Originally posted by enoeske I am not interested in a small mirrorless camera. So, the K-5 / Kr are not competing against any mirrorless systems. And, last I checked, the Q is a small mirrorless system. I don't quite get why you are posting here?
I think there are 1st-time buyers who would compare the K-r with a mirrorless system, if the prices are similar. Face it, many, many people compare products strictly on price and ignore the nuances of actual usage. These folks often shop at Best Buy.
While I generally dislike whiners, I think the OP does have a valid point, although I disagree with it. I don't know if Pentax can compete with the 800lb gorillas in a direct fashion and consistently match up. In the past I've posted on PF that perhaps Pentax's best role is to be a niche player. Of course, this was prior to Ricoh's acquisition of Pentax.
I think there is a need for both criticism and praise for Pentax. Sometimes the criticism is jarring, and sometimes an individual considers only his own needs and does not take into account a wider perspective.
FWIW, while I don't predict success for the Q, Pentax is trying to blaze it's own trail. I highly doubt Pentax (when owned by Hoya) was in a position to come up with something similar to the new NEX, as I'd guess the R&D costs would be higher vs the Q. (And as an aside, who know about parts availability? I'm sure Pentax is far down the proverbial list in terms of purchasing sensors and the like.) I'll let the reader decide if it is valid to criticize Pentax for not competing in a market that they can't/are not allowed to compete in.