The K-m and Jessops

It's not only in the UK that Pentax are failing to promote their cameras. Here in Holland, and I believe in Belgium too, it is almost impossible to find a shop, other than the likes of K'berg and Kamera Express, that stock Pentax. And even Kamera Express has very little actually in stock.
It was the same in Arizona in May.

They must have a plan and it surely can't be to wither and die .

Mike

I feel the same, I was all ready to buy the K20D and stopped myself at the last moment after having a good think about what I am using the camera for. I have only had my K10D for 6 months and already I was feeling a bit left behind and I realised that was the only reason I wanted to change.
Instead I bought a older version Sigma 70-200mm APO EX off Ebay and I honestly think I will get better use out of that than a K20D.

Maybe next month though ......

Argos have always been hit and miss with lens prices, as this shows, I got my Pentax 18-55 with the body and Jacobs list it at £169.99!

Although I think the image is a different lens completely, I've never seen a Xenon 18-55 with an aperture ring!

I'm sure you're right.

I've been tempted to get another lens and realised rather than have LBA I should nurture my PTA (photograph taking addiction) so I did and it's cheaper too!

When I look at the results my Tamron 17-50 can produce for example I'm not sure my technique and imagination match it. I think it's all about identifying weak points and addressing them to move on and at the moment I'm the weak point.

Mike

That could well be a strategy that would work, in the mediun to long term. In the short term selling lots of K-m cameras must help cashflow.

Pentax were once one of the "Big Two" which were of course, Nikon and Pentax. Those were the days when all sorts of professional accessories were made, some quite exclusive. For example, the Nocta surveillance system, or the UV lenses.

It seemed to go wrong when Autofocus arrived and, for whatever reason, Pentax lost ground continually until probablty the advent of the MZ series started to pull things back.

Promotion has also been a Big Problem in the UK...

As a matter of interest does anyone know why camera manufacturers allow other makers (Sigma, Tamron etc) to make lenses for their bodies?
I am sure that they make more profit out of their lenses than bodies and I would have thought they would have a patent on the mount (and all variations).

It has always been that way and I suppose that having more lenses available makes the camera system more attractive and gets more buyers in.

Taking the K mount you can pay Pentax a fee to have access to their technical information to make your lenses, or, like Sigma, you can pull the product apart and "reverse-engineer" your lenses. This is why Sigma lenses can need to be re-chipped to continue to work with newer bodies.

When I've looked at 'third party' lenses I find very few on the K mount.

I was looking for a reasonably priced 300mm a few years ago and was surprised to find anything longer than that seemed to be only available on canikon mounts.

As for the K-m and Jessops, well you could always try and buy one online!

Lets hope that selling through the Dixons group is a good move.

Jessops is a bit of an anomoly with Pentax. They dont have Pentax on show in Manchester, however I asked about the K20D, and it was in stock, as were quite happy to sell me one. I just wish that Jessops were to tread Pentax properly. But if they won't it will be Jacob's gain on the high street.

Argos pricing is bizarre. And generally instills in me an adverse reaction! But the K100D Super kit was EUR 380 at one point. Not only did I buy it, I sold at least two others on the deal as well. How did I do this? Simple. People looked at my camera and wondered why it didn't cost twice as much.

It'll be interesting to see how they price the K-m.

They even stock the K20D, though under the Samsung name. Not sure what their buyers are thinking, but I am at least glad the Pentax name is not totally lost to them.

Thank you, Mike.

I don't think anyone from this forum will be buying a 50-200mm for £299.99. I too was amazed at their cheek when I saw that.

It's probably an enthusiastic school-leaver's typo and should have read £29.99

This is my first post, I have just found the website having ordered a Pentax camera.
I ordered from Jessops last Sunday after considering the K200, eos1000 and D60.
The order comprised the camera kit, 50-200 lens, 2mb card and Centon bag CB20.
After Vat reduction and £10 off camera and lens the total bill is £416.14. With £50 to come back from Pentax.
I could not find anything better on the internet and I have used Jessops shops in the past so placed it there. The camera and lens are not in stock and I have requested when I can expect delivery. Not in any hurry.
I did not know that Jessops were cold on Pentax so we will have to see what happens next. I can always cancel if they can't supply the goods.
I will let you know what transpires.

HAFO in Den Haag do stock some Pentax kit, but their lens prices are pretty daft (€269 for the DA18-55 Mk 1, €369 for the FA 50 1.4:shock

Amazingly when I go to FILIPO in Winkelhof Leiderdorp (that scab attached to Leiden), you can still buy a NEW K10D for €869

In San Francisco, only Ritz were selling a decent amount of new Pentax gear, I was hoping Calumet would have sold me the DA*200 but because of teh cashback deals all were gone