Official pentax price lowering.
[www.steves-digicams.com]


Lowest legit online place I could find $512 shipped.
[www.prestigecamera.com]

Here are other bizrate places [www.bizrate.com]

It's a great camera for those that have outgrown their PS cameras. Pentax has a pretty extensive line of lenses available as well as 3rd party lens makers. Looks like they are going to sacrifice profits for market share. A good move at this point with Nikon, Canon and Olympus making strong pushes in the entry level market.

---

-------------------------------------------------------

Join team 38910 folding! [folding.stanford.edu] multi cpu-[calxalot.homeip.net]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2006 03:27PM by pRON aHOLIC.

I am really, really tempted. Curse you, Pronnie.

Zowie pRON...that is really amazing considering that I paid $745 for my *ist DS w/18-55mm lens in 2/2005. I will tell all you nice people reading this thread that you cannot beat this camera, point by point, feature by feature, at any price point up to $650. I have never been happier with a camera purchase than with this one.

Ergonomically this Pentax has no peer at any price, IMO. It's just the right size for a full-featured DSLR camera. It goes without saying that Pentax invented the SLR camera; and I've owned Pentax film cameras since the 1970's, never being disappointed with quality or performance. Of course the *ist DS2 has a bigger LCD screen and a couple of other features that makes it worth considering also, but for just more than $500 shipped, from a reputable online merchant, you just cannot go wrong with the *ist DS.

Read the reviews at DPReview.com on this camera if you're sitting on the fence. Virtually every person who rated the camera there had nothing but good things to write about it.

______________

---

What's the difference between reality and fiction? Fiction has to make some sense.

The *ist series ergonomics are outstanding yet it is compact.

Pentax does a very poor job of marketing the virtues of this camera. It should be selling just as well as the Nikon D50, Canon Rebel XT.

The big gap I see though is that they don't have an upgrade path for those who progress and become serious, semi-pro and pro.

The Pentax dSLR appeal to me much more than the Olympus line due to the vast amount of lenses plus 3rd party lenses.

---

-------------------------------------------------------

Join team 38910 folding! [folding.stanford.edu] multi cpu-[calxalot.homeip.net]

Rex, the DS2 is still going for about$750 (still a very good value). The lowered price applies to the DL which is still a pretty swell camera but minus some features.

I agree with pRON about Pentax's lack of marketing prowess. It's frustrating as a Pentax owner! It's a lot like being a Mac user in the 1990s. If only Pentax had hired a famous tennis star back in the 80s....

There's been much speculation as to Pentax's path. That's all one can do! Pentax isn't talking except they said they'd be releasing several DSLRs this year. The release of several fine new lenses like the DA 12-24mm indicate that Pentax is serious about providing first-rate glass for the APS-C size sensor and will not be moving to full-frame which is OK with me.

The DS2 will accomodate photographers up to the 'serious' level easily. For the semi-pro Pentax needs a replacement for the istD which is well-loved by it's users. There's been a lot of talk of a 10 megapixel body with image-stabilization built in. Pentax recently relased it's first camera, a compact, with IS. This would satisfy the semi-pros very nicely.

I remain hopeful (if not 100% confident) that Pentax will get it right.

---

[picasaweb.google.com] [www.flickr.com]

ssshhhttt, please do not share the secret, I still have to buy a few cheap lenses on eBay, then you can tell everyone how great pentax is.

The marketing for Canon has not been about Andre Agassi for a long time.

Canon's marketing is not only coming out with a product the public likes but to have it first.

They were the first to have a sub $2k dSLR with the D60, first to have a $999 dSLR with the Digital Rebel. The first entry level to 8mp, without a doubt the numbers sell. WIth PMA coming up I would bet that Canon will have a $500 answer. Nikon and Olympus will lower their entry level cameras. Sony is the wild card.

They blitz TV, magazines, newspapers and offer a product cycle that is always fresh for the holidays.

I am not advocating marketing and speed over substance. A company like Pentax, Olympus and K-Minolta had marketing and product cycles that did excite the consuming public the way Canon has. It is a dog eat dog fight for market share and Pentax is taking the first step into getting back into the game.

$500 is the next magic number we will see all the manufacturers aim for. This may be the last year of any chance to gain market share as people outgrow their PS cameras.

---

-------------------------------------------------------

Join team 38910 folding! [folding.stanford.edu] multi cpu-[calxalot.homeip.net]

I was being a bit facetious with the tennis star remark and I'm aware it's not as simple as that. My point is that Canon had the presence of mind long ago to put its name in front of consumers in a big way. I don't recall any tv commercials for Pentax (or Nikon or Oly or Minolta) film cameras back in the day. Having good products alone is not enough.

---

[picasaweb.google.com] [www.flickr.com]

Don Kiyoti Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The DS2 will accomodate photographers up to the
> 'serious' level easily. For the semi-pro Pentax
> needs a replacement for the istD which is
> well-loved by it's users. There's been a lot of
> talk of a 10 megapixel body with
> image-stabilization built in. Pentax recently
> relased it's first camera, a compact, with IS.
> This would satisfy the semi-pros very nicely.

Correction: the Olympus E-300 was the first entry level 8mp dSLR. The Rebel XT came out soon there after.

Don, correct me of I am wrong but I cannot seem to find this info. The two things I see as lacking are the DS2 is lack of vertical grip/shutter and 3fps shooting. Something the 20D and XT have.

Another aspect is the frame rate. The 20D 5fps is not needed by all but does appeal to people shooting action or sports.

Pentax has made pro level bodies in the past. I am not sure why they are waiting now.

---

-------------------------------------------------------

Join team 38910 folding! [folding.stanford.edu] multi cpu-[calxalot.homeip.net]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2006 12:38AM by pRON aHOLIC.

pRON aHOLIC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don, correct me of I am wrong but I cannot seem to
> find this info. The two things I see as lacking
> doe the DS2 is lack of vertical grip/shutter.
> Something the 20D and XT have.

I'm not sure which info you're referring to. The new Pentax with IS is the compact Optio A10. Since this camera has come out there's been much expectaition that IS will be built in to whatever new bodies Pentax introduces.

You are correct that there is no Pentax vertical grip for the DS2. There is a Korean outfit called DICAIN that makes one but it's practically unavailable in the US. I personally have not missed this item, but I can easily see that Pentax is foolish for not making it available especially since they make one for the D.
>
> Another aspect is the frame rate. The 20D 5fps is
> not needed by all but does appeal to people
> shooting action or sports.

True. I'm one of the people who hasn't needed this, but Pentax does need to boost this on the D replacement.
>
> Pentax has made pro level bodies in the past. I am
> not sure why they are waiting now.

You and many, many others! Although I wonder if Pentax would be able to crack the pro DSLR market, being a latecomer to it. They've announced an 18.6 megapixel camera based on the 645 medium-format hardware which is where Pentax has had the most success with pro photographers. But again, who knows when it'll be released.

---

[picasaweb.google.com] [www.flickr.com]

I think the first thing they can do is change the name, *ist D and all the variants are not exactly memorable names.

Unless you do research you do not immediately know the difference between the DS2 and the DL.

---

-------------------------------------------------------

Join team 38910 folding! [folding.stanford.edu] multi cpu-[calxalot.homeip.net]

How do you pronounce *ist DL?

DeLuxe?

---

A man who is of "sound mind" is one who keeps the inner madman under lock and key.
(Paul Valery)

Go To Top Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How do you pronounce *ist DL?
>
> DeLuxe?
>
> "Ride the horse in the direction he's going"


I am not sure, it might be Klingon.

---

-------------------------------------------------------

Join team 38910 folding! [folding.stanford.edu] multi cpu-[calxalot.homeip.net]

pRON aHOLIC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think the first thing they can do is change the
> name, *ist D and all the variants are not exactly
> memorable names.

No kidding! It is a goofy name. The *ist started as a film camera, so the D came out and presumably D = Digital. I'll speak to Ned Bunnell about that right away! He's Pentax's director of marketing but I don't know how long he's held that position. At least, his name is use in recent press releases.
>
> Unless you do research you do not immediately know
> the difference between the DS2 and the DL.

This is true, but to be fair, there are some other pretty tortured camera naming systems out there: EOS-1D Mark II N anyone?

As to how to pronounce it, everyone I know just says D, DS, DL, etc. I did walk in to the local Ritz and the had a D on the shelf, surprisingly. The saleswoman called it an ist, as in scientist.

---

[picasaweb.google.com] [www.flickr.com]

Don Kiyoti Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pRON aHOLIC Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----

> > Unless you do research you do not immediately
> know
> > the difference between the DS2 and the DL.
>
> This is true, but to be fair, there are some other
> pretty tortured camera naming systems out there:
> EOS-1D Mark II N anyone?
>
> As to how to pronounce it, everyone I know just
> says D, DS, DL, etc. I did walk in to the local
> Ritz and the had a D on the shelf, surprisingly.
> The saleswoman called it an ist, as in scientist.


The Canon 1D naming system is pretty darn bad but when people are spending $4-8k on a camera they are going to know what the model numbers are.

Pentax's double whammy is the *ist and then the lettering. From a purely consumer standpoint I could see this as getting confusing. Many don't want to spend a lot of time researching where as the 1D users pretty much knows why and what to spend $4k on.

The key here is that I don't think Canon has a marketing issue right now seeing as they have 60% of the dSLR market.

Another thing I think is great for consumers that Pentax does is actually include a depth of field scale on the lenses. Others have moved away from this but I think it cheats photographers learning. I rarely use it myself on the L Canon lenses I have but it comes in handy sometime.

---

-------------------------------------------------------

Join team 38910 folding! [folding.stanford.edu] multi cpu-[calxalot.homeip.net]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2006 12:05PM by pRON aHOLIC.

don k & pron-

as a longtime pentax user i would LOVE if pentax managed to introduce image stabilization into the body of a soon to be announced dslr.

i was willing to leave the pentax line when i recently bought the minolta 5d. but i returned the 5d when km decided to leave the fotog biz.

i wonder if pentax would think similiar thoughts

except w/o their camera business, they have nothing

(unlike km who have a fairly successful worldwide business machine division)

boy, i would purchase a decent pentax dslr w/image stabilization in a heartbeat!

penatx...u listening?

be well

rob

Actually Rob, Pentax is fairly well diversified. Not to the same extent as Canon in regards to consumer products such as printers & scanners & such, but certainly not just cameras.

[www.pentaxtech.com]
[www.pentaxmedical.com]

The idea behind the partnership with Samsung is to allow Pentax to be more competetive in the camera market (more capital for marketing & development). Pentax's specialty is optics and Samsung's is electronics. Most folks think this partnership will allow Pentax to end its dependence on Sony for sensors, for example.

---

[picasaweb.google.com] [www.flickr.com]

Dependance on Sony has to end now that KM is Sony.

Nikon is in the same boat.

It has yet to be seen that Samsung can produce chips of good enough quality for a dslr

---

-------------------------------------------------------

Join team 38910 folding! [folding.stanford.edu] multi cpu-[calxalot.homeip.net]