Originally posted by Rondec Even Japanese can't feel strongly that they need an updated camera when most of the new features are pretty frivolous.
Having a few Japanese friends, they are content with their 4 or 5 years old APS-C DSLR that they use when they want high quality images, and the rest of the time they use their iPAD or smart phone.
Market segmentation should be considered: different types of photographer. The most common photographer (use his/her camera for vacation and family), and the folks with photography as a passion, then the professionals. I believe the largest part of revenues was made with the largest common photographer segment who don't see the point of buying one more DSLR for using it 5 times a year. Then of course , as I can see on this forum , there's another category of photographer, some of them collecting old gear and having extensive photographic knowledge and extensive knowledge about features/differences/advantages for old and new camera equipments.
Now, the advantage of Pentax is that they failed to capture a lot of market share in the low-end base of the market, so I believe that Pentax are loosing in terms of sales but not much in terms of market share. In my opinion, Canon are being hit much harder than Nikon, Sony and Pentax. Nikon are offering cheap full frame to recover some sales from base customers who can't spend $3000 on a FF camera. Sony are also selling FF to the mass thanks to cost reduction offered by mirror-less, and Canon have abyssal sales drop as their FF frame are overpriced. Pentax currently has the advantage that they are not loosing customers that they never had, with recent acquisition by Ricoh which means allowing Pentax to loose money while investing in new developments against the market trend.
If Ricoh had not purchased Pentax as a strategic move, you could be worried about the K mount. But at least now that Ricoh is funding Pentax development, k mount is likely be safe at least for the next 2 to 3 years. What will define how Ricoh is able to make the most of its market segment will depend on how Ricoh are able to stage their product lines to match the buying power of the k mount user base. For example , some members of Pentax forum were strongly defending a highly priced FF DSLR, while others were pushing for a low cost version. So, if there would be only one expensive Pentax FF model, a lot of potential sales won't materialize. Regarding FF cameras, Nikon are doing it right, as they are offering a low priced FF (D610), mid priced FF (D750) and high priced FF (D810), some if you are with Nikon, you always have a product alternative that suit your budget.
---------- Post added 07-04-15 at 12:55 ----------
A lot of people who were disappointed with their photos compared to other users , purchased a DSLR thinking that the camera was the reason for them taking crap photographs... It was the case of a guy I know who purchased a 7D after seeing others taking amazing shots with a 7D. Once he had the 7D he realized that his photos still sucks; so now he uses only his phone, his 7D stays in its carton 365 days/year. He won't buy any other DSLR.
---------- Post added 07-04-15 at 13:28 ----------
Originally posted by cxdoo Frankly I can't wait to see that 'collapse' trickle down to Europe. The prices we see here are wildly different from what goes in USA and Japan.
Pentax Europe prices are adjusted according to local competition.
Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Somehow the Japanese cameramarket is taking a big hit at the moment.
Yes, but don't forget that Pentax is weather resistant, they can survive in worst market weather conditions.