It seems to me that the Pentax K-S2 is not selling very well. Why?

**ebooks4pentax** · 07-21-2015, 10:47 PM

The K-S2 is a great little camera. It's the first Pentax with Wi-Fi and the first with the rotating screen. I thought the sales would go through the roof with it. So...why is it not selling that well?

For one thing, I think that many people are awaiting for the introduction of the Full Frame Pentax this fall.

But I really think that the main reason is its price. It's not that the camera is crazy expensive, but its introduction to the market was not done wisely, in my opinion.

As I write this, the K-S2 with the 18-50mm kit lens is selling for $674.99 with free expedited shipping at B&H.

The remaining K-3, still new and still available at most stores, is selling for $749,00 with free expedited shipping and the K-3II is selling for $935.24 also with free expedited shipping The kit lens in not included, but I suspect that they sell way more of these cameras without the kit lens.

On the used market, like EBay, the K-3 can be found at an average of around $ 650.00. The K-3 is definitely a better DSLR than the K-S2. People are not stupid, they can see value for the money and the K-3 is the best value in the Pentax world at this time.

They should have waited until the K-3 stocks were depleted or introduce the K-S2 at around $500.00.

What do you think?

Last edited by ebooks4pentax; 07-21-2015 at 10:51 PM. Reason: typos

farhaddad · 07-21-2015, 11:20 PM

I believe that K3 and KS2 are for two different markets. Let alone the full frame camera. Anyone waiting for the full frame won't even consider the KS2 anyway.

Pentax has a problem with marketing and it isn't as easy as we think. If they want to do proper marketing their cameras will probably cost more than Canon and Nikon. Would people buy Pentax if it was more expensive than a Nikon or a Canon? Probably not. That's why they know that their chances are better with cheaper prices and lousy marketing.

Kozlok · 07-22-2015, 04:56 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ebooks4pentax

The K-3 is definitely a better DSLR than the K-S2.

What do you think?

I have to disagree. K-3 is better in some ways, but in ways that matter to me, the K-S2 is better, which is why I bought one. I need the smaller physical size, and wanted the flippy screen and built in wifi. I compared the two quite carefully, and the increased resolution and more autofocus points of the K-3 aren't important to me, so the tradeoff came down to quiet shutter vs wifi and flip out screen. K-S2 was pretty clearly the winner (for me).

Venom3300 · 07-22-2015, 05:20 AM

Well I can't speak for the rest of the world, but as for Here in America, it's because nobody knows Pentax still exists. Let alone their latest offering.

Clothears · 07-22-2015, 05:29 AM

Originally posted by Venom3300

Well I can't speak for the rest of the world, but as for here in America, it's because nobody knows Pentax still exists.

That's gonna be part of the problem here too in the UK. The more specialised camera shops stock Pentax but not the department stores that do TVs and cameras. I don't think Pentax needs a media blitz, just occasional ads here and there. Probably get a good return for a modest outlay.

As far as I am concerned, the K-S1 is better than either the K-3 or K-S2. It's lighter and simpler to use. I don't want or need wifi, flippy screen, or indeed live view. Low weight along with the image quality are the key factors for me.

aleonx3 · 07-22-2015, 05:44 AM

Collectively you are all correct, k-S2 may not be selling as well as other brands especially Canikon (let alone Sony, Panasonic or Fuji); but they are not mass producers, so it is not that they have to sell tons and put the camera into every consumer electronic stores to survive. k-S2 is also targeted for a different market segment than k-3, so the price comparison may not make too much sense; as a T5i/T6i may be priced similar to the k-3 do not make sense either.

Sandy Hancock · 07-22-2015, 05:49 AM

I am waiting for the full frame, but did not hesitate to buy a K-S2 to compliment my K-3 in the meantime. What makes you think sales are not reaching expectations?

Bunch · 07-22-2015, 05:57 AM

Originally posted by ebooks4pentax

They should have waited until the K-3 stocks were depleted or introduce the K-S2 at around $500.00.

While, I'm sure the K-S2 is great, I would not have moved up from a K-30 to get a K-S2. I moved up to a K-3 for 14 bit raw and increased DR. While wi-fi and tilt screens are nice, those features wouldn't have moved me from my K-30.

aleonx3 · 07-22-2015, 06:43 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Bunch

While, I'm sure the K-S2 is great, I would not have moved up from a K-30 to get a K-S2. I moved up to a K-3 for 14 bit raw and increased DR. While wi-fi and tilt screens are nice, those features wouldn't have moved me from my K-30.

Agree, 14bit RAW and increased DR is more important for me than flippy screen and wifi. I am waiting for the successor of k-3 with BSI sensor.

**Mikesul** · 07-22-2015, 07:03 AM

The thing that no one outside of Ricoh/Pentax can know is how many they planned to sell and at what profit. It may be selling just as well as they planned for all we know. We will know more in a few months or a year when we look at the price at that time and whether they have introduced a replacement.

seventysixersfan · 07-22-2015, 08:00 AM

With the K-50 selling at rock-bottom prices in recent months, it is a little harder (for the entry-level consumer) to justify spending twice as much for a camera that has wi-fi and flippy screen. I have thought about adding the K-S2 or even K-S1 someday but am waiting for the prices to drop to K-01 or K-50 levels -- maybe Black Friday sales?

But at this point, although K-S2 does appeal to me, it doesn't seem enough of a jump up from my K-50 to make it worth it. I am tempted by the K-3 though...

**boriscleto** · 07-22-2015, 08:15 AM

There were several reasons to upgrade to the K-3 from the K-5, but almost none for the K-S2.

**interested_observer** · 07-22-2015, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by seventysixersfan

With the K-50 selling at rock-bottom prices in recent months, it is a little harder (for the entry-level consumer) to justify spending twice as much for a camera that has wi-fi and flippy screen. I have thought about adding the K-S2 or even K-S1 someday but am waiting for the prices to drop to K-01 or K-50 levels -- maybe Black Friday sales?

But at this point, although K-S2 does appeal to me, it doesn't seem enough of a jump up from my K-50 to make it worth it. I am tempted by the K-3 though...

I do think that this is the main factor. The K-S2 was I believe designed to replace the K50, but the supply of new K50's at $370 (1 kit lens) and $470 (2 kit lenses), has not run out yet. The K50 (based on the K5 sensor) does a great job, and I believe just gets overshadowed in price. You really do not need to spend that much more to get a K3. I think if the K50's supply of new bodies ran out in the 1st quarter of 2015, it would be a slightly different story, but apparently that wasn't the case.

I think that Pentax is going to have to carefully manage the introduction of the FF, replacement K3/II and the replacement of the K50/K-S1/K-S2 better in terms of supply, overlap, timing, features and price.

swanlefitte · 07-22-2015, 08:49 AM

Love my k-s2. That with the 40xs is a perfect bike camera. With top lenses it's as good as anyone but perfectionists need.
Yet pentax maintains the 's' is about experiment. Then if sales beat production costs it subsidised R&D.

SpecialK · 07-22-2015, 12:52 PM

I don't have a Pentax, but I like and use the rotating LCD. Handy for some shots where my eye is not at the viewfinder, and I can tap the screen for the focus point and release the shutter. I don't use the Wifi (or GPS in the other one), though it may be handy as a remote control through my phone. If I was coming back to Pentax it might be for the K-S2.

07-21-2015, 10:47 PM	#1
ebooks4pentax Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 464	It seems to me that the Pentax K-S2 is not selling very well. Why? The K-S2 is a great little camera. It's the first Pentax with Wi-Fi and the first with the rotating screen. I thought the sales would go through the roof with it. So...why is it not selling that well? For one thing, I think that many people are awaiting for the introduction of the Full Frame Pentax this fall. But I really think that the main reason is its price. It's not that the camera is crazy expensive, but its introduction to the market was not done wisely, in my opinion. As I write this, the K-S2 with the 18-50mm kit lens is selling for $674.99 with free expedited shipping at B&H. The remaining K-3, still new and still available at most stores, is selling for $749,00 with free expedited shipping and the K-3II is selling for $935.24 also with free expedited shipping The kit lens in not included, but I suspect that they sell way more of these cameras without the kit lens. On the used market, like EBay, the K-3 can be found at an average of around $ 650.00. The K-3 is definitely a better DSLR than the K-S2. People are not stupid, they can see value for the money and the K-3 is the best value in the Pentax world at this time. They should have waited until the K-3 stocks were depleted or introduce the K-S2 at around $500.00. What do you think? Last edited by ebooks4pentax; 07-21-2015 at 10:51 PM. Reason: typos

07-21-2015, 11:20 PM	#2
farhaddad Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Wilsonville Photos: Albums Posts: 226	I believe that K3 and KS2 are for two different markets. Let alone the full frame camera. Anyone waiting for the full frame won't even consider the KS2 anyway. Pentax has a problem with marketing and it isn't as easy as we think. If they want to do proper marketing their cameras will probably cost more than Canon and Nikon. Would people buy Pentax if it was more expensive than a Nikon or a Canon? Probably not. That's why they know that their chances are better with cheaper prices and lousy marketing. Last edited by farhaddad; 07-22-2015 at 05:06 AM.

07-22-2015, 05:44 AM	#6
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Collectively you are all correct, k-S2 may not be selling as well as other brands especially Canikon (let alone Sony, Panasonic or Fuji); but they are not mass producers, so it is not that they have to sell tons and put the camera into every consumer electronic stores to survive. k-S2 is also targeted for a different market segment than k-3, so the price comparison may not make too much sense; as a T5i/T6i may be priced similar to the k-3 do not make sense either. Last edited by aleonx3; 07-22-2015 at 05:51 AM.

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07-22-2015, 04:56 AM - 1 Like	#3
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	Originally posted by ebooks4pentax The K-3 is definitely a better DSLR than the K-S2. What do you think? I have to disagree. K-3 is better in some ways, but in ways that matter to me, the K-S2 is better, which is why I bought one. I need the smaller physical size, and wanted the flippy screen and built in wifi. I compared the two quite carefully, and the increased resolution and more autofocus points of the K-3 aren't important to me, so the tradeoff came down to quiet shutter vs wifi and flip out screen. K-S2 was pretty clearly the winner (for me).

07-22-2015, 05:20 AM	#4
Venom3300 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 714	Well I can't speak for the rest of the world, but as for Here in America, it's because nobody knows Pentax still exists. Let alone their latest offering.

07-22-2015, 05:29 AM	#5
Clothears Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canterbury Posts: 170	Originally posted by Venom3300 Well I can't speak for the rest of the world, but as for here in America, it's because nobody knows Pentax still exists. That's gonna be part of the problem here too in the UK. The more specialised camera shops stock Pentax but not the department stores that do TVs and cameras. I don't think Pentax needs a media blitz, just occasional ads here and there. Probably get a good return for a modest outlay. As far as I am concerned, the K-S1 is better than either the K-3 or K-S2. It's lighter and simpler to use. I don't want or need wifi, flippy screen, or indeed live view. Low weight along with the image quality are the key factors for me.

07-22-2015, 05:49 AM	#7
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	I am waiting for the full frame, but did not hesitate to buy a K-S2 to compliment my K-3 in the meantime. What makes you think sales are not reaching expectations?

07-22-2015, 05:57 AM	#8
Bunch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 283	Originally posted by ebooks4pentax They should have waited until the K-3 stocks were depleted or introduce the K-S2 at around $500.00. While, I'm sure the K-S2 is great, I would not have moved up from a K-30 to get a K-S2. I moved up to a K-3 for 14 bit raw and increased DR. While wi-fi and tilt screens are nice, those features wouldn't have moved me from my K-30.

07-22-2015, 06:43 AM - 1 Like	#9
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by Bunch While, I'm sure the K-S2 is great, I would not have moved up from a K-30 to get a K-S2. I moved up to a K-3 for 14 bit raw and increased DR. While wi-fi and tilt screens are nice, those features wouldn't have moved me from my K-30. Agree, 14bit RAW and increased DR is more important for me than flippy screen and wifi. I am waiting for the successor of k-3 with BSI sensor.

07-22-2015, 07:03 AM	#10
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	The thing that no one outside of Ricoh/Pentax can know is how many they planned to sell and at what profit. It may be selling just as well as they planned for all we know. We will know more in a few months or a year when we look at the price at that time and whether they have introduced a replacement.

07-22-2015, 08:00 AM	#11
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	With the K-50 selling at rock-bottom prices in recent months, it is a little harder (for the entry-level consumer) to justify spending twice as much for a camera that has wi-fi and flippy screen. I have thought about adding the K-S2 or even K-S1 someday but am waiting for the prices to drop to K-01 or K-50 levels -- maybe Black Friday sales? But at this point, although K-S2 does appeal to me, it doesn't seem enough of a jump up from my K-50 to make it worth it. I am tempted by the K-3 though...

07-22-2015, 08:15 AM	#12
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	There were several reasons to upgrade to the K-3 from the K-5, but almost none for the K-S2.

07-22-2015, 08:32 AM	#13
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	Originally posted by seventysixersfan With the K-50 selling at rock-bottom prices in recent months, it is a little harder (for the entry-level consumer) to justify spending twice as much for a camera that has wi-fi and flippy screen. I have thought about adding the K-S2 or even K-S1 someday but am waiting for the prices to drop to K-01 or K-50 levels -- maybe Black Friday sales? But at this point, although K-S2 does appeal to me, it doesn't seem enough of a jump up from my K-50 to make it worth it. I am tempted by the K-3 though... I do think that this is the main factor. The K-S2 was I believe designed to replace the K50, but the supply of new K50's at $370 (1 kit lens) and $470 (2 kit lenses), has not run out yet. The K50 (based on the K5 sensor) does a great job, and I believe just gets overshadowed in price. You really do not need to spend that much more to get a K3. I think if the K50's supply of new bodies ran out in the 1st quarter of 2015, it would be a slightly different story, but apparently that wasn't the case. I think that Pentax is going to have to carefully manage the introduction of the FF, replacement K3/II and the replacement of the K50/K-S1/K-S2 better in terms of supply, overlap, timing, features and price.

07-22-2015, 08:49 AM	#14
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Love my k-s2. That with the 40xs is a perfect bike camera. With top lenses it's as good as anyone but perfectionists need. Yet pentax maintains the 's' is about experiment. Then if sales beat production costs it subsidised R&D.

07-22-2015, 12:52 PM	#15
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	I don't have a Pentax, but I like and use the rotating LCD. Handy for some shots where my eye is not at the viewfinder, and I can tap the screen for the focus point and release the shutter. I don't use the Wifi (or GPS in the other one), though it may be handy as a remote control through my phone. If I was coming back to Pentax it might be for the K-S2.