Hmmm.. Pentax had a consumer base for the *ist D. People like us who already have many Pentax SLR lenses. The D upgrade will not have too many buyers. This is a plausible reason for the "consumer" DSLR's that followed. The next digital "upgrade" is more likely a 645D - appealing to many 645 users. There are not too many 645's for sale at the moment - not compared to Mamiya- I guess some 645 users are waiting for the 645D ?? There are loads of Mamiya 645 for sale at ebay at the moment. Mamiya already announced their 22 Mp 645D (Mamiya ZD) more than a year ago. In the 645D market Pentax have been much too slow also. Would you expect Pentax to release a 645D AND a *ist D2 simultaneously? I doubt it. Regards
Jens Bladt http://www.jensbladt.dk -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- Fra: Christian [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 3. februar 2006 15:58 Til: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Emne: Re: OT: NYT article on Digital Cameras (PMA) Tom C wrote: > > Pentax was also slow out the gate, but not as slow. Now though, they > are slow in introducing an upgrade path to the *ist D. This can't be > gaining them customers. Pentax is not trying to "keep" customers with an "upgrade" path. They seem more inclined to gain new entry level customers instead. Nothing wrong with that if they can get their name (or Samsung's name) out there as a competitor for good, compact, DSLRs suitable for your typical entry-level enthusiast (see also: P&S user wanting less shutter lag to take pictures of his/her kid playing sport or average person contemplating EVF type P&S). However, once they gain these new DSLR users, they will have to come up with some way to keep them wanting more. some of these entry-level photogs will want more feature rich, (yes higher MP; even if it is a numbers game) DSLR as their experience grows. This is what I'm interested in seeing. How/what is Pentax going to do? It almost seems that the original *ist D was thrown out there to shut us up. After all it was the feature-equivalent competitor of the then advanced amateur level camera like the D100 and 10D. Problem is they haven't given us a D200 or 20D competitor (granted the D200 was a late successor to the D100). -- Christian http://photography.skofteland.net
