[normhead]

If the tax is less then 100% then a tax write off still costs money. I would rather pay 35 cents more tax and keep 65 cents for myself than spend a dollar, get 35 cents back on taxes and still be out 65 cents.

And I'd rather not have my tax burden increased by allowing corporations to reduce their tax burdens in what essentially amounts to a subsidy to reduce their business costs. Every tax payer has their tax burden increased, for businesses they don't even use. Business needs to learn to stand on it's own two feet. And the politicians who have engaged in this whole deal where they bid for businesses to come to their jurisdiction with tax payer money has to stop. Set a fair rate for everyone, and let everyone pay it. If people are subsidizing some businesses, all that means is their tax rates are too high, and the bigger businesses are able to call them on it.

[monochrome]

You would just pay more for products. For purposes of tax policy, legally a corporation is a non-person person. I know it sounds crazy but that is how the courts think and the laws work. Corporations are just like us.

What really matters is the effective tax rate, not the deductions, which is always calculated before the tax "deal" is given. There's really no way around it. Tax policy is just an incentive to cause private parties to behave in a certain desirable way, or to do things government doesn't want to do or is unable to do, such as build low-income apartment housing using tax credits.

In the USA mortgage interest is deductible. I own my home outright. I really don't think I should subsidize my neighbors' larger houses - but that's just the way it is. Laborers built those larger houses and made the stuff that went in them. Tax policy encourages people to buy houses - or larger houses - to support the economy.

OTOH, I'd rather pay 28 more cents of a dollar earned to the government than pay 72 cents in mortgage interest every month and deduct 28 cents from my taxes, so I choose to live in a smaller house than technically I could afford to pay for monthly.

Mortgages only work when you sell the house - the return on your investment is phenomenal and the bank gets a small fixed return every year. If you want to keep the house until you die you're better off just buying it with savings.

My tax theory is pretty weird, but it is rational. The ONLY thing that should be taxed is land, all uses of land should be taxed equally and the government should not be allowed to own land. Prices of everything would adjust over time and no one would have any incentive to behave irrationally.

Suburbs? What suburbs!!

[Na Horuk]

Well I live in a small country in the EU. My local Pentax dealer is nearby (heck, everything here is nearby, three hours travel in any direction brings me to the end of the country..) and has a pretty decent stock. But sometimes they seem to be.. disconnected. Like, recently they still had the original Q kit for around 600 euro, even though the Q10 (and probably the Q7) was already out. And the prices are pretty odd. They sell the FA 50mm and FA 35mm, which is great, and the FA 50mm is not too expensive (it is normal that the lens costs the same number as it does in the US, you just switch $ to Euro), but the FA 35mm is way out there, over 600 euro last time I checked. I wish they were a little more consistent and would have some more "action sales", promotions, and discounts. But hey, at least they are here and I can go to their store and even touch a lens before buying it. I think they have pretty much every current DA lens available and the FA 35mm and FA 50mm. But they were mighty surprised to see my yellow K-01 for some reason!

[normhead]

You would just pay more for products.

Suburbs? What suburbs!!

Yes, but only the products I use and only when I used them. And I could make a choice to not use them if I decided the real cost was too high. This is why subsidies are so wrong. There are 5 billion dollars a year given to the oil industry. People use more gas because it's cheaper than it should be. The government uses it's influence to stop people from thinking about the conservation programs a free market would dictate.

[formercanuck]

Looks like Lighthaus in Hawaii is carrying Pentax ! Wow - I might just pick up a lens when I 'm on vacation.

Lighthaus Camera Stores in Hawaii

[formercanuck]

Just to update ... the nearest stores that advertise 'Pentax' on their site/stores ... actually don't stock anything Pentax. Closest thing I'll see is a Pentax WG at Target.
I was actually in Samys Camera yesterday (picked up a lens hood for my Rokinon 85mm). The 'only' think they had in the store that was Pentax was a used Tamron 70-210mm for $90

Hooper Camera
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hooper+Camera+%26+Imaging,+Devonshire+Street,...140.6,,2,-3.31

Samys Camera
Samy's Camera - Photography, Digital Cameras, Video, Audio

To add insult to injury:

Thank you for contacting RICOH. Most of our DSLR sales now are being made by online dealers. You may already have discovered that you can use the SHOP link on our homepage, www.us.ricoh-imaging.com, to enter your zipcode and locate any dealers in your area. However, many dealers who offer the products online will not have them in their store stock. If you are in need of further assistance, please respond to this email or call our technical support center at 800-877-0155. Sincerely, RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION PHONE: 800.234.0276 / 800.877.0155

[Snydly]

Actually I should revise my earlier message as it may mean more than meets the eye. I do frequent the Melbourne, Florida store, but it has been about 2 months since I was last in. Seeing an 'equal' display to the Canon/Nikon/Sony displays is noteworthy, but the timing seemed to be coincident with the release of the K3. The shop is well run and seems on top of industry marketing and trends. They have knowledgeable employees who seem to know what's good, what's new, etc. I think the k3 sent a lot of people jumping. FWIW they said bring your lenses and an sd card and have fun with any of the cameras including the k3, which tells me they have stock, not just one on the shelf.

Well that didn't last long. I don't mean to be gloomy here but the Melbourne, Florida store discontinued it's Pentax stock. Went in the other day and it was all gone, except for a k500, which the salesman said was their only potential seller. He did say they were a 'certified Pentax dealer' and '...could get Pentax gear', but 'people only want Nikon and Canon'. They also sell Sony.

Sorry for the news,

Bill

[reverenddude]

Just to update ... the nearest stores that advertise 'Pentax' on their site/stores ... actually don't stock anything Pentax. Closest thing I'll see is a Pentax WG at Target.
I was actually in Samys Camera yesterday (picked up a lens hood for my Rokinon 85mm). The 'only' think they had in the store that was Pentax was a used Tamron 70-210mm for $90

Hooper Camera
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hooper+Camera+%26+Imaging,+Devonshire+Street,...140.6,,2,-3.31

Samys Camera
Samy's Camera - Photography, Digital Cameras, Video, Audio

To add insult to injury:

It's amazing that SoCal doesn't have more considering the vast array of people that live in this sweatbox. Though, I also haven't seen another Pentax user in ages.

I haven't been to the LA Samy's in a while - do they also carry nothing? The OC one is pretty much just a Canikon store (with a slight seasoning of Fuji + Olympus MCs).

Another member a few pages back said that he loves Adorama, but it takes too damn long for their shipping. I feel the same about both Adorama and B&H. I love the companies, but Amazon's shipping (because they have a distribution center instate) just beats 'em to a pulp. I feel guilty buying from Amazon, but... I want it now!

[formercanuck]

I've only been to Samys in Pasadena (relatively new store).
They claim to not carry any Pentax gear. They will sell some used gear they have some in the store. Last trip had a 70-210 lens for $90... previous trip had an 'open box' K-30 for $599 + tax I bought a brand new one (w/o lens) for $460 on Amazon.

You might be able to find something at the downtown LA store, but I doubt it. Unlike places like NYC of SF, L.A. is effectively a big box store city (large suburbia), and it effectively kills most stores like this.
Samys/Hooper/Bel-Air Camera and others - all only sell on their web store. Canoga Camera just went down recently.

[reverenddude]

Unlike places like NYC of SF, L.A. is effectively a big box store city (large suburbia), and it effectively kills most stores like this.

Preach, brother! I think the OC only allows big box stores.

[rod_grant]

I have two camera stores within an hour's drive. Back when I bought my K5, they both stocked KRs but had no intention of stocking K5s. Last time I looked neither have anything Pentax at all!
I hope what I hear of a (slight) resurgence in the US happens here Downunder also.

[normhead]

Check this one out, looks good,
<Click here.>



https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/137-photographic-industry-professionals/3...uku-tokyo.html

[lesmore49]

My nearest Pentax store is about a 1/2 mile away. The next closest one is about another 500 yards from there. Then the next one is about 2.5 miles away.

Fast forward from the above post made in 2013, to the current situation in 2016. The nearest Pentax store that was a 1/2 mile away closed a month ago. BTW, they stopped handling Pentax a couple of years ago, I stopped going there. I had bought a fair amount of other non Pentax things, but I figured I would use other sources.

The other two stores are still around and I usually go to one of them, fairly regularly. They don't handle Pentax anymore, but I've got to the point...three Pentax bodies, 12 lenses...that I've pretty well got everything I want. However the K-1 and possibly a 15-30 or 24-70 is appealing. But is Pentax even cutting back on manufacture of their own lenses ? I understand the 15-30 is a rebadged Tamron and I'm not sure who makes the 24-70 ?

Who knows what I'll do ? I'm not sure myself.... but if I do make the plunge, I'll have to order online.

This online ordering is ok...sort of... but I would much rather be able to go down and buy in a local shop, from their in store inventory. I'd like to actually handle camera equipment, see what it's like, run it through the gears, kick the tires as it were.

I could do that with Canon, Nikon or Sony...but don't think in all cases could I do so..with...Olympus, Fuji or Panasonic. Or Pentax.

If it is true that 90 % or more (not an accurate figure, just a guess) people buy Nikon , Canon to to a lesser degree...Sony... how long can P, O,F or Panasonic survive on the meager crumbs that are left ?

If I do go FF, it will be sometime in 2017.I'd prefer a K-1. One factor I will consider...is how Pentax are doing. If not so hot, I might just go with a FF non Pentax, such as a Canon 5D3, 24-105 L and 17-40 or a Nikon DF or D 750 and 24-120 (think that's it).

I'd probably just keep my ASP-C Pentax bodies and still use all the lenses and Pentax bodies, and if I got a Canikon FF, probably just one or two lenses...ie; a wide angle and a wide angle to portrait lens.

So after 50 years of Pentax ownership, I may finally cave and go Canikon. If you can't beat them, I might join them...as sad as that prospect would seem.

Aren't there any monopoly laws ? Just an attempt at a feeble joke....anyways thanks for reading my rant. Old men like me appreciate the interest.

[normhead]

Aren't there any monopoly laws ? Just an attempt at a feeble joke....anyways thanks for reading my rant. Old men like me appreciate the interest.

The thing is lesmore, at our age, we don't owe Pentax anything. But, where I live the nearest Canikon camera store is 120 clicks away. I'm on-line for most things anyway.

Maybe I'm the market Pentax is cultivating. The guys so far from any store, we don't get any marketing or service from anyone. It gives Pentax a fighting chance out here.

But like you I've always been a tactile shopper, I want to hold it in my hands. I asked Downtown camera in Toronto to call me when they have a K-1 on the shelf. I can make it down there and back in a day. So far, everyone is back ordered, so no phone call, but, I'm sticking with the plan. Just an old dude being real grumpy, and probably not going to affect a damn thing, but, I'm thinking this time , I might make a statement.

On different note, I reported St. Catherines Henry's were out of the Pentax business, but their store is selling K-1s and is Fredericks. But they don't have them on the shelves. And they did have a few Pentax items, just nothing I was interested in.

My latest purchase came from the Cmarea Store in Calgary, my DA*200. They gave me $100 off their store demo and it's been great. Nice personal follow up and hand holding on the phone. I don't know them at all, but this is the second time we've bought something from them and they've been great.

[AggieDad]

I live the Houston metro area, 4th largest city in the U.S. (6 million strong), and there is only one camera store. It has some old Pentax stock in the corner, but I'll bet it hasn't sold any Pentax stock in 6 months. I bought a tripod and a ballhead there, but almost everything else online.