no PENTAX here ---

I am in the Philippines for a month and not only is this computer ( my Sister-in-Law's ) WORSE than mu Old 'TIME'machine back in England there are NO PENTAXcameras to be seen anywhere -- even the snappers hanging around the churches I've seen have FILM 'Vivitars' or Digital Canons -- I saw the latest OLYMPUS MD models, Canon EOS D and Samsung and Sony Alpha in dealers --- everyone has all the latest 'Gadgets' ans shops are stuffed with Phones -- I saw one dealer in SM Mall with Studio Flash for sale. The are NO 'Film Processors' anymore anywhere only Digital booths-- well, I am using my 1996 MZ-5 and my 1975 KX with SEnsia and Velvia slide and Reala 100 ( all outdated) for prints after using up a 2006 Fuji Superia 100 --- Diesel is 43 Pesos per liter and there are roughly 65 Pesos to 1 Pound Sterling ( used to be 100 Pesos to 1 pound ! )

I think there are Pentax cameras to be seen Peter - and you are carrying them, flying the flag!

There are also more Pentax cameras in the Philippines than most places in the world. They are assembled there!

Have a great trip and show us some pictures when you get back?

There are two, including me, Pentax users in the camera club and I sometimes wonder had I not previously owned a Pentax film camera and subsequently purchased an *ist DL2 including an old 18-55mm lens from LCE in Chester while on holiday, before joining the club, would I have been swayed by the Canikon users in the club to go that route instead of upgrading to the K7 then K5. Also missing out the fun of the Pentax forums too

if I may offer a voice of hope, since I was last active on the forum a few years ago I have changed jobs. I now work for a fairly small company of software engineers and consultants, the majority of whom are educated to Masters level or above in Science based subjects.

There are more Pentax shooters here than I've ever encountered in one place before! At least three in one small office.

If I may add a further voice of hope, I'm in Japan at the moment, and last night on prime-time TV (during the Man Utd V Yokohama match) there was a full-length commercial for the Pentax Q, - here's to hoping for a growth in similar promotional activity, particulaly in Europe and the US.
The closing shot in the ad was the Pentax logo with the line 'Pentax - a Ricoh company' so looks like they are still sticking with that for the moment.

If it's any further comfort to Peter, film is still very much alive over here; all the local dev and print shops very much in business, selling and D&P-ing film.

I rarely see Pentax shooters in the UK

Forget Pentax in south east asia, it may sound harsh but Canikon rule it is all in the show. Actually John you are incorrect to a certain degree as most of my stuff was assembled in Vietnam. Kind regards Ian

Lenses are assembled in Vietnam, cameras in The Philippines, but no doubt both elsewhere as well.

.. I do same in Belgium

As you say, educated people.

I saw quite a few educated and cultured people (sorry - I mean Pentax users) in Dubrovnik when I was there recently. Admittedly they were significantly outnumbered by the massed hoards of the Canikons, but there were more Pentax users there than anywhere else I have been recently.

Also all types of Pentaxes were in evidence, from several old 35mm cameras including an MX, an ME Super and what looked like a K1000 (but I could be wrong on that one) through to the modern DSLRs (K-r, K30 and K5 variants) and even a couple of Pentax compacts.

There were also far more Sony DSLRs than I have ever seen in one place before - could there be a connection?

the people of Dubrovnik like in body image stabilisation?

My slant is this....

How many times do you see an Aston Martin on the road?

Not too often! but does that mean they are no good?


(just a bit of fun, not to be taken too seriously!)

I have been invited to the Cebu Images Camera Club again next meeting on August 5th -- I will take my film Pentaxes and show them !! All the members there are much YOUNGER than Club members in UK and are usually 'businesspeople' and they have all 'gadgets' they bring before the meeting starts properly-- last time I saw someone discussing a portable external hard-drive and a member let me 'breath on ' and take a photo with his LEICA M8 + 1.4 Summilux ! I have been trying to get some photos of roadside 'Characters' out of the window of a Toyota Navarra my Sister-in-Law has borrowed from a family lady friend who is a millionare -- my wife tells me to keep the window SHUT as there are so many 'snatchers' ready to reach in and pinch cameras and mobile phones -- but maybe they will not bother about my 'Old' FILM Pentaxes !