Local stockists of Pentax?
As has been said many times, all current DSLRs should do a decent job and its best to handle each option before buying into a system. So, its a case of going into Jessops to try the 7D and the D7000, and NOT the K5
Not sure what help that is to a Pentax User....
About as much help as it is to increasing market share I reckon. What advise do you give to potential first time DSLR purchasers John?
Stuart..
What advise do you give to potential first time DSLR purchasers John?
The advice I give to first time DSLR purchasers is very much dependent on who they are and what they are trying to achieve. So I ask them lots of questions and also of course establish what they have come from and what they have used in the past.
Obviously a veteran film user will have some history and the choice for them will be clear. It's then just a matter of how much they want to spend, although with some marques limitations on using some lenses will also be a factor.
When I'm on a general forum I advise in general terms, but suggest that they don't overlook Pentax as I firmly believe that the marque offers the best option ifn terms of cost/quality/handling. Some people may want mega-brick DSLRs but I don't. I want high quality, weatherproof, ergonomically well thought out and compact kit that I can carry anywhere all day every day.
Which is why I'm here at Pentax User and not somewhere else.
So, for our first time purchaser here the choice is clear. K-r for lower cost but a great camera. K-5 if it can be afforded and especially if weeather resistance is needed. K-01 if SLR viewfinders are not required. Q if something really compact wanted that's more versatile than compacts.
Just your well thought out ergonimic compact kit maybe considered completely unsuitable by someone else. Being too small and having buttons and dials in all the wrong places.
Giving advice is a dangerous sport and should be approached with care.
As for things being comfortable, I know you are trying to make a point in a roundabout way, but we all have plenty of freinds who own cameras. Have a look at theirs. Watch them struggle or operate well as you see things. See what they leave behind because it's too heavy. Observe the sagging shoulders from huge camera bags.
Ergonomics is more than just the camera. The next essential component is the right means to carry and deploy it.
...I'm amazed that Sheffield with over 500,000 population has no Pro dealer though!
I have a Pentax Pro dealer about 7 miles away but looking at the cameras in their window you would never know! In fact looking at their website the only Pentax camera shown is an Optio compact. Searching for Pentax lens brings up two Sigma in Pentax mount but no Pentax. It really is pretty poor.
Funny to see Jessops in Romford. They have never stocked Pentax gear, at least int he last few years, certainly not on display.
As for Currys a year or so ago when buying a waterproof camera and asking about the W90 the sales rep nearly lost the sale with his 'Pentax haven't made a decent camera in years' comment.
I'm lucky that I live close enough to a couple of Pentax dealers, including SRS.
I would never buy a camera or lens without trying it out first. Especially a lens - there are plenty of posts on this and other forums about 'problem' lenses - I have personally had to exchange a faulty lens, and not all internet retailers will do that without cost and/or hassle (and yes, I know SRS will).
Of course we are where we are with the High Street/internet.
I personally hope that Pentax do start to place more product on the High Street. The way to increase market share is to put the product into the physical hands of the punter!
I recently was in Madrid for a holiday and the only Pentax I saw on the high street or in use about town were mine and my two sons!
Recently I was in Netherlands on business in Utrech, there I found three camera shops - all had some Pentax gear in stock.
Lenses: DA*16-50, DA18-55WR, DA18-135, DAL35, M50 F2, A50 f1.4, FA50 f1.4, DA*50-135, DA55-300, Tamron 70-300, DFA 100 WR Macro, M135 f3.5, Sigma 120-400 APO DG HSM, Tokina 500 f8.0
Flash: Metz 58, Metz 48
Accessories: BG4, Pentax right angle finder, Pentax mirror adaptor lens, O-ME53 Viewfinder Loupe
Auto 110 System: Auto 110, Winder, 18mm, 24mm, 50mm, 70mm, 20-40mm, AF100P, 1.7x telecon
It wasn't this bad in recent years, so I hope things pick up again soon, I'd much rather try items out or have them in my hand before buying, but this is getting much harder, or almost impossible to do in many areas now.
I did masses of research before buying my K-x, read loads and loads of reviews...
Had it down to the K-x, the Canon 400d and a Nikon (can't remember the model) of the same spec...
Went to Currys where they stocked both the CaNikon models and held them...
Immediately the Canon was out of the question as I just felt wrong in my hand and had not the build quality of the Nikon...
Luckily there is another store in Bradford that sells Pentax so I went there to try the K-x...
Ergonomically the K-x was very similar to the Nikon model...
My final decision came down to the fact that the Pentax came as part of a twin lens deal for the same price and the Nikon with one lens...
My point (although rambling) is that I was very close to buying the Nikon and if I hadn't have had the chance to handle the K-x I would have bought the Nikon, twin kit deal or not...
Yes value is important but the difference in price is fairly nominal when spending £450+ (at the time my buget was £500 and not a penny more)and consumers do want to touch cameras before they buy...
They've most likely already read a ton of reviews and have a 'short list' of possibilities; all that left is to see them in the flesh...
I'm coming around to the fact that the price increases (although sudden) are perhaps designed to level the playing field with retailers and make stocking Pentax more competitively attractive...
Maybe we'll see more Pentax cameras and lenses on shop shelves sooner rather than later... The prices may be higher than they once were online but we'll be able to try them in actual shops; and in the case of lenses bolt them to are actual cameras and try them...
As I'm already (what I consider to be) heavily invested, this is a good thing (isn't it?) in the long term
Fairly positive from me... Sorry bout that...
Digital:
Pentax K5- Vivitar 19mm 3.8; FA35mm f2; D-Xenon 100mm macro f2.8; DA50-200mm WR...
Flash:
Yongnuo YN-560; Vivitar 285HV; Cactus V4 triggers...
Film:
Pentax-MX & M50mm f1.4; Spottie & 55mm f1.8; MG & M40mm 2.8...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/
I found the canon and nikions much heavier.
I've also found a LOT of prejudice agaist pentax which I don't understand.
I notice most independent shop seem to sell a small amount of pentax.One in Salisbury does.
I purchased from park cameras.
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4192 posts
14 years
Scarborough,
North Yorks.
John