New DSLR - Pentax K5

[HinFrance]

I don't know what Pentax market share is in the US, I'm sure it's pretty small. Here in France they do pretty well, mainly because the photographic press is much more empirical about camera/lens performance, relying almost entirely on lab measurements to assess camera performance, and the recent Pentax offerings have performed very well, especially the K-x and K-r. I haven't seen any reports on the K5 or D7000 other than the initial 'look promising' previews.

TBH I actually don't know anyone here who owns a Nikon. Canon, Sony and Pentax yes, but no Nikon. Take with a pinch of salt, I clearly live in a bubble . Canon are number one here by a country mile.

I might just buy a TZ-10 or LX-5 while I wait for the DSLR dust to settle a little - I need a new compact.

[amk1977]

Originally Posted by Mr Bump

I believe that is what Pentax has been trying to do with its wide choice of camera body colours. This has been smirked at on many a forum here but it has worked in Japan. It could work here too if they were a) adequately promoted in magazines (not just photographic magazines) and on tv and b) highly visible on the high street.

Of all the under 30-year-olds I know (and that's quite a lot), every single one has either a digital compact or a camera phone and they all use them constantly for taking snaps to share with friends. However, when asked, it seems that none of them are at all interested in getting any other sort of 'better' camera. They just want something that slips in a pocket or handbag. So to survive perhaps Pentax just needs to concentrate totally on the compact camera market? That would be a shame.

Pentax has been thrown lifelines by Samsung and Hoya but still seems to bumble along. I very much doubt that Minolta would now exist if it had not been taken over by the major worldwide company that Sony is. OK the Minolta name is lost but compatibility has continued in Sony cameras for Minolta fans. With very competent products like the Kr and K5 will Pentax start to look attractive to Sony-sized organisations?

I'm not surprised that the coloured camera bodies are doing well in Japan. My brother has lived out there for about 8 years now. Every time he comes back over with some alien technology or tells me stories of the "weird" things that are currently popular over there. I digress a bit but, I'm reminded of a funny tale my brother told me.

A few years ago there was a craze among teenagers out there to do a prank called "chimpo" (think that's correct). I won't go into too much detail but it basically involved two index fingers and a surprised friend's posterior orifice lol . My brother is a teacher out there and one of his students lovingly pulled the prank on him. My brother was not amused to say the least, although I found it hilarious

The Japanese market is a very different market to the UK but, then again its a very different culture. I think the reason the coloured bodies aren't as popular here is that the British photographer is a bit more conservative. Not only that I should imagine that (like myself) they don't want to draw attention to themselves and their equipment. That was part of the reason I ditched my 6cm wide neck strap as it was bright yellow and had NIKON plastered all over it.

I'm 33 now and a lot of friends and acquaintances are starting to have children. Several have decided that their compacts aren't producing images of sufficient quality for the magic moments to come and bought DSLRs. It made me laugh as its almost contagious. One couple would see the photographs of another couples' kids and wanted their photographs to look the same.

On the other hand, one of my sisters who is in her mid-twenties and currently childless lives and dies by her Iphone and is always taking photos on that. You're right that many youngsters (God, I sound old saying that ), just want something small, highly portable and fun to take photographs with. This is particularly true of girls in the female toilets... I'm yet to find out what that's all about lol I would hate for Pentax to just focus on the compact market though, especially when they're producing cameras of the K5's calibre.

If Pentax don't get their head in the game and raise their profile and product awareness, I think it will only be a matter of time before Hoya looks to offload the brand. Hopefully a huge corporation will snap them up, invest money in their promotion and help drive Pentax more into the mainstream.

I'm glad they are doing well in France though. Hopefully they can sustain themselves long enough to achieve a better share in the UK market.

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by amk1977

If Pentax don't get their head in the game and raise their profile and product awareness, I think it will only be a matter of time before Hoya looks to offload the brand. Hopefully a huge corporation will snap them up, invest money in their promotion and help drive Pentax more into the mainstream.

That is possibly their only hope for a long-term future. Could we see them eventually becoming Nokia, or Google, or Tesco!!

Returning to the reality of the K5, isn't it rather strange that it now has many delighted owners worldwide but I have not been able to find a single expert full review anywhere (apart from the DxOmark sensor review). AP does not even list it as a forthcoming review in December and January. What's going on?

Does PhotoRadar have a full review planned?

Also, there is no sign of the 18-135 supposedly available as a kit lens with the K5.

Is there still a Pentax UK or has Japan given up on us completely?

[amk1977]

Originally Posted by Mr Bump

That is possibly their only hope for a long-term future. Could we see them eventually becoming Nokia, or Google, or Tesco!!

Returning to the reality of the K5, isn't it rather strange that it now has many delighted owners worldwide but I have not been able to find a single expert full review anywhere (apart from the DxOmark sensor review). AP does not even list it as a forthcoming review in December and January. What's going on?

Does PhotoRadar have a full review planned?

Also, there is no sign of the 18-135 supposedly available as a kit lens with the K5.

Is there still a Pentax UK or has Japan given up on us completely?

Its certainly possible. I wouldn't mind Nokia taking them over, provided that the in-focus beep wasn't replaced by their annoying ring tone lol.

It is strange because you'd expect there would be much more widespread news and expert reviews all over the internet and in major photographic publications. I looked on Kenrockwell.com on the off chance but, its all about the D7000 on there and there isn't a word about the K5. The last Pentax entry was about the 645 and WOW at the price tag on those lol!

I was just on the Pentax website and clicked on the "life care" link. Apparently they have 80 years experience in endoscopy equipment. With the "chimpo" craze in Japan, no wonder Pentax do well over there

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by amk1977

I was just on the Pentax website and clicked on the "life care" link. Apparently they have 80 years experience in endoscopy equipment. With the "chimpo" craze in Japan, no wonder Pentax do well over there

tee hee

[chris-p]

Originally Posted by amk1977

Absolutely, the K5 looks to be a very serious contender that has the potential to rock Nikon and Canon to the core

Yeah, but it won't, and we all know it. It's ergonomically not as good and it lacks the AF-S/USM type autofocus. But most importantly, Hoya won't push it. End of.

Originally Posted by Mr Bump

Pentax has been thrown lifelines by Samsung and Hoya but still seems to bumble along

Originally Posted by Mr Bump

Returning to the reality of the K5, isn't it rather strange that it now has many delighted owners worldwide but I have not been able to find a single expert full review anywhere (apart from the DxOmark sensor review). AP does not even list it as a forthcoming review in December and January. What's going on?

Does PhotoRadar have a full review planned?

Originally Posted by amk1977

It is strange because you'd expect there would be much more widespread news and expert reviews all over the internet and in major photographic publications. I looked on Kenrockwell.com on the off chance but, its all about the D7000 on there and there isn't a word about the K5. The last Pentax entry was about the 645 and WOW at the price tag on those lol!

I'm frankly amazed that you're all surprised! I said above that Hoya are pushing the Pentax Medical front of Pentax. They've made it very clear that they don't see Pentax as a big name in the camera market at the moment (how that changes, we don't yet know).
Oh, and Hoya really are pushing the medical kit. I've actually had 3 fliers for the new range of Pentax inverted microscopes and their new HD endoscopy range in the past fortnight.

Pentax aren't "bumbling along". They're one of the biggest and highest regarded names in optical manufacturing. The problem they have is that Hoya aren't that interested in cameras. But then, why should they be. Pentax have always made good money in the medical field and Hoya are an optical glass company - what do they know about cameras.
As it stands, Pentax as a whole are raking in money (in comparison to many others), just not in the consumer camera field.

And most magazines will review the K5, just not till they've got through all the other cameras from the companies that really push for the reviews to be published.

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by chris-p

Pentax aren't "bumbling along".

Perhaps I should have clarified Pentax Photographic Division. I would say that on any photographic forum it's taken that we are discussing photographic products, not manufacturers' diverse other businesses. Also when we speculate about Hoya perhaps offloading the brand it is,again, Pentax Photographic that is being discussed. In other fields Pentax is a major force.

[HinFrance]

"Yeah, but it won't, and we all know it. It's ergonomically not as good and it lacks the AF-S/USM".

Let me just stop you right there. Pentax ergonomics are absolutely the best. Nikon next, then Canon and their endless menu system and buttons located for use by gibbons with finger extensions.

And it will come as a shock to all those people with Pentax SDM and Sigma HSM lenses (K10D onwards) to learn that although they appear to work perfectly on the cameras they must be mistaken, because Pentax don't have it. Well they don't have the Canon version obviously, but I don't think the lenses fit anyway

Honestly bumpy, there is no point expecting a review that is even close to factually correct in a UK mag. They have to push the brands that pay their advertising, and that's basically Cankon. We have to get over it

I know that next month's French mags will have full, thorough and unbiased reviews of the K5 and D7000.

So I'm off for a beer now. I may be some time.

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by HinFrance

I know that next month's French mags will have full, thorough and unbiased reviews of the K5 and D7000. So I'm off for a beer now.

Could you be tempted with a bribe of a beer or two to translate the gist of them when they are published?

[HinFrance]

Originally Posted by Mr Bump

Could you be tempted with a bribe of a beer or two to translate the gist of them when they are published?

In between slurps, no problem.

There will be loads of polar response, noise, resolution and dynamic range graphs; each camera body review generally runs to 4-6 pages of tech and then a few more for example shots and how the tester feels about using them. But I'll happily summarise as best I can. With luck they'll test them side by side (before announcing that Canon are dead in the prosumer water for the time being, ahem ).