Have You Converted Anyone?

The way I look at it is that if Pentax can't be bothered to advertise their products then why should I.

Ohhh!! How could you say such a thing?!

I for one am shocked by your negative attitude!

When the plane crashed into the River Hudson, the image that the world saw in the papers was, I think, taken on an iPhone! Spontaneous, yes! Quality image that stood up as an image, Yes!

Good Thread!

I can certainly relate to being from the distant plant PENTAX! It's quite incredible actually. In my town (Vancouver) there is a camera store that is the only one in the city where they actually have Pentax advertising stuff like signs, stands and the word Pentax splattered throughout the store. All staff actually wear Pentax shirts each with their name embossed on them and even in that store they give you that look when you ask about Pentax. Nikon this and Canon that. Oh and Sony...
For me being a Pentax fan meant doing internet research when I first made the switch, expecting to get good info from uninterested staff is impossible here.
I end up being the guy educating them! Of the people that did listen, they did appear to be genuinely surprised about the features of the camera that's being sitting under their noses the whole time.
I have converted a few friends and they're happy, they each spread the word..
I don't know what it's going to take other than a competitive full frame for people to take this brand seriously. Only then will they notice that the APS-C was where Pentax really was king. Pentax has had a few forces working against their gaining serious ground against the big two. Bad management... Hopefully the new owners will let Pentax spread it's wings again

I might be wrong here, so I apologise in advance...

When we were all using "analogue" (35mm) SLR's, Pentax were "up there" with the best. My own take on this scenario is that when digital came along, it was Nikon, Minolta, Olympus, and Canon (all specialists in the general field of electronics, I might add) were at the forefront of digital photography. Pentax, being "photography purists" have kind of suffered, since they (in the early stages, at least) were playing "catch-up" with the Canikons of this world. I can see the evolutionary process that Ricoh (another electronics company) are injecting into the Pentax process, to put the brand back amongst the "big boys". I think it is safe for me to predict that in the next 3-5 years, Pentax will be "trendsetting", with envious eyes being cast upon them by the aforementioned companies.

I think you are possibly right Stephen, only time will tell. Regarding the post, I've converted a couple of people to Pentax so far and there are two more lined up. It is hard to get people to take of their Canon and Nikon tinted spectacles, but once they use a Pentax and realise it's actually quite good they often see sense!

Regards
David

David - unfortunately, we now live in a "names in frames" society. When you and I were younger, we were happy to attend PE classes in a pair of black sandshoes. Nowadays, you "cannot properly exercise" unless you are wearing the latest Nike Air Jordan's, and we have to drink "isotonic fluids" when winding down from that exercise. It's become the same with technology, with people extolling the virtues of the iPhone over Blackberry, Samsung, HTC, etc. The danger these days is that, unless you unashamedly put your name in that frame, you will simply fade away and die. I believe that now is the time that Ricoh Pentax should be shouting their name from the rooftops, even if it involves "product placement" in the next Hollywood blockbuster that happens along.

And once that is achieved we can get them to wear the same clothes, buy the same car and HiFi etc.

What is the sense you refer to?

Does it actually concern anyone to the point of caring what other people shoot with?

If Pentax fold tomorrow, the world will go on. The designers there will probably be hired by another company so the skill set will continue to benefit photographers.

Every brand has its weaknesses and strengths. You choose kit based on your own requirements unless you’re clueless and listen to a salesman or brand fan-boy (though some fan-girls can be very convincing).

Best regards

Converted my daughter and one of my sons. It cost me though!

I agree with Mike. Also, as I've never used any other DSLR I'd find it impossible to claim Pentax was any better than any other brand.

I think you failed to spot the tongue in my cheek as I was writing the comment (hence the exclamation mark after '...see sense'. I often smile to myself reading some of the posts on here and how seriously they are taken!

I couldn't care less if no-one else buys Pentax - I like to be different and Pentax gear happens to suit me. If anyone asks me I will tell them I like the gear and why I like it but it's up to them if they want to buy Pentax or not. I'm not sure why you go on to refer to people buying the same clothes / hi-fi etc.; you seem to have a bee in your bonnet about this

Best wishes
David

Having re-read it twice, I admit to still failing to see the tongue in cheek.

No bee in my bonnet David. I responded in a manner that was appropriate for the manner in which you wrote. I will however make an effort to see the hidden meanings in posts that exclaim a statement.

Best regards

No problem, it's difficult to read between lines when you don't know the personality of the individual writing the words. I can be quite cryptic at times so apologies if the fun-poking was not clear in the words I wrote.

As I said, I will explain (if asked) why I like Pentax and this has converted a couple of people I know. However, most people I talk to couldn't care less about photography, let alone which brand of camera is being used

Best wishes
David

Limited success - a colleague bought a K-r on my recommendation and a friend with an Olympus is now using a 50mm Tak with adapter

Actually it was Kodak - remember them? - that was at the forefront of digital - imagine a 100 m sprint - they were great for the first 20 metres and then stalled. Their demise upsets me as I can no longer get Elite EC for my Z-1s.

Nikon and Canon have had spells of inertia during the race - one having a period of dominance over the other - both have their 'stars' 30D, 10D, 5D, 1Ds, D100, D300, D3, D800 etc but also brought out products that really do not show significant progress over the predecessors...

Minolta were left floundering at the start hence were bought out by Sony

Pentax have always been small, and since the down of the AF age have lagged behind Canon, Nikon and Minolta - so the developments in Pentax have focussed on the prime lenses and the features we all come to appreciate - especially the weather sealing. OH uses Canon - when it sees water it malfunctions - K20D continues unhindered but she is stuck in that system...

I don't try to convert people, what they do see is that although I have a Nikon D3, and invest regularly in Nikkor glass I invest the same in the Pentax system as I like it so much