[guinnessman]

If you don't believe them, just look at how few professional photographers - people that make their living with a camera - use cheap, hard to use nonsense like Canon or Nikon. Who needs modern features when you've got soul. Sidelines, press boxes, and studios the world over are filled with Pentaxes, since once people hold them one time it's like an epic, life changing experience, and they can never go back to those soulless plastic lumps. I think the new marketing strategy should just be going around and pressing cameras against people's skin to get the cosmic karma process started. Totally will increase market share.

You just created their new slogan "Pentax - cameras with SOUL, believe it!"

Honestly, I don't care much anymore; you buy into the mount, and while Pentax does offer a lot of great features in their bodies, the lack of glass is annoying. From expensive 1st party glass, to a shrinking 3rd party and used market, it's hard for me as a hobbist to stand behind them, it only makes sense for the people that already have an investment in Pentax gear, and/or shoot with the Limiteds. Pentax is catering to a different market now then what I want as as user, but it must be more lucrative or else they wouldn't be raising their prices.

[bossa]

Do black cameras have more soul than white or silver ones?

[TOUGEFC]

Do black cameras have more soul than white or silver ones?

No, the pink one does

[tuco]

Do black cameras have more soul than white or silver ones?

I hear, but only for street photography, black cameras that look like rangefinders are invisible.

[bossa]

I hear, but only for street photography, black cameras that look like rangefinders are invisible.

Some voodoo love for the black cam!

[monochrome]

Laugh all you want. It is so easy to be smug and sophisticated. Less so to consider what to do about it.

I believe Pentax is well aware of its competitive position today, and loss thereof over the last decades. The question is whether Pentax will build on what distinct qualities they do have to restore the brand to a more significant market share in the intermediate term - say the #3 full-line brand. NO brand of anything is preferable for every use or user.

I doubt any camera consistently produces significantly superior images when compared feature-equivalent with a competitor. Choice, then, must be a measure of other factors, at least some of which are herding instinct.

[junyo]

Do black cameras have more soul than white or silver ones?

I hear, but only for street photography, black cameras that look like rangefinders are invisible.

So basically, rangefinders are vampires?

[Cynog Ap Brychan]

I dunno: one can argue all one wants about ergonomics. It's really a case of what suits, suits. I have a D800 and a K-5, and I am in awe of the quality of pictures both are capable of producing. I - and this is a personal view only - prefer using the K-5. It's the little things, really: the cut-out on some lens shades to facilitate the use of a polarising filter; the space for a spare SD card in the battery grip; the positive, clicky feel of the buttons; the sensible menu system (much better than the Nikon)... I could go on. I suppose one can get used to any camera, but I just get the feeling that Pentax cares.

[tuco]

...
It's the little things, really: ... the space for a spare SD card in the battery grip; the positive, clicky feel of the buttons; the sensible menu system (much better than the Nikon)

Odd that a spare SD card location is valued more for convenience than having two card slots built in that give you the choice to write RAW to one; JPEG to the other or automatically using the second card when one fills up. And a "My Menu" for fast and easy access to commonly used features such as mirror lockup with 1, 2 and 3 second delay or the built-in connection for a radio remote, etc.

[Docrwm]

Odd that a spare SD card location is valued more for convenience than having two card slots built in that give you the choice to write RAW to one; JPEG to the other or automatically using the second card when one fills up. And a "My Menu" for fast and easy access to commonly used features such as mirror lockup with 1, 2 and 3 second delay or the built-in connection for a radio remote, etc.

Everyone has different things that they value. I looked at the 7000 & 7100 and prefer the K-5IIs. As for a 2nd card - that is on my wish list for Pentax to do next.

[Cynog Ap Brychan]

Odd that a spare SD card location is valued more for convenience than having two card slots built in

You infer what I did not imply, though I must admit that I am not too bothered by the absence of a second card slot. And I never use the "My Menu" facility on the D800. Each to his/her own.

[tuco]

You infer what I did not imply, though I must admit that I am not too bothered by the absence of a second card slot. And I never use the "My Menu" facility on the D800. Each to his/her own.

Customize the My Menu with all your most accessed features. You will rarely go into the regular menu system again. It's a sweet feature nullifying any perceived poor menu ergonomics. The darn thing just has so many options in its menus it becomes overwhelming.

[Cynog Ap Brychan]

I can see the value of a customised menu, and I agree that cameras these days have a bewildering array of options. On the other hand, I am content with the Pentax user settings approach for my type of photography. Presently, I have mine set up for aperture priority, bracketing and HDR. It's all I need really. I tend to use the D800 in more controlled circumstances, as I rarely carry it around because I find it a little heavy when a few lenses are added in to the equation. perhaps if I become a little more adventurous, I will appreciate the "My Menu" facility more.

[qotsarock]

I'm not impressed by these price hikes.

[SyncGuy]

Haha.... For the fun of it, i guess them Pentax Japan has awaken and finally learned how to use the Google search engine to discover that Pentax are "up there" with Leica and Zeiss glassses..

Therefore, they're gonna start elevating themselves into their "rightful" place.. LOL!
If Pentax is gonna be 3rd, after Leica and Zeiss, and Zeiss glasse are like half of Leica glasses, then Pentax glasses should be 1/3 of Leica glasses too!

LOL!