Originally posted by NotaxPen If Target HAS a DA* lens to sell, and they have prices anywhere near the online guys, and you can walk in and try it and buy it now rather than waiting and paying shipping charges,
they damn well will sell plenty of DA* lenses. Well, unless all the REAL camera stores that used to exist suddenly re-open.
not a chance there will be DA* in Target. even if they only put it in the top 20% of stores it would be 340 lenses of each style.
If they get a dslr line i would imagine it will be pretty entry with 1 lens kit and 2 lens kit options. they may then list the remainder of the line on the web store for their clients.
the UPP will be advantageous when trying to open other dealers as well though (i realise not all areas have dealers, but many do as well)
getting floorlines at the targets and best buys is not an advantage to forum members directly. For the most par we are already purchasing above their area of expertise. It will benefit us indirectly though because there is a big market of entry level buyers that do not shop the way we do and don't know much. getting in stores with the product they will buy will add more to the bottom line and well being of the company than all our combined purchases will in a year. we buy better and more expensive but we are also a small number in the scheme of things. growth in the brand depends on capturing new and entry level users. maybe 10% of those will go on to get more serious about it. Those additional users will allow development of a lot of things the rest of us keep asking for (FF, More lenses, better flash.....etc etc) the broader base also gives incentive to the third party to produce items (and maybe will get some of the lines back we once could choose from like Tokina, and a broader assortment from tamron, or the Zeiss and Voigtlanders)
This is something that has long term benefit to us all if it plays out.