Resurrect the Asahi or Takumar names?

stevebrot · 09-19-2014, 12:33 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

yes, it does count. Let us hope they never try that again.

What he said. In regards to Takumar, there are some things that are best left as they are.

Asahi? That is a brand of beer, right?

Steve

CarlG · 09-19-2014, 04:13 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Asahi? That is a brand of beer, right?

Whatever; it is obviously a brand name belonging to someone else (at least in some jurisdictions), so it will not appear in connection to Pentax again.

**baldeagle21b** · 09-19-2014, 05:30 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

What he said. In regards to Takumar, there are some things that are best left as they are.

Asahi? That is a brand of beer, right?

Steve

Yep, Asahi, loosely translated as "rising sun" is a popular name for many products in Japan <g>..

Not a Number · 09-19-2014, 07:32 AM

Asahi is also a surname. There were a family or two by that name in the neighborhood that I grew up in, that had a large Japanese-American community. Of course they may have been given that as surname taken from the name of the villages in Japan they were originally from. This was standard practice at Angel Island and Ellis Island immigration centers.

Asahi Optical? Do they make beer goggles?

**THoog** · 09-19-2014, 07:59 AM

Originally posted by rayallen

Back in the day, there was Takumar and then Super Takumar and then SMC Takumar. What comes after that?

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

HD Takumar then SHD Takumar obviously

I thought we all agreed when 'HD' was announced that it should have been called 'SDMC' - Super-Duper-Multi-Coat!

---------- Post added 09-19-14 at 11:07 AM ----------

Originally posted by monochrome

If I were Ricoh I'd bury Asahi and Takumar - and the brand name Pentax - altogether. IThey carry little if any positive marketing attributes any more. The Pentax brand has the marketing power of Kodak or Vivitar or Oldsmobile.

Frankly, all the name Pentax does in the West is stimulate angry exchanges on web Fora that show up at the top of Google searches. most of which happen on this Forum.

Originally posted by DeadJohn

You beat me to it. Asahi and Takumar are dead names with miniscule marketing power. New photographers in the United States have never heard of "Pentax" while older photographers think the company is out of business.

Things are different in Japan.

Well, it's not unprecedented for Japanese companies to use different product names domestically and abroad. For sales outside Japan, I propose the name 'Canikony'.

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-21-2014, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by 6BQ5

Sometimes I wonder if Ricoh will bring back the Asahi or Takumar names. I know Takumar made a brief come back as a budget lens but that doesn't count. Once everyone runs out of "super", "high definition" names what will be left? Asahi or Takumar could be the high end line up of glass.

Ok, I'm done dreaming!

I think it is a sign of weakness in the brand, if they try to recall a name that has not been really used commercially for more than 40 years.

If they are that desperate it is a sure sign we are all of one for

Let's think forward, and you don't get to where you need to go by looking backwards

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Mitakon Zhongyi F2.8 135mm or ASAHI TAKUMAR K (BAYONET) MOUNT 135MM F/2.5	OldNoob	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	11-27-2013 08:56 PM
For Sale - Sold: Asahi SMC Takumar 55mm F1.8	cwood	Sold Items	7	01-29-2013 08:32 PM
A series with the Asahi-Kogaku 135mm f/3.5 Tele-Takumar	Asahiflex	Post Your Photos!	9	02-22-2012 01:12 AM

09-19-2014, 12:33 AM	#16
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Digitalis yes, it does count. Let us hope they never try that again. What he said. In regards to Takumar, there are some things that are best left as they are. Asahi? That is a brand of beer, right? Steve

09-19-2014, 04:13 AM	#17
CarlG Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 417	Originally posted by stevebrot Asahi? That is a brand of beer, right? Whatever; it is obviously a brand name belonging to someone else (at least in some jurisdictions), so it will not appear in connection to Pentax again.

09-19-2014, 05:30 AM	#18
baldeagle21b Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 223	Originally posted by stevebrot What he said. In regards to Takumar, there are some things that are best left as they are. Asahi? That is a brand of beer, right? Steve Yep, Asahi, loosely translated as "rising sun" is a popular name for many products in Japan <g>..

09-19-2014, 07:32 AM	#19
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Asahi is also a surname. There were a family or two by that name in the neighborhood that I grew up in, that had a large Japanese-American community. Of course they may have been given that as surname taken from the name of the villages in Japan they were originally from. This was standard practice at Angel Island and Ellis Island immigration centers. Asahi Optical? Do they make beer goggles?

09-19-2014, 07:59 AM	#20
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	Originally posted by rayallen Back in the day, there was Takumar and then Super Takumar and then SMC Takumar. What comes after that? Originally posted by ZombieArmy HD Takumar then SHD Takumar obviously I thought we all agreed when 'HD' was announced that it should have been called 'SDMC' - Super-Duper-Multi-Coat! ---------- Post added 09-19-14 at 11:07 AM ---------- Originally posted by monochrome If I were Ricoh I'd bury Asahi and Takumar - and the brand name Pentax - altogether. IThey carry little if any positive marketing attributes any more. The Pentax brand has the marketing power of Kodak or Vivitar or Oldsmobile. Frankly, all the name Pentax does in the West is stimulate angry exchanges on web Fora that show up at the top of Google searches. most of which happen on this Forum. Originally posted by DeadJohn You beat me to it. Asahi and Takumar are dead names with miniscule marketing power. New photographers in the United States have never heard of "Pentax" while older photographers think the company is out of business. Things are different in Japan. Well, it's not unprecedented for Japanese companies to use different product names domestically and abroad. For sales outside Japan, I propose the name 'Canikony'.

09-21-2014, 02:26 PM	#21
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Originally posted by 6BQ5 Sometimes I wonder if Ricoh will bring back the Asahi or Takumar names. I know Takumar made a brief come back as a budget lens but that doesn't count. Once everyone runs out of "super", "high definition" names what will be left? Asahi or Takumar could be the high end line up of glass. Ok, I'm done dreaming! I think it is a sign of weakness in the brand, if they try to recall a name that has not been really used commercially for more than 40 years. If they are that desperate it is a sure sign we are all of one for Let's think forward, and you don't get to where you need to go by looking backwards