Originally posted by Wheatfield Probably because the K-x is a look for a price camera, and is not intended for or priced for a market that generally wants a battery grip.
They may also want to differentiate the K-7 from the K-x with a few feature/benefits.
I agree, the Pentax K-x was designed ground up to attract newer consumers who are in the point and shoot market. With bodies so colorful, it makes every other DSLR look the same and dull. People will look at the white and red bodies and say they really want that regardless of never having the intention of buying a DSLR in the first place.
Now with attractive body, Pentax also markets it with attractive pricing. With this pricing and unique color bodies, it's harder for someone who's always wanted a DSLR but never had enough goodies to not pull the trigger. With cool new looks and great pricing, it's really hard to resist for someone new and wants a DSLR.
Now with the new people who just bought the K-x as their first DSLR, I don't think would plan to shell out money buy a grip or WR lenses, and that is why Pentax thought WR was not necessary for this entry-level. Not just that, but with no other entry-level having WR, it's not like Pentax is downgrading themselves in a way, they are matching the competitor. At the same time they are doing so, they feel like this cool colored body will attract more newbies than WR, a lot more. People still bought Canikon over Pentax despite of WR. What really works is making it pop and look cool and make people really want it, color really pops and it looks really cool. -
A battery grip? I've never heard of it. Oh it's that, well I don't even need it and I've never tried it. Plus it's my first DSLR and no other DSLR looks like it! Also look at the price! I want it!
With mid-level and pro-level DSLR's not nearly marketed to the newcomers as big as entry-levels do, they would rather save all that time and money by putting WR, magnesium alloy frame, and developing a grip for their upper bodies. Rather than equipping that entry-level with all these extras here and there which these newcommers don't either know anything about or if they even give a half-ass about. -
Magnesium alloy? screw it, it looks like any other DSLR. But this, it's white and it's red! Plus it shoots videos! I want it.
The K-x also makes good JPEGS with good high ISO noise levels, requiring minimal effort in post processing. Someone who is new to DSLR's may have never experienced with post processing before, and with the K-x's sensors ability to boast great images at the spot, and even at night, they don't feel like they need to shoot in RAW. Shooting in RAW and post processing may be a bit overwhelming to someone who is new to the DSLR world. -
These shots out of that camera looks dull, while these shots look great out of this camera. But someone said I need to shoot in RAW and post process it, what's that?
Point is, the K-x answered every noobs dream, it's the D40 of this generation. It's going to be the biggest selling Pentax DSLR and everybody is going to see it as the baddest and they want it. When the D40 first released and it was big and it was bad, it didn't have grip availability, it didn't have WR, they just didn't care about that, they wanted it because it was cheap and they wanted a DSLR. Now with the K-x, on top of it adds extra flavor, color and video.