What will Pentax do next?

Polly Pentax wrote:
> "Nicholas Wittebol" <nicholas.wittebol.RemoveThis@rogers.com> wrote in message
> news:MMSdneKUj5LTEWPfRVn-3w@rogers.com...
> >I find it funny that you acknowledge that you are asking for speculation,
> >and then later discard information about a future 8, 10, 12 mp anti-shake
> >replacement because it is just speculation...
>
>
>
> Point taken - but I can't say that it's been much help
>
> I don't expect anyone to know the inner workings of Pentax Corporation, I
> was just asking what *others* would do if they faced the same dilemma.

I don't know about the inner workings of Pentax Corporation, but I know
this - there's been many corporations that suffered a loss year after
year and kept going, and Pentax is no more likely to quit digital now
than it was to quit 35mm two or three decades ago when the medium was
different but the market situation was more or less the same duel it is
now between Canon and Nikon and the rest left fighting for scraps.

"Polly Pentax" <petax.TakeThisOut@polly.net> wrote:
>
>Hi, Tony.
>
>I think that the difference with Canon is that you can be almost 100%
>certain that they will still be around in a couple of years, and will have
>good upgrade models available to purchase.
>
>Whether the same is true for Pentax must be debatable, given their current
>position.

Pentax are in a stronger position than some.

The digital imaging divisions of Sony and Konica Minolta are in deep
trouble. They have announced a joint venture to co-develop DSLRs, but
that is more a sign of their joint desperation than anything else.

Olympus desperately needs a 10+ MP pro model to justify the top
quality Zuiko Digital lenses. Olympus has wisely ditched Kodak,
formerly a Four Thirds partner, for Panasonic. Olympus and Panasonic
will shortly introduce at least three new DSLRs between them, but
until then, the jury is out on whether Four Thirds will prosper in the
medium to long term.

Pentax are still making money, and can count on a great many owners of
Pentax point and shoot film and digital cameras to trade up to a DSLR
of the same brand.

>The D is available at Park Cameras for £600 - but they only have a few.
>No-one else that I know of (apart from this single one at £450) has them in
>stock at all, and Pentax UK also have no stocks left. So, it's buy now, or
>almost certainly do without in the future - UNLESS Pentax come up with a
>replacement.

You might like to refer to the review of the Pentax *ist DL in the
issue of Amateur Photographer due out on Tuesday. The review
concluded that the *ist DL has the best image quality of the three
Pentax *ist DSLRs.

>I also take Kitt's point that, if it's good enough, it doesn't matter
>whether any new bodies are forthcoming - except for the fact that I'll be
>reluctant to add expensive lenses without a clear upgrade path.

Then don't add them! Just buy the kit lens, or the 18-35mm FAJ, both
of which are cheap but more than adequate.

>Will Pentax keep tolerating losses on their digital imaging division?,
>that's the question. In fact, 'will' the promised Medium Format model,
>mentioned by John, actually materialise?

Pentax aren't losing money. Konica Minolta, Sony and Olympus are.

>I have to say, it's at times like this that I wish I had a collection of
>Cannon or Nikon lenses, instead of Pentax.

On the contrary, most Pentax lenses have desirable optical qualities
that are lacking in all but a few, mostly expensive Canon EF lenses
and AF Nikkors. Be glad that you have them.

My advice is; find an *ist D, or a DS, or a DL, don't pay more than
£500, and enjoy your purchase to the full.