Originally posted by JimmyDranox Considering only the time passed from the launch of K-3, yes, is to soon. But I think that Ricoh could have some other reasons. If the sales data are not very good, and those recent cascading price drops, and also the number of Pentax dedicated users who clearly express that they will not upgrade to K-3 seems to point that. Also, a good reason to launch a new camera can be significant changes in technology they have developed. Or simply, demand from a big market. We know that their main target is Japan and Asian markets, but we don't know what they want from a Pentax camera.
I've just checked prices at a main Pentax dealer here in the UK. There's a just-launched Pentax Winter Cashback on and prices have dropped quite heavily. For example, last week the K3 was 819 pounds straight up. This week it is 775 pounds less 70 pounds cashback = 705 pounds. The K-S1 body-only is now 399 pounds including cashback which is a pretty heavy reduction on its first asking price which (iirc) was nearer 500 pounds or so. The real steal is still the K-50, now at 309 pounds body only including cashback. Lens prices have come down a bit too, not on cashback just a reduction. I noticed around 50 pounds off the DA* 16-50mm, for example, and maybe 25 pounds off the DA* 55mm. I think the DA* line generally has been reduced in price. There is no cashback on the KIIs, interestingly, just on the K3, K-S1 and K-50.
At 705 pounds for the K3, it would be hard to say no really. By what things cost here, that is a very good price considering all that one is getting. The camera was 850-880 pounds or so two or three months ago.
The dealer has set the pre-delivery price of the new 16-85mm at 599 pounds. One imagines that will come down by 100 pounds or more fairly rapidly.
Anyway, perhaps the "old" on Amazon could be do with new prices around a winter cashback programme rather than new models.
FWIW, the new price of the K3 is still roughly par with the D7100. That is a little higher now at around 769 pounds but Nikon are throwing in a free grip on their winter programme so things balance out. I'd guess that all the camera companies are finding it hard to sell much at the moment, so these reductions don't necessarily mean that Pentax is doing worse than anyone else. In fact if they are canny about their Winter Cashback, they may end up doing better.