Originally posted by RGlasel Nothing has really changed in the 22 months since this thread was started. There aren't any tricks to saving the ILC industry that haven't been tried multiple times, no niche market that hasn't been targeted from multiple angles and no marketing strategy that has been left untested. Just because a particular manufacturer hasn't come out with a product that checks every single box on our own unique, personal shopping list, doesn't mean that the world is coming to an end. If you include used cameras that are capable of working for another decade or so, there aren't any photographic itches that can't be scratched, as long as one is willing to accept that a few boxes will never be checked off.
I wholeheartedly agree. If you look at the other brand flagship cameras... weow! How can Pentax compete with some of those systems! But often (and I have no idea why...) the pricetag is completely left out of the talking point... The Canon 1Dx III is a Full Frame BEAST with a $10k pricetag attached! It's not an enthusiast camera but a professional tool which I think is an affordable system for those that make $60-100k/yr from being a professional photographer. Pentax K-1 is a $2k camera and suits enthusiast budgets as well as those lesser or p/t professionals. The camera does NOT have to compete with flagship systems in order to turn a profit, it just has to be a good camera marketed to the appropriate audience.
Marketing is Pentax's major weakness imo, not the cameras. Clarity on what the camera can do, its intended purposes and getting the proper respect it deserves. I'm a member of a few photography groups (non brand specific) and when people ask for recommendations for a landscape camera it's saddening to see the lack of recommendations for Pentax when in fact it's one of the most strongest contenders AND best value.
I had a friend recently get into photography and his interest is bird and wildlife. He's gone to Canon and I don't think that's necessarily a bad decision, not that Pentax cameras can't take good bird pictures but fast AF, deep buffer and strong fps has never been Pentax's strong point.
I would also like to see some better indepth Pentax camera reviews, I get depressed watching a video from a popular youtube account and have the user complain over a feature and never know said feature can be turned on or off in the menu... so sad...