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Ricoh acquiring Pentax!

Terry

New member
Ricoh's a pretty good sized company. They have a lot of camera and lens expertise, just not in the DSLR or Medium Format Digital space. My impression is that they've been doing pretty well and have not been at risk at all. It's Pentax that's had the financial problems and has now been bought twice. So I think we have to consider this from the Ricoh perspective, since it is Ricoh buying the Pentax brand and technology from Hoya, not Pentax driving the deal. Pentax technologies are essentially being split up, the camera portion of the company separated from the medical portion.

I feel the mainstream SLR domain is coming to a close and the mirrorless digital camera on the rise. In the mirrorless domain, Ricoh has been very innovative with the GXR system. The "Camera Module A12" with Leica M mount is just about ready to ship for the GXR system: it would be extremely easy to provide adaptation for M42 and K-mount lenses (it already exists through third party adapters!) and not too much more daunting to build a dedicated K-mount version, with more features dedicated to the Pentax K mount lens specifics.

More interesting would be creating dedicated A12 camera modules with integrated lenses like an "A12 31 Limited", "A12 60 Limited", "A12 105 Limited" camera modules based on the DA21, DA40, DA70 (all great, compact optics designed for an APS-C sensor, amongst others) would be another way to expand Ricoh's GXR system more swiftly than for Ricoh to develop the optics from scratch.

I had read some rumors shortly after it was announced that the Pentax Q system was actually being manufactured by Ricoh. I have no idea of the truth of that and can't remember where I read it, but if true it would now make sense.

It will be very interesting to see where this goes. I do hope it's a positive for everyone.
The ONLY thing I was commenting on was the K mount lenses in their current form are optimized for a camera with a mirror box. To use the current lenses in a module would mean a big "spacer" to get the flange distance correct. To make modules with the limiteds would be nice but again with a lens redesign to make it smaller to account for no mirror.
 

douglasf13

New member
I'm hoping this eventually means an all new Pentax APS-C mirrorless camera line in the future with a new line of lenses. I've been surprised that Pentax hasn't jumped on this, yet.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
The ONLY thing I was commenting on was the K mount lenses in their current form are optimized for a camera with a mirror box. To use the current lenses in a module would mean a big "spacer" to get the flange distance correct. To make modules with the limiteds would be nice but again with a lens redesign to make it smaller to account for no mirror.
The set of current Pentax lenses I spoke of*(DA21, DA40, DA70) are pretty compact already, the additional size of the mount register spacer isn't going to make them enormous or unergonomic. While so many people these days seem to love the "pancake" designs, I find the shorter of them unergonomic ... In using the Lumix G 20mm vs the ZD 25mm on a mount converter, the 20mm (a better performing lens for sure) was much harder to use for manual focus, for instance, because its short barrel puts the thin focusing ring too close to the body. I never liked using the DA40 when I had one in my Pentax days, I preferred the FA43 because it put the focusing ring in the right place for my hands. (The GXR's A12 28 lens module is a little harder to use for manual focus than the A12 50 lens module for similar reasons.)

That's why I think the creation of "A12 XXX" camera modules might make some good sense. They could integrate current Pentax lens designs with their now current the focal plane shutter camera module. It becomes more a matter of a collapsible mount for compactness when carrying the camera and hooking up a system to drive the auto-iris mechanism properly, rather than having to reformulate all the optical designs.

Re-formulating new optical designs takes a lot more time and money than coming up with a tricky new lens mount ...

There are a lot of possibilities. Ricoh seems a solid, innovative company with a good photographer-sensible design aesthetic, and the Pentax lens technology and brand name are good in the marketplace. This should be a big win for everyone in the combined photographic community.
 

weinschela

Subscriber Member
I have a good deal of nostalgia abiut this. My first good camera was a Honeywell Pentax H1, my first SLR. Consolidation is probably a good thing as Pentax was stumbling, getting some things right (645 and K5) but others not quite (4/3), and even when they got it right didn't market well and didn't sell enough to sustain itself. Ricoh may be in a position to breatge some life into Pentax, or at least preserve the good stuff.
 
I really like this deal. Ricoh is a large solid industrial; what's more, I like the company and their support of photography, all through my lifetime, they've been unafraid to innovate, I remember lusting after their 35mm kit as a kid. They're a superb, high quality manufacturer. They can leverage their own expertise to take the 645D and K series to new levels without onboarding significant investment risks as they now have everything in house.

Pentax remains the only player in both small and medium format, a most uniquely positioned camera company. The newly combined company will cover everything from consumer compacts, high end compacts, 4:3rds, small and medium format. Serious competition for Nikon, Canon and Sony.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
... The newly combined company will cover everything from consumer compacts, high end compacts, 4:3rds, small and medium format. ...
I'm optimistic about what Ricoh is doing too, but neither Ricoh nor Pentax have any FourThirds or Micro-FourThirds products that I'm aware of.
 

tsjanik

Well-known member
I'm optimistic ................
I am as well; I hope we're both right. Godfrey, I seem to remember you as a Pentax user. Ironically you're returning to Pentax, or is it that Pentax is following you to Ricoh? Not sure how this works :D

Tom
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
I am as well; I hope we're both right. Godfrey, I seem to remember you as a Pentax user. Ironically you're returning to Pentax, or is it that Pentax is following you to Ricoh? Not sure how this works :D
Well, actually, Ricoh is acquiring the Pentax brand and camera technologies ... Pentax has little say in the matter, really, as it is a wholly owned asset of Hoya Optical. The old Asahi Pentax company disappeared some time ago.

But I neither 'depart from' or 'return to' a company. I either use the equipment they make, or I don't. I was happy to use Pentax equipment for some years, but stopped using it when I found other equipment that I preferred. Equipment is, to me, the most transitory part of Photography. Brand promotion is something I only do when I'm paid to ... which was a relationship I had with Pentax USA for a bit. The Pentax equipment I had did me very well and I was happy to support their advertising.
 

raist3d

Well-known member
From the Ricoh's horses mouth:

-----

Some of this has been said and I will put the disclaimer that in the end, anything can happen. We will know by Nov/Dec this year. What Ricoh needs to do is step up now and make their intentions/directions clear to the Pentax customers, or the uncertainty will cost them some business.

http://www.ricoh.com/release/2011/pdf/0701.pdf

"On completion of the Acquisition, Ricoh will begin to use the PENTAX brand name for some of its digital camera products, and HOYA will continue to use the PENTAX brand name for their endoscopes and other products."
So this means, the Pentax brand name will carry on.
And now the key points:
"3. Strategic objectives for Ricoh
The goal of the Acquisition is to establish a firmer presence in the consumer business, which has been a considerable challenge for Ricoh.
Ricoh believes that the borderline between office and home will fade and this will be reflected in a major change in products and services. Ricoh aims to provide more consumer–oriented offerings not only in the field of digital cameras but also video conferencing systems, network appliances, and others, to their customers around the world. The Acquisition is the first step in this direction.
Ricoh intends to maximize the synergy from the merger between Ricoh’s digital camera business and PENTAX Imaging System Business in various ways.
1) Strengthening the digital camera business
␣ Enhanced interchangeable-lens cameras to meet expected future growth
␣ Expansion of product lineup and interchangeable lens portfolio 2) Creation of new business delivering added value to consumers
␣ Creation and development of value-added businesses such as making it easy to view, save and retouch photos.
3) Other benefits
␣ Possible entry into the image archiving business using medium format digital cameras
␣ Expansion of security related products"

From what I read here the K-5 line and all the other K-mount cameras are pretty safe. The Pentax Q may be safe- or not. Not sure yet. Ricoh says there's little overlap between their cameras and Pentax but I would think the Q is a bit of a competitor there. But maybe they are looking at the Q as an alternative to their other camera in the high end compact territory.

The 645D looks like it will surive, but also aimed and marketed at doing some enterprise business tasks (archiving, etc.). If that happens, I could see how they can keep the 645D line around at the consumer level as the "halo" product Thom mentions - as a "tour de force, we can dot his if you want it/trust us" kind of thing

- Raist
 

m3photo

New member
Re: Self Competition

Ricoh says there's little overlap between their cameras and Pentax but I would think the Q is a bit of a competitor there. But maybe they are looking at the Q as an alternative to their other camera in the high end compact territory.
Car manufacturers do it all the time: Volkswagen have Audi at the top, themselves in the middle, Seat just under and Skoda at the bottom, all use the same engines some of the time and it works well for them. Ricoh can still sell Ricoh and have Pentax as their "Lexus" division.
 
C

curious80

Guest
The set of current Pentax lenses I spoke of*(DA21, DA40, DA70) are pretty compact already, the additional size of the mount register spacer isn't going to make them enormous or unergonomic.

.......
The main motivation for the mirror less design is to decrease the depth by eliminating the mirror. If the depth remain there then why do we need a mirrorless camera, why not use these pentax lenses with one of the small pentax DSLR's like k-x or k-r?
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
The main motivation for the mirror less design is to decrease the depth by eliminating the mirror. If the depth remain there then why do we need a mirrorless camera, why not use these pentax lenses with one of the small pentax DSLR's like k-x or k-r?
Certainly agree that the primary benefit (not necessarily motivation) of a mirrorless interchangeable lens design is the reduced mount depth and the lens design freedom that implies. And I wasn't suggesting that adapting mounts for existing lens designs was a long term strategy.

What I was saying is that in acquiring Pentax, Ricoh has access to several excellent existing compact lens designs, that are known to do an excellent job on an APS-C sensor, which with a bit of mount adaptation work could immediately bring benefit to the GXR system.

A GXR camera, even with a mount adapter in place, is *significantly* smaller than the smallest DSLR camera from Pentax. It's also quieter and has better viewfinder options than the K-x and K-r pentamirror viewfinder.

Nothing against the K-x and K-r bodies, although I'd never buy one. I don't like their viewfinders at all.
 

raist3d

Well-known member
How's this for an idea of a GRX K-mount module....

Have the mount in a way that it can extend with bellows. That way you can put in "store away mode" and put it potentially in your pocket and in "shooting mode." You get at least more portability.

- Raist
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
Re: How's this for an idea of a GRX K-mount module....

Have the mount in a way that it can extend with bellows. That way you can put in "store away mode" and put it potentially in your pocket and in "shooting mode." You get at least more portability.
As I said up-thread: "...They could integrate current Pentax lens designs with their now current the focal plane shutter camera module. It becomes more a matter of a collapsible mount for compactness when carrying the camera and hooking up a system to drive the auto-iris mechanism properly, rather than having to reformulate all the optical designs. ..."
 

raist3d

Well-known member
More Ricoh official statements:

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110702D01JFA18.htm

Ricoh hopes to grow its camera operations by integrating the sales channels that Pentax has built up over the years primarily in the U.S. and Europe with its own, and by taking the offensive in China and other emerging markets. With a focus on leveraging Pentax's SLR technologies, Ricoh targets 100 billion yen in annual sales from digital cameras in three years, almost double their combined sales at present. It hopes to turn digital cameras into a key business behind its office products.
There you go. A goal and all. Looks like the K's are safe. Don't know where the Q and the 645D will be. Ironically I wouldn't be surprised if the Q makes it after all. And the 645D probably good to have at least as a marketing statement.

- Raist
 

jonoslack

Active member
Re: More Ricoh official statements:

There you go. A goal and all. Looks like the K's are safe. Don't know where the Q and the 645D will be. Ironically I wouldn't be surprised if the Q makes it after all. And the 645D probably good to have at least as a marketing statement.

- Raist
Well, it sounds like a splendid acquisition to me - good for both parties, and the philosophy isn't quite so different either.

With respect to the Q - I would think it's absolutely safe. I think the negative attitude to it around here is because none of us want it (me included). But from a business perspective I think it'll sell like hot cakes - it's a unique product (for now) and most buyers couldn't care less what size the sensor is in a camera, as long as the results are good on screen/facebook/flickr, then they're going to be happy . . . . and I'm sure the Q will deliver for those purposes, added to which it's cute and original - I don't see how it can fail, and would think it was the big attraction for Ricoh.

Jumping on to the 4/3 - APS/c mirrorless bandwagon sounds like a much more dubious proposition (from a business sense). I'd guess the market is no bigger, but the competition is much more serious.

Personally, I just hope that Ricoh manage to improve Pentax's lens qa! (then I can go buy a 16-50 again.

all the best
 

jonoslack

Active member
The set of current Pentax lenses I spoke of*(DA21, DA40, DA70) are pretty compact already, the additional size of the mount register spacer isn't going to make them enormous or unergonomic. While so many people these days seem to love the "pancake" designs, I find the shorter of them unergonomic ...
HI Godfrey
I'm with you on this - they'd be great on the GRX - still small, but much more manageable.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
HI Godfrey
I'm with you on this - they'd be great on the GRX - still small, but much more manageable.
GXR ... ;-)

While overall I think there's a bit of technology in Pentax that Ricoh can take advantage of, Ricoh's been no slouch on camera technology either.

I suspect that Ricoh's acquisition of Pentax is most significantly the development of Ricoh's camera business in the USA. Ricoh pulled out of the US market in the late 1990s for lack of an adequate distribution and service infrastructure here. They've returned to the market in the past year or so with the big vendors (B&H, Adorama and Amazon) carrying them, as well as a number of specialist vendors (Popflash, The Photo Village), so it seems to me they are most interested in obtaining the network and warehousing assets of Pentax USA.

My experience with Ricoh products has been limited, but back in the day I bought several of their SLR bodies and lenses for the photo staff at my high school: they proved tough and reliable in the hands of high school photographers and the lenses performed well. Their compact GR1 film camera was the choice of 35mm compacts in the 1990s; I enjoyed it very much and the friend I sold it to still has and uses it. And they've built a very interesting and high quality range of digital compacts today, along with the GXR system that I'm finding to be an amazingly competent small camera.

So I think they have the credentials to do Pentax users well. Just what they intend to do and where it goes ... Time will show us all. :)
 
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