Pentax K-01 failure? No one knows it exists.

AsahiGlass · 10-30-2018, 09:56 AM - **2 Likes**

So I'm new here,just got a K-01 used for $125 and I love it. Uses all my old lenses...

Lack of advertising makes it impossible to buy here in the US.

Ricoh HQ is 3 miles from my business, local "proshop" doesn't carry Pentax!

BestBuy no Pentax, Walmart, Target...nothing.

Don't get me wrong I love that no one has a Pentax, I hate run of the mill stuff,

But for Pentax to survive they gotta get their cameras in stores so people can see and touch them..

I went from Pentax film directly to Nikon digital because no one carries Pentax.

I'm a hobbyist, and we make up the majority.

Most people think Pentax is out of business, and in a sense they are.

I love my K-01, and everyone thinks it's a film camera because..."they still make cameras?"

Docrwm · 10-30-2018, 09:59 AM - **2 Likes**

Singing to the choir - Welcome Aboard!

Adam · 10-30-2018, 10:09 AM - **1 Like**

Welcome aboard and I hope you enjoy the new camera!

Originally posted by AsahiGlass

But for Pentax to survive they gotta get their cameras in stores so people can see and touch them..

This isn't their strategy, I'm afraid. They seem fairly committed to major photo stores and online only in the US. As big of a shame as it is not to see the brand in stores, it does make sense given the target audience of Pentax and limited mainstream market share. The good news is that you get unrivaled support here on the forum

Also, the K-01 has been discontinued for about 5 years now, and the K-mount mirrorless line has been killed off, so definitely not surprising if you can't find much mention of it

AsahiGlass · 10-30-2018, 10:42 AM

No one in Florida sells Pentax. That's ridiculous

Docrwm · 10-30-2018, 11:48 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by AsahiGlass

No one in Florida sells Pentax. That's ridiculous

Yes, I feel your pain in Georgia. Adorama, B&H, and Amazon are your friends (as is the Marketplace here).

**kiwi_jono** · 10-30-2018, 12:49 PM

The K-01, might have not been a failure for Pentax but its performance is underrated IMO - I love mine. Enjoy!

Unregistered User · 10-30-2018, 12:54 PM - **1 Like**

I love and use mine - but check the mode dial for looseness, It has been known to pop off and is hard to replace. (It is easy to glue back on)

Last edited by Unregistered User; 10-30-2018 at 04:11 PM. Reason: typo

Kelvin 5500 · 10-30-2018, 01:23 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by AsahiGlass

Most people think Pentax is out of business, and in a sense they are.

It is the responsibility of the Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation marketing team to directly contact brick and mortar photographic equipment retailers and convince them that it is profitable to carry Pentax cameras and accessories. Ricoh has chosen to not cultivate and harvest this market.

Originally posted by AsahiGlass

I love my K-01, and everyone thinks it's a film camera because..."they still make cameras?"

I find it humorous when people who see me with my Pentax K-1 Mark II camera approach me and ask, "Is that a film camera?"

Beleave it or not, this happens fairly frequently.

Dennis

Docrwm · 10-30-2018, 01:49 PM - **3 Likes**

I told this story here years ago but it's relevant again here. I was shooting a space launch at NASA and it started to rain. The multitudes with cameras ran for cover. Two stringers and I stood in the rain with our cameras. Both, independently, came to me and as nice guys tried to get me to take my K5 out of the rain to save it. They were each pros and trying to help the "civilian" not ruin his equipment - I appreciated their concern. Each was SHOCKED that I had a) a Pentax, and b) that it was weather sealed. They essentially said I must be mistaken until I showed them information online on my iPhone. When the Pros don't even know that Pentax exist or that their cameras are weather seals the "marketing" people at Ricoh aren't earning their salaries IMHO.

Ontarian50 · 10-30-2018, 02:07 PM

I love my K-01 too. But there was no way I would have bought one when it first came out. The darn things were about $900 CDN when they were introduced, and it was hard to justify that price compared to say, the K-5 at the time. And that's why you don't see to many of them in North America. Dealers recognized that it wouldn't sell all that well at that price point, and few stocked them.

I got mine when they were being closed out. I do find it a very fun camera to use, and with focus peaking and IBIS, it really is a wonderful thing to use with a wide variety of lenses.

The Mark Newson styling probably wasn't the best idea, and the full-depth K-mount does seem like a waste of space. And it really is almost impossible to use in bright sunlight.

On the plus side, the big battery is awesome.

AsahiGlass · 10-30-2018, 02:15 PM

I know with the proper marketing Pentax could once again be PENTAX

My father was a professional photographer, he shot Spotmatic for 35, and a big old Mamiya for the larger fromat,

He will never buy a Pentax digital camera. No trust.

And with all these rumors about going out of business...what is wrong with them,,, they need rumors like

NEW K-02 , new full frame this and that, not a list of discontinued cameras with no replacement.

---------- Post added 10-30-18 at 02:24 PM ----------

Oh, Proshop For Photographers in downtown WPB, that carries Hass and Leica, Canikon is a whopping

0.2 of a mile from Ricoh USA. 3 min. walking distance. Lol

Nice

normhead · 10-30-2018, 02:25 PM - **1 Like**

I miss my K-01, my K20D and my K-5, I just had to many cameras. I still have pictures of myself with a K-01 though.

MarkJerling · 10-30-2018, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by AsahiGlass

No one in Florida sells Pentax. That's ridiculous

Don't let it bother you. I'm in New Zealand and I buy from Adorama or B&H in New York. You can too!

jimr-pdx · 10-30-2018, 02:46 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Docrwm

I told this story here years ago but it's relevant again here. I was shooting a space launch at NASA and it started to rain. The multitudes with cameras ran for cover. Two stringers and I stood in the rain with our cameras. Both, independently, came to me and as nice guys tried to get me to take my K5 out of the rain to save it. They were each pros and trying to help the "civilian" not ruin his equipment - I appreciated their concern. Each was SHOCKED that I had a) a Pentax, and b) that it was weather sealed. They essentially said I must be mistaken until I showed them information online on my iPhone. When the Pros don't even know that Pentax exist or that their cameras are weather seals the "marketing" people at Ricoh aren't earning their salaries IMHO.

Still relevant, and still sad. I'd press Like, but it's too pathetic for any single emotion.

I recall watching a Canon pro totally ruin his camera shooting mist at the base of Yellowstone Falls, while filming a bit for some TV short about nature pics. I laughed sympathetically before and after his camera's demise. **

And welcome AsahiGlass! The K-1 is an amazing camera in a curious box, and a very early mirrorless camer that was caught up in both the Hoya-Ricoh transition and the energetic artist vs. engineer debate (and the dismissive "too big to be mirrorless" era, long past if you compare a K-01 to a GX8 / G9). Other than the missing viewfinder it's a great camera and a fun conversation starter, like Doc's K-5 and the K-1 film confusion.

** UPDATE - from jlbgibberish.blogspot.com
"I discovered Lik's photography television series on the Weather Channel, From the Edge with Peter Lik. I only managed to see about five of the 13 episodes before the season ended, but I found them engrossing. Granted, Lik has some financial and equipment advantages..."

MarkJerling · 10-30-2018, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by AsahiGlass

He will never buy a Pentax digital camera. No trust.

Why "no trust"?

10-30-2018, 09:56 AM - 2 Likes	#1
AsahiGlass Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Florida WPB Posts: 54	Pentax K-01 failure? No one knows it exists. So I'm new here,just got a K-01 used for $125 and I love it. Uses all my old lenses... Lack of advertising makes it impossible to buy here in the US. Ricoh HQ is 3 miles from my business, local "proshop" doesn't carry Pentax! BestBuy no Pentax, Walmart, Target...nothing. Don't get me wrong I love that no one has a Pentax, I hate run of the mill stuff, But for Pentax to survive they gotta get their cameras in stores so people can see and touch them.. I went from Pentax film directly to Nikon digital because no one carries Pentax. I'm a hobbyist, and we make up the majority. Most people think Pentax is out of business, and in a sense they are. I love my K-01, and everyone thinks it's a film camera because..."they still make cameras?"

10-30-2018, 10:09 AM - 1 Like	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Welcome aboard and I hope you enjoy the new camera! Originally posted by AsahiGlass But for Pentax to survive they gotta get their cameras in stores so people can see and touch them.. This isn't their strategy, I'm afraid. They seem fairly committed to major photo stores and online only in the US. As big of a shame as it is not to see the brand in stores, it does make sense given the target audience of Pentax and limited mainstream market share. The good news is that you get unrivaled support here on the forum Also, the K-01 has been discontinued for about 5 years now, and the K-mount mirrorless line has been killed off, so definitely not surprising if you can't find much mention of it Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

10-30-2018, 02:15 PM	#11
AsahiGlass Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Florida WPB Posts: 54 Original Poster	I know with the proper marketing Pentax could once again be PENTAX My father was a professional photographer, he shot Spotmatic for 35, and a big old Mamiya for the larger fromat, He will never buy a Pentax digital camera. No trust. And with all these rumors about going out of business...what is wrong with them,,, they need rumors like NEW K-02 , new full frame this and that, not a list of discontinued cameras with no replacement. ---------- Post added 10-30-18 at 02:24 PM ---------- Oh, Proshop For Photographers in downtown WPB, that carries Hass and Leica, Canikon is a whopping 0.2 of a mile from Ricoh USA. 3 min. walking distance. Lol Nice Last edited by MarkJerling; 10-30-2018 at 02:49 PM.

10-30-2018, 02:46 PM - 1 Like	#14
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	Originally posted by Docrwm I told this story here years ago but it's relevant again here. I was shooting a space launch at NASA and it started to rain. The multitudes with cameras ran for cover. Two stringers and I stood in the rain with our cameras. Both, independently, came to me and as nice guys tried to get me to take my K5 out of the rain to save it. They were each pros and trying to help the "civilian" not ruin his equipment - I appreciated their concern. Each was SHOCKED that I had a) a Pentax, and b) that it was weather sealed. They essentially said I must be mistaken until I showed them information online on my iPhone. When the Pros don't even know that Pentax exist or that their cameras are weather seals the "marketing" people at Ricoh aren't earning their salaries IMHO. Still relevant, and still sad. I'd press Like, but it's too pathetic for any single emotion. I recall watching a Canon pro totally ruin his camera shooting mist at the base of Yellowstone Falls, while filming a bit for some TV short about nature pics. I laughed sympathetically before and after his camera's demise. And welcome AsahiGlass! The K-1 is an amazing camera in a curious box, and a very early mirrorless camer that was caught up in both the Hoya-Ricoh transition and the energetic artist vs. engineer debate (and the dismissive "too big to be mirrorless" era, long past if you compare a K-01 to a GX8 / G9). Other than the missing viewfinder it's a great camera and a fun conversation starter, like Doc's K-5 and the K-1 film confusion. UPDATE - from jlbgibberish.blogspot.com "I discovered Lik's photography television series on the Weather Channel, From the Edge with Peter Lik. I only managed to see about five of the 13 episodes before the season ended, but I found them engrossing. Granted, Lik has some financial and equipment advantages..." Last edited by jimr-pdx; 10-30-2018 at 07:35 PM.

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10-30-2018, 09:59 AM - 2 Likes	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Singing to the choir - Welcome Aboard!

10-30-2018, 10:42 AM	#4
AsahiGlass Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Florida WPB Posts: 54 Original Poster	No one in Florida sells Pentax. That's ridiculous

10-30-2018, 11:48 AM - 1 Like	#5
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by AsahiGlass No one in Florida sells Pentax. That's ridiculous Yes, I feel your pain in Georgia. Adorama, B&H, and Amazon are your friends (as is the Marketplace here).

10-30-2018, 12:49 PM	#6
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	The K-01, might have not been a failure for Pentax but its performance is underrated IMO - I love mine. Enjoy!

10-30-2018, 12:54 PM - 1 Like	#7
Unregistered User Guest	I love and use mine - but check the mode dial for looseness, It has been known to pop off and is hard to replace. (It is easy to glue back on) Last edited by Unregistered User; 10-30-2018 at 04:11 PM. Reason: typo

10-30-2018, 01:23 PM - 1 Like	#8
Kelvin 5500 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 98	Originally posted by AsahiGlass Most people think Pentax is out of business, and in a sense they are. It is the responsibility of the Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation marketing team to directly contact brick and mortar photographic equipment retailers and convince them that it is profitable to carry Pentax cameras and accessories. Ricoh has chosen to not cultivate and harvest this market. Originally posted by AsahiGlass I love my K-01, and everyone thinks it's a film camera because..."they still make cameras?" I find it humorous when people who see me with my Pentax K-1 Mark II camera approach me and ask, "Is that a film camera?" Beleave it or not, this happens fairly frequently. Dennis

10-30-2018, 01:49 PM - 3 Likes	#9
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	I told this story here years ago but it's relevant again here. I was shooting a space launch at NASA and it started to rain. The multitudes with cameras ran for cover. Two stringers and I stood in the rain with our cameras. Both, independently, came to me and as nice guys tried to get me to take my K5 out of the rain to save it. They were each pros and trying to help the "civilian" not ruin his equipment - I appreciated their concern. Each was SHOCKED that I had a) a Pentax, and b) that it was weather sealed. They essentially said I must be mistaken until I showed them information online on my iPhone. When the Pros don't even know that Pentax exist or that their cameras are weather seals the "marketing" people at Ricoh aren't earning their salaries IMHO.

10-30-2018, 02:07 PM	#10
Ontarian50 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 530	I love my K-01 too. But there was no way I would have bought one when it first came out. The darn things were about $900 CDN when they were introduced, and it was hard to justify that price compared to say, the K-5 at the time. And that's why you don't see to many of them in North America. Dealers recognized that it wouldn't sell all that well at that price point, and few stocked them. I got mine when they were being closed out. I do find it a very fun camera to use, and with focus peaking and IBIS, it really is a wonderful thing to use with a wide variety of lenses. The Mark Newson styling probably wasn't the best idea, and the full-depth K-mount does seem like a waste of space. And it really is almost impossible to use in bright sunlight. On the plus side, the big battery is awesome.

10-30-2018, 02:25 PM - 1 Like	#12
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	I miss my K-01, my K20D and my K-5, I just had to many cameras. I still have pictures of myself with a K-01 though.

10-30-2018, 02:46 PM	#13
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,421	Originally posted by AsahiGlass No one in Florida sells Pentax. That's ridiculous Don't let it bother you. I'm in New Zealand and I buy from Adorama or B&H in New York. You can too!

10-30-2018, 02:48 PM	#15
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,421	Originally posted by AsahiGlass He will never buy a Pentax digital camera. No trust. Why "no trust"?