Time to switch brands?

Maxington · 07-09-2008, 04:46 PM

Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.

I find it funny that people worry about buying online and shipping, since generally camera stores only stock body + kit lens, or a few generic consumer lenses, so if you want something else, you have to wait for them to order it in.

And if it's a return or a repair, you generally have to wait for them to send it away and get it back.

So why bother paying a middle man? You can do all that bit yourself and save a lot of money.

babelphotos · 07-09-2008, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by Tom S.

I'm guessing Toronto.

Nope.......and you are going to go raving mad....

Montreal

I dont want to make you drull even more but we have a "flea market" ( dont know if i spelt that one correctly ) twice a year.
They call it a flea market...i call it a treasure chest.
I saw a brand new LX with a 200 f2.8 mounted...brand new. Price tag 500.00 OH MY GOD!!!! Bought it on the spot
I cried my eyes out all the way home...tears of joy.
So every 6 months i go there....my last catch was a Pentax110 with all the lenses for 125.00...in its original leather case!!!!
I own a little Pentax Museum at home

bwield · 07-09-2008, 04:59 PM

ahhhhh crap lol

**ChipB** · 07-09-2008, 05:29 PM

FHP, here in the Austin metro area we have 3-4 Ritz/Wolf stores - no Pentax inventory to speak of - and one (1!) actual camera store. I was in the camera store today - 1 K20D, 1 K200D, 1 AF360 flash on display - about 400 K's and C's.

I think they had 2-3 Pentax lenses. It's very difficult to get them to "talk" Pentax. I only go there to get my hands physically on something (today it was a tripod).

Sorry, too windy!! Meant to point out Craigslist as a possible alternative. I've bought several Pentax bodies and lenses that way.

The good news is the Pentax "stuff" is out there - it's just a little bit harder to find.

babelphotos · 07-09-2008, 05:43 PM

Ok i shouldnt do that maybe but.....
Never had any problems with them...bought 6000.00 worth of equipment with them and never complain. They ship fast also.

eBay Store - Prodigital2000: Lowepro, Canon, Digital Accessories

OK OK OK its Ebay.....but its a Ebay store
They also sell the K20 under 1K!!!

heatherslightbox · 07-09-2008, 06:00 PM

I'm surprised that nobody else has posted the site where you can rent Pentax lenses from.

Online Camera Lens Rental for Canon, Nikon, and PENTAX Cameras

I haven't rented from them myself yet, but other people around here have and have liked them. If you rent a lens and find that you want to keep it permanently, then they'll credit half of your rental fee towards the purchase of the lens from them.

For those of you who do have camera shops that stock Pentax, consider yourselves blessed. As far as I know, there isn't anywhere in my state (Florida) that has a decent selection of new Pentax gear.

I'll also give another thumbs' up for the Marketplace here. I've both bought and sold here and I've had no real problems to speak of, unlike Fleabay.

Heather

Helen Oster · 07-09-2008, 10:36 PM

Originally posted by FHPhotographer

I'm facing serious issue I didn't anticipate when I chose Pentax; there just aren't quality dedicated photo outlets selling and supporting Pentax in many markets. All you can do is buy online, hope for the best, and get to know your Adorama or B&H returns deptartment folks real well.

I like Pentax, I think my K100 with the 50 f/1.4 is just about a perfect starting point to learn the dslr basics, and I am very happy with it, but now that I'm looking to add a couple of Pentax lenses it's difficult to try and buy when nobody carries, or even rents, Pentax or Pentax-mount after market lenses in this area.

Example: here in the 3+ million Phoenix metro area only Ritz still carries Pentax and then only K100 and K200 kits with the 18-55, no other lenses, no way to try before buying. And frankly they are, understandably, less than enthusiastic ordering a second lens if you don't want the first that comes in on order. The other photo shops won't even order Pentax.

I'm starting to wonder if I should cut my losses early, sell what I have while I can get a good price and switch brands. Or is there a work around your folks can suggest, I hope...
FHPhotog

I was saddened by your posting - with reference to needing to get to know the returns departments well..............I suppose it's inevitable that sometimes something gets lost along the way, with Adorama and the other big photographic stores like us - constantly seeking more and more competitive pricing - sometimes customer service gets neglected.

Don't have any answers for you - but if you ever have a problem or an issue with an order from Adorama, I'm only an email away!
helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

procyon · 07-09-2008, 11:30 PM

In Estonia luckily one of the two biggest photo stores is also the official Pentax importer, so lots of stuff here. Also the just started renting out Pentax equipment.

ajuett · 07-10-2008, 02:28 AM

Originally posted by scatron

What town? You don't have a location listed in your profile.

I'm in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I haven't completed my profile yet

**Mallee Boy** · 07-10-2008, 02:45 AM

Originally posted by FHPhotographer

I'm facing serious issue I didn't anticipate when I chose Pentax; there just aren't quality dedicated photo outlets selling and supporting Pentax in many markets. All you can do is buy online, hope for the best, and get to know your Adorama or B&H returns deptartment folks real well.

I like Pentax, I think my K100 with the 50 f/1.4 is just about a perfect starting point to learn the dslr basics, and I am very happy with it, but now that I'm looking to add a couple of Pentax lenses it's difficult to try and buy when nobody carries, or even rents, Pentax or Pentax-mount after market lenses in this area.

Example: here in the 3+ million Phoenix metro area only Ritz still carries Pentax and then only K100 and K200 kits with the 18-55, no other lenses, no way to try before buying. And frankly they are, understandably, less than enthusiastic ordering a second lens if you don't want the first that comes in on order. The other photo shops won't even order Pentax.

I'm starting to wonder if I should cut my losses early, sell what I have while I can get a good price and switch brands. Or is there a work around your folks can suggest, I hope...
FHPhotog

Given that you live in Phoenix, which I guess is Phoenix Arizona USA...what on earth are you worried about?

You have access to the finest online camera stores in the world and even have one of them responding to your post personally, guaranteeing that any issues will be dealt with, IF & when they arise.

What more do you want? Think yourself extremely lucky that you dont live down here where prices are double what you pay and the concerns about returns are emphasised by a thing called the Pacific Ocean.

Put Helen to the test, order your lens and see what sort of service you get, if its bad, then scream it from the tree tops, but until then give it a go.

Sorry for the rant, but this post stretches tolerance.

Cheers.

cornishk100duser · 07-10-2008, 03:14 AM

The lack of shops is my problem, two shops but when you mention pentax, they act as though you have just got out of a space ship! or.. 'No but C or N have a good system you would like...etc etc'
I have bought online and , as yet have had no problem. But it would be nice to be able to go to a shop and feel the handle the article before purchase. I have had to rely on a couple of people who have had the camera for me to see it before purchase.

I like the pentax system and have many old lenses and do not feeel the need to change systems because there are no shops to purcahse from.

J.Scott · 07-10-2008, 03:27 AM

Ah hell, let him go. Sounds like the OP is more than half way out the door anyway.
That'll leave more great Pentax gear for us that are too dumb to know any better.

roentarre · 07-10-2008, 03:27 AM

Usually buying any lenses in a commercial store is just too expensive. The services are not necessarily that great with little knowledge about pentax products.

patrickt · 07-10-2008, 07:09 AM

I understand the frustration since I live in a country where nothing is Pentax. In five years, I've seen one tourist with a Pentax DSLR. It took me two years to get the lenses I needed. After that, I bought a K10D with a 12-24mm some months after it came out.

I consider occasionally switching but there is nothing for me out there. I am addicted to in-camera SR and to the two-button system on the Pentax.

MRRiley · 07-10-2008, 07:24 AM

Just to let the interested locals know. ACE PHOTO in Ashburn, VA is a full-up Pro store and is a Pentax heaven. Always have bodies and lenses (Pentax AND third party) in stock and will let you take them outside of the store to shoot test shots. The owners and most of the sales staff have either bought K10D/K20Ds or switched over totally.

Penn Camera is fairly Pentax friendly as well. Most Ritz folks will look at you like you asked for a rattlesnake if you ask about Pentax.

07-09-2008, 04:49 PM	#17
babelphotos Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 57	Originally posted by Tom S. I'm guessing Toronto. Nope.......and you are going to go raving mad.... Montreal I dont want to make you drull even more but we have a "flea market" ( dont know if i spelt that one correctly ) twice a year. They call it a flea market...i call it a treasure chest. I saw a brand new LX with a 200 f2.8 mounted...brand new. Price tag 500.00 OH MY GOD!!!! Bought it on the spot I cried my eyes out all the way home...tears of joy. So every 6 months i go there....my last catch was a Pentax110 with all the lenses for 125.00...in its original leather case!!!! I own a little Pentax Museum at home Last edited by babelphotos; 07-09-2008 at 05:00 PM.

07-10-2008, 07:24 AM	#30
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	Just to let the interested locals know. ACE PHOTO in Ashburn, VA is a full-up Pro store and is a Pentax heaven. Always have bodies and lenses (Pentax AND third party) in stock and will let you take them outside of the store to shoot test shots. The owners and most of the sales staff have either bought K10D/K20Ds or switched over totally. Penn Camera is fairly Pentax friendly as well. Most Ritz folks will look at you like you asked for a rattlesnake if you ask about Pentax. Last edited by MRRiley; 07-10-2008 at 11:31 AM.

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07-09-2008, 04:46 PM	#16
Maxington Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 255	Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. I find it funny that people worry about buying online and shipping, since generally camera stores only stock body + kit lens, or a few generic consumer lenses, so if you want something else, you have to wait for them to order it in. And if it's a return or a repair, you generally have to wait for them to send it away and get it back. So why bother paying a middle man? You can do all that bit yourself and save a lot of money.

07-09-2008, 04:59 PM	#18
bwield Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 444	ahhhhh crap lol

07-09-2008, 05:29 PM	#19
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,701	FHP, here in the Austin metro area we have 3-4 Ritz/Wolf stores - no Pentax inventory to speak of - and one (1!) actual camera store. I was in the camera store today - 1 K20D, 1 K200D, 1 AF360 flash on display - about 400 K's and C's. I think they had 2-3 Pentax lenses. It's very difficult to get them to "talk" Pentax. I only go there to get my hands physically on something (today it was a tripod). Sorry, too windy!! Meant to point out Craigslist as a possible alternative. I've bought several Pentax bodies and lenses that way. The good news is the Pentax "stuff" is out there - it's just a little bit harder to find.

07-09-2008, 05:43 PM	#20
babelphotos Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 57	Ok i shouldnt do that maybe but..... Never had any problems with them...bought 6000.00 worth of equipment with them and never complain. They ship fast also. eBay Store - Prodigital2000: Lowepro, Canon, Digital Accessories OK OK OK its Ebay.....but its a Ebay store They also sell the K20 under 1K!!!

07-09-2008, 06:00 PM	#21
heatherslightbox Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,599	I'm surprised that nobody else has posted the site where you can rent Pentax lenses from. Online Camera Lens Rental for Canon, Nikon, and PENTAX Cameras I haven't rented from them myself yet, but other people around here have and have liked them. If you rent a lens and find that you want to keep it permanently, then they'll credit half of your rental fee towards the purchase of the lens from them. For those of you who do have camera shops that stock Pentax, consider yourselves blessed. As far as I know, there isn't anywhere in my state (Florida) that has a decent selection of new Pentax gear. I'll also give another thumbs' up for the Marketplace here. I've both bought and sold here and I've had no real problems to speak of, unlike Fleabay. Heather

07-09-2008, 10:36 PM	#22
Helen Oster Adorama Camera Representative Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York Posts: 550	Originally posted by FHPhotographer I'm facing serious issue I didn't anticipate when I chose Pentax; there just aren't quality dedicated photo outlets selling and supporting Pentax in many markets. All you can do is buy online, hope for the best, and get to know your Adorama or B&H returns deptartment folks real well. I like Pentax, I think my K100 with the 50 f/1.4 is just about a perfect starting point to learn the dslr basics, and I am very happy with it, but now that I'm looking to add a couple of Pentax lenses it's difficult to try and buy when nobody carries, or even rents, Pentax or Pentax-mount after market lenses in this area. Example: here in the 3+ million Phoenix metro area only Ritz still carries Pentax and then only K100 and K200 kits with the 18-55, no other lenses, no way to try before buying. And frankly they are, understandably, less than enthusiastic ordering a second lens if you don't want the first that comes in on order. The other photo shops won't even order Pentax. I'm starting to wonder if I should cut my losses early, sell what I have while I can get a good price and switch brands. Or is there a work around your folks can suggest, I hope... FHPhotog I was saddened by your posting - with reference to needing to get to know the returns departments well..............I suppose it's inevitable that sometimes something gets lost along the way, with Adorama and the other big photographic stores like us - constantly seeking more and more competitive pricing - sometimes customer service gets neglected. Don't have any answers for you - but if you ever have a problem or an issue with an order from Adorama, I'm only an email away! helen.oster@adoramacamera.com Helen Oster Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

07-09-2008, 11:30 PM	#23
procyon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tallinn Posts: 265	In Estonia luckily one of the two biggest photo stores is also the official Pentax importer, so lots of stuff here. Also the just started renting out Pentax equipment.

07-10-2008, 02:28 AM	#24
ajuett Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,100	Originally posted by scatron What town? You don't have a location listed in your profile. I'm in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I haven't completed my profile yet

07-10-2008, 02:45 AM	#25
Mallee Boy Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,904	Originally posted by FHPhotographer I'm facing serious issue I didn't anticipate when I chose Pentax; there just aren't quality dedicated photo outlets selling and supporting Pentax in many markets. All you can do is buy online, hope for the best, and get to know your Adorama or B&H returns deptartment folks real well. I like Pentax, I think my K100 with the 50 f/1.4 is just about a perfect starting point to learn the dslr basics, and I am very happy with it, but now that I'm looking to add a couple of Pentax lenses it's difficult to try and buy when nobody carries, or even rents, Pentax or Pentax-mount after market lenses in this area. Example: here in the 3+ million Phoenix metro area only Ritz still carries Pentax and then only K100 and K200 kits with the 18-55, no other lenses, no way to try before buying. And frankly they are, understandably, less than enthusiastic ordering a second lens if you don't want the first that comes in on order. The other photo shops won't even order Pentax. I'm starting to wonder if I should cut my losses early, sell what I have while I can get a good price and switch brands. Or is there a work around your folks can suggest, I hope... FHPhotog Given that you live in Phoenix, which I guess is Phoenix Arizona USA...what on earth are you worried about? You have access to the finest online camera stores in the world and even have one of them responding to your post personally, guaranteeing that any issues will be dealt with, IF & when they arise. What more do you want? Think yourself extremely lucky that you dont live down here where prices are double what you pay and the concerns about returns are emphasised by a thing called the Pacific Ocean. Put Helen to the test, order your lens and see what sort of service you get, if its bad, then scream it from the tree tops, but until then give it a go. Sorry for the rant, but this post stretches tolerance. Cheers.

07-10-2008, 03:14 AM	#26
cornishk100duser Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 23	The lack of shops is my problem, two shops but when you mention pentax, they act as though you have just got out of a space ship! or.. 'No but C or N have a good system you would like...etc etc' I have bought online and , as yet have had no problem. But it would be nice to be able to go to a shop and feel the handle the article before purchase. I have had to rely on a couple of people who have had the camera for me to see it before purchase. I like the pentax system and have many old lenses and do not feeel the need to change systems because there are no shops to purcahse from.

07-10-2008, 03:27 AM	#27
J.Scott Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,675	Ah hell, let him go. Sounds like the OP is more than half way out the door anyway. That'll leave more great Pentax gear for us that are too dumb to know any better.

07-10-2008, 03:27 AM	#28
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Usually buying any lenses in a commercial store is just too expensive. The services are not necessarily that great with little knowledge about pentax products.

07-10-2008, 07:09 AM	#29
patrickt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Posts: 247	I understand the frustration since I live in a country where nothing is Pentax. In five years, I've seen one tourist with a Pentax DSLR. It took me two years to get the lenses I needed. After that, I bought a K10D with a 12-24mm some months after it came out. I consider occasionally switching but there is nothing for me out there. I am addicted to in-camera SR and to the two-button system on the Pentax.