Pentax camera museum to close

jeffkrol · 06-30-2009, 08:04 AM

HOYA beancounters strike again.
Thanks to markolw for showing me this:
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*redpigeons* · 06-30-2009, 08:18 AM

Are the items for sale ? Maybe they have a 20mm FA new in a box + original lens hood for sale

really we need a someone rich to open the Pentax museum in the U.S ...

NYC sounds like a perfect city to me

ftpaddict · 06-30-2009, 08:24 AM

Like I would've ever been able to visit it anyway...

legacyb4 · 06-30-2009, 08:27 AM

I hope they don't close the showroom/service center in Shinjuku, Tokyo! That's a great place to get some hands on with some of their gear. If you give them a license or passport, they'll even let you (or used to let you) take a lens out for a quick spin too!

Bunny Gear · 06-30-2009, 10:20 AM

I don't care. Never knew about such museum.

Nubi · 06-30-2009, 07:08 PM

This is out of nowhere too. In the boondog...

jeffkrol · 06-30-2009, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Nubi

This is out of nowhere too. In the boondog...

Then why don't they just move it?

Nubi · 06-30-2009, 08:16 PM

Probably cost cutting measures. To have something like that will cost an arm and leg in Tokyo. If the public interest is such that it would create enough revenue to cover the operating expenses they would probably do it. I bet you it was losing money the way it was.

lesmore49 · 06-30-2009, 08:29 PM

Hopefully, it will be mothballed until better economic times.

jeffkrol · 06-30-2009, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Nubi

Probably cost cutting measures. To have something like that will cost an arm and leg in Tokyo. If the public interest is such that it would create enough revenue to cover the operating expenses they would probably do it. I bet you it was losing money the way it was.

I just hope they at least keep it together somewhere. though it would make a fun auction...
lensmore49, you beat me to it......

*Jonson PL* · 07-01-2009, 04:00 AM

Too bad, I had hoped of visiting some day

Originally Posted by Nubi

Probably cost cutting measures. To have something like that will cost an arm and leg in Tokyo. If the public interest is such that it would create enough revenue to cover the operating expenses they would probably do it. I bet you it was losing money the way it was.

Probably right

*falconeye* · 07-01-2009, 04:17 AM

Originally Posted by legacyb4

I hope they don't close the showroom/service center in Shinjuku, Tokyo! That's a great place to get some hands on with some of their gear.

I found this place to be a disappointment (from my 15 y.o. memories). Had more fun in my local store around the corner.

Originally Posted by Nubi

Probably cost cutting measures. To have something like that will cost an arm and leg in Tokyo.

BMW enlarged and contructed a new car museum here in Munich. It is not about cost cutting. It is about reception of the brand and brand value. And brand value adds to shareholder value.

I'm sure that this museum closure will damage Hoya's shareholder value. Bean counters which can't even count beans

mickey · 07-01-2009, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by Nubi

Probably cost cutting measures. To have something like that will cost an arm and leg in Tokyo.

Actually, it was in Tochigi, Japan. Not Tokyo. Probablt didn't have enough visitors, but it survived 40 years.

Maybe they'll move some of the the gear to the Pentax forum in Tokyo...
Shame if they don't.

"Opened in 1967, PENTAX Camera Museum boasts a collection of over 7,500 cameras, iccluding the world’s first Daguerreotype camera and other exceptionally rare cameras from around the world. About 1,000 cameras from different eras have been carefully selected from the collection and placed on permanent exhibition. Visitors can stroll through the museum and embrace the rich history of photography."

The "rich history of photography" is no more.

rparmar · 07-01-2009, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by Bunny Gear

I don't care. Never knew about such museum.

So, if you bothered to know more, then maybe you'd care more?