[PePe]

At least one retailer in Helsinki is taking pre-orders for the K-5 at a fixed price of 1149€ (incl VAT). Expected delivery in October, but no further information about timing.

They are also taking D7000 pre-orders for exactly the same price !
Expected delivery October/November.

[Rite]

Apparently they do..... Offering it to the USA for less because of that probably wn't sell many more bodies, kills profit for petax and make it more expensive for the rest of the world.

======================================

Hoya isn't banking on the USA market to keep it floating, or at least it had better not be!

Understanding supply and demand is the first market principal being violated here if the K5 goes a penny over $1,299 in the USA, IMO. And even at that price point, there won't be enough volume to sustain it.

You do understand supply and demand is a 'make or break' approach to any successful company or product. And if Hoya misses that mark in the USA, it will miss it for the rest of it's Global Market as well.

IMO

[Rite]

At least one retailer in Helsinki is taking pre-orders for the K-5 at a fixed price of 1149€ (incl VAT). Expected delivery in October, but no further information about timing.

They are also taking D7000 pre-orders for exactly the same price !
Expected delivery October/November.

===================================

(Global Market ripple effect in play here.)

SURPRISE - SURPRISE!

Is Hoya paying attention? IMO, the opening market price of the K5 and K-r will MAKE OR BREAK Pentax. Getting this right has never been more important for Pentax, or their traditionally brand-loyal enthusiasts.

[Blue]

Price isn't the only factor when comparing bodies. Sure it is an important one. However, I think Nikon may as well not used Magnesium for their shell if they were going to leave the front made of plastic. The K-5 and K-7 kicks their a$$ and gives them pocket change in that regard. That alone could offset the ~ $100. If the magnesium shell wasn't a selling factor in the 1st place and price was weighted heavily in my decision, then I would be looking at the K-r. Until the street prices are actually established, people really need to quit flipping out.

[Rite]

Price isn't the only factor when comparing bodies. Sure it is an important one. However, I think Nikon may as well not used Magnesium for their shell if they were going to leave the front made of plastic. The K-5 and K-7 kicks their a$$ and gives them pocket change in that regard. That alone could offset the ~ $100. If the magnesium shell wasn't a selling factor in the 1st place and price was weighted heavily in my decision, then I would be looking at the K-r. Until the street prices are actually established, people really need to quit flipping out.

=================================

The hard shell, along with my lens collection will (eventually) cause me to lean to the K5. I take some fairly rough trips to Alaska (boats, rafts, 4-wheelers, log trails, mountains) and my K10D has been perfectly suited for it.

But, out of every ten consumers, how many will a camera magnesium body be THE deciding purchase factor? 20%? 30%?

The ones flipping out will be the accounting branch of Hoya in Tokyo if they screw this up.

IMO

[janneman]

Hoya Pentax probably understand thet the number they will sell is more or less limited, expecially compared with Nikon... Even the Canon 60D will sell in much larger numbers than K-r, K-x, K-7 and K-5 combined.
Both Nikin and Canon offerings would sell better even if Pnetax were cheaper. in fact, Pentax has always been a cheap alternative, yet it never sold well..

I guess it is sound economic thinking of Hoya/Pentax to reason as folllows:
"if we are 50% more expensive we will only loos market share of 10 % , thus the higher price is more profitable in the long run".

[Hambino]

wasn't sure where to post this but here's the link to a sign i saw in Akihabara regarding the K-5 (and K-r) release date and price: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/1207564-post12.html

[Rite]

wasn't sure where to post this but here's the link to a sign i saw in Akihabara regarding the K-5 (and K-r) release date and price: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/1207564-post12.html

===============================

From your #427, K5 Japanese pricing:

K5 BODY ONLY - 154,800 yen = $1,854 USD
K5 BODY WITH 18~135mm LENS - 189800 yen = $2,273 USD

How do the Japanese K5 prices compare to what the K7 is going for over there?

[Hambino]

Oooh, good question. I think I remember seeing a K7 at Labi for around 89,000 yen ($1,067 USD) so about an $800 difference. I might go back this weekend to see if the K-r's been released yet and I'll double check on the K7 price.

[Rite]

Oooh, good question. I think I remember seeing a K7 at Labi for around 89,000 yen ($1,067 USD) so about an $800 difference. I might go back this weekend to see if the K-r's been released yet and I'll double check on the K7 price.

=====================================

Thanks for the local report. Being right there at the release point, you'll probably be more informed than most, you'll also be able to give a 'hands-on' first impression from a normal user's perspective as well.

IYO, is the K5 body worth 154,800 yen?

[Rite]

Eagerly awaiting the K-r's arrival.

IMO, feature-for-feature, the K-r will be a much better bargain than the K5 will be. For me already having the K-x, the improvements are not enough to justify the K-r. For new owners however, the K-r will be a very viable option, especially if you have already invested in Pentax glass.

[Hambino]

IYO, is the K5 body worth 154,800 yen?

I honestly couldn't even begin to give an educated guess as to the worth of the K5 body. I just started using a DSLR in March/April so I really don't have much to compare things too

I will definitely try and give a decent report when these cameras do come out though. Even though I'm really most interested in the K-r, I'll try and play around with the K5 and give some kind of a noob impressions

For new owners however, the K-r will be a very viable option, especially if you have already invested in Pentax glass.

That's what I'm hoping! I seriously cannot wait!

[youky63]

Here are the official prices in Japan for the different kits (10% can be removed of all prices by using the Shop Points Card). Prices are given for Japan only and cannot be extrapolated to any other country.

K5:

-K5 body only: 139.800 yens (= 1.679 USD = 1.225 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-5 [???]

-K5 + 18-55mm WR: 154.800 yens (= 1.859 USD = 1.357 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-5 [18-55WR??????]

-K5 + 18-135mm WR: 189.800 yens (= 2.280 USD = 1.664 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-5 [18-135??????]

K5 is expected to be released end of october.

Kr:

-Kr body only, any of the 120 colors: 74.800 yens (= 898 USD = 656 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-r [??? ????]

-Kr + 18-55mm (any body color): 79.800 yens (= 958 USD = 699 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-r [030 ?????? ????/???]

-Kr + 18-55mm + 55-300mm (any body color): 99.800 yens (= 1.199 USD = 875 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-r [055 ????????? ????/???]

Kr and the different kits will be available between October 7 and October 10.


DA18-135mm WR:

Available middle of November for 59.800 yens (= 718 USD = 524 euros)
????.com- ?????? DA18-135/3.5-5.6ED AL[IF]DC WR


DA35mm f/2.4:

Available middle of November in any color (Japan only) for 24.800 yens (= 298 USD = 217 euros)
????.com-pentax 35mm-????


Just for information, the K7 (body only) is actually sold at 88.800 yens (= 1.067 USD = 778 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-7 [???]

As you can see, prices in Japan are going to be the most expensive in the world. Thanks to the economical situation leading to weak dollars and euros.

Then a few more informations. Last weekend was held a hands on preview in Akihabara (Tokyo). People were basically able to see what was already held in Photokina.
A few others exhibitions will be held during the next weeks. The next one will be in my city (Osaka) on October 16th from 12:00 to 17:00 in the 3rd floor of Umeda Sky Building. I will try to go there. During the following day/weeks they will move to Nagoya, Sapporo and Fukuoka. Informations here.

[Rite]

DA18-135mm WR:

Available middle of November for 59.800 yens (= 718 USD = 524 euros)
????.com- ?????? DA18-135/3.5-5.6ED AL[IF]DC WR


DA35mm f/2.4:

Available middle of November in any color (Japan only) for 24.800 yens (= 298 USD = 217 euros)
????.com-pentax 35mm-????


Just for information, the K7 (body only) is actually sold at 88.800 yens (= 1.067 USD = 778 euros)
????.com- ?????? K-7 [???]

As you can see, prices in Japan are going to be the most expensive in the world. Thanks to the economical situation leading to weak dollars and euros.

Then a few more informations. Last weekend was held a hands on preview in Akihabara (Tokyo). People were basically able to see what was already held in Photokina.
A few others exhibitions will be held during the next weeks. The next one will be in my city (Osaka) on October 16th from 12:00 to 17:00 in the 3rd floor of Umeda Sky Building. I will try to go there. During the following day/weeks they will move to Nagoya, Sapporo and Fukuoka. Informations here.

================================

That new WR DA18-135mm WR will be a big hit among Pentax outdoor enthusiasts.

Thanks very much for the insight, pricing information, and direct K-5 Pentax press release photos and links.

[adamfogerty]

argh! All these posts about the price being too high are annoying the hell out of me.

Don't you think Pentax WANTS to be able to compete with Canon and Nikon on price?

Pentax has to sell the K-5 above cost, as I'm pretty sure it's not designed to be a loss-leader.

I'm 99% certain that the K-5 will cost more for Pentax to produce than the equivilent Canon/Nikon, it's called economies of scale:

• They won't benefit from the same purchasing power as the 'big two' - they'll be ordering from their suppliers in smaller quantities, so the price will be higher
• They don't have as many cameras to share components across
• They are going to sell less units than the other two (regardless of price), so the R&D and fixed costs absorbed into each unit are going to be higher again
• Maybe the components are of higher quality, again raising the price - adding weather sealing for example is going to increase the cost vs. no sealing

Pentax may well be making LESS on each K-5 sold vs. Nikon on the D7000 , even if the retail price of the K-5 is higher.

It's wrong to assume that a higher price simply means Pentax is trying to rip us all off.

Adam