[PF Staff]

The Pentax K-3 now has a $200 instant rebate in the US through the end of 2014; its price has dropped to just $896.

Read more on the PF homepage...

[disconnekt]

If only I had that kinda money. :/ Have a m42 screwmount lens, could just get the M42-To-Kmount adapter and get a used K20D from online.

[rburgoss]

Marketing wise, there are only TWO possible reasons for such a price drop.

1) Competition is trashing Pentax K3's sales to a point that inventory is stacking up and sales are next to frozen.

Comment: From another thread, it seems this is not the case since it has been reported that some major retailers like Adorama, are out of stock for the K3 and backordering several customers.

2) New model soon to be announced (or released) that will automatically stop sales of the remaining K3 stock.

Comment: Historically, Pentax has issued an "improved" or "revised" edition of their flagship cameras, usually within the 18 to 24 months time window after releasing the first model. This happened with the K2 (improved with K2DMD), the ME (with ME Super), the PZ1 (with the PZ1P), the ZX5 (with the ZX5n), the *ist (with the *istD, -first jump into digital from film), then K10D (with K20D), and more recently, with the K5 (with two extra versions of the K5ii and K5iis). **

If history tends to repeat itself over time, then its about time we see a new remodeled, improved version of the K3, don't you think so?

** There are probably other cases, but can't remember them from top of mind right now.