I noticed something about Ricoh and Pentax on my new K-3 iii

**BWG** · 10-18-2021, 01:06 PM - **3 Likes**

I noticed something about my new K-3 iii, or more specifically, I noticed something about the box. Ricoh isn’t prominently displayed anywhere. It is written on one side down low, but look how different the box for the 16-85 shows the parent company brand.
The camera is phenomenal by the way. WOW!

Attached Images

**boriscleto** · 10-18-2021, 01:10 PM - **9 Likes**

I miss the Ricoh under the rear screen as it was on the K-3...

**Kevin B123** · 10-18-2021, 01:12 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by boriscleto

I miss the Ricoh under the rear screen as it was on the K-3...

Boo...Booooo

Originally posted by BWG

The camera is phenomenal by the way. WOW!

Congratulations, enjoy, it will be phenomenal

reh321 · 10-18-2021, 01:34 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by boriscleto

I miss the Ricoh under the rear screen as it was on the K-3...

So, you don’t agree with @pentaxdude; who hasn’t posted here in the eight years since he complained about that inconspicuous label?
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=59052980

C_Jones · 10-18-2021, 02:20 PM - **1 Like**

I like just Pentax titles on the equipment. I respect Ricoh definitely, but Pentax is Pentax.

Fogel70 · 10-18-2021, 02:24 PM - **2 Likes**

Ricoh may have realized that it can benefit them to separate the Ricoh and Pentax brand more.
That it can be confusing for customers to see both brands on the box.

stevebrot · 10-18-2021, 02:42 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by reh321

So, you don’t agree with @pentaxdude; who hasn’t posted here in the eight years since he complained about that inconspicuous label?

Do you blame him?

why I won't buy a k3 (Warning: Satire Thread) - PentaxForums.com

Steve

sbc · 10-18-2021, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by Fogel70

Ricoh may have realized that it can benefit them to separate the Ricoh and Pentax brand more.
That it can be confusing for customers to see both brands on the box.

So true! The box says Ricoh but the lens in the picture says Pentax.
But then Panasonic does that with Lumix too.

leekil · 10-18-2021, 06:57 PM

I think their branding on the camera boxes is different than the lens, though.

biz-engineer · 10-18-2021, 09:08 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

I miss the Ricoh under the rear screen as it was on the K-3...

I complained enough about that. Glad they removed Ricoh on my PENTAX K1. PENTAX is the tradition of the rugged SLR. Ricoh is know for plastic fantastic GR line of cameras. PENTAX was third largest SLR maker, Ricoh never was.

Fogel70 · 10-18-2021, 09:48 PM

Originally posted by leekil

I think their branding on the camera boxes is different than the lens, though.

The branding have not been different in the past.
It will be interesting to see the box branding on upcoming lenses.

AfterPentax Mark II · 10-19-2021, 01:45 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by C_Jones

I like just Pentax titles on the equipment. I respect Ricoh definitely, but Pentax is Pentax.

Pentax is not Pentax anymore, it is just a name on a Ricoh produced camera or lens. At the beginning of the year the Ricoh CEO told about the dilemma with the Pentax brand, whether they should merge it with the SV business or that the camera division should stay apart (CEO of Ricoh (the mother ship) talks about the future of PENTAX and GR - PentaxForums.com). Leaving the Ricoh company name off the boxes might indicate that they have plans with the Pentax-brand and leaving the name off makes it easier to sell the brand and the ready products with it. It could also indicate that they are preparing to establishing a joint-venture with another party to continue the Pentax brand and so fulfill their promise of continuing the brand. But merging it with the Theta side of the business seems to be no longer an option. But maybe I am telling fairytales, but it is a bit in line with what the CEO of Ricoh said earlier this year.

I came upon an announcement of Ricoh: "Ricoh transforms its organizational structure as it becomes a digital services company Introducing a new company structure from April 2021". I can imagine that this may also explain why the name Ricoh is of the boxes of equipment, camera's are not part of "digital services".

**Pål Jensen** · 10-19-2021, 04:04 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II

Pentax is not Pentax anymore, it is just a name on a Ricoh produced camera or lens.

This can easily be misunderstood. Pentax cameras and lenses are built in Pentax factories now owned by Ricoh. Ricoh did not just acquire the brand name, but the factories, employees and patents.....

Fogel70 · 10-19-2021, 04:20 AM

Pentax has for the most time been a brand owned by either Asahi, Hoya or Ricoh.
It was only a few years before the Hoya took over that the company was named Pentax.

AfterPentax Mark II · 10-19-2021, 04:32 AM

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

This can easily be misunderstood. Pentax cameras and lenses are built in Pentax factories now owned by Ricoh. Ricoh did not just acquire the brand name, but the factories, employees and patents.....

It is indeed easily misunderstood that Ricoh is the owner of the brand name, because they are not. Ricoh acquired all but the brand name, because that is still owned by Hoya. Ricoh has for a limited time the right to use the name on the camera's. Hoya still uses and owns the name (for the medical equipment branch (which was the main reason that Hoya wanted to acquire Pentax)).

10-18-2021, 01:06 PM - 3 Likes	#1
BWG Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Monterey County, California Posts: 165	I noticed something about Ricoh and Pentax on my new K-3 iii I noticed something about my new K-3 iii, or more specifically, I noticed something about the box. Ricoh isn’t prominently displayed anywhere. It is written on one side down low, but look how different the box for the 16-85 shows the parent company brand. The camera is phenomenal by the way. WOW! Attached Images

10-18-2021, 01:12 PM - 2 Likes	#3
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,176	Originally posted by boriscleto I miss the Ricoh under the rear screen as it was on the K-3... Boo...Booooo Originally posted by BWG The camera is phenomenal by the way. WOW! Congratulations, enjoy, it will be phenomenal Last edited by Kevin B123; 10-18-2021 at 01:15 PM. Reason: Congrats..

10-19-2021, 01:45 AM - 1 Like	#12
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,462	Originally posted by C_Jones I like just Pentax titles on the equipment. I respect Ricoh definitely, but Pentax is Pentax. Pentax is not Pentax anymore, it is just a name on a Ricoh produced camera or lens. At the beginning of the year the Ricoh CEO told about the dilemma with the Pentax brand, whether they should merge it with the SV business or that the camera division should stay apart (CEO of Ricoh (the mother ship) talks about the future of PENTAX and GR - PentaxForums.com). Leaving the Ricoh company name off the boxes might indicate that they have plans with the Pentax-brand and leaving the name off makes it easier to sell the brand and the ready products with it. It could also indicate that they are preparing to establishing a joint-venture with another party to continue the Pentax brand and so fulfill their promise of continuing the brand. But merging it with the Theta side of the business seems to be no longer an option. But maybe I am telling fairytales, but it is a bit in line with what the CEO of Ricoh said earlier this year. I came upon an announcement of Ricoh: "Ricoh transforms its organizational structure as it becomes a digital services company Introducing a new company structure from April 2021". I can imagine that this may also explain why the name Ricoh is of the boxes of equipment, camera's are not part of "digital services". Last edited by AfterPentax Mark II; 10-19-2021 at 04:16 AM. Reason: additonal information added (announcement)

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10-18-2021, 01:10 PM - 9 Likes	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	I miss the Ricoh under the rear screen as it was on the K-3...

10-18-2021, 01:34 PM - 2 Likes	#4
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,180	Originally posted by boriscleto I miss the Ricoh under the rear screen as it was on the K-3... So, you don’t agree with @pentaxdude; who hasn’t posted here in the eight years since he complained about that inconspicuous label? https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=59052980

10-18-2021, 02:20 PM - 1 Like	#5
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,088	I like just Pentax titles on the equipment. I respect Ricoh definitely, but Pentax is Pentax.

10-18-2021, 02:24 PM - 2 Likes	#6
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Ricoh may have realized that it can benefit them to separate the Ricoh and Pentax brand more. That it can be confusing for customers to see both brands on the box.

10-18-2021, 02:42 PM - 2 Likes	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by reh321 So, you don’t agree with @pentaxdude; who hasn’t posted here in the eight years since he complained about that inconspicuous label? Do you blame him? why I won't buy a k3 (Warning: Satire Thread) - PentaxForums.com Steve

10-18-2021, 05:36 PM	#8
sbc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Photos: Albums Posts: 357	Originally posted by Fogel70 Ricoh may have realized that it can benefit them to separate the Ricoh and Pentax brand more. That it can be confusing for customers to see both brands on the box. So true! The box says Ricoh but the lens in the picture says Pentax. But then Panasonic does that with Lumix too.

10-18-2021, 06:57 PM	#9
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	I think their branding on the camera boxes is different than the lens, though.

10-18-2021, 09:08 PM	#10
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,232	Originally posted by boriscleto I miss the Ricoh under the rear screen as it was on the K-3... I complained enough about that. Glad they removed Ricoh on my PENTAX K1. PENTAX is the tradition of the rugged SLR. Ricoh is know for plastic fantastic GR line of cameras. PENTAX was third largest SLR maker, Ricoh never was.

10-18-2021, 09:48 PM	#11
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Originally posted by leekil I think their branding on the camera boxes is different than the lens, though. The branding have not been different in the past. It will be interesting to see the box branding on upcoming lenses.

10-19-2021, 04:04 AM - 3 Likes	#13
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II Pentax is not Pentax anymore, it is just a name on a Ricoh produced camera or lens. This can easily be misunderstood. Pentax cameras and lenses are built in Pentax factories now owned by Ricoh. Ricoh did not just acquire the brand name, but the factories, employees and patents.....

10-19-2021, 04:20 AM	#14
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Pentax has for the most time been a brand owned by either Asahi, Hoya or Ricoh. It was only a few years before the Hoya took over that the company was named Pentax.

10-19-2021, 04:32 AM	#15
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,462	Originally posted by Pål Jensen This can easily be misunderstood. Pentax cameras and lenses are built in Pentax factories now owned by Ricoh. Ricoh did not just acquire the brand name, but the factories, employees and patents..... It is indeed easily misunderstood that Ricoh is the owner of the brand name, because they are not. Ricoh acquired all but the brand name, because that is still owned by Hoya. Ricoh has for a limited time the right to use the name on the camera's. Hoya still uses and owns the name (for the medical equipment branch (which was the main reason that Hoya wanted to acquire Pentax)).