So frustrating being a Pentax owner...

[yappiez]

Just some ramblings of mine.. no offence anyone..

Being a new Pentax user, I am having difficulties getting the lens I want.. seems like no one has stock... (Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM)

(been checking with the shops listed in the Price guides..)

So far, I am very happy with what my Pentax camera can do for me but the lack of lens/ stock/ accessories is really disappointing.

I used to have a exotic bike. (italian superbike) and I can understand the lack of support in this country when it comes to parts and stuff... but hell, I am now in the same situation but the product nor brand is not even close to 'exotic' status or is it?!?

Damn.. this might be the first and last Pentax I ever own....

 

[felixcat8888]

Just some ramblings of mine.. no offence anyone..

Being a new Pentax user, I am having difficulties getting the lens I want.. seems like no one has stock... (Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM)

(been checking with the shops listed in the Price guides..)

So far, I am very happy with what my Pentax camera can do for me but the lack of lens/ stock/ accessories is really disappointing.

I used to have a exotic bike. (italian superbike) and I can understand the lack of support in this country when it comes to parts and stuff... but hell, I am now in the same situation but the product nor brand is not even close to 'exotic' status or is it?!?

Damn.. this might be the first and last Pentax I ever own....

Pentax like your Italian bike, is "exotic", as not many have heard of the brand, especially the younger generation who have been fed on Canikons since they were young.

Pentax used to rule the film SLR days when even the pros used them, but their not going into the DSLR market together with the likes of Canikons certainly slowed them down but they were not knocked out of the market.

At least I could still find a great film camera in 2008 which was Pentax's last Pro grade film SLR.

Nowadays, most 3rd party brands do not stock up for Pentax because we are a small market to them. The money can be easily made from the Canikon group as more people know them.

Maybe you should call up the distributor of Sigma instead to enquire about the lack of Pentax K mount lenses from them. They are the better people to answer our queries on why there is a lack of lenses/accessories for our great exotic brand (Funny it's also Japanese in origin like the Canikons).

Or better still, buy only Pentax branded lenses like most of us here and you will not have the "cannot find lenses/accessories" for Pentax queries.

most here are able to find lenses from the 1970s to the 1990s and we can still use them on our DSLRs unlike the Canikons who need adapters to use their old great lenses from their past. The lenses from the 1950s to the 1960s do need an adapter to change from screw mount to the K mount that we currently use.

Come out with us on the next December outings so that you can see the various arsenal of Pentax and 3rd party lenses that we can use from way back on the past.

 

[yappiez]

Pardon my ignorance on the Pentax brand. I too am in the generation where Canikon awareness is higher than most brands. I would loved to shock/ impress friends (non pros) with nice photos taken with a basic Pentax. Its like kicking them in the nuts when I know they own more expensive and newer Canikon models! hahahaa.. But alas.. I need lens to begin with....
I guess most Pentaxians also have this character attribute? hahahaa

I dont see the point calling Sigma up to question their business strategies.. this is only a hobby to me and my opinion probably doesn't matter to them anyway.

I guess I have to make do with whatever available in the market. Or change camp entirely.

Having said that, it is advisable to buy lens from overseas (new). I am worried about damage during transit/ warranty issues..
Any tried and tested method for this route?

 

[detritus]

Just some ramblings of mine.. no offence anyone..

Being a new Pentax user, I am having difficulties getting the lens I want.. seems like no one has stock... (Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM)

(been checking with the shops listed in the Price guides..)

So far, I am very happy with what my Pentax camera can do for me but the lack of lens/ stock/ accessories is really disappointing.

I used to have a exotic bike. (italian superbike) and I can understand the lack of support in this country when it comes to parts and stuff... but hell, I am now in the same situation but the product nor brand is not even close to 'exotic' status or is it?!?

Damn.. this might be the first and last Pentax I ever own....

have u tried asking the shop to bring it in for you? they will do it for you if u are genuinely interested.

frankly, i have the opposite experience... there are so many things i can buy but i got not enough $$$ to buy them :sweat:

anyway, since u're waiting, u might as well wait for the new 18-135 WR and skip the 18-250.

 

[detritus]

Pardon my ignorance on the Pentax brand. I too am in the generation where Canikon awareness is higher than most brands. I would loved to shock/ impress friends (non pros) with nice photos taken with a basic Pentax. Its like kicking them in the nuts when I know they own more expensive and newer Canikon models! hahahaa.. But alas.. I need lens to begin with....
I guess most Pentaxians also have this character attribute? hahahaa

nope. i just wanna take nice pictures. what other pple think is utterly irrelevant.

every brand / model got its pros and cons. its not a pissing contest.

and u'll be surprised that its neither the lens, nor the camera that takes nice pictures... its the person holding the camera.

 

[yappiez]

I also thought of 18-135 WR.. maybe i'll just wait it out like you suggest.

everyone wants to take nice photos, who doesn't... after all its the pic. that do all the talking...
sometimes we dont have to kick their nuts.. they will do it themselves and that hurts even more....

Priceless..... hahaa.

 

[surge]

during the maunal focus era, pentax is the king w the pentax LX. during the af era, the flagship pentax Z-1 was a great camera with great ergomonics.

sadly, the whole pentax reputation went dead becos they had a terrible agent who simply dont care about the pentax line as they were busy whole dealing w other better recieved brands.

remember i wanted a flash cable, called them and they say dunno when coming in and dont even bother to help me order.

now, business being business, it just make more sense to stock n or c since that is the 'crowd'.

i have had the same frustration before too...

 

[otc]

Just buy from overseas, and ship in. Just a click of a button. Pentax holds a fraction of the market share compares to canikon.

Not all pentax users buys locally too.

marcus

 

[detritus]

Just buy from overseas, and ship in. Just a click of a button. Pentax holds a fraction of the market share compares to canikon.

Not all pentax users buys locally too.

marcus

ha... and THAT is the reason why i spent too much... ;p

 

[Ahren]

nope. i just wanna take nice pictures. what other pple think is utterly irrelevant.

every brand / model got its pros and cons. its not a pissing contest.

and u'll be surprised that its neither the lens, nor the camera that takes nice pictures... its the person holding the camera.

Good point by Deritus...just enjoy your hobby. No need to worry about impressing your frens.

Anyway..join the Pentax outing and you get to touch and feel many lens. Furthermore FengWei has the 18-135mm now.

 

[ricsal]

Good point by Deritus...just enjoy your hobby. No need to worry about impressing your frens.

Anyway..join the Pentax outing and you get to touch and feel many lens. Furthermore FengWei has the 18-135mm now.

Hah! another review by FW is coming up. :thumbsup:

 

[detritus]

Good point by Deritus...just enjoy your hobby. No need to worry about impressing your frens.

Anyway..join the Pentax outing and you get to touch and feel many lens. Furthermore FengWei has the 18-135mm now.

haha... touch and feel no point... make yourself more itchy only.

i'm no longer buying zoom lenses so the 18-135 has no appeal to me... i'm well covered from 16mm to 300mm already... even had to off-load less frequently used stuff some weeks ago.

as i shoot bugs most of the time, i'm more interested in macro prime lenses. i still need 3 more to complete my collection

 

[oceanpriest]

haha... touch and feel no point... make yourself more itchy only.

i'm no longer buying zoom lenses so the 18-135 has no appeal to me... i'm well covered from 16mm to 300mm already... even had to off-load less frequently used stuff some weeks ago.

as i shoot bugs most of the time, i'm more interested in macro prime lenses. i still need 3 more to complete my collection

3 more? I bet one of them is bokina 90mm

 

[detritus]

3 more? I bet one of them is bokina 90mm

nope. not interested in that one

in order of rarity:

DFA100WR, VLT125, A*200F4

the 4th one is already my current favourite: VIV105 :lovegrin:

 

[Gengh]

Having said that, it is advisable to buy lens from overseas (new). I am worried about damage during transit/ warranty issues..
Any tried and tested method for this route?

Not done it before while I was in SG, but now that I'm in the US, I've been buying things online quite a bit, and I must say most sellers (pick the big, reputable ones if you're worried) pack their goods very well. Chance of transit damage should be very low. Warranty-wise, I believe there're some here who have bought stuff online and written emails to Pentax USA to have their warranty extended to cover servicing in SG. Found the old thread: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=358867. The other thing you need to be ready for is to pay GST when the goods arrive.

If you prefer to deal face to face, I know some shops are willing to place orders for you, can't remember which ones though...

 

[rocaway]

And apart from ordering online, we can also leverage on the old lenses capability that we have. Its something that the other brand users are unlikely to experience. What's more, its alot easier on the wallet that way

 

[pinholecam]

There is certainly no need to be frustrated. AFAIK, some of the shops can bring it in for you on order. Try MSColor and Orient Photo.
There is even less need to get frustrated over a 18-250. There are many good options out there compared to this lens. The 18-135 is a good example, so are the kit 18-55 and 55-200, 55-300mm lenses. Others better options are the 17-70 (either Sigma or Pentax). Even the venerable Tamron 28-75/2.8 is far better.

There is the option to buy online. It is cheaper online. Even if the infamous FF/BB issues from Sigma rears its ugly head, it is usually still cheaper after paying for the servicing at the local service center.

If you use an exotic bike, then you should use exotic stuff
Pentax FA, DA primes for you

 

[JacePhoto]

i know a friend who gets a Pentax because its so hard on everything. The challenge is to get hold of something. In fact, he owns the top Canon gears but find them 'no kick' because everything is easy to come by....

perhaps this will raise yr spirit... hohoho....

 

[yappiez]

Ask ur friend to draw instead of taking photos... that is even harder still.......

 

[night86mare]

Just some ramblings of mine.. no offence anyone..

Being a new Pentax user, I am having difficulties getting the lens I want.. seems like no one has stock... (Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM)

(been checking with the shops listed in the Price guides..)

So far, I am very happy with what my Pentax camera can do for me but the lack of lens/ stock/ accessories is really disappointing.

I used to have a exotic bike. (italian superbike) and I can understand the lack of support in this country when it comes to parts and stuff... but hell, I am now in the same situation but the product nor brand is not even close to 'exotic' status or is it?!?

Damn.. this might be the first and last Pentax I ever own....

you have to have patience lor.

that's how it is in singapore, you use a less popular brand, you get this problem.