Ricoh to buy Pentax

[Tachyon]

I think Ricoh should discontinue the 645D and sell them dirt cheap at S$3,000. After all, they specialize in miniaturization! I will then line up to buy! :

By the way, the Ricoh philosophy: http://www.ricoh.com/about/commitment/philosophy/

 

[evolutioner]

I think all they have to do to revive pentax is to release version II of all the DA* lenses with new SDM which doesnt fail.
That'll solve everything.

 

[detritus]

This is just for discussion topic.; ) Not to say I am right or wrong. Everyone look at things in a different angle.

I myself also kinda concerned about this Pentax spin off to Ricoh since I just got a Pentax DSLR and this happens. -___-'''

ya lah. no right or wrong one :bsmilie: all playing armchair analyst only.

and most pple will look at it from your angle: what will happen to my pentax dslr? what will happen to my k-mount lenses?

and this is where the picture becomes much clearer. the bottom line is, ricoh has no viable DSLR product.

so obviously, they didn't buy the company to kill the competition. they'll build on the K-mount - how? i dunno.

will the next DSLR be good? will the new lenses suit my needs? i think these are questions that we ask anyway when pentax was under Hoya so i don't see the difference under Ricoh once we establish that the k-mount will be a constant feature. our "investments" should be safe in the short - medium term.

 

[otc]

I think Ricoh should discontinue the 645D and sell them dirt cheap at S$3,000. After all, they specialize in miniaturization! I will then line up to buy! :

By the way, the Ricoh philosophy: http://www.ricoh.com/about/commitment/philosophy/

Great suggestion, then I will be in line for the queue too so I could make use of my 645 macro lens with some 645 tube. :bsmilie::bsmilie:

Commitment in specialise miniaturization sure does good to certain segment of the market.:bsmilie:

Patiently, I wait.

marcus

 

[Bridgerock]

I think all they have to do to revive pentax is to release version II of all the DA* lenses with new SDM which doesnt fail.
That'll solve everything.

How will one know if the SDM fails? Any indication or visible symptoms?

 

[P3ntx]

Orient photo has a biggest Protrait pic on display,…the white balance is beautiful .before I thought it was sort of leica, but it was taken by Richo
GXR...

 

[symmetrix]

Great discussion, nice tread and great input from u too.

No worries. I, myself have 20 to 30 K mount lenses. I think I am still buying what suits me for my needs

marcus

I just read that as 20-30K lenses. I was like "20 thousand?!"

:sweatsm:

 

[fengwei]

I just read that as 20-30K lenses. I was like "20 thousand?!"

:sweatsm:

I'm sure his collection worth more than 30k SGD

 

[symmetrix]

I'm sure his collection worth more than 30k SGD

I can (sort-of) understand $30k.. 30k lenses though... Wow. Just... wow. :bsmilie:

Anyhoo, back to topic.

Since I'm new to this field, want to know. Ricoh *is* a good company, right?

 

[felixcat8888]

I can (sort-of) understand $30k.. 30k lenses though... Wow. Just... wow. :bsmilie:

Anyhoo, back to topic.

Since I'm new to this field, want to know. Ricoh *is* a good company, right?

What were you expecting? They used to make good SLRs in the 70s and 80s.

 

[detritus]

I can (sort-of) understand $30k.. 30k lenses though... Wow. Just... wow. :bsmilie:

Anyhoo, back to topic.

Since I'm new to this field, want to know. Ricoh *is* a good company, right?

depends what u mean by "good". "Big", yes. it is a fortune 500 company with a strong presence in office solutions (i.e. photocopiers, document management solutions).

they have an range of very good PNS cameras that appeals strongly to enthusiasts (but not mass market). their most innovative product is the GXR, which sports not just interchangeable lenses, but interchangeable sensor modules - depending on who u talk to, this is either a very good product, or a silly product - kinda like the discussion on the Q :bsmilie:

so i think the engineers from both companies will get along just fine. both companies probably have their share of odd-ball boffins thinking up creative / weird products - absolutely necessary for a company with small market share that can't afford to take a "me-too" approach to product development.

i think there's strong strategic fit between pentax imaging division and ricoh - one makes a product and possesses capabilities / patents that the other wants so that it can develop a stronger product line and make stronger headways into the consumer market.

based on publicly available info, its pretty sound corporate strategy. for ricoh to develop its own interchangeable lens products, they would either have to throw in a lot of money, or incur pretty hefty patent licensing fees. by owning pentax outright, they can build on the strengths of both companies and focus on making better products to complement their current product offering.

there'll be some streamlining. duplications have to be eliminated (bye bye optio). some products may have to be re-evaluated (Q?). synergies may be found (K module for GXR!!!).

all in all, an exciting time for both ricoh and pentax owners.

 

[pinholecam]

I can (sort-of) understand $30k.. 30k lenses though... Wow. Just... wow. :bsmilie:

Anyhoo, back to topic.

Since I'm new to this field, want to know. Ricoh *is* a good company, right?

After some thinking, I think its better than being an unwanted child under the Hoya ownership (which did turn out the very good Kx, Kr, K5, 645D)
Hoya was never an interested owner. They bought Pentax more for the medical optics.
The Kx, Kr, K5, 645D could have made a bigger breakthru if a well funded publicity campaign aided these fine cameras.
Esp. The multi-colored Kx and Kr, which needs to get more awareness and hype.
Hoya, just went for a conservative, money saving strategy of churning out good products, but not using up too much money for publicity since they were not too committed.


Ricoh is a bigger company than Hoya, and a company actually doing cameras and interested in growing the business as well as to synergise its existing image processing capabilities with what Pentax does. Think the comprehensive package that Canon has to offer and you get an idea (Image capture (ie. camera and video) > Image printing (printers of various quality and sizes) )

 

[symmetrix]

What were you expecting? They used to make good SLRs in the 70s and 80s.

And I wasn't born during that time yet, so, yeah. Didn't know. :bsmilie:

I guess the core of my question is, I can see that we are all excited on how Ricoh will handle Pentax, but I guess I was looking for "street cred", or why Ricoh is in a good position to take over the brand name.

 

[pinholecam]

What were you expecting? They used to make good SLRs in the 70s and 80s.

They made very nice TLR series called the Ricoh Diacord (quite a few variants) as well.

 

[edutilos-]

I guess the core of my question is, I can see that we are all excited on how Ricoh will handle Pentax, but I guess I was looking for "street cred", or why Ricoh is in a good position to take over the brand name.

Whoever takes over doesn't matter....

Last time when Hoya buy Pentax, got a whole load of people making noise and saying DUMP PENTAX IT WILL CLOSE DOWN.

A few years? on, it's doing better than before Hoya took over.

So Ricoh took over... Ok, there might be change, there might not be. It doesn't matter to me. It's not as if I'm going to start panic selling all my Pentax equipment in the fear that Ricoh just shuts Pentax down or changes the whole concept. I very much doubt that the K-mount will die. Whether it will continue pushing Pentax as a value for money system, I do not know. Ricoh has never been a value-for-money option for me... But I already have quite a few lenses (though none of them are particularly expensive); worse come to worse, if Pentax takes a very bad direction I can weather it out until enough lenses are gone (which will be a long time) and pick up older models for a song. No big deal.

Que sera sera, whatever will be will be.

 

[felixcat8888]

They made very nice TLR series called the Ricoh Diacord (quite a few variants) as well.

Now this is interesting. Even TLRs . . .

 

[otc]

I just read that as 20-30K lenses. I was like "20 thousand?!"

:sweatsm:

Many takumar lens, value maybe 20K rupiah.. lol

I'm sure his collection worth more than 30k SGD

Fengwei, you are over estimating. Anyway we shall meet for beeer a couple of days later

I can (sort-of) understand $30k.. 30k lenses though... Wow. Just... wow. :bsmilie:

Anyhoo, back to topic.

Since I'm new to this field, want to know. Ricoh *is* a good company, right?

I just want to allay some fears or anxiety of newbie over the take over. Nothing on 30K value of lenses...K-mount will be around and many of us will still be enjoying what we do, take nice photograph. Have a little faith, all is fine. Something good is coming out from this takeover.

marcus

 

[otc]

Whoever takes over doesn't matter....

Last time when Hoya buy Pentax, got a whole load of people making noise and saying DUMP PENTAX IT WILL CLOSE DOWN.

A few years? on, it's doing better than before Hoya took over.

So Ricoh took over... Ok, there might be change, there might not be. It doesn't matter to me. It's not as if I'm going to start panic selling all my Pentax equipment in the fear that Ricoh just shuts Pentax down or changes the whole concept. I very much doubt that the K-mount will die. Whether it will continue pushing Pentax as a value for money system, I do not know. Ricoh has never been a value-for-money option for me... But I already have quite a few lenses (though none of them are particularly expensive); worse come to worse, if Pentax takes a very bad direction I can weather it out until enough lenses are gone (which will be a long time) and pick up older models for a song. No big deal.

Que sera sera, whatever will be will be.

Ya, if the worst were to happen, I shall still pick up the MF 645D for a song and use it for a number of years.That is enough for me. Still have K5 and K10 d, as hardy as ever. Well, wishful thinking for the MF camera but will never happen. Ha ha...

marcus

 

[otc]

depends what u mean by "good". "Big", yes. it is a fortune 500 company with a strong presence in office solutions (i.e. photocopiers, document management solutions).

they have an range of very good PNS cameras that appeals strongly to enthusiasts (but not mass market). their most innovative product is the GXR, which sports not just interchangeable lenses, but interchangeable sensor modules - depending on who u talk to, this is either a very good product, or a silly product - kinda like the discussion on the Q :bsmilie:

so i think the engineers from both companies will get along just fine. both companies probably have their share of odd-ball boffins thinking up creative / weird products - absolutely necessary for a company with small market share that can't afford to take a "me-too" approach to product development.

i think there's strong strategic fit between pentax imaging division and ricoh - one makes a product and possesses capabilities / patents that the other wants so that it can develop a stronger product line and make stronger headways into the consumer market.

based on publicly available info, its pretty sound corporate strategy. for ricoh to develop its own interchangeable lens products, they would either have to throw in a lot of money, or incur pretty hefty patent licensing fees. by owning pentax outright, they can build on the strengths of both companies and focus on making better products to complement their current product offering.

there'll be some streamlining. duplications have to be eliminated (bye bye optio). some products may have to be re-evaluated (Q?). synergies may be found (K module for GXR!!!).

all in all, an exciting time for both ricoh and pentax owners.

Wow, Donald, this is like going for APEC meeting and doing some critical analysis and putting up the report for the boss....lol

marcus

 

[detritus]

Wow, Donald, this is like going for APEC meeting and doing some critical analysis and putting up the report for the boss....lol

marcus

u must be joking all that based on plain reading of public info only.