Pentax bashing?

[johnriley1uk]

Well, AP is down on Pentax this week.

First Damian Demolder says that people would "even choose a Pentax" rather than have a Samsung GX20...bad choice of words. Did he really mean that or have the sub-editors got at it?

Then the Letter of the Week is a plain having-a-go at Pentax despite there being no facts presented, rather like your average "pub talk" and the whole thing being quite refutable. And no disagreement to balance it. Why is a letter that takes this tone with any manufacturer lauded as the best of the week's crop?

So I'm rather disappointed in AP this week, especially as I thought they were demonstrating that the accusation of Canon/Nikon bias might not be true. Ah well.

[dangie]

I wouldn't dare suggest that AP and other magazines show any bias towards Canon and Nikon, indeed I don't think they do (I admit I used to but have since mellowed). However I do think that Pentax sometimes don't get the full credit their excellent cameras deserve.

[Damien_Demolder]

Well, AP is down on Pentax this week.

First Damian Demolder says that people would "even choose a Pentax" rather than have a Samsung GX20...bad choice of words. Did he really mean that or have the sub-editors got at it?

Then the Letter of the Week is a plain having-a-go at Pentax despite there being no facts presented, rather like your average "pub talk" and the whole thing being quite refutable. And no disagreement to balance it. Why is a letter that takes this tone with any manufacturer lauded as the best of the week's crop?

So I'm rather disappointed in AP this week, especially as I thought they were demonstrating that the accusation of Canon/Nikon bias might not be true. Ah well.

I think you need to read it again John. I'm not being down on Pentax at all.

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Could this be the reason?

Pentax goes for colours

[JohnHallett]

Could this be the reason?

Pentax goes for colours

### Shakes head in disbelief ###

[dangie]

May look a bit out of the ordinary agreed, but photography long ago added colour to what was just black and white so why not spread it to the cameras as well. Compacts have been available in many colours for a long time with no-one batting an eyelid. Does having SLR's in these colours reduce their photographic capability? Or is it as I suspect, a bit of photo snobbery, demoting the user from a photographer to a mere snapper?

[johnriley1uk]

I think you need to read it again John. I'm not being down on Pentax at all.

I'm happy that you're not being down on Pentax (or anyone else) Damien. It will be interesting to see if others read it way I have, or if it's just me...

[Benchista]

I have to say that it takes an enormous effort to read it the way you have, John - it's surely absolutely clear what Damien is saying, and it would need to be twisted through 180 degrees to be read as anti-Pentax - it has to be clear to everyone that he's saying customers have more faith in Pentax than in Samsung, hasn't it?

I really do think you try way too hard to find evidence of people putting Pentax down. Just relax and enjoy your choice of camera.

[johnriley1uk]

I really do think you try way too hard to find evidence of people putting Pentax down.

No, I don't. I really don't have any interest in looking for things like that. It was just how it leapt out at me, and I therefore said what I said.

[Benchista]

OK, sorry, but for the life of me, I can't see how you could possibly have come to that conclusion from what was written, I really can't.

[johnriley1uk]

That's fair enough, no problem!

[Monobod]

Regarding the colour options, why not?

it is all a bit Mary Quant, but what is wrong with it. They are still offering a black one for those who want to stay traditional.

It may encourage younger photographers and perhaps more girls to buy into the mark. You know that girls have far better taste and fashion ideas than us blokes.

[Benchista]

Regarding the colour options, why not?

it is all a bit Mary Quant, but what is wrong with it. They are still offering a black one for those who want to stay traditional.

It may encourage younger photographers and perhaps more girls to buy into the mark. You know that girls have far better taste and fashion ideas than us blokes.

Must say I agree. Why not indeed?

[Monobod]

I can see John's point here. 'even' instead of 'rather' is the issue. This suggests that Pentax are only just above the Samsung in the popularity stakes.

Had Damien said they would rather choose a Pentax, this would have been a better choice in my book.

It seems to me that Pentax get the stick mostly over the comparitive speed and accuracy of the Autofocus. I do not use my camera for sport and if I did, i would probably have bought a Canon, but used the way it is, my K7 is an absolute joy. The features and the build quality and the results are beyond question, equal to the other makes, price for price.

But I do see the 7D as a serious challenge, even though it is about 50% dearer, so Pentax cannot afford to rest on its laurels just yet.

What a lark this hobby is, everyone leapfrogging the others and we the consumers pick up the tab every time.

[johnriley1uk]

We've never been so spoilt for choice! Fantastic!

Now I wonder how many collectors will just have to have each and every colour option for the K-x....that would indeed be a sales bonanza.

The multi-coloured one could be used to promote Pentax and Lego....

[PentaxManiac]

If people are still banging on about a "small range" of cameras, then so be it. But the sudden arrival of that nifty compact that looks a bit like the old 110 SLR should generate interest. Up until now I couldn't visualise or name you a single compact by Pentax but I can now. If it had RAW I'd buy one tomorrow.

As for the Letter Of The Week branding Pentax expensive, I did a little research last night by comparing the K7, the KX and a selection of lenses against the closest equivalents, spec wise, from Nikon and Canon in the ad for Warehouse Express towards the back of the latest AP. Try this yourself if you doubt my judgement, but with the possible exception of the prime (fixed focal length) lenses I reckon Pentax are cheaper, by as much as £200 in the case of a top-of-the-range APS C comparison (K7 v Nikon D300S).

[Monobod]

Yes, they are, without doubt, in my opinion better value for money and so well built into the bargain.

I really do have a problem understanding what the problem is. Worldwide, there are thousands of Pentax users, just look at the new image website!

Pentax Gallery Here

[Benchista]

I've read and re-read that letter now, and to be honest, it seems to be a pretty fair appraisal of the situation. Taking prices first, there has been much talk in this very room at the size of Pentax price increases; that said, it's perfectly possible to make a case either way about the price of Pentax lenses, based on ads in the back of AP. Some lenses are comparatively cheaper than other marques, some dearer, and that's normal. Evidence inconclusive on this one. The K7 looks to me to be priced about right - there's no obvious direct competition, but it's dearer than the cameras it outperforms, and cheaper than the cameras which outperform it. Where the argument really has currency is in the critical entry level - the K-x is £100 dearer than the competition, and that is crippling for winning newbies. Pentax currently has two models, one pretty average and overpriced in the most price-sensitive area of the market, the other an excellent general-purpose machine, winner of AP's Innovation award (announced in this week's so-called "bashing" issue) and priced about right. There's nothing further up the range, which makes getting conquest sales difficult, so Pentax do seem to be relying on the pool of current Pentax owners, and long term, that's not a great strategy - so I would agree with the letter writer's general thrust. It's not "Pentax bashing" to say that, it's simply an honest assessment of their current difficulties, and one they would be wise to listen to and address - one of the great strengths of Nikon and Canon is that they do appear to listen to this sort of reasoned criticism, and react accordingly (the EOS 7D being a good example), and if they really want to be a player once more, Pentax have to do the same. It's actually deeply unhelpful to them IMHO when Pentax owners try to shoot the messenger just because the message is unpalatable to them - there's surely a lot more to be gained from constructive criticism of your chosen brand than by blind unquestioning support, and I think you should be applauding AP's attempt to help you rather than accusing them of "Pentax bashing" - I certainly would be, in your shoes.

[offertonhatter]

I am not sure if I agree with with you on certain aspects about the Pentax gear Ben, but agree on others.
As regarded the bodies first. The K-x may be slightly more expensive than certain rivals, but in essence a rival to the Nikon D5000 and Canon 500D/550D rather than the D3000 and 1000D. It has been lauded as probably the best High ISO consumer camera (DPreviews words not mine) and its spec and features. It of course has down sides like no AF point indicator and AA batteries only (however in reality the latter is not a problem, at least you can have power by getting betteries from a shop, unlike others where you will have to go back to recharge - a boon on your travels)
The K-7. Well "out of box" might not be good as rivals, but working with it it is a stunning unit. quietest shutter, if only having a lower fps rate, a reasonable number of AF points, and wery well built with "full" sealing that the 7D ate least does not give. Personally I think it does give the so called prosumer models a run, indeed it is Pentaxes own prosumer unit as a realistic price.
As for the lens prices, I totally agree, they are steep.
Pentax are thinking of them as "cropped" rivals to the Full frame optics of CaNikon, so for instance, the 50-135mm is a rival to the 70-200mm of the others, and therefore it, price wise, it comes up well. However, it is only a 50-135mm, and if you look at the 55mm F1.4 (85mm in EFOV) looks reasonable to the 85mm of Canikon but when you put it against 50-55mm of the rivals (especially D300 and 7D users) then it is VERY poor value.
What we have to do is remember that Pentax have come from a long way back in terms of bodies and optics, the 90's being very poor as glass goes (apart from the rare FA* and Limiteds), so to be in a position now must be applauded.
The fact that I now see more Pentax gear around peoples necks and less smirks when I carry mine around must mean something.
Now for more available glass and Full Frame in its itinery (yep I want Full Frame)

[Done_rundleCams]

...bashed over my head (about 17 years ago) and I still have the camera, the lens
and my head although all three(3) suffered exterior damage ... they are all, whilst not pretty,
still effective ......although 2 of the 3 rarely get much usage but then I never did like
the 50mm lenses

Cheers,

Jack