Originally posted by jcleary47 I understand the need to be patient, and it's not unreasonable. However, I personally find the lack of information or willingness to share details on a new APS-C camera a bit frustrating when I see Nikon, Sony, FujiFilm, Canon all making consistent, regular upgrades to their full lineups on a more frequent basis. I get that Pentax has a smaller market share, and maybe less funds and resources to follow suit.
Many folks have invested heavily in the Pentax ecosystem, and many like the APS-C format. It's not unreasonable to expect more from a platform we have put a lot of money and effort into to expect - at the very least - some information on what's coming. If I feel the need or desire to upgrade my camera (for any reason), Pentax shouldn't put me in a position where I have to throw my arms up and say screw it, I'm not waiting for something that I don't even know is coming, with improvements that nobody knows will even be there, when I can get something better right now from a competitor. I get we as consumers can be impatient, often perhaps going for the latest and greatest without necessarily needing it. But if we want to do that, that's our choice and there's an expectation that those whom provide those products keep up with those desires.
I'm not trying to come off as trashing Pentax - I've gotten great use out of the cameras I've owned and the lenses I have. But from a brand perspective and community engagement perspective, I just don't like being left in the dark when I see the competition being far more open and straight forward. I would think the writing is on the wall here and someone would say, "Hey, don't jump ship just yet, we've got his coming and you're going to love it because it's going to have x feature and y feature." I find it hard to believe they don't have many of the details worked out on their new APS-C flagship by now - and if they don't... that's very telling and very concerning.
That's a reasonable, well-thought-through and valid position, but I'd respectfully suggest it's not everyone's...
As I've said before in other threads over the last few years, I have zero
expectations of Ricoh / Pentax beyond what I bought and what was available to go with it at the time I purchased it. Heck, even if Ricoh (or any other brand)
promised, hand on heart, some product was coming soon, I wouldn't plan for it or even fully believe it, necessarily. I certainly wouldn't
depend on it. The thing is, we're in a very difficult market, and Ricoh / Pentax is a small player in that market. I've no doubt it changes its plans on a fairly frequent basis, and doesn't want to commit to deliveries it can't guarantee. Whatever it does or doesn't tell us, I choose to assume there's good reason behind it, but I don't have to assume it foretells anything warranting my concern.
All of us who've been using Pentax for some time are now well aware of Ricoh's approach to customer communication. Some are frustrated by it. Even I, relaxed though I am, would prefer
more communication... but I don't get frustrated over the lack of it. With respect, I think to
expect (rather than
hope for) anything beyond what we bought, paid for and got in return is folly. We bought
products... products that make up a system, yes, and we all hope that system will survive and grow... but, if it doesn't, we got what we paid for. In my view, the contract was fulfilled. Anything beyond that is butter, so to speak.
I'm not trying to shoot down your opinion... I just wanted to add mine as balance and a different perspective or approach