentax training

12-12-2012, 05:29 PM	#6
brudy Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12 Original Poster	Originally posted by BradH I've been looking for a k5 II in LA for weeks now - no bites. I tried Fry's and they told me its mail order only - did you have any luck? Incidently I went to Samys on Fairfax to try and find one (like you discovered, they are only carrying k-30) and there was a "pentax specialist there" - I told her I was looking to upgrade from a K-x and she told me she had never heard of it! Kind of weird. Wow, that's nuts. Pentax needs better field sales people and marketing. The word needs to get out about these cameras. I'm leaning now towards renting a k-5iis and the 31mm from lensrentals.com. I figure at worst I'm out about $130 but at least I get to play with it for 4 days. I'll have to wait till post holidays so I can make sure I have the time to get out with it. Someone somewhere (maybe on dpreview) said that there's a Ritz that was taken over by another company in Riverside that carries the k-5, but that's too far for me.

12-13-2012, 01:41 PM	#7
BradH Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 29	Originally posted by brudy Wow, that's nuts. Pentax needs better field sales people and marketing. The word needs to get out about these cameras. I'm leaning now towards renting a k-5iis and the 31mm from lensrentals.com. I figure at worst I'm out about $130 but at least I get to play with it for 4 days. I'll have to wait till post holidays so I can make sure I have the time to get out with it. Someone somewhere (maybe on dpreview) said that there's a Ritz that was taken over by another company in Riverside that carries the k-5, but that's too far for me. Just called Samys - they said they don't have any plans to carry the k-5ii or iis - just the k30. I think its crazy that in the entire Los Angeles county there are 0 authorized pentax dealers. I called the ones listed on the Pentax/ricoh website and none of them are carrying pentax gear anymore - except for Samys, which apparently is only carrying the k30. Sounds like Pentax is not supporting its brick and mortar presence at all - not a good sign for their comittment to these cameras?

12-13-2012, 01:51 PM	#8
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Originally posted by BradH Sounds like Pentax is not supporting its brick and mortar presence at all - not a good sign for their comittment to these cameras? It is not a new situation. I was hopeful things would change with the Ricoh buy out, but if it is changing it is moving at a glacier pace. The Hoya period did a lot of damage that will need a good effort to repair.

12-13-2012, 03:10 PM	#9
brudy Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 12 Original Poster	But these things can begin a death spiral. If you're not out in front of potential customers, it's hard to stay in their minds. The k-5s seem to be tremendously underrated (and under the radar). There should be a lot of marketing around them. But then, I can't find one in a region of 12m people so maybe marketing needs to wait.

01-29-2013, 01:33 PM	#11
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Not sure if you guys are aware but we are planning an LA meetup for World Pentax Day. Join the group and get in on the conversation https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/groups/54-california-pentax-users/2290-wh...al-meetup.html

09-01-2013, 01:18 PM	#12
formercanuck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: SoCal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 518	As a note - Samys doesn't really carry Pentax anymore - at least not in stock. They did have a K-30 demo model in-store for me to try out, but do not have ANY models of Pentax for sale on the shelf.

09-02-2013, 06:54 PM	#13
NotaxPen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 123	Originally posted by formercanuck As a note - Samys doesn't really carry Pentax anymore - at least not in stock. They did have a K-30 demo model in-store for me to try out, but do not have ANY models of Pentax for sale on the shelf. That's not good. The last time I was in Samys in L.A. I got my first hands-on with a Pentax 645D.

09-02-2013, 09:45 PM	#14
formercanuck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: SoCal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 518	I've only seen the 645d at CES and on a cruise ship in Alaska (rare - taking a picture of a photographer taking a picture). I just want to upgrade my red k-x to a red k-30 or k-50. The store offered me the demo model for $599 and it didn't have the wr lens . Looks like I'll be ordering online through a different retailer.

09-03-2013, 02:01 AM	#15
Deedee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 307	Gentlemen, thought i'd share this post is from December last year - 2012. (I guess it doesn't matter). I think the best place to buy Pentax K-5 II would be as announced today from Adorama or B&H. The deals are great. Cheers!