Pentax product cycles

**Spodeworld** · 01-03-2012, 06:58 PM

I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a typical product cycle for Pentax products (I know the sale to Ricoh may impact things). In particular, I'm trying to get a sense of when the successor to the K-5 may be come out.

Cannikin · 01-03-2012, 08:03 PM

Announcement dates:

K10D: September 2006
K20D: January 2008
K-7: May 2009
K-5: September 2010

K10D -> K20D: 16 months
K20D -> K-7: 16 months
K-7 -> K-5: 16 months
K-5 -> January 2012 (now): 16 months

Draw your own conclusions.

And just for reference, the K10D and K20D predate the Hoya acquisition, and the release cycle remained unchanged then, so Ricoh may or may not affect this.

Kryscendo · 01-03-2012, 08:34 PM

Check out the timeline at the bottom of the K-r's Wikipedia entry. If the time frame for each camera was kept consistent, then we should expect some new bodies soon. :3

Pentax K-r - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unsinkable II · 01-04-2012, 12:44 AM

If Pentax don't announce at least one new body at CES, I'll eat my hat!

Alizarine · 01-04-2012, 01:23 AM

A clue or a teaser of something definite at least, will satisfy me of Ricoh's plans for Pentax. Though much of my expectations are for Photokina...

the next flagship should be a lot better than the K-5 to draw serious attention to Ricoh's acquisition of Pentax, I hope!

**Spodeworld** · 01-04-2012, 07:01 AM

wow...thanks for all the feedback!

glanglois · 01-04-2012, 08:49 PM

Well, I hate to rain on all this good research but the ability to follow a product cycle plan like this assumes that the maker has control of all the levers and knobs associated with the timing of product launch. That may be true of the market leader (not hardly Pentax, alas) but the other players have to take competitive pressures into account as well as making the best use of more limited resources. In other words, there are a lot of factors that are more important than someone's idea of the optimum interval between product versions.

I will vote for 12-15 months, though, as I didn't make a significant purchase in 2011 so I feel entitled to in 2012. Bring it on!

01-03-2012, 06:58 PM	#1
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370	Pentax product cycles I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a typical product cycle for Pentax products (I know the sale to Ricoh may impact things). In particular, I'm trying to get a sense of when the successor to the K-5 may be come out.

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01-03-2012, 08:03 PM	#2
Cannikin Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SW Washington Posts: 833	Announcement dates: K10D: September 2006 K20D: January 2008 K-7: May 2009 K-5: September 2010 K10D -> K20D: 16 months K20D -> K-7: 16 months K-7 -> K-5: 16 months K-5 -> January 2012 (now): 16 months Draw your own conclusions. And just for reference, the K10D and K20D predate the Hoya acquisition, and the release cycle remained unchanged then, so Ricoh may or may not affect this.

01-03-2012, 08:34 PM	#3
Kryscendo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 222	Check out the timeline at the bottom of the K-r's Wikipedia entry. If the time frame for each camera was kept consistent, then we should expect some new bodies soon. :3 Pentax K-r - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

01-04-2012, 12:44 AM	#4
Unsinkable II Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,352	If Pentax don't announce at least one new body at CES, I'll eat my hat!

01-04-2012, 01:23 AM	#5
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	A clue or a teaser of something definite at least, will satisfy me of Ricoh's plans for Pentax. Though much of my expectations are for Photokina... the next flagship should be a lot better than the K-5 to draw serious attention to Ricoh's acquisition of Pentax, I hope!

01-04-2012, 07:01 AM	#6
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370 Original Poster	wow...thanks for all the feedback!

01-04-2012, 08:49 PM	#7
glanglois Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Madison, Wis., USA Posts: 1,506	Well, I hate to rain on all this good research but the ability to follow a product cycle plan like this assumes that the maker has control of all the levers and knobs associated with the timing of product launch. That may be true of the market leader (not hardly Pentax, alas) but the other players have to take competitive pressures into account as well as making the best use of more limited resources. In other words, there are a lot of factors that are more important than someone's idea of the optimum interval between product versions. I will vote for 12-15 months, though, as I didn't make a significant purchase in 2011 so I feel entitled to in 2012. Bring it on!

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