The Sky IS Falling...

Tom Lusk · 08-12-2008, 12:57 PM

Thank goodness there is Samsung to pick up the pieces...

*kent vinyard* · 08-12-2008, 01:08 PM

Tom, You rascal. You'll get everybody stirred up like on dp review. I am not sure I would want samsung to pick up the pieces after what I've been through with them and a high defination TV that has lasted only 2.5 years.
BTW how do like the nikon d300 by now and the afs 300 lens? Post a few pics .

kenyee · 08-12-2008, 01:11 PM

only if you visit Arches National Park.... :-)

*regken* · 08-12-2008, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Lusk

Thank goodness there is Samsung to pick up the pieces...

Tom,
Always glad to hear from you. Many of us know it's falling, the time is what is in doubt. Do you have any new info pointing to the Apocalypse?

jeffkrol · 08-12-2008, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Lusk

Thank goodness there is Samsung to pick up the pieces...

But 152 posts in 11 hours... Not bad

And it spurred 2 related "rah" "rah" threads...

*regken* · 08-12-2008, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by jeffkrol

But 152 posts in 11 hours... Not bad
And it spurred 2 related "rah" "rah" threads...

Great post you started there! Just started to read it and need to go back and read the whole thing. I've been saying all along Hoya isn't going to put any money into Pentax. They either make it on their own or Hoya will bail out.

*Falcons* · 08-13-2008, 06:00 AM

It seems the writing is now on the wall and the Death of Pentax is pretty much a formality.

What I don't understand is the apparent joy that some are dispalying at this news of the demise of Pentax. Don't they actually read the statement particularly the part that states, "increasingly severe competition in
the compact digital camera market is depressing unit prices"

Competition brought prices down, comptition drove the Camera companies especially the big 2 to develop new technologies for photography. It just amazes me that people can actually express delight at this news.
Many Pentax owners are Pentax owners due to the fact it is probably the least expensive system to buy into, with features like in body stabilization so you don't have to buy the most expensive lenses.

What's that you say? Oh The big 2 are offering stabilised lenses as part of the Kit lenses available. Well I am sure they were going to do that all along and it just happened to coincide with Pentax, Oly & Sony having Inbody IS.

With Pentax gone and more and more consumers being driven to the big 2 out of fear that the others will also close down - Prices will go up, New technology will take longer to reach the market and only when the duoply feel it is needed to generate extra revenue.

And some of us will no longer be able to afford Photography as a hobby unless we are prepared to put up with the toy camera offerings from the big 2.

Asahiflex · 08-13-2008, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by Falcons

It seems the writing is now on the wall and the Death of Pentax is pretty much a formality.

Your statement is utter rubbish. I'm sure Pentax will still be there when flowers are growing on your belly

*Falcons* · 08-13-2008, 06:14 AM

Originally Posted by Asahiflex

Your statement is utter rubbish. I'm sure Pentax will still be there when flowers are growing on your belly

Hope you are right.
Either way it doesn't really bother me as I am sure that with all the Cheap K20D's and Pentax lenses flooding the market I will be able to keep going Pentax for a few years yet.

Pål Jensen · 08-13-2008, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by Falcons

It seems the writing is now on the wall and the Death of Pentax is pretty much a formality.
.

Where do you guys get it from. It is utter rubish based on nothing....

*Falcons* · 08-13-2008, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by Pål Jensen

Where do you guys get it from. It is utter rubish based on nothing....

Maybe, but that statement from Hoya sure doesn't sound good. I have been hearing this doom & gloom rumour for 3 years now and still Pentax is alive, but it seems Hoya isn't really that interested.

Fortunately for me Pentax make exceptional well built cameras and my ancient *istDS is still kicking on, I am just too nervous to spend thousands of $$$ on an upgrade and new lenses.

Seriously hope I am wrong.

*Matjazz* · 08-13-2008, 07:05 AM

Oh no, Pentax is doomed once again.

Red · 08-13-2008, 07:06 AM

GOLDEN, COLO. — Despite whispered rumors to the contrary, Pentax is determined to stay in the digital camera market for the "long haul," according to the company's new sales and marketing VP Bill Zani.

"No, we're not getting out of point-and-shoot, and, no, we're not getting out of d-SLRs," Zani said.

In an effort to bolster sales following the company's merger with Hoya, Pentax will shift its account-management strategy, replacing a model based on regional geography with a channel-specific approach. "In the past, our account-management team consisted of generalists — now they'll be specialists," Zani said.

The move was spurred by a "360-degree evaluation of how we go to market," Zani said. "The majority of our customers will see significant changes in terms of how the account managers do business with them. We'll be talking sell through much more than sell-in," he added.
The plan "is steady growth, niche growth. It's not unit volume driven," Zani said. As part of the change, Pentax will seek to expand its sales channels, particularly with niche products like its waterproof cameras, he said.
The Hoya merger will bring other changes, Zani said. The company will move from annual assessments of its numbers to quarterly appraisals, he said.
Zani joined Pentax last month, having held positions at SanDisk, Concord Camera and Iomega.

Twice Copyright © 2008 Reed Business Information A division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Zani: Pentax In Cameras For The Long Haul

I betting Pentax as a part of Hoya will be around for a long time, highly doubt "Pentax" is going away. There is still a lot of value attached to the brand. In any case, they wouldn't just dissolve the division if anything they would at least sell off the name and photography specific patents to someone like Samsung.

thibs · 08-13-2008, 07:54 AM

Rubish, there's been a lot worse news.
Those are about the first results since Hoya took over.

It is absolutely normal for Hoya to take time changing what needs to be changed: that just doesn't take 1 week, it takes months, at least.

Even then, most of the results down aren't even Pentax related. Photomask has nothing to do with photography, neither or TFT masks.

They even state that the wanna enter the SLR lens market whatever this means exactly, we will see.

BTW, you might want to see what's out at Photokina: you might be surprised... or not.

RiceHigh · 08-13-2008, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Tom Lusk

Thank goodness there is Samsung to pick up the pieces...

Well, I think this would be my first "Thank You" to YOU! ;-)