Another K3 mk.III thread

Why does Pentax not advertise their new camera? All I ever see are mentions in magazine news items which say it looks a great camera but that it is likely to be the last DSLR to be made as the world has moved on to mirrorless. In other words don’t buy it! The normally impartial Outdoor Photography did just that in its latest issue so I was moved to write and complain but I don’t suppose it will do any good. The only post production review I can find is by DPReview, filmed unamusingly in a dinosaur park. Having invested so much in this body surely Pentax should be making much more effort to promote it.

I agree.

All of us existing Pentax users, who own a collection of Pentax lenses, are very interested and aware of the new K3 iii - but I can't see how Pentax can attract new users.

And I think the fact that it is only sold as a body only shows that, at the moment, their only target market is existing Pentax users.

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Richard

While I agree Ricoh SHOULD be advertising the K-3 III a lot more why change the habits of a lifetime and start now, it's not like they have been prolific advertisers previously.

As to the above, it is a great camera, it is possibly the last DSLR to be made (K-1 III anyone?) and the world has (or is in the process of) basically moved on to mirrorless.

That's hardly saying don't buy it though, it could be taken as it's a great DSLR, buy it while you can.

Must admit the lack of a well lit focus point through the viewfinder is putting me off buying it BIG TIME! ... how Ricoh can make such a big thing about the new prism, viewfinder and af system but make it so you can't see what you are actually focusing on most of the time is nuts.

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. My Flickr

The focus point issue is really my only complaint so far, and I've noticed it mostly indoors in poor light; in those circumstances I've taken to assuming the autofocus will get it right without my intervention, which is not my usual way of working but has so far worked OK; however I would prefer to see where I've put the focus point when I move the joystick!

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Jon

Some occasional random stuff at The Photographers Block: link

Just a thought on this. I am in my late seventies and have owned Pentax cameras for many years. I have 4 Pentax DSLR bodies, I will not buy another as these will see me out. I would hazard a guess that the majority of Pentax owners are also increasing in years and new (younger) camera owners will not buy Pentax as new technology will change cameras completely. I do hope I am wrong. Any thoughts on this before I am thrown out for heresy!

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Just passing thru

Nope you are totally correct. It doesn't help that most of the younger generation have either never heard of Pentax or didn't realize they still made cameras.

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. My Flickr

I think you’ll still find some of us who are in our (ok well into our) fifties but you might struggle much below that apart from the occasional landscaper who realises just how good the K-1 is.... that said, I think Japan is a very different and much more important market for Ricoh Pentax; the rest of the world is just hanging in there but the home market is where they have a much larger user base.

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Jon

Some occasional random stuff at The Photographers Block: link

The young just need to see some one cool with Pentax hanging from there shoulder. I mean “ like “didn’t Dennis Hoper have an lx hanging all around him , in Apocalypse now. So , when Ricoh decide to promote their products to the young, they might ( the younger that is ) be intrigued by the history that Pentax offers because let’s face there isn’t anything the young don’t Google

It's an interesting thread. I'm not moving to mirrorless any time soon, basically because I like the DSLR experience, especially the pentaprism finder. Nothing has to be switched on to look through the camera and the view is fantastic.

As long as enough people buy DSLRs then they will be there, maybe in smaller quantities and from fewer manufacturers, but then again there may be a resurgence in interest if and when the drawbacks of mirrorless begin to irritate some users.

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Best regards, John

I think something similar Johnriley, it could be the joy of your own vision through the viewfinder that is instant and not a delayed version that other types offer I love looking through the viewfinder it immediately changes all perspectives on your original viewing with your eyes, helping you to compose and maybe when lucky convey a moment that you did not miss

To Takuman. Hi John. Your just a youngster. I'm now 82 and have just bought the silver limited anniversary K1 Mk2. Now that "MIGHT" see me out but you should look ahead and buy something new for your old age.
CHEERS Vic.

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Born again biker with lots of Pentax bits. Every day I wake up is a good day. I'm so old I don't even buy green bananas.

Most of us 'old' photographers are just that - photographers and we appreciate the quality we have in our hands. Kids today just snap all and everything with their smartphones and have no interest in the quality of what they produce (otherwise they would be using some sort of 'proper' camera). If you advertise a given brand of DSLR only their adherents will take much notice of it. As to brand familiarity, I was out with the K1 on a tripod recently in the park. This fellow about late 50s 60ish commented, "A Pentax. That's a nice old camera and it's in really good nick for its age isn't it?" Richo haven't much chance with this one so why thrown money at advertising?

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Both the *istDS and the K5 are incurably addicted to old glass

My page on Photocrowd - link

There is a YouTube series called Photography Online I enjoy, made by a group of photographers on Skye and including one diehard DSLR and large format user. In the latest episode he compares his Canon DSLR with the latest mirrorless offering and the DSLR just pipped it for image quality so they asked for suggestions for other FF cameras to compare; I have suggested the K1 mk.II so we shall see how that goes.

For Canikon users the transition is less painful financially as their existing lenses can be used with an adapter but that is only a stopgap given that their DSLR lenses are being dropped out of production. A repeat then of their previous mount changes forcing new lens sales, a strategy to which Pentax is diametrically opposed but for the companies’ finances a compelling one.

It also occurs to me that a generation raised almost from birth using iPads and iPhones and more familiar with touchscreens than pens will naturally gravitate towards a familiar technology.

If you move to mirrorless, then you have another piece of electronics to go wrong. The prism cannot go wrong under normal conditions. If it ain't broken, don't fix it!

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Pentax K1-ii and MZ6
Pentax Lenses 28-80 F, 300 DA*, 80-200 F, 35 F2.4 AL, M50 F1.7, 28-105 DFA, 20 F4 SMC
ONE UNITED Member

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Just passing thru