Originally posted by GordZ Happy New Year,
Well I made my decision and ordered a KP to augment my K5IIs. Have pretty well given up on seeing a new K3 and the KP seems a bit better than the present K3. Has a pop up fill flash but lacks the top LCD but does have tilt Back LCD and a big 24MP sensor. So I have ordered it thru an Independent Pentax Dealer about 1 1/2 hr drive from home. After not hearing from him in a week I called, he has told me it has to come from the Philippians via Purolator as the Canadian Pentax / Richo warehouse in Toronto hasn't got stock. I ordered the camera with a battery grip, 32gb card, and battery. They told me they have the battery and will call when the rest of it comes in.
What is it with PentaxRicho do they not want to sell cameras? So frustrating.
I am trying to do the right thing by supporting one of the few local independent dealers he had a K1 on the shelf and various Pentax/Sigma/Tamron Lenses Telaconveter filters etc. He also supports the Pentax over the other two + brands he carry's. It will cost me about $100 more than if I bought from Amazon or a big city dealer's in Toronto. Pentax has a great product but their marketing seems to be through this Forum only.
Any comments?
GordZ
I have had my K-5 IIs for a number of years, and the KP for a couple of years. For me, the two cameras are a complementary to one another, and are particularly suited for certain circumstances. The K-5 IIs is no slouch as a fine IQ producer, and its controls setup is tops. It has a deeper buffer than the KP, better for shooting burst shots. I have no plans to get rid of mine. The KP, on the other hand, brings many updates, has excellent metering and IQ, and I think the best slim-designed compact DSLR available. It is now my most often-used body.
I'm afraid Amazon and other very large world-wide sellers are the way things are going in general. I cannot count how many are the independent small camera stores I have seen close their doors over the last decade, but they are many.
Congrats on your getting your order placed- I have no doubt you will be pleased after putting the KP in service. If you sometimes shoot time-saving JPEGs, the KP's output is exceptionally good. Just be sure to implement Fine Sharpening in the Custom Image menus.