Originally posted by eddie1960 you realise Rupert NIKON has an even more stringent UPP policy, that has been in place a lot longer.
I do realize this Eddie, but Nikon is operating from a position of great strength....Canon too. I would love to see you guys turn out to be right, but I look around... on this forum and elsewhere, and don't see where this has made many want to stick fast with Pentax or buy more of their products....have you...honestly?
I think a lot will depend on the next major flagship body in determining how Pentax will be viewed by many current owners. If it is a solid machine, free of the glitches that plagued the K5, and is competitive with the competition in performance, then already having an investment in Pentax might make it worth the new prices, and worth hanging on. If not, I think a lot of shooters will bail out and take their losses by moving to a new system. As for new shooters, I see little reason for them to choose Pentax given the strength of the other major brands. I didn't say I would agree with that necessarily, but if offered a buy back on every dime on your current Pentax investment, would you go back with it again, given the current atmosphere, or switch brands? "Honestly" is the key word. If you even hesitate on that, then you can imagine that a new buyer would hardly find reason to consider Pentax.......which is back to the real reason they are not in B& M stores currently.
I think I am leaving this conversation, it is not my desire to bash Pentax...I love my K5 and have generally been a happy customer, but I am concerned about what I am seeing...and what I am not seeing...from Ricoh. I might add that my business is even less important than most, I have a good supply of lenses, and need little added to make me happy. My hope is that Ricoh hits a home run, and in a year you guys can laugh me off of here as being dead wrong.
I hope I have not offended anyone, I value your opinions even when I don't agree...that's what makes this a great place!
Best Regards!