Originally posted by TaoMaas So if you're a young photographer and have never seen a Pentax camera...and they're not in any stores...how would a prospective buyer even know to consider them?
I have never seen a Pentax camera in a retail store. Oh wait, that's wrong I did see a Spotmatic in a display case at a shop once.
Anyway, I bought my first Pentax, the k-x, by doing online research. I put into a 'camera finder' site the things that were important to me. The k-x came up so I bought it. Simple. And that is how 'young people' buy things. They do not go into camera shops and talk to salespeople. They don't trust salespeople, or shops. They do their research, sometimes for weeks or months then they research who has the best price and best return policy. All online. Then they buy.
Much as I hate to see the camera shops go, they are no longer a major sales channel, and hardly even noticed by 'young people'.