03-12-2013, 09:33 PM
Just a question: would any of you feel comfortable buying into a FF 35mm Pentax system? All I've read about the 35mm photography market indicates there are too many manufacturers out there. Canon and Nikon look pretty solid with extensive 35mm equipment to support amateur and pro alike. Sony is making some big moves and has the related technologies and cash to do so. Olympus has a nice 4/3 system. Sigma has a unique sensor system to market. Many of these are well-supported by independent lens makers who profit from those seeking less expensive lens options. Pentax has been through bankruptcy once and looks weak by comparison in the 35mm market after their purchase by THK--high costs, general quality concerns, limited system support, and narrowed distribution pathways.
With sensors and lenses in 35mm about to improve dramatically, I am not confident that many serious hobbiests will put out for medium format digital and the huge file sizes and costs there. And the casual user seems to be migrating to compact and ILC systems. The latter looks to squeeze profitability out of the 35mm format as 35mm has squeezed medium format.
Assuming backward compatibility with old Pentax lenses, there might be some older users who would consider migrating at the sacrifice of sufficient lens quality for high-pixel systems. Not assuming this, I am not sure who would sign on. Will the company be here in a recognizeable form in 5 years time? Will THK sell off the unit and its patents to a larger competitor for cash? Will the company outsource for critical technology, by (for example) using Sony digital sensors or contracted lens manufacturing, and thereby split its profits with competitors?
If I were looking to enter a 35mm system for the first time, I would probably choose Nikon or Canon and suspect that many of you feel the same way. So given what you know, what would Pentax have to do and say to get you to buy into their FF system, assuming you weren't invested heavily in something else? Or what would it take for you to recommend a 35mm FF Pentax to a friend or relative who was considering this versus products from the bigger manufacturers?
With sensors and lenses in 35mm about to improve dramatically, I am not confident that many serious hobbiests will put out for medium format digital and the huge file sizes and costs there. And the casual user seems to be migrating to compact and ILC systems. The latter looks to squeeze profitability out of the 35mm format as 35mm has squeezed medium format.
Assuming backward compatibility with old Pentax lenses, there might be some older users who would consider migrating at the sacrifice of sufficient lens quality for high-pixel systems. Not assuming this, I am not sure who would sign on. Will the company be here in a recognizeable form in 5 years time? Will THK sell off the unit and its patents to a larger competitor for cash? Will the company outsource for critical technology, by (for example) using Sony digital sensors or contracted lens manufacturing, and thereby split its profits with competitors?
If I were looking to enter a 35mm system for the first time, I would probably choose Nikon or Canon and suspect that many of you feel the same way. So given what you know, what would Pentax have to do and say to get you to buy into their FF system, assuming you weren't invested heavily in something else? Or what would it take for you to recommend a 35mm FF Pentax to a friend or relative who was considering this versus products from the bigger manufacturers?