ken hubert Loc: Missouri

Why is there little discussion about Pentax cameras? Does nobody buy them anymore or are they out of business?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

They are still out there, but Ricoh has made them a third priority recently and reviving the brand is proving difficult. The upcoming full frame camera release should provide a boost, but they still have to establish a reliable warranty network to make it succeed.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

There is no discussion, because there don't need to be any discussion about Pentax cameras! Everybody knows they're great (probably giving you the most bang for your buck), and then some! They are not out of business, they are thriving. By the end of this year, we should see the introduction of their full frame model (should be exiting), as Pentax is always introducing new or much desired features for a lot less than the competition (look at the MF 645Z as one example)!

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

My cousin brought her new Pentax to the Family reunion. It was the first Pentax, DSLR, that I had ever seen! I wished I had a Pentax dealer, near by.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Marketing - Market Share. Canon & Nikon dominate Sony, Olympus, Pentax, everybody. But most of the innovation is not coming from Nikon or Canon so things could changed.

Hoya kind of dropped the ball on Pentax after Asahi bailed. Ricoh is pushing on and upward.

You must not be looking closely though the topics on the UHH. Even in non-Pentax titled posts sometime people are talking about adapting vintage Pentax Takumar lenses for mirrorless camera use and for current Pentax DSLRs.

I've been using and talking about Pentax since 1979.

bobmartin

I've been a Pentaxian since my first SLR (an ME Super) way back in the early 80's.. No intention of changing now. It's just a great pity that many of the Asian third party add-ons don't seem to recognize that there are DSLR's on the market other than Nikon and Canon...

Photocraig

I loved my ME, and indestructible K-1000 too. But it was the lack of 3rd party accessories and glass that let me to a Nikon FM2 and then to a Canon EOS 10s. I've stayed with Canon ever since.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

After 7 years with a Pentax K20d I recently changed brands to a Nikon 7200. This was simply a decision based on revues about image quality.
The Nikon SOOC images are just superb but compared to Pentax the menus a mess and build quality of my Pentax was much better. A Pentax is basically indestructible. Mine was dropped on concrete floors twice and totally immersed in the sea and still worked. It spent its life rolling around in the boot of a car or strapped to motorbike without any cover.
Im happy with my Nikon and have no regrets about buying it but feel the need to make sure its well protected in a case when traveling and am pretty sure it would need more than a quick wipe with a tee shirt if I dunked it in the South China Sea.

drharveys Loc: Holly Springs, NC

I have used Pentax cameras since film days. Took a break for a number of years and back since 2010. Most folks use Canon and Nikon and may not be aware of the Pentax DSLR lineup which are feature packed and reasonably priced. Full frame has been announced as well. All Pentax lenses including legacy manual lenses will work in all Pentax modern DSLRs. That means lots of great old glass is available- ebay, estate sales and in the Marketplace at pentaxforums.com. I cannot due justice to the scopeof the forum- reviews,great photos,articles, etc.

JimL Loc: Maine

I've used Pentax from the 70s and still do from film too the new K3 and still use them all and made my living in the 80s with the LX to the 6X7 I know that they are not Canon or Nikon but work well for me

nitrophil Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Fear not, Ken. I have been a Pentax user forever! I still have 5, and use 2 DSLR's now. There are still many, many folks out there loyal to the brand.

tomw

Amen.

I was at a photo workshop last weekend with my K3 in a group otherwise consisting mostly of Nikons and Canons (some mirrorless), some of them full frame. In projections of images taken same time, same place, same subject, it more than held its own for sharpness and low noise even at high ISO settings.

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Thanks for posting this question. I'm a dedicated Pentax user with considerable experience with Pentax DSLRs and lenses. I've posted very many images on UHH and sent in many comments about this issue. I'm convinced that Pentax DSLRs are every bit AS GOOD and can even be considered BETTER than their Nikon and/or Canon price category equivalents. I've read many user and technical reviews on web sites (including Amazon) giving the edge to Pentax DSLRs over the mass-market Nikons and Canons. Pentax cameras have also received very high T.I.P.A. and J.FD. Powers ratings (even 1st place designations). When other members of my camera club see some of my images, they ask what post-processing software do I use, but I don't use products like Photoshop, Lightroom, Nix, etc. - and that's testimony to how good the images come out!! If Ricoh could market the Pentax products just half as well as Canon or Nikon markets their, Pentax would be a top seller. Very often I see on UHH postings from members asking, "Which camera should I buy," and then read their blurb about their trying to decide between a DSLR or P&S Canon or Nikon. Once in a while, I see someone mention a Sony, Fuji, or Panasonic model. Rarely, do I see a Pentax model mentioned in the mix. The Pentax community on UHH is small but 100% dedicated to their equipment. I think Pentax users need to step up when the opportunity occurs -- such as responding to camera purchase advice, pointing to technical camera reviews and ratings, and discussing lens usage.

LEGALDR Loc: Southern California

I wanted more features for my buck. I did the research and bought a Pentax K-r. I followed up with some reasonably priced lenses and the results are as good if not better than my Canon output. I will get a k-3 before the year is over.

ken hubert Loc: Missouri

Lol. I'm convinced.