Originally posted by monochrome Let’s take this idea a step further. In the small user guides for film cameras going back to the 60’s, ‘How-To’ instructions demonstrated proper uses of an SLR, focusing, exposure - even holding the camera.
Given that part of the Pentax brand Lauren is design cues reflecting legacy cameras and the historical dedication to optical innovation - reexhing back to those simpler user guides as an example - should Pentax create, in an organized, intentional and thoughtful fashion, a series of white papers describing optimizing settings for various stylers of image capture; to optimize autofocus (especially tracking /AF.C) given Pentax’s unique AF logic; technical instruction on optimal use of the AstroTracer function (IOW, how to capture and process Astro images; principles of how to compose, light and capture landscape images; and so on.
Can such White Papers be published with illustrations on a special site such as the K-1 Special Site?
Can instruction* - especially on optimizing the benefits of Pentax unique features and logic - become a brand differentiator for Pentax?
* probably transfers well to a YouTube channel
Yes, that would absolutely work. I like it!!! It would also solve several problems simultaneously that I see Pentax is having....
- This approach would provide a new type of access to the market - especially new photographers. It would introduce Pentax to them, without actually engaging in "marketing", so to speak.
- As you stated, it would become a brand "differentiator".
- It would engage users / photographers on Pentax's terms and turf. For instance it has been said that - Pentax has lousy AF, or insufficient glass. It would turn the conversation inside out - and introduce AF as Pentax views AF - and why it works. I've often posted in a few places that when you take shake reduction or IBIS into account, the large difference in lens libraries is substantially reduced.
- Rather than just being different, it would provide a forum for why being different actually provides you with what you really want to use.
Whitepapers could be published in any number of formats - say a "Pentax Vision" website, or whatever. (Pentax Focus, Pentax Perception, Pentax Alternative, Pentax Opportunity, Pentax Advantage, Pentax Philosophy, Pentax Opinion, etc. .... ), that could transcend any single body and be across the Pentax range of bodies - since they all embody the Pentax Concept - the Pentax Difference.
I really do like the clear, clean, simple - easy to grasp, single concept paper, oriented to helping photographers. Take astrophotography for instance. Down in the astro social group, there are about a dozen or so users that have images that equal any image taken with any other camera brand - using K30, K50, K5, K3's etc. The imagery is breathtaking. There is real hidden talent here on the PF. The paper does not have to tout Pentax, but a very soft sell can be very effective.
A selected set of topics, with Pentax engineers - not delving into the engineering, but helping to explain how to use the capabilities that are in your hands, along with some interesting related photography.
Pentax would not see any instant "viral" acceptance, but a steady output of articles, over time should win a good following and win additional readership or viewership.... essentially all the elements of guerilla marketing. And it should not be expensive. The key here is to get the internal Pentax engineering insight in terms of supporting the photography of the user.
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Just some ideas and topics.....
- AstroPhotography - touched on above oriented towards the finer capabilities of astrotrace.
- Acceleration Chip - or better noise in-camera noise control.
- AutoFocusing (AF) - how to get the best out of Pentax's approach to AF.
- Landscape Photography - advantages of sealed bodies and lenses
- Kit Lenses - new photographers are advised to bypass kit lenses and get a better lens right out of the gate, but the kits help you identify what you should consider next.
- In-Body-Image-Stabilization (IBIS) -
- Focus Throw, Fast Focusing, Manual Focusing - short focus throw provides fast focusing, but extremely difficult manual focusing, where as moderate focus throw provides reasonable fast focusing and reasonable manual focusing.
- High Definition Imagery - Pixel Shift advantages and how to excel with the technology.
- Perspective Correction - in camera sensor shift assists with on the fly perspective correction across any lens.....
- Manual Controls vs Menu Items - .....
- The philosophy of the Limited lenses - .....
- The philosophy of the * lenses - .....
- The philosophy of Pentax's JPG engine - a lot of criticism has been heaped on the JPG engine, where other brands tweak and fine tune the out of the camera images to be ready for the reviewers (and to receive their praise and high recommendations), as opposed to the users using the controls to customize the JPG output to what they want, etc. .....
- Dual control wheels -
- TAv mode -
- Focus Peaking -
- etc., etc., etc.
.... and any other topic "de jure" that Pentax engineers want to convey their opinions, philosophy and perspectives on. The list is nearly endless.