David wrote: > I suspect that the popularity of the *ist-D(s) has caused some shifts in > demand for Pentax lenses, and that some of those shifts were difficult > to predict. After all, the MZ-S, high-end as it was, still didn't cause > an instant shortage in primes and other higher-end lenses. But the > MZ-S's sales were probably somewhat lackluster by comparison to the > *ist-D/DS.
The MZ-S initial production run was 3500 units a month. The *istDs 20 000 units/month. Whether the cameras reached or exceeded these numbers is unknown to me. On the other hand I believe the apparent lens sales associated with the sales of these cameras has more to do with the fact that the MZ-S was mostly bought by people already owning quite a few Pentax lenses whereas the DSLR's to a large extent attract new people into the system or those who hasn't bought Pentax AF lenses. > A $250 SLR consumer might spend $200 on a second lens. An $800 DSLR > consumer is probably not that put off by the notion of spending $700 on > lenses. > > And where does that lead? It leads to phenominal glass prices on eBay, > and sudden unexpected out-of-stock situations in mid to high level > pentax lenses at online dealers. But I do think that there weren't that many lenses in the first place so that it doesn't take much interest to deplete the second hand market. P�l
