Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor Success means that you have made it - you have reached a position where you can relax, at least for a while. Canon has reached that state. Nikon too. Pentax had that position many decades ago. Ricoh have never even been there in this market segment.
As I stated earlier in this thread - the apparent success of Nikon and Canon may not quite as good as many think. My feeling is that Canon is in the better position of the 2. Nikon has it's own issues.
Thom Hogan is currently posting an insightful series of articles about Nikon DX (APS-C) which are well worth reading
Thom Hogan's Nikon Camera, DSLR, Lens, Flash, and Book site and
http://www.bythom.com/stateofdx2012.htm. There are two points Thom is making that I think really inform the Pentax discussion on this thread:
1. Holes in a lens line up can really hurt you (see the comparison table that Thom has posted) - I think Pentax is in a much better position in this regard, particularly with the Limited Primes
2. Having Full Frame camera choices (and Nikon has some excellent ones) does not mean that customers upgrade from APS-C (DX in Nikon speak). Thom's commentary on this is particularly interesting - it seems that Nikon APS-C camera users are not necessarily upgrading to Nikon Full Frame - in fact if anything they are switching to m4/3 or other sensor/camera size bodies.
This APS-C to Full Frame upgrade issue is particularly interesting in light of the discussion on this thread.
I had a Nikon D200 (APS-C) camera and lenses, and sold them and swapped to Pentax for the reasons that Thom outlines in his articles:
1. The Pentax K-5 sensor is all I need (although I will be very tempted to purchase a K-5IIs with further sensor detail and clarity)
2. The Pentax K-5 is a small, weather sealed body, and ideal for travel
3. Pentax has a range of high quality small and pancake prime lenses (the Limited lenses predominately) which are ideal for travel and light camera kits
In many ways I prove Thom's analysis - a Nikon DX user that swapped away form Nikon due to holes in their body and lens offerings, that did not meet my evolving needs.
The Pentax combination of a high quality and relatively small, light weight weather resistant camera body with small high quality lenses is still a compelling value proposition.
The Olympus OM-D is selling very well because it offers much the same value proposition.
Nikon may be in more trouble than most people realize.
I will be interested in your comments, and how you think the analysis affects Pentax once you have read Thom's articles on Nikon DX (APS-C)
Ross