In looking, I did find this article. I don't know whether these are US or international numbers.
Hmm. It seems like if you look at five different articles, you see five different sets of numbers.
Most 2007 stats I've seen show Nikon beating Canon for 2007 with Pentax in third, around 8% IIRC.
Here is my personal speculation on what is to come for the Pentax mount. This is just my guess, so I could be way off.
Pentax is never going to try to challenge the big guys. They do not want to even try. They will continue to work their niche and probably move to a more mid to high range of offerings and not concentrate on the entry level. There is likely going to always be an entry level model in the lineup, but I see them pushing the higher end stuff and even have a pro model very soon.
Entry level is where Samsung steps in IMO. They are really gaining market strength worldwide (not really visible here in the US) and they are going to use that to gain in the DSLR market. I believe that they are going to take a different route from Pentax on the next generation changeover. They might share some models, but I expect to see at least one unique to Samsung and I expect it on the entry level. They will likely just continue re-badging the high end models for a couple generations. Pentax might not let them on the very top of the line though. Eventually they will be completely separate lineups with Samsung outselling Pentax big time. Eventually I see the Pentax mount being a strong third place with the chance of giving C&N a run for the money. I do not see Samsung taking over the lens side at all though. I believe that will completely remain with Pentax and third parties. The other possibility is that Samsung eventually buys Pentax.
Kevin
I doubt that we'll see Pentax buy Samsung. I do wonder if we'll see someone else use Samsung sensors in the same way that Nikon and Pentax and Fuji use Sony sensors. The K20D sensor is a real corker, with some amazing capabilities.
One rumor floating around is that Samsung may do a full-frame DSLR using the Pentax mount before Pentax does... I dunno, but I suppose it's possible. I don't think Pentax is going to skip entry-level - the K200D is specced slightly higher than most entry-levels and the strong rumor is that we'll see a cheaper K2000D come later this year, along with a K2D pro-level - probably basically a K20D with faster FPS and maybe a new AF system (though the K20D's, for the initial reports of it being "unchanged", is clearly superior to the K10D's by all accounts).
I do think that Pentax is not particularly interested in trying to become #1. Look at their marketing - they are going for the same market they always have - the advanced amateur. Their marketing speaks of their history and the K1000 and the desire to take photos rather than ponder technical details. I think that they want to make a camera for people who enjoy taking photos (not necessarily "have to" like a pro) and can appreciate the features. They do a good job of having the cameras "just work". They're very loyal to existing owners (for example, including old-fashioned screw-drive AF on new lenses that also do lens-motor focusing so old cameras can use them), and the entry-level cameras generally aren't handicapped by important features being removed. This photographer-centric attitude is also probably part of the reason why Pentax sells primarily in
camera stores, not places like Office Max or Wal-Mart or
Best Buy.
I can relate to the comment about seeing Pentax cameras 'in the wild'. Last few times at DW I have seen dozens of yellow Nikon straps- the red pentax straps really stand out from a mile away and I have seen exactly two of them ever. Maybe Pentax folks just appreciate a better more comfy strap and all get nice op/tech straps- I don't know.
Well, for a week, there'll be two more Pentax DSLRs there, one with a black Op/Tech and one with a red Op/Tech.
I am probably looking for them more since I have one, but I seem to see as many of them as I do the Sonys while at WDW. I usually see at least 3-4 others on a typical weekend trip. What I hardly ever see are Olys. I saw my first ever Samsung two weekends ago. It was on a foreign tourist.
I have only used my Pentax brand strap once. I usually use a hand strap.
Kevin
FWIW, I can't recall ever seeing an Olympus or Sony at WDW, or anywhere else for that matter except on display in a store. I have definitely seen Pentaxes "in the wild" including at Disney parks. Actually, now that I think of it, I have have seen one Sony.
If you're looking at the camera itself, it's easily to mistake a Pentax for a Nikon, most Pentax DSLRs can be mistaken for a D50 or D80. You can tell them from the other entry-levels easily by the presence of a top LCD.
To sum up, though, I'm not concerned with specific numbers but Pentax is clearly performing as well as they want to. Again, just look at how quickly the K100D and K10D disappeared as soon as Pentax stopped production. Also note that Sigma and Tamron are releasing many more Pentax-mount lenses recently.
