The grass may seem greener but you'd want to look closely.
Regarding Pentax's most recent camera, the K-x; it was first released with a fairly wide-spread incompatibility to some AA battery types (promptly fixed with a firmware update). Then there is the Shake Reduction system which not only under-performs rival systems from Olympus and Sony, but it also ADDS blur in situations when it's not otherwise needed. There is also the loud and unsophisticated shutter mechanism which can vibrate the floating sensor plate when using at moderate shutter speeds; the "mirror slap" problem some users complain of. Finally, Pentax marketing thought it would be innovative marketing to leave out the focus-point indicators on the K-x viewfinder just as they did on the K-m. Yes, very hip and trendy that is. Like a Japanese automobile without windshield wipers - brilliant! Except that it isn't at all. And let's not forget that the K-x "DA-L" kit lenses are special, cheaper versions of the similar "DA" retail lenses. Not horrible really but be aware of:
- lens hoods are not included
- lens mount is plastic instead of metal as on the regular lenses
- "Quick-Shift" AF clutch not present (particularly an issue with a 55-300mm lens)
- plastic "Pentax SMC" badges are replaced with foil stickers
- No distance scales printed on the lens barrels
Four years ago when Pentax's body and lens prices were below those of the competition, one could try to look past the QC issues. More recently Pentax has tried to move their brand-image more upscale with newly designed premium DA* lenses with SDM-drive. Except electrical and mechanical failures of those newer lenses is all-too common and "SDM" is now an inside joke for "Suddenly Doesn't Move". Pentax's short one-year warranty in the USA also doesn't inspire confidence. Pentax users eventually find that their "premium" lenses contain cheap micro-motors instead of sophisticated ring-type motors like the high-end lenses from Canon, Nikon and Olympus. Moreover, Pentax SDM drive isn't any faster than their traditional screw-drive (though SDM is quieter) and the camera firmware doesn't allow reverting to screw-drive when the SDM drive fails - something Pentax users have been crying out for in on-line forums and petitions.
For warranty service, to save money Pentax USA has outsourced repairs to CRIScam.com in Arizona. User reviews of CRIScam are hardly glowing and in the UK the situation is similar. What, one wonders, is Pentax doing? Struggling to play in the big league without adequate resources it seems. I'm all for supporting the underdog and maintaining competition in the marketplace but even an underdog has to be honest and deliver value-for-money first and I'm not sure Pentax is still doing that.
Parent Hoya is demanding that Pentax Imaging generate a profit or else - witness the 30% increase in lens prices over the past 18-months. Hoya is a business, not a charity obviously, and if profitable Pentax Optics is better off without lack-luster camera products to loose money and damage the Pentax brand...well, so be it then.
Olympus - the fourth-largest camera manufacturer in the world - says that they need to get back to net 10% profitability within five years at the latest in order for selling cameras to remain a sound business strategy (Reuters quoting Olympus President Tsuyoshi Kikukawa on March 4, 2010). Maybe, just maybe, with Micro Four Thirds, Olympus can do that. What will smaller Pentax do to be profitable for Hoya - double their lens prices and make their warranties shorter? Will they broaden investment in their Vietnamese assembly plants in an effort to get "Quality Control" back under control? Will $10,000 medium-format cameras in low volume elevate their brand cache enough to allow greater profits (higher prices) on consumer cameras & lenses?
I'm asking myself if it's likely that, over the next few years, Pentax's technology, quality and innovation will grow closer to that of their larger competitors - or fall further behind. Your guess is as good as mine but anyone buying into Pentax this late in the the game should do so fully aware of what's happened with the company recently.
I just recently bought a K-7 - primarily for it's small size, weather sealing, and various features. I have few illusions though about the strength and viability of the system I've bought into.
The older K10 and 20 were not bad cameras, I own both, buying them after I sold my Canon 20D and 5D.I had walked into the local camera store to actually check out the then new 40D, but ended up liking the K20D much better for various reasons.Whats ticking me off is the resale on the Pentax stuff.I'm trying to sell the K10D and grip which is basically still brand new and unused, and I can't even meet my reserve price of 400.00, and thats with a bunch of accessories like a magnifying eyepiece, katzeye screen, extra battery.In contrast I looked at recent closing prices for Canon 30D's, and they are closing at over a hundred more well used!.So I'm not real thrilled with them right now, though I do like the glass I've collected, and bought a couple Rayqual adapters to use them on my new 550D
