Originally posted by ElJamoquio D800E is $3300.
I don't think I'd pay that for a Pentax full frame (a year ago I would've, gladly), but it's certainly a justified price in the marketplace.
And the regular D800 is just under 3k.
But, right, It isn't justified for Pentax. Nikon can charge that (and more) because they're Nikon.. they have a large userbase, a top tier name, and a robust series of FF bodies.
I wouldn't expect Pentax, whom likely will have just a single digital FF body on the market if they ever release one, to opt for the 3k tier. If someone gave ME (A pentax camera and lens owner) 3,000 dollars and told me to spend it on a FF body, I'd buy that D800 (or maybe the D610 and a lens). Pentax has appeal for squeezing out a little more than anyone else, the AW/WR system, and the generally smaller formfactor. However, they also have niche flaws too.. such as the flash system, the lack of a lot of options on the far tele side for FF, and, at least imo, the lack of a general, non-wifi tether ability and 3rd party support.
Pentax (well Ricoh) is in a delicate position if they ever launch a digi FF body since the market is already saturated and they are, now, little fish in big pond based on userbase. The old folks know who Pentax is.. the younger generations, however, likely have no clue what is a Pentax. Maybe it is some tax for using ink pens.
It is Canon, Nikon, and Sony they know,.. maybe even Olympus. But who is going to be foolish enough to release their first digi FF camera into the market priced (and potentially featured) roughly the same as your well established competitors? It would be ludicrous.
So they need more... it can't be a flop.. it has to be a hit as there is little room for failure. The pros aren't going to care about the price as much, since they'll write it off as a business expense... they'll be more concerned with the performance and lens assortment. The non-pros will want more bang for their dollar... esp coming from a different system.
So, I think, part of that success will be in pricing it a little lower than the biggest competition. The other part is just releasing a well designed camera.. and lens assortment. haha. But, I don't know why we continue discussing this.. I guess it is fun to sit and dream a little?