Originally posted by Pål Jensen A 70-200/4 outsells a 85/1.4 50:1
You are probably correct, but photographic equipment buyers (everyone from "soccer moms" to enthusiastic amateurs to people who pay their bills by selling the photographs they make) decide to buy a system, not a camera or a lens. Once that decision is made, marketing new products is easy. The hard part, that takes lots of marketing, is getting the owner of a system to switch. No one will switch to Pentax because they introduced a 70-200/4 zoom and no one will leave Pentax because another system has one and Pentax doesn't.
Pentax has camera bodies that are good enough to convince many buyers to switch, but before those buyers decide to buy a Pentax system, they will consider the quality of the lens lineup. A stellar 85/1.4 will impress buyers looking to switch from Canon or Nikon systems, even if they would never own such a lens themselves, it makes a direct statement (not needing any interpretation from the likes of Tony Northrup) that Pentax has a serious, high-grade, advanced system. Not having an 85/1.4 or having one that is "known" to be antiquated or somehow inferior to its competitors, will only confirm any negative impressions potential switchers have of Pentax. Even if the buyer just wants a cheap, lightweight system for casual use, it makes a difference if the manufacturer is capable of selling a serious, high-grade, advanced system.
If something is being marketed to more than one buyer, it is social marketing. However, people vastly overrate the importance of "social network" marketing. If you
agree with something Tony Northrup broadcasts in a YouTube video, he must be an important influencer, otherwise you see him for the bone-headed twit he really is. Unless you dropped out of a alien spaceship and landed in a camera store with your VISA card, you have been exposed to some type of photographic equipment prior to deciding to buy a new camera or lens and you have a better idea of what is important to you than any influencer on the Internet, even if they are your connected friend.
The only reason to read reviews or listen to someone else's opinion is to compare it to your own experiences and opinions. Even if the reviewer is obviously obtuse, you can still look for comments that reveal some truth, where the reviewer has been surprised when a product doesn't conform to their preconceived opinions, or is trying too hard to compensate for their "favorite" or is basing their opinion on demonstrably incorrect information. The more intelligent and trustworthy reviewers are useful for giving you ammunition to justify your buying decision after you make the purchase.
You don't have be Ernest Einstein to know that the business for photographic equipment systems has peaked and is in decline. There are fewer opportunities to show off your expertise by buying new equipment. You won't impress many by simply buying something new, you have to make sure you put lots of time and effort into making good buying decisions and you definitely don't want to make obviously bad decisions. What makes a bad decision? Buying a system that doesn't offer the gratification of having noteworthy new products available for purchase. Even if you buy just the bare essentials for now, hopefully you can add to your system in the future with something really impressive. Pentax doesn't need better social marketing or YouTube reviews, it needs a more impressive system and through the magic of the Internet, people will learn about it and decide for themselves if it is worthwhile to switch.