Pentax disappearing? I have tried to buy a new or lightly used Pentax K3-II camera, but all local (with 150 miles) sources have disappeared. My local Canon dealer looked around for me...

mickley Loc: Schenectady NY

I have tried to buy a new or lightly used Pentax K3-II camera, but all local (with 150 miles) sources have disappeared. My local Canon dealer looked around for me, but could find no source of supply. Best Buy, which until a week ago carried Pentax, now no longer lists the company's products. What the heck is going on with Pentax?

TopCatOnyx Loc: Midand,TX

B & H Photo has them in stock. So does Adorama.

mickley Loc: Schenectady NY

TopCatOnyx wrote:

B & H Photo has them in stock. So does Adorama.

Already ruled that out. I thought maybe BestBuy would be a good second choice, but as I said, the Pentaxes have disappeared.

NYC is outside my local driving range. I can slog with a 100 mile range, but going to NYC and putting up with stashing a car... ugh. I am what downstaters refer to as an appleknocker.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

mickley wrote:

I have tried to buy a new or lightly used Pentax K3-II camera, but all local (with 150 miles) sources have disappeared. My local Canon dealer looked around for me, but could find no source of supply. Best Buy, which until a week ago carried Pentax, now no longer lists the company's products. What the heck is going on with Pentax?

This phenomenon is of great concern to "Pentaxians". The simple answer is that most stores, and perhaps most distributors, are simplifying their inventories, carrying just a few brands. I don't know about your area, but lots of brands are missing from seemingly all stores in my area - I can buy Canon or Nikon at any store, but I don't know of any store that sells Pentax, Panasonic, Olympus, or even Sony cameras.

added: I recently bought a Pentax K-30 from KEH. "Mail order" was my only choice.

mickley Loc: Schenectady NY

rehess wrote:

This phenomenon is of great concern to "Penta... (show quote)

I hear you. Bummer. I knew that camera stores were disappearing, but to have their inventory shrink to just two or three brands is very disappointing. I have Canon EOSes also, and getting goodies for them has never been never a problem. But Pentax, which has some nice stuff, seems to be, especially lately, going the way of the dodo.

Jackdoor Loc: Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

mickley wrote:

I hear you. Bummer. I knew that camera stores were disappearing, but to have their inventory shrink to just two or three brands is very disappointing. I have Canon EOSes also, and getting goodies for them has never been never a problem. But Pentax, which has some nice stuff, seems to be, especially lately, going the way of the dodo.

All of us that ever bought mail order rather than at a local dealer just to save a few $/£s share the blame for this. But that's capitalism folks...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

mickley wrote:

I have tried to buy a new or lightly used Pentax K3-II camera, but all local (with 150 miles) sources have disappeared. My local Canon dealer looked around for me, but could find no source of supply. Best Buy, which until a week ago carried Pentax, now no longer lists the company's products. What the heck is going on with Pentax?

They just introduced a full frame camera, so I don't think they plan to disappear.

http://www.dpreview.com/opinion/4721880615/the-long-difficult-road-to-pentax-full-frame

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

mickley wrote:

Already ruled that out. I thought maybe BestBuy would be a good second choice, but as I said, the Pentaxes have disappeared.

NYC is outside my local driving range. I can slog with a 100 mile range, but going to NYC and putting up with stashing a car... ugh. I am what downstaters refer to as an appleknocker.

Whats wrong with B&H or Adorama or Cameta.? All are very reputable outfits. People here buy from them all the time. Maybe even give MT Shooter a shout at Camera Cottage and see if he has one.

Zone-System-Grandpa Loc: Springfield, Ohio

mickley wrote:

I have tried to buy a new or lightly used Pentax K3-II camera, but all local (with 150 miles) sources have disappeared. My local Canon dealer looked around for me, but could find no source of supply. Best Buy, which until a week ago carried Pentax, now no longer lists the company's products. What the heck is going on with Pentax?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pentax products are very nicely made, but unfortunately the company doesn't advertise as heavily as does Canon and Nikon whereby Pentax does not have the exposure nor the popularity as does Canon & Nikon; therefore, small business dealers cannot afford to stock Pentax products in their stores when most customers are Canon & Nikon minded.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

mickley wrote:

Already ruled that out. I thought maybe BestBuy would be a good second choice, but as I said, the Pentaxes have disappeared.

NYC is outside my local driving range. I can slog with a 100 mile range, but going to NYC and putting up with stashing a car... ugh. I am what downstaters refer to as an appleknocker.

Why would you rule out B&H and Adorama? I have bought from both and I wouldn't shop anywhere else. Service is knowledgeable and efficient and often goods are shipped on day of purchase. Anything over $50 ships free. I'm in Rhode Island and standard UPS for me is overnight. Nice.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

mickley wrote:

I have tried to buy a new or lightly used Pentax K3-II camera, but all local (with 150 miles) sources have disappeared. My local Canon dealer looked around for me, but could find no source of supply. Best Buy, which until a week ago carried Pentax, now no longer lists the company's products. What the heck is going on with Pentax?

B&H I believe has valet parking. At least last time I was there I saw that they had their own private parking.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

mickley wrote:

I have tried to buy a new or lightly used Pentax K3-II camera, but all local (with 150 miles) sources have disappeared. My local Canon dealer looked around for me, but could find no source of supply. Best Buy, which until a week ago carried Pentax, now no longer lists the company's products. What the heck is going on with Pentax?

the problem you are facing is one individual camera retailers face. it costs upwards of $100,000 to stock any brand and call yourself a dealer for that brand. the digital electronics companies will not provide product to any stand alone store for less than that amount.
therefore, all you are going to see is canon and nikon. which is too bad. pentax digital imaging devices are extremely well built and their kit lens is better built than any other brand. it is worth your time and trouble to seek them out.
good luck,
cody

BebuLamar

boberic wrote:

Whats wrong with B&H or Adorama or Cameta.? All are very reputable outfits. People here buy from them all the time. Maybe even give MT Shooter a shout at Camera Cottage and see if he has one.

Those online sellers (except if you live in NY) are great but don't you want to see the camera before you buy? For example if I want the new K-1 I wouldn't simply pre order it from B&H. I would need to examine it in person first. And if I do check the camera out in person at a local store it's only fair to buy it from them.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

BebuLamar wrote:

Those online sellers (except if you live in NY) are great but don't you want to see the camera before you buy? For example if I want the new K-1 I wouldn't simply pre order it from B&H. I would need to examine it in person first. And if I do check the camera out in person at a local store it's only fair to buy it from them.

All of my Pentax have been bought with me never touching them and so will the K-1 when it is bought most reputable places have a very good return policy but have never had to use it. Pentax has always been great at keeping controls and ergonomics close on each of their upgrades so each time I have upgraded it felt natural in my hands.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Few of us living outside very big cities have the option of "try before you buy." The dealers have been forced out of business by good (amateur) quality cellphone cameras and by online discounters.
However several of the larger on-line sellers are pretty good about accepting returns.