[Francis]

I was in Amsterdam today with my wife/kids/bro in law. I must have seen about 40 cannikons and I think, AT MOST 3 Pentaxes.

[Jools]

C'mon folks labor in anonimity.
It is fun.
Just show your colors and represent with your images.

[wizofoz]

snip ... except on the 645D. the biggest pro shop doesn't carry it, the big mainstream chain does but never has one, the other 2 shops are smaller and neither have it.
Pentax Canada doesn't even list the bloody lenses on their site

That's more or less true for the 645D here as well. I have only seen it in one store (Vanbar's). But then again it is also true that small camera shops don't carry Leica lenses or Hasselblad bodies either. It's a matter of dollars sitting on the shelf with very little chance of a walk in buyer.

Vanbar's is a very specialised Photography outlet, much more than the usual suburban camera shop, it is a place where the pro's go to get their gear. They DO carry Hassy's and Leica's etc..
(You can tell where the display case for these items are by the drool marks on the floor... )

[david94903]

I was a Pentax guy long before I'd bought my K20d. When it was time to go digital, I looked at all the DSLR's on the market at that time, gave them all a fair shake (all the cameras I looked at were excellent-I'm sure I would have been happy with any of them) and at the end of the day, Pentax was the best choice for me. Pentax had backwards lens compatibility (this is a huge deal), Pentax had the best bang for the buck, Pentax had a better body (IMHO).

I have a buddy who's a Nikon guy, has always been a Nikon guy, when he bought his DSLR, he bought at Nikon - didn't look at any others. He's happy with his choice. However, recently when we were out shooting, he asked me "why Pentax?" I handed him my camera and said lets trade for the afternoon. At the end of the day's shooting, we traded camera's back. He said he'd answered his own question - he was impressed.

My feeling is that if you want to convince people "why Pentax?" then you have to put you camera in their hands. The camera speaks for itself pretty well. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of places people can actually play with them locally. If I walk into Target or Best Buy or Walmart, my main choices are Canon and Nikon, maybe Olympus and Sony - but no Pentax. I don't get it.

[BigDave]

three words,

marketing, marketing, marketing.

Regards,

[wizofoz]

If I walk into Target or Best Buy or Walmart, my main choices are Canon and Nikon, maybe Olympus and Sony - but no Pentax. I don't get it.

David, Do you have actual camera shops locally or just the generalist 'big box' shifters? That may be the difference between what I see locally and what you are seeing.

[cmohr]

I rarely ever see a Pentax around here in Australia, I actually gerenally only look at another users camera if I notice they are checking mine out, it's funny to watch people reactions sometimes. I don't judge others because to me seeing all the nikocans is an everyday event, so quite often when I do see a Pentax user I give them a wave or a knowing nod, and generally get the same in return.

Had some conversations with canon owners that walk up to me to ask about the lenses I have on, its funny the contradictions they make. Funny story,I was out taking pics one day and this guy just walks up to me and say "Pentax Hey.." he continued "I bought Canon because they are so much better than all the other makes blah blah, and they have much greater range of lenses I can buy, blah blah, his camera EOS D30 with 18-55 standard kit lens, when I asked what other lenses he was going to buy with all the choices he had, being that he bought Canon for that reason, he stated proudly, "well I don't need any other lens, but if I do I'll get a 100 - 300mm as they are the best". I was crouched taking a photo of a walking bridge at the time with my 85/1.4, I only glanced away from my viewfinder for about 0.2 of a second when that gem came out of his head, I think I said something like "yeeeeah............" I then continued to take my photos. He stood there for about a minute before he walked away, I felt it best not to make eye contact.

I've never judged anyone because of their camera choice, I personally don't care one way or the other, actually I don't ever think about that when I'm out taking pictures, When asked I never recommend to anyone they buy Pentax over any other brand I just say "I have pentax" and leave it at that, sometimes if its just somebody that asks about wanting a simple point and shoot, but want a DSLR, I say go with a Canon, but to walk up to a complete stranger and come out with pearls of wisdom such as those, I'm not judging his little D30, great camera for its day, but I did judge him as a clown.

[Digitalis]

I see pentax cameras from time to time, yes Nikon and Canon are much more common, but I have seen quite a few Leica M9's and M8's around - typically with a Tri-Elmar lens on them.

Get a 100 - 300mm as they are the best.

And the seed of curiosity was planted....I own a sigma 100-300mm f/4 for my pentax cameras, and it is an extremely useful focal length range. Good luck finding someone willing to part with theirs.

[david94903]

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area, real camera stores are pretty hard to find - they've pretty much been replaced by the Big Box shopping experience. There are two "real" camera stores in SF, neither carry Pentax (though one sells used gear, the only Pentax bodies they had were a Spotmatic and a K1000, they also had a few older lenses). The only camera store in the SF Bay Area that I found actually carry any new Pentax products was a little mom and pop place about 30 miles north of SF, they have a Pentax Optio point and shoot.

I'm glad to see from other posts that Pentax is more visible outside the USA. For us here in the USA, I'm glad we have B&H and Adorama and can purchase through the internet.

Oddly enough, tonight I was at an open house for my kids school, camera in hand. One of the parents, seeing my Pentax, remarked that they didn't even realize that Pentax was still in business, because they never see them around. Said they'd had one years ago and always really liked it. I told them it wasn't to late, I also said if they wanted to part with their old lenses, I'd be happy to take them off their hands - as they're of no use to them and their Canon.

Anyway, I have my new Pentax T-Shirt (thank you Jay!) so I'll be wearing that when I'm out shooting. Who knows, maybe I'll make a few converts in the local photography club.

[rod_grant]

I get tired of reading about not having Pentax in bricks and mortar stores when in my experience Pentax has just as much hands on exposure as Sony, Olympus and comparable 2nd tier brands. Every camera store I walk in to has Pentax,

Hey, Wiz.
Do you ever leave Melbourne?
Before I bought my K5 from DCW (online) I tried the Camera House franchises in Albury, Shepparton and Bendigo. OK they did have Pentax, but only KR. Would they be getting K5 in stock? Emphatic NO! - Happy to order one for me, but would not be stocking them; end of story. On a trip to Warrnambool last month I poked around the only real camera retailer, and the story was exactly the same; KR but no K5. The Mickey Mouse camera store here in Wangaratta has a Kx and a K10 on the shelf - yes, a K10!
Living in the country is good, but there are some disadvantages.

Rod

[Francis]

I was a Pentax guy long before I'd bought my K20d. When it was time to go digital, I looked at all the DSLR's on the market at that time, gave them all a fair shake .

Now we know where those Pentax problems are coming from... all these fair shakes...

I know what you mean, just making fun.

[wizofoz]

Hey, Wiz.
Do you ever leave Melbourne?
Before I bought my K5 from DCW (online) I tried the Camera House franchises in Albury, Shepparton and Bendigo. OK they did have Pentax, but only KR. Would they be getting K5 in stock? Emphatic NO! - Happy to order one for me, but would not be stocking them; end of story. On a trip to Warrnambool last month I poked around the only real camera retailer, and the story was exactly the same; KR but no K5. The Mickey Mouse camera store here in Wangaratta has a Kx and a K10 on the shelf - yes, a K10!
Living in the country is good, but there are some disadvantages.

Rod

Yes Rod, I leave the 'burbs very regularly, (I work out in the bush a lot,) but I have never been camera shopping in the sticks. As I advised you once before, take a trip down to the big smoke and walk up Elizabeth St. There must be at least ten camera shops within a block or so of each other, and they ALL stock Pentax gear. K-5's and the less exotic lenses are easy to come by. The best place for you to visit would be Michael's (Cnr of Elizabeth and Lonsdale.)

If you ever get to Carlton, visit Vanbars and you can even fondle a 645D! You could even visit CR Kennedy's outlet in South Yarra and have access to the entire range (Not sure they can sell them from there, but at least you can see and touch everything in the range) Even my two local shops out here in the outer suburbs both have a reasonable selection of camera's and accessories. (batteries, flashes, remotes, etc)

I have been thinking for a while about moving to Bendigo for some of that relaxed lifestyle. Maybe the camera drought would be a reason not to do that.....

[cmohr]

I see pentax cameras from time to time, yes Nikon and Canon are much more common, but I have seen quite a few Leica M9's and M8's around - typically with a Tri-Elmar lens on them.



And the seed of curiosity was planted....I own a sigma 100-300mm f/4 for my pentax cameras, and it is an extremely useful focal length range. Good luck finding someone willing to part with theirs.

I saw a very loverly girl outside the brisbane contemporary art gallery with a M9 I think, she was even more stunning than the camera was. Lucky camera...

haha, Yes, but the 100-300 he was refering to was just the Canon kit lens, it was back 2004ish.

Its a shame Sigma are reducing the Pentax available lens range, esp now that their HSM focus system works with Pentax bodies, so they dont have to have two complete designs (one with no motor and replace it with a drive mech, that they have to pay a lic for to use the design) for one lens to be available to all. Oh well.

Hey... you dont need that 100-300 of yours....

"cmohr, I will sell you my lens" - said in my best Obi wan voice..

Actually pondering the DA 300 F4 just wish Pentax would bit the bullet and release a SDM teleconverter.

[eddie1960]

That's more or less true for the 645D here as well. I have only seen it in one store (Vanbar's). But then again it is also true that small camera shops don't carry Leica lenses or Hasselblad bodies either. It's a matter of dollars sitting on the shelf with very little chance of a walk in buyer.

Vanbar's is a very specialised Photography outlet, much more than the usual suburban camera shop, it is a place where the pro's go to get their gear. They DO carry Hassy's and Leica's etc..
(You can tell where the display case for these items are by the drool marks on the floor... )

Funnily enough the 2 biggest leica dealers here are also 2 of the smallest shops - pretty much specializing in Leica and medium format. one will close in September when the owner retires, the other is up for sale for the same reason
and the biggest pro shop carries the apsc Pentax but not the 645d

[sawicksted]

I was at my daughter's Prom the other week and got to see a pile of cameras! - wait until graduation in a few weeks and there'll be 100's and 100's. I recieved many comments about the K10D. People notice the different camrea right away. I know three other people with Pentax DSLRs and none of them were there that night!
I guess I like being different and shooting with a pentax makes us all very different than the average walmart / Future shop / Big Box store camera purchaser.
Big box stores are putting all the smaller photography stores out of business and thus the average sales rep is a minimum wage highschool student trying to pay for their cellphone!
With no options left consumers are forced to look at walmart / zellers / etc because that's really all there is unless you spend the time to look online and do some serious research.
For the first time DSLR purchaser it is a struggle to understand the terminology and generally price wins out. If you can't try it before you buy it it is very difficult to fork over your hard earned money. Here enters the big box stores - they have product on their shelf but I doubt that you'll find an "informed" opinion or knowledeable sales rep to help you make a good decision.
Unless Pentax steps up their advertising I doubt we'll see many others using Pentax in the general masses. I love the pentax brand and have had very positive experiences with film cameras and now I am enjoying the K10D.