Pentax feeds your LBA with the K-7 and $100 VISA rebates

Pentax is trying to continue the momentum of its SLR system with a new two-month rebate program on the Pentax K-7 and select lenses. You can read all about it at the Yvon's Pentax blog, and find the rebate PDF file at the Pentax special offers page, under the "Focus on Savings" section.

We will try to summarize it here, but please note that the program is governed by the terms and conditions in the PDF file as set forth by Pentax, not by what we write here.

B&H Photo and Adorama have updated their listings with the PDF rebates.

Pentax Focus on Savings Rebate summary
1. The program covers the purchase period of November 15, 2009 to January 15, 2010
2. Rebates are delivered in the form of $100 pre-paid VISA cards issued by MetaBank
3. You receive a $100 rebate if you purchase the one-box Pentax K7 with the 18-55mm WR kit
4. You receive a $100 rebate for every participating lens that is purchased together with a K-7 body-only or K-7 + 18-55mm WR (must be purchased together in the same receipt)
5. Limit of five rebates per household
6. UPC codes must be cut off and submitted
7. Rebates are processed at White Bear Lake, in Minnnnessoooooota
8. Best Buy (online or in-store) purchases are NOT eligible
9. US only
10. Read the Terms and Conditions for all details and contact Pentax for disambiguation

As usual with rebate programs, these are not thorough and leave open-ended loose-ends, such as which retailers are eligible, purchase limits, and things like that. For example, the fineprint says "five rebates per product per address", while the main body of the PDF file says "five rebates per household". Also unanswered, what if you want to get two copies of the same lens? What if you buy two K7 bodies and lenses at two different times?

It would be nice if once in a while the people who wrote these things actually wrote them from the perspective of someone who actually has to understand what they mean and doesn't already know :)

Strategy Session
Considering the current prices, the rebates are heavily tilted in favor of the K7 + 18-55mm WR kit versus the body-only, since the price-difference is only $32, but the non-body-only kit qualifies for one $100 rebate on its own. That's with current prices, but prices do change often, so the dynamics may change later on.

Since both the DSLR and the lenses must be purchased in the same transaction, you have to wait or find a retailer that has all the items you want available for ordering. Some lenses may be back-ordered and you do need the UPC codes in order to get the rebates!

You can check various major retailers through the Noisy Mall.

K-7 options
+ K7 body only
+ K7 with 18-55mm WR [qualifies for a rebate on its own]

Participating Zoom Lenses
+ 10-17mm DA fisheye
+ 12-24mm f4 DA
+ 16-45mm f4 DA
+ 17-70mm f4 DA
+ 18-55mm WR DA and DA II non-WR
+ 50-200mm WR and non-WR
+ 55-300mm DA
+ 50-135mm f2.8 DA *

Participating Primes
+ 200mm f2.8 SDM
+ 14mm f2.8 DA
+ 15mm f4 LTD
+ 21mm f3.2 LTD
+ 35mm f2.8 LTD DA
+ 40mm f2.8 pancake
+ 50mm f1.4
+ 50mm f2.8 macro D-FA
+ 55mm f1.4 SDM
+ 70mm f2.4 LTD
+ 100mm f2.8 macro D-FA

European Pentax Cashback promotions
Cateto points out that there are also a number of Pentax cashback promos across Europe, from Luxembourg to Estonia and back! The European rebates cover the November 2nd to January 15, 2010 time frame.