Its basically a gamble for the manufacturer, do you sell lots at a small margin or a few at a higher margin. I just think it is a shame that Pentax risk losing the expanded customer base they have acquired by selling decently priced entry and mid range DSLRs.

I wouldn't put money on it, but my gut feeling is that by the end of this year or certainly by this time next year, peoples disposable income after paying for 'essentials' will be so reduced that camera gear for many will be seen as an unaffordable luxury. Don't forget also that the UK is still pretty much carrying the 'Treasure Island' label, known internationally as a soft touch by multinationals keen to make large profits. My bet is, that prices will fall to much closer to mainstream EU prices within a year or so.

Another 'downward pressure' on prices must surely be that the number of people able to make a decent living from photography is falling as amateur gear proliferates and competition from the sheer number of devices which now include the ability to take an image, increases. Fewer pros means fewer customers for hi end lenses which in the short term may result in lower prices as manufacturers and distributors try to offload stock they can't sell. Ultimately it may mean fewer manufacturers although Canon and Nikon would be hit the hardest as their pro base is larger.

Having recently bought a Kx rather than a Canon (EOS 33V + three lenses),
I bought partially because of the excellent value for money of Pentax DSLR bodies coupled with the vast number of possibilities lens wise on the used market. I can't afford to buy premium priced new lenses at Canon/Nikon price levels. I would therefore be looking at used Pentax in excellent condition or possibly Sigma (or equivalent) new.

If Pentax want to see increased revenue from their lenses range, they should keep their new prices a rung below Canon/Nikon (like for like) and
possibly more importantly they should bring out a FF DSLR undercutting other makes, which will open up a huge potential market for their excellent 'primes' many of which are of limited value on a cropped sensor, and thus sales of these will otherwise decline year on year without a FF DSLR body to open up new customer base.

Thanks to i-Berg and Pentaxophile for welcome and comment. I'll move later on to the main forum to get some advice on good photo software to use.

Karlo

Thanks to tomkeet and Hardgravity for your replies.

Joking aside, i'm really impressed with the Kx manual. Normally when you get something so thick its because it is split into about a dozen or more
foreign languages. This is just English...and comprehensible English at that. I should have got round to trying out most of the features by next Christmas!

Karlo

Thanks to Tyr, johnriley and DrOrloff for your welcome.

Now that I have the camera, I will start to work out what I need exactly to attach it to my scope. I have four or five eyepieces, all 1.25", nothing very special but hopefully adequate for a first attempt! I think there is also something to convert or attach 2" eyepieces in the box as well, although not sure that would be too useful at the moment as I don't have any eyepieces in this size. I'll let you all know how i get on!

Just one basic 'starter' query if I may before I move to the Forum body proper.

If I wish to upload the odd photo to the site, is it best to save in-camera to a particular size in advance or will the site software compress
the picture regardless of what JPEG size I saved it at? (Or even do I have to reduce the file size myself before submitting it?)

thanks in advance

Karlo

Seems like a great site. Have recently acquired my first DSLR - a KX (olive). Massive step up from digital compacts! Couldn't believe how thick the owner manual was. Starting on full auto mainly, before 'playing' with the various manual options. Love the 'low light' capability of this camera and hope to find a way to attach it to a basic Skywatcher Dobsonian telescope i've got to try my hand at some basic moonshots.

regards

Karlo