Malcolm,
Yep, agree. The lack of Pentax brand at the camera stores is not
helping. ... but!...
1. There are very few "true" camera stores remaining. For many people,
especially in smaller cities, the only places selling cameras are BestBuy,
Walmart and Target.
So, if people are advanced enough to want a DSLR (and especially a FF
DSLR), they are likely to know (or bound to find out about) B&H, Adorama,
Amazon, etc.
It the entry level cameras that need to be at the local stores (to "lure"
people toward the brand).
2. More and more shopping is done online.
Even outside of photography, having lived for the several years in a
town (technically speaking two towns grown into each other) with the
(combined) population of 170K, I can attest that majority of purchases
(besides of groceries, water and gasoline) are made online. Even my little
daughter knows that you choose things "on the computer", and they get
delivered a few days later. Because there are very few good stores (if at
all) for kids' clothes or toys in town (Target, Walmart and even Toys-R-US
are not among them).
3. Even back in 1996-1997, when I was choosing my second (aka "advanced")
film DSLR, I bought it via mail-order (I was choosing between B&H,
Adorama, and CWO - Camera World of Oregon - the only three shops I
considered reputable).
That was when specialized camera stores couldn't forsee their soon-coming
extinction.
Back then, I went to the local specialized camera store (relatively
decent, but the only one in a 100K-population college-town in
Illinois).
Since by that time I had had Kiev-19 for some 4-5 years, I was
naturally considering a Nikon body. I spent about two hours trying a
couple of Nikon bodies, shooting a couple of rolls of film around the
store. N-70 (F-70) was at the top of I could afford, but I didn't like its
ergonomics. N-90 (F-90) was very nice ergonomically (and
performance-wise), but beyond my reach (pun intended).
Struggling with the choice, I've read about Pentax ZX-5n (MZ-5n) that just
came out, replacing ZX-5 (MZ-5), and bought it unseen. I liked it
ergonomics, but neither ZX-5, nor ZX-5n was available at the store.
I don't quite remember if (P)Z-1P was available at the store or not.
I was happy with my choice (despite the fact that, as it turned out, ZX-5n
was missing continuous AF, and in general the AF was not as good as that
of the Nikon's bodies).
Cheers,
Igor
Malcolm Smith Wed, 04 Feb 2015 10:17:46 -0800
Igor wrote:
Malcolm, while I understand what you meant, -- the photographers who
are "hooked" on a particular system and have invested in the glass,
etc.
But that's only part of the picture.
Your conclusion is based on the assumption that there is no movement on
the DSLR market.
First of all, there are always newcomers, for whom it could be the 1st
DSLR (or the first FF DSLR).
Second, if it is a successful camera accompanied by a good set of
lenses ("good" and "successful" include technical and financial
aspects), then some people might switch to "Pentax system" when
considering transition from the relatively crappy entry-level Canon APS
DSLRs.[*] ... Or even from the entry-level Canon FF DSLRs and optics
... just because a good quality would be more affordable with Pentax.
=====
[*] I haven't looked at the recent entry models of Canon DSLRs, but the
earlier Digital Rebels (as well as film Rebels) were so-so. They were
so mediocre that I stopped looking at them at anywhat serious
contenders, when I was choosing my second SLR (first advanced one), and
again, when considering a DSLR.
Oh, I agree. But the marketing has got to be at a different level than it
is now. The great majority of the shops that sell cameras (when I last
went looking about for my K3) do not have Pentax branded items on display.
You will have Canon and Nikon products in your face as you go through the
door, which is great for them - although in fairness some cheaper Pentax
products I did see. I'm not sure if lower price items only on display
sends the right message?
They will need great reviews, great pricing and be on the shelves for
people to buy - and be seen to be there to buy. I end up buying most of my
Pentax equipment via mail order because it's not easy to get locally -
people swapping systems or buying a new DSLR will want to buy additions
without the hassle.
A few years back when I bought my K7, one of my friends borrowed the
camera and loved it. Would he buy one, no. Too much hassle finding a
dealer.
Malcolm
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