Pentax Has Been Fallen Out of Top 20 at the Japanese BCN Sales Ranking (at 28 at Best)

See the results of the period from 10-4 to 10-10:-

http://bcnranking.jp/category/subcategory_0008.html
(in Japanese)

As we can see, Nikon, Canon, Sony and Panasonic are all in the Top 10, whilst Oly is still at the beginning of first 20s with their E-PL1 kits, the highest ranked Pentax offer, the K-x White twin lens dual kit arrives near the end of 20s, at 28, together with the 60D body-only offer.

From this trend, I'm afraid if Pentax does not market the K-r and K-5 soonest, they will be in great trouble in sales figures and results in the meantime. Let's see if the market will accept the relatively high prices of the K-r and K-5, or potential K-r buyers would eventually go back to select the K-x, owing to the large price difference and for those moderate differences and minor improvements (except now the K-r uses a Li-ion battery).

Nevertheless, if Hoya fails this time for testing the water, I predict that they will eventually lower the prices of the K-r and K-5. That would not be very far away, possibly. If you have the patient, just wait until the Christmas.