Are we really THAT rare?

frank · 01-22-2011, 01:52 AM

Here in Singapore we had over 60 Pentax users showed up in our monthly gathering, the biggest outing we've ever had:

You can click on the photos to see bigger versions

Pablom · 01-22-2011, 06:12 AM

Last week I was walking in old city Jerusalem and I saw two Japanese tourists with K-x and kit lenses. no locals so far.

**Greeneg** · 01-22-2011, 06:22 AM

Saw several Colleagues on a TransAtlantic Cruise this fall. I think there are a number of European Lodge Members.

creampuff · 01-22-2011, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by frank

Here in Singapore we had over 60 Pentax users showed up in our monthly gathering, the biggest outing we've ever had:

You can click on the photos to see bigger versions

Frank, I'm really glad to have gone for today's Pentax Singapore user outing. Definitely enjoyed the great camaraderie and chats with so many of those who attended. Actually the number is closer to 70 people... plus I definitely saw quite a number people on the street toting Pentax cameras.

Anyway one of the highlights is you playing with Loke's brand new Sigma 500mm f/4.5 HSM. What an awesome lens!!!

frank · 01-22-2011, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by creampuff

Frank, I'm really glad to have gone for today's Pentax Singapore user outing. Definitely enjoyed the great camaraderie and chats with so many of those who attended. Actually the number is closer to 70 people... plus I definitely saw quite a number people on the street toting Pentax cameras.

Anyway one of the highlights is you playing with Loke's brand new Sigma 500mm f/4.5 HSM. What an awesome lens!!!

Thanks for the photo, Denis. The lens is indeed awesome. I wish it were mine ...

guinnessman · 01-23-2011, 06:25 AM

I noticed someone with a K10D or K20 on the ferry back to SF from Sausalito yesterday. Other other cameras that stood out for me, is it looked like another person had a Hasselblad around the Ferry Building, and there was someone using a large format camera in Union Square.

freddykrueger · 01-23-2011, 08:17 AM

Yeah, PENTAX users are rare, but not that much. Just week after I bought my K-x I went to Spain and Morocco. I saw a tourist with pentax dslr in Marrakech and another one in Cordoba. I haven't seen anyone else with a pentax camera since then (more than three months). People mostly have Canons.
But I have to say that I don't understand why people buy Canon entry-level DSLRs. I think they are too overpriced and aren't as good as pentax ones. Also Pentax K5 is probably the best APS-C dslr on the market right now.

Last edited by freddykrueger; 01-23-2011 at 11:26 AM.

johnmflores · 01-23-2011, 10:00 AM

I shared this in a separate thread, but this one is likely to last longer, so here it goes...

I was at a press event for the introduction of a new motorcycle. One photo, a Hassy shooter, had borrowed a Nikon and a K-5 (or was it a K-7?) for the evening. I think he shot the whole evening with the Nikon.

Another guy had a blue K-x.

I was shooting video, so I had the GH2. Wish I had the K-5 for the dynamic range though...

wffwii · 01-25-2011, 04:23 PM

I went on my first meetup group hike late last summer and out of six of us on the hike, four were Pentax users. Then, early this winter I was hiking up in Rocky Mountain National Park in one of the less travelled areas of the park, hiked a couple of miles up to an area of Cascades. We hadn't seen another soul the entire way up, and then when we got there two other people were there shooting... Both with Pentaxes. So we are out there, but yeah there are many times where I go out all day and see Nikons and Canons and no Pentaxes. But I've seen enough that I'm pleasantly surprised.

jamarley · 01-25-2011, 06:47 PM

Originally posted by wffwii

I was hiking up in Rocky Mountain National Park in one of the less travelled areas of the park

Well, I might not be that adventurous, but it does remind me that one of the reasons I stick with Pentax is that it's definitely the road less travelled. Although, I wouldn't throw a fit if we were more mainstream!

Frostie · 01-25-2011, 08:25 PM

My husband has been shooting Pentax for maybe 40 years. He has been extremely satisfied. People he knows that use Nikon or Canon shoot comparable images. It's not the camera, its the photographer!! That said, he purchased his first DSLR (*ist DL) almost 5 years ago. He recently upgraded to a K10D. He asked me if I wanted his *ist or if he should sell it. So now, I have an *ist DL. I've never used anything except a point and shoot. So, I'm still learning. But, the *ist fits beautifully in my hand (small hands!). It takes incredible images and I really couldn't be happier! I don't see how paying more $$ for a different name brand would do any more for me.

I am surprised, tho, at the lack of support and accessories NOT available for Pentax. It's a quality made, name brand camera. I think we are being cheated a bit here in the market. But, I suppose that one likely answer is that markup is higher for Canon or Nikon. With their base price being higher, there is more $$ to be made. So I'm thinking that merchants are going where bigger $$ are. It's sad, really. They don't know the large market they could be tapping into if they just carried Pentax accessories.

Regardless, I'm extremely happy with Pentax. I will search to the ends of the earth for extra accessories or do without rather than switch. I like to go against the stream anyway!!!

eddie1960 · 01-26-2011, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by Frostie

My husband has been shooting Pentax for maybe 40 years. He has been extremely satisfied. People he knows that use Nikon or Canon shoot comparable images. It's not the camera, its the photographer!! That said, he purchased his first DSLR (*ist DL) almost 5 years ago. He recently upgraded to a K10D. He asked me if I wanted his *ist or if he should sell it. So now, I have an *ist DL. I've never used anything except a point and shoot. So, I'm still learning. But, the *ist fits beautifully in my hand (small hands!). It takes incredible images and I really couldn't be happier! I don't see how paying more $$ for a different name brand would do any more for me.

I am surprised, tho, at the lack of support and accessories NOT available for Pentax. It's a quality made, name brand camera. I think we are being cheated a bit here in the market. But, I suppose that one likely answer is that markup is higher for Canon or Nikon. With their base price being higher, there is more $$ to be made. So I'm thinking that merchants are going where bigger $$ are. It's sad, really. They don't know the large market they could be tapping into if they just carried Pentax accessories.

Regardless, I'm extremely happy with Pentax. I will search to the ends of the earth for extra accessories or do without rather than switch. I like to go against the stream anyway!!!

Welcome to the club

the lack of accessories really has to do with the size of the market in most cases. Canikon have much larger market share so all accessories will be available for those brands. for all other brands accessories are frequently limited it's not just a Pentax thing

sandilands · 01-26-2011, 08:51 AM

I sometimes make presentations at camera clubs. The usual kick-off joke is to ask if the left side of the room is Canon, and if the right side is Nikon. That usually launches something akin to a food fight, but somewhere in the crowd is the one Olympus, one Sony, and the one other Pentax shooter. Often the one other Pentax user comes up at the break to share stories.

On the other hand, an old marketing joke is that that "insert name here" would market sushi as cold dead fish. It reminds me of the earlier days at HP. Stress excellent product engineering and build quality, and ignore marketing. Good for the few customers that found HP and bought its products, but better for IBM that did the opposite. Same methinks goes for Pentax.

eddie1960 · 01-26-2011, 10:27 AM

Pentax's Canadian marketing budget for the last 20+ years is reflected here (i'm dead serious I live in Canada's largest city and this is pretty much the only advertising I've seen besides one billboard that lasted about 56 weeks for the *ist ds

sandilands · 01-26-2011, 01:20 PM

Living just on the US bank of the Niagara River, I visit Canada often. IMHO Pentax Canada does more marketing than Pentax USA. I attend an annual show and sale in Calgary, and Pentax is always well represented. There is one rep who attends, and is the most knowledgable Pentaxian I've ever run across - better than anyone I've found in the US.

Still if Pentax spends $1 on marketing in Canada, and 25 cents in the US, Nikon and Canon spend $100.

01-22-2011, 09:24 AM	#469
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	What a fantastic Pentax outing today!!! Originally posted by frank Here in Singapore we had over 60 Pentax users showed up in our monthly gathering, the biggest outing we've ever had: You can click on the photos to see bigger versions Frank, I'm really glad to have gone for today's Pentax Singapore user outing. Definitely enjoyed the great camaraderie and chats with so many of those who attended. Actually the number is closer to 70 people... plus I definitely saw quite a number people on the street toting Pentax cameras. Anyway one of the highlights is you playing with Loke's brand new Sigma 500mm f/4.5 HSM. What an awesome lens!!!

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01-22-2011, 01:52 AM	#466
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Here in Singapore we had over 60 Pentax users showed up in our monthly gathering, the biggest outing we've ever had: You can click on the photos to see bigger versions

01-22-2011, 06:12 AM	#467
Pablom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Usa Posts: 1,940	Last week I was walking in old city Jerusalem and I saw two Japanese tourists with K-x and kit lenses. no locals so far.

01-22-2011, 06:22 AM	#468
Greeneg Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC United States Photos: Gallery Posts: 146	Saw several Colleagues on a TransAtlantic Cruise this fall. I think there are a number of European Lodge Members.

01-22-2011, 04:51 PM	#470
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Originally posted by creampuff Frank, I'm really glad to have gone for today's Pentax Singapore user outing. Definitely enjoyed the great camaraderie and chats with so many of those who attended. Actually the number is closer to 70 people... plus I definitely saw quite a number people on the street toting Pentax cameras. Anyway one of the highlights is you playing with Loke's brand new Sigma 500mm f/4.5 HSM. What an awesome lens!!! Thanks for the photo, Denis. The lens is indeed awesome. I wish it were mine ...

01-23-2011, 06:25 AM	#471
guinnessman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Missoula, MT Posts: 175	I noticed someone with a K10D or K20 on the ferry back to SF from Sausalito yesterday. Other other cameras that stood out for me, is it looked like another person had a Hasselblad around the Ferry Building, and there was someone using a large format camera in Union Square.

01-23-2011, 08:17 AM	#472
freddykrueger Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Czech Republic Photos: Gallery Posts: 80	Yeah, PENTAX users are rare, but not that much. Just week after I bought my K-x I went to Spain and Morocco. I saw a tourist with pentax dslr in Marrakech and another one in Cordoba. I haven't seen anyone else with a pentax camera since then (more than three months). People mostly have Canons. But I have to say that I don't understand why people buy Canon entry-level DSLRs. I think they are too overpriced and aren't as good as pentax ones. Also Pentax K5 is probably the best APS-C dslr on the market right now. Last edited by freddykrueger; 01-23-2011 at 11:26 AM.

01-23-2011, 10:00 AM	#473
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	I shared this in a separate thread, but this one is likely to last longer, so here it goes... I was at a press event for the introduction of a new motorcycle. One photo, a Hassy shooter, had borrowed a Nikon and a K-5 (or was it a K-7?) for the evening. I think he shot the whole evening with the Nikon. Another guy had a blue K-x. I was shooting video, so I had the GH2. Wish I had the K-5 for the dynamic range though...

01-25-2011, 04:23 PM	#474
wffwii Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 43	I went on my first meetup group hike late last summer and out of six of us on the hike, four were Pentax users. Then, early this winter I was hiking up in Rocky Mountain National Park in one of the less travelled areas of the park, hiked a couple of miles up to an area of Cascades. We hadn't seen another soul the entire way up, and then when we got there two other people were there shooting... Both with Pentaxes. So we are out there, but yeah there are many times where I go out all day and see Nikons and Canons and no Pentaxes. But I've seen enough that I'm pleasantly surprised.

01-25-2011, 06:47 PM	#475
jamarley Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Photos: Gallery Posts: 409	Originally posted by wffwii I was hiking up in Rocky Mountain National Park in one of the less travelled areas of the park Well, I might not be that adventurous, but it does remind me that one of the reasons I stick with Pentax is that it's definitely the road less travelled. Although, I wouldn't throw a fit if we were more mainstream!

01-25-2011, 08:25 PM	#476
Frostie Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 124	My husband has been shooting Pentax for maybe 40 years. He has been extremely satisfied. People he knows that use Nikon or Canon shoot comparable images. It's not the camera, its the photographer!! That said, he purchased his first DSLR (ist DL) almost 5 years ago. He recently upgraded to a K10D. He asked me if I wanted his ist or if he should sell it. So now, I have an ist DL. I've never used anything except a point and shoot. So, I'm still learning. But, the ist fits beautifully in my hand (small hands!). It takes incredible images and I really couldn't be happier! I don't see how paying more $$ for a different name brand would do any more for me. I am surprised, tho, at the lack of support and accessories NOT available for Pentax. It's a quality made, name brand camera. I think we are being cheated a bit here in the market. But, I suppose that one likely answer is that markup is higher for Canon or Nikon. With their base price being higher, there is more $$ to be made. So I'm thinking that merchants are going where bigger $$ are. It's sad, really. They don't know the large market they could be tapping into if they just carried Pentax accessories. Regardless, I'm extremely happy with Pentax. I will search to the ends of the earth for extra accessories or do without rather than switch. I like to go against the stream anyway!!!

01-26-2011, 06:52 AM	#477
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Frostie My husband has been shooting Pentax for maybe 40 years. He has been extremely satisfied. People he knows that use Nikon or Canon shoot comparable images. It's not the camera, its the photographer!! That said, he purchased his first DSLR (ist DL) almost 5 years ago. He recently upgraded to a K10D. He asked me if I wanted his ist or if he should sell it. So now, I have an ist DL. I've never used anything except a point and shoot. So, I'm still learning. But, the ist fits beautifully in my hand (small hands!). It takes incredible images and I really couldn't be happier! I don't see how paying more $$ for a different name brand would do any more for me. I am surprised, tho, at the lack of support and accessories NOT available for Pentax. It's a quality made, name brand camera. I think we are being cheated a bit here in the market. But, I suppose that one likely answer is that markup is higher for Canon or Nikon. With their base price being higher, there is more $$ to be made. So I'm thinking that merchants are going where bigger $$ are. It's sad, really. They don't know the large market they could be tapping into if they just carried Pentax accessories. Regardless, I'm extremely happy with Pentax. I will search to the ends of the earth for extra accessories or do without rather than switch. I like to go against the stream anyway!!! Welcome to the club the lack of accessories really has to do with the size of the market in most cases. Canikon have much larger market share so all accessories will be available for those brands. for all other brands accessories are frequently limited it's not just a Pentax thing

01-26-2011, 08:51 AM	#478
sandilands Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 108	I sometimes make presentations at camera clubs. The usual kick-off joke is to ask if the left side of the room is Canon, and if the right side is Nikon. That usually launches something akin to a food fight, but somewhere in the crowd is the one Olympus, one Sony, and the one other Pentax shooter. Often the one other Pentax user comes up at the break to share stories. On the other hand, an old marketing joke is that that "insert name here" would market sushi as cold dead fish. It reminds me of the earlier days at HP. Stress excellent product engineering and build quality, and ignore marketing. Good for the few customers that found HP and bought its products, but better for IBM that did the opposite. Same methinks goes for Pentax.

01-26-2011, 10:27 AM	#479
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Pentax's Canadian marketing budget for the last 20+ years is reflected here (i'm dead serious I live in Canada's largest city and this is pretty much the only advertising I've seen besides one billboard that lasted about 56 weeks for the *ist ds

01-26-2011, 01:20 PM	#480
sandilands Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lewiston, NY Posts: 108	Living just on the US bank of the Niagara River, I visit Canada often. IMHO Pentax Canada does more marketing than Pentax USA. I attend an annual show and sale in Calgary, and Pentax is always well represented. There is one rep who attends, and is the most knowledgable Pentaxian I've ever run across - better than anyone I've found in the US. Still if Pentax spends $1 on marketing in Canada, and 25 cents in the US, Nikon and Canon spend $100.