CP+2022 is going ahead, but Ricoh will not exhibit

JPT · 01-15-2022, 01:05 AM - **2 Likes**

The Japanese camera news/rumours website asobinet has an article up today about CP+2022. It seems the event is going ahead after two years of cancellation, but Ricoh has opted not to be involved this year.

As a bit of background, Japan has had a big increase in COVID cases in the last week, after a period of very low infections. Some specialists have been predicting it to peak just at the end of February, when CP+ is scheduled. Ricoh might be thinking that the event is likely to be cancelled anyway, or that it will be seriously under attended.

The report says that the event is basically on as an in-person event, with almost all exhibitors at the usual venue in Yokohama. There are of course going to be measures to prevent spreading infection, and it seems that visitors will need to show documentation that they have been vaccinated but it's not clear what the procedure will be. There is also a list of online exhibitors and Ricoh is not among the online exhibitors either. The article notes that Ricoh has been doing their own online events anyway - presumably referring to the ones in November and smaller scale events, like the "GR Weekend" events.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. It is quite conspicuous that Ricoh and Ricoh alone is opting out. All the other camera and lens makers are on the list. On the other hand, if the event is cancelled or under attended, it must be an awful waste of money to make all the preparations for a booth.

CP+ typically has around 70,000 visitors. It's as bit as a large sporting event, but people are wandering around in an uncontrolled way, crowding together to watch presentations and queuing up to "touch and try". I usually go, but I was really unsure what I would do. This makes my decision for me, so I guess I'd better go somewhere with my new K-3 III and take pictures instead.

So I guess it doesn't make sense to wait for CP+ for news this year. Whatever Ricoh releases, it will be on their own timeline.

Here is the article in Japanese. Use your translator of choice.
https://asobinet.com/info-cp2022-requires-proof-of-vaccination-or-negative-t...l-not-exhibit/

BarneyL · 01-15-2022, 01:35 AM

I'm not sure how I feel about this either. I can understand covid related reluctancy to participate. However, CP+ used to be an event where there was at least some Ricoh's interaction with international audience, like us.

JPT · 01-15-2022, 01:58 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by BarneyL

I'm not sure how I feel about this either. I can understand covid related reluctancy to participate. However, CP+ used to be an event where there was at least some Ricoh's interaction with international audience, like us.

Maybe, but not this year. I don't think many foreign journalists will be able to go because of travel restrictions. It doesn't stop them from releasing anything or doing their own events.

If they think this year is going to be a dud, then it does make sense to spend the budget on something else.

There's also the issue of parts supply, which is stopping companies from releasing new stuff. When you look at other brand rumors, there is not much going on or predicted at the moment. Even the cameras that were "launched" last year are not readily available in many cases. Ricoh has been pretty good at managing this so far, but they may not have anything new they can show as soon as February.

biz-engineer · 01-15-2022, 03:08 AM

Ricoh not attending CP+ is not a problem if they have no new product and no prototype of new product to show at the time of CP+. At the moment, unless things change, it looks like 2022 will be an empty year. Maybe next year Ricoh will have something to show/talk about.

JPT · 01-15-2022, 03:59 AM

What makes you think nothing’s coming in 2022? General pessimism? There were several lenses and few cameras last year. There are lenses on the roadmap and comments that other lenses will come too. The OGPS-2 accessory has been specifically mentioned with a 2022 release date. I don’t think there’s much grounds to say nothing is coming.

AfterPentax Mark II · 01-15-2022, 04:29 AM

Originally posted by JPT

What makes you think nothing’s coming in 2022? General pessimism? There were several lenses and few cameras last year. There are lenses on the roadmap and comments that other lenses will come too. The OGPS-2 accessory has been specifically mentioned with a 2022 release date. I don’t think there’s much grounds to say nothing is coming.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Biz-Engineer. For the last couple of years Ricoh has been a bit stand-offish. I think they will tactically invest in "shows" when it is in their best interest and profit. Ricoh is at the moment a bit laid back I think, perhaps they have to earn the money back they invested in the development of the K-3 Mark III. And we must bear in mind that the Pentax brand is just a very small and vulnerable part of their business as they frequently aired.

Mistral75 · 01-15-2022, 04:37 AM - **1 Like**

So much for the successor to Pentax 645Z being ready to be released, as @OoKU wrote here in November before deleting his post.

**bobbotron** · 01-15-2022, 05:56 AM - **6 Likes**

I think it’s smart in a way, shows leadership. Pandemic is still on, they can do press releases without putting their sales people at risk at a trade show.

reh321 · 01-15-2022, 06:12 AM

It has been several years since @Adam has been able to arrange an interview with Pentax, which has been our biggest source of news in any case.

D1N0 · 01-15-2022, 06:31 AM

Chip shortages will probably also play a roll delaying the release of new products. A K-1 III e.g.

**UncleVanya** · 01-15-2022, 06:39 AM

Originally posted by Mistral75

So much for the successor to Pentax 645Z being ready to be released, as @OoKU wrote here in November before deleting his post.

I wonder if parts availability has delayed that or if it is even far enough along that parts are a consideration.

biz-engineer · 01-15-2022, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by JPT

What makes you think nothing’s coming in 2022? General pessimism?

The products that had been pre-announced by Ricoh in video (K3 III , DA 16-50 and DFA21) have now been released. There wasn't any announcement / per-announcement or teasing video for new products coming after the DFA21. Assuming Ricoh will initiate some teasing / product development announcement in Q1 this year (best case), it would take at least another 8 to 12 months to actually get the product manufactured and available for purchase of the shelves, so that would be Q4 2022 (very best case) or Q1 2023 (best case) or Q2 to Q3 2023. If something is released in 2022, it would either be in Q4 2022 or a surprise release of a product that Ricoh kept secret (not using the per-announcement, teasing and release stages). If something would be released in 2022, we would have already seen some kind of mystery product (in the dark) video leaked in the internet.

Pentax K-3 III was pre-announced on May 15, 2020 (or earlier), it was officially released March 30, 2021 (10 months later), and available for purchase late April 2021 (if I'm not wrong), 11 months lead time between the first hint of new product to availability for purchase.
The DFA21 was pre-announced in May 15th, 2020 video, and officially released end of October 2021, and available for purchase late November 2021, 18 month lead time between initial presentation and availability for purchase.
That's why I would expect more new Pentax products in 2023, with a very quiet year 2022.

reh321 · 01-15-2022, 08:02 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

I wonder if parts availability has delayed that or if it is even far enough along that parts are a consideration.

Regardless of where the questions come from, Ricoh/Pentax has shown an unwillingness to ‘spill’ material that they are not ready to openly talk about.
In 2019, that included both the “Q” family and the “645” family.
I wonder if that has changed.

texandrews · 01-15-2022, 08:12 AM - **1 Like**

I'm not sure it's a bad decision, for several of the reasons above, but especially travel restrictions. I think it's somewhat irresponsible of CP+ to have the show, but they may have no choice. The big 3 are all in a death match, so they have no choice as I see it. Fuji is interesting, as are Panny and Oly.

The worst thing I ever saw was Pentax at a Photo Expo in NYC with literally just a table with a tablecloth. No-names from wherever selling whatever had more than Pentax that year. So, better to not go than show up totally lame. And I do think Pentax could make better use of their marketing money.

JPT · 01-15-2022, 08:54 AM - **7 Likes**

Originally posted by biz-engineer

The products that had been pre-announced by Ricoh in video (K3 III , DA 16-50 and DFA21) have now been released. There wasn't any announcement / per-announcement or teasing video for new products coming after the DFA21. Assuming Ricoh will initiate some teasing / product development announcement in Q1 this year (best case), it would take at least another 8 to 12 months to actually get the product manufactured and available for purchase of the shelves, so that would be Q4 2022 (very best case) or Q1 2023 (best case) or Q2 to Q3 2023. If something is released in 2022, it would either be in Q4 2022 or a surprise release of a product that Ricoh kept secret (not using the per-announcement, teasing and release stages). If something would be released in 2022, we would have already seen some kind of mystery product (in the dark) video leaked in the internet.

Pentax K-3 III was pre-announced on May 15, 2020 (or earlier), it was officially released March 30, 2021 (10 months later), and available for purchase late April 2021 (if I'm not wrong), 11 months lead time between the first hint of new product to availability for purchase.
The DFA21 was pre-announced in May 15th, 2020 video, and officially released end of October 2021, and available for purchase late November 2021, 18 month lead time between initial presentation and availability for purchase.
That's why I would expect more new Pentax products in 2023, with a very quiet year 2022.

Thank you for explaining. So I understand that you are assuming any product to be released will be pre-announced long in advance. I don't think this is right at all.

There are specific circumstances where it makes sense to tease a product. That is when there is no current product in that position. The message to customers is, "We don't have this product for you yet, but hang on because it's coming." The two cameras that had long teaser campaigns were both like this - the K-1 and the K-3 III.

On the other hand, for a replacement of the K-70, K-1 II or 645z, a teaser campaign doesn't make sense, because they are still trying to sell the current model and it would undermine that. So the absence of teasers doesn't mean nothing is coming. It's flawed logic.

Also, there are still four unreleased lenses on the K-mount and 645 roadmaps, there is the new GPS module, the comment about further lenses in the DFA Limited series and they have said some additional lenses will come that are not on the roadmaps. So in a sense they have already talked about several products in development, and there is plenty of reason to expect new products this year.

This decision about CP+ is about marketing and possibly safety, or some mix of the two. It's about marketing priorities and not development.

01-15-2022, 01:05 AM - 2 Likes	#1
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821	CP+2022 is going ahead, but Ricoh will not exhibit The Japanese camera news/rumours website asobinet has an article up today about CP+2022. It seems the event is going ahead after two years of cancellation, but Ricoh has opted not to be involved this year. As a bit of background, Japan has had a big increase in COVID cases in the last week, after a period of very low infections. Some specialists have been predicting it to peak just at the end of February, when CP+ is scheduled. Ricoh might be thinking that the event is likely to be cancelled anyway, or that it will be seriously under attended. The report says that the event is basically on as an in-person event, with almost all exhibitors at the usual venue in Yokohama. There are of course going to be measures to prevent spreading infection, and it seems that visitors will need to show documentation that they have been vaccinated but it's not clear what the procedure will be. There is also a list of online exhibitors and Ricoh is not among the online exhibitors either. The article notes that Ricoh has been doing their own online events anyway - presumably referring to the ones in November and smaller scale events, like the "GR Weekend" events. I'm not sure how I feel about this. It is quite conspicuous that Ricoh and Ricoh alone is opting out. All the other camera and lens makers are on the list. On the other hand, if the event is cancelled or under attended, it must be an awful waste of money to make all the preparations for a booth. CP+ typically has around 70,000 visitors. It's as bit as a large sporting event, but people are wandering around in an uncontrolled way, crowding together to watch presentations and queuing up to "touch and try". I usually go, but I was really unsure what I would do. This makes my decision for me, so I guess I'd better go somewhere with my new K-3 III and take pictures instead. So I guess it doesn't make sense to wait for CP+ for news this year. Whatever Ricoh releases, it will be on their own timeline. Here is the article in Japanese. Use your translator of choice. https://asobinet.com/info-cp2022-requires-proof-of-vaccination-or-negative-t...l-not-exhibit/

01-15-2022, 07:45 AM	#12
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,232	Originally posted by JPT What makes you think nothing’s coming in 2022? General pessimism? The products that had been pre-announced by Ricoh in video (K3 III , DA 16-50 and DFA21) have now been released. There wasn't any announcement / per-announcement or teasing video for new products coming after the DFA21. Assuming Ricoh will initiate some teasing / product development announcement in Q1 this year (best case), it would take at least another 8 to 12 months to actually get the product manufactured and available for purchase of the shelves, so that would be Q4 2022 (very best case) or Q1 2023 (best case) or Q2 to Q3 2023. If something is released in 2022, it would either be in Q4 2022 or a surprise release of a product that Ricoh kept secret (not using the per-announcement, teasing and release stages). If something would be released in 2022, we would have already seen some kind of mystery product (in the dark) video leaked in the internet. Pentax K-3 III was pre-announced on May 15, 2020 (or earlier), it was officially released March 30, 2021 (10 months later), and available for purchase late April 2021 (if I'm not wrong), 11 months lead time between the first hint of new product to availability for purchase. The DFA21 was pre-announced in May 15th, 2020 video, and officially released end of October 2021, and available for purchase late November 2021, 18 month lead time between initial presentation and availability for purchase. That's why I would expect more new Pentax products in 2023, with a very quiet year 2022. Last edited by biz-engineer; 01-15-2022 at 08:11 AM.

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01-15-2022, 01:35 AM	#2
BarneyL Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 899	I'm not sure how I feel about this either. I can understand covid related reluctancy to participate. However, CP+ used to be an event where there was at least some Ricoh's interaction with international audience, like us.

01-15-2022, 01:58 AM - 2 Likes	#3
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821 Original Poster	Originally posted by BarneyL I'm not sure how I feel about this either. I can understand covid related reluctancy to participate. However, CP+ used to be an event where there was at least some Ricoh's interaction with international audience, like us. Maybe, but not this year. I don't think many foreign journalists will be able to go because of travel restrictions. It doesn't stop them from releasing anything or doing their own events. If they think this year is going to be a dud, then it does make sense to spend the budget on something else. There's also the issue of parts supply, which is stopping companies from releasing new stuff. When you look at other brand rumors, there is not much going on or predicted at the moment. Even the cameras that were "launched" last year are not readily available in many cases. Ricoh has been pretty good at managing this so far, but they may not have anything new they can show as soon as February.

01-15-2022, 03:08 AM	#4
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,232	Ricoh not attending CP+ is not a problem if they have no new product and no prototype of new product to show at the time of CP+. At the moment, unless things change, it looks like 2022 will be an empty year. Maybe next year Ricoh will have something to show/talk about.

01-15-2022, 03:59 AM	#5
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821 Original Poster	What makes you think nothing’s coming in 2022? General pessimism? There were several lenses and few cameras last year. There are lenses on the roadmap and comments that other lenses will come too. The OGPS-2 accessory has been specifically mentioned with a 2022 release date. I don’t think there’s much grounds to say nothing is coming.

01-15-2022, 04:29 AM	#6
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,462	Originally posted by JPT What makes you think nothing’s coming in 2022? General pessimism? There were several lenses and few cameras last year. There are lenses on the roadmap and comments that other lenses will come too. The OGPS-2 accessory has been specifically mentioned with a 2022 release date. I don’t think there’s much grounds to say nothing is coming. Unfortunately, I have to agree with Biz-Engineer. For the last couple of years Ricoh has been a bit stand-offish. I think they will tactically invest in "shows" when it is in their best interest and profit. Ricoh is at the moment a bit laid back I think, perhaps they have to earn the money back they invested in the development of the K-3 Mark III. And we must bear in mind that the Pentax brand is just a very small and vulnerable part of their business as they frequently aired.

01-15-2022, 04:37 AM - 1 Like	#7
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	So much for the successor to Pentax 645Z being ready to be released, as @OoKU wrote here in November before deleting his post.

01-15-2022, 05:56 AM - 6 Likes	#8
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349	I think it’s smart in a way, shows leadership. Pandemic is still on, they can do press releases without putting their sales people at risk at a trade show.

01-15-2022, 06:12 AM	#9
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,180	It has been several years since @Adam has been able to arrange an interview with Pentax, which has been our biggest source of news in any case.

01-15-2022, 06:31 AM	#10
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Chip shortages will probably also play a roll delaying the release of new products. A K-1 III e.g.

01-15-2022, 06:39 AM	#11
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,406	Originally posted by Mistral75 So much for the successor to Pentax 645Z being ready to be released, as @OoKU wrote here in November before deleting his post. I wonder if parts availability has delayed that or if it is even far enough along that parts are a consideration.

01-15-2022, 08:02 AM	#13
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,180	Originally posted by UncleVanya I wonder if parts availability has delayed that or if it is even far enough along that parts are a consideration. Regardless of where the questions come from, Ricoh/Pentax has shown an unwillingness to ‘spill’ material that they are not ready to openly talk about. In 2019, that included both the “Q” family and the “645” family. I wonder if that has changed.

01-15-2022, 08:12 AM - 1 Like	#14
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,393	I'm not sure it's a bad decision, for several of the reasons above, but especially travel restrictions. I think it's somewhat irresponsible of CP+ to have the show, but they may have no choice. The big 3 are all in a death match, so they have no choice as I see it. Fuji is interesting, as are Panny and Oly. The worst thing I ever saw was Pentax at a Photo Expo in NYC with literally just a table with a tablecloth. No-names from wherever selling whatever had more than Pentax that year. So, better to not go than show up totally lame. And I do think Pentax could make better use of their marketing money.

01-15-2022, 08:54 AM - 7 Likes	#15
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821 Original Poster	Originally posted by biz-engineer The products that had been pre-announced by Ricoh in video (K3 III , DA 16-50 and DFA21) have now been released. There wasn't any announcement / per-announcement or teasing video for new products coming after the DFA21. Assuming Ricoh will initiate some teasing / product development announcement in Q1 this year (best case), it would take at least another 8 to 12 months to actually get the product manufactured and available for purchase of the shelves, so that would be Q4 2022 (very best case) or Q1 2023 (best case) or Q2 to Q3 2023. If something is released in 2022, it would either be in Q4 2022 or a surprise release of a product that Ricoh kept secret (not using the per-announcement, teasing and release stages). If something would be released in 2022, we would have already seen some kind of mystery product (in the dark) video leaked in the internet. Pentax K-3 III was pre-announced on May 15, 2020 (or earlier), it was officially released March 30, 2021 (10 months later), and available for purchase late April 2021 (if I'm not wrong), 11 months lead time between the first hint of new product to availability for purchase. The DFA21 was pre-announced in May 15th, 2020 video, and officially released end of October 2021, and available for purchase late November 2021, 18 month lead time between initial presentation and availability for purchase. That's why I would expect more new Pentax products in 2023, with a very quiet year 2022. Thank you for explaining. So I understand that you are assuming any product to be released will be pre-announced long in advance. I don't think this is right at all. There are specific circumstances where it makes sense to tease a product. That is when there is no current product in that position. The message to customers is, "We don't have this product for you yet, but hang on because it's coming." The two cameras that had long teaser campaigns were both like this - the K-1 and the K-3 III. On the other hand, for a replacement of the K-70, K-1 II or 645z, a teaser campaign doesn't make sense, because they are still trying to sell the current model and it would undermine that. So the absence of teasers doesn't mean nothing is coming. It's flawed logic. Also, there are still four unreleased lenses on the K-mount and 645 roadmaps, there is the new GPS module, the comment about further lenses in the DFA Limited series and they have said some additional lenses will come that are not on the roadmaps. So in a sense they have already talked about several products in development, and there is plenty of reason to expect new products this year. This decision about CP+ is about marketing and possibly safety, or some mix of the two. It's about marketing priorities and not development.