Originally posted by Ratmagiclady Have any facts put in an apppearance yet?
Here's a fact: Every student I know, photography student or otherwise, wants or has a fast 50 for their DSLR. Even if they hardly know a thing about photography or technique. That EF 50mm f1.8 (which gets a worse rap than it deserves here) is a favorite on campus and seems to drive a lot of sales. A friend of mine even ponied up for Oly's 50mm f2 macro so as not to feel too left out!
I present this as a fact, as requested. This is not a hyperbolized anecdote. I am simply stating that every single one I know has a desire for a fast 50. I can't understand how it can be suggested that such a thing is "not wanted" by the market. Perhaps a
portion of the market, but to a very important sector of the market lens choices are a big deal.
College students/other young people may not be the largest available market, but they are still an important demographic because, well, the members of Pentax's established market who already know Pentax are not going to be around forever. New buyers have to be brought in.
One was telling me how he was interested in the K-x, but he was concerned over whether or not there was a fast 50 available for it. I assured him that the FA50 would suit him just fine, and since he can afford $250 for the lens easily it worked out fine. Most other students I know in that position would have looked at the $250 price tag and said "screw it, I'm getting a Rebel."
It's an industry-standard product that most buyers who have an intent to actually build a system (the people who will drive lens revenues and eventually buy higher-margin lenses as well) look at when considering a brand. If you can't appeal to them, they buy into another brand, and their money later goes to that brand's higher-profit lenses rather than Pentax's.