aniramca@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> On Mar 11, 12:14 pm, "Jeremy" <jer...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> "Dudley Hanks" <hanks.dud...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>>
>> news:nWCAj.74916$w57.63673@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>>> Back in the '60s, '70s and even into the '80s Pentax was right up
there
>>> with Canon and Nikon. But, today, it seems like the company doesn't
even
>>> get honourable mention in the brand wars. What happened?
>> They did what most of the other camera manufacturers did--they began
sucking
>> the build quality out of their bodies and lenses. At least Nikon
maintained
>> a high-end line for professionals. Pentax lost it whan they
discontinued
>> the LX without first creating a replacement model.
>>
>> When I compare the build quality of my "A" lenses to my SMC Takumars, I
just
>> shake my head in disbelief. The Spotmatic-F and the ES-II were the
high
>> water marks for Pentax. Once they migrated to the K Mount, things went
>> downhill. I have a P3n and a P30t which I use as my knockaround
cameras.
>> They are made in China, they are so light that they feel like they're
just
>> made of air, but they take good photos. Trouble is, they feel like
toys,
>> relative to my older Pentax gear.
>>
>> Many (most?) of today's photographers don't remember what was out there
in
>> the early 70s, and thus do not know what they are missing.
>>
>> I would argue that--for advanced amateurs especially--cameras and
lenses
>> need to provide some tactile gratification in addition to just
recording
>> images. If they feel like toys, the brand will be perceived as another
>> also-ran.
>>
>> Now, with Pentax mass-producing digital ameras in Vietnam, the problem
will
>> only become worse. Cameras are becoming commodities rather than
specialized
>> optical tools. Robotic assembly lines stamp them out as though they
were
>> cookie cutters.
>>
>> Remember when audiophiles spent thousands on top-notch turntables and
>> cartridges, in order to get that high end sound? Now a cheap CD
Walkman can
>> outperform many of those old analog setups--and audiophile sound is
>> available to Everyman, at low prices. I suspect that consumer/advanced
>> amateur gear is headed in the same direction. Cheap, disposable &
plastic .
>> . .
>
> Did Pentax almost go under last year? If I am not mistaken, Hoya (the
> makers of filter lens) planned to buy Pentax in 2006/2007. But I heard
> that the deal did not fall through. Can someone confirm?
Hoya bought Pentax.
>
> I saw an early development for a 6x4.5 format for digital Pentax
> camera a few years ago (was it in Photokina?), but I don't know if
> that was going anywhere either.
>
AFAIK, they were almost ready to bring it to market. Had gone so far as
to give a tentative "date" of spring 2007.
Then Hoya bought Pentax.
The 645D "on hold"/cancellation announcement followed rapidly on the
Hoya takeover.
It's still not clear if the project is completely dead, or just on an
extended hiatus. I lean toward the former, and hope for the latter.
> However, when I look around on opinions on the camera websites, people
> who own/buy a Pentax digital cameras appear to like their camera.
> Either the popular 2 leading camera makers are too over-rated, or
> Pentax enthusiasts do not want to tell anybody that they have problems
> with their cameras.
>
Pentax gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
The K10D matches up pretty good against the Nikon D200 ... doesn't have
quite the continuous shooting speed & buffer size, but does give you
image stabilization in the camera so you can (mostly) use your existing
Pentax lenses.
Pentax doesn't get a lot of second level sup****t. Tamron, Tokina, &
Sigma make some good lenses for Nikon & Canon - even for Sony and
Olympus, that just aren't available in Pentax mount.
Pentax doesn't really have a "PRO"-level DSLR, but you can do just about
anything Nikon's non-"PRO" cameras will let you do. And Pentax's
currently available selection of lenses leaves a lot to be desired (in
my opinion - YMMV).
Can't speak about Canon, since the canonista's attitude turned me off &
I haven't looked at anything since the A1. And I ain't goin' to, so save
your breath.
I currently *USE* the following Pentax cameras - K1000, LX, PZ1P,
*ist-D, K10D.
> In the old days, I still remember the famous Asahi Pentax Spotmatix
> SLR, as well as the Pentax 6x7 camera. I hope that the company is
> making a come back with their K10D, and K20D models.
>
The K10D is an excellent camera. The K20D looks to be a significant
improvement on an already great camera.
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