[jon404]

Went to something called the Pentax Webstore a few minutes ago. Which is actually a Ricoh website. Oops, no K-01. Even worse, no sky-blue K-01. Then, looked for a GR, which is in stock. But no product details, like the battery name, if I wanted to get a spare.

Looks like another triumph of Japanese marketing. No wonder they're in the tank, economically. Makes you feel so confident as a buyer, like buying a car made in Swaziland!

[Adam]

Went to something called the Pentax Webstore a few minutes ago. Which is actually a Ricoh website. Oops, no K-01. Even worse, no sky-blue K-01. Then, looked for a GR, which is in stock. But no product details, like the battery name, if I wanted to get a spare.

Looks like another triumph of Japanese marketing. No wonder they're in the tank, economically. Makes you feel so confident as a buyer, like buying a car made in Swaziland!

The K-01 has been discontinued for a while. The blue one is probably all sold out by now, and they probably didn't make very many of them.

[calsan]

Looks like another triumph of American marketing. No wonder they're in the tank, economically. Makes you feel so confident as a buyer, like buying a car made in America!

FYI, we can read this in "other" countries, we too have the internet...

[jon404]

@calsan -- but Cal, can you find a store over there that has a Ricoh GR to look at? I'm in southern California, and there are none to be found. They should never announce a product if it's not available at the point-of-sale.

Sorry if my post sounded nationalistic. I'm not anti-Japanese ... they love baseball, and made some good cars a few years ago. And they came up with two great companies, Pentax and Honda, that I deeply respect.

Am sad the K-01 is discontinued. There's something unique and special about it (besides Marc Newsom's signature on the bottom). I like mine. Bought it at a good price, used it for some basic architectural photography with PocketWizard Plus flash triggers, and a Hoodman loupe gaffer-taped on the back. Great camera on a tripod, when you have time to compose the shot.

[calsan]

In Australia, we're pretty hard done by as far as selection goes.
In Japan, there are multi storey camera shops like BIC camera and Yodobashi. They're great. A man could lose his marriage there.

[jon404]

@calsan -- hang onto that wallet! Over here, it's electric car madness ... more and more Tesla S sedans zipping around. The next ones ... Model X ... will have slide-in, slide out batteries. Tesla is building their own recharging stations... rolling the dice, like Rockefeller did in 1920 with his gas station chain. Not waiting for the government.

As for photography, the 20-somethings are all into smartphones. If you talk to one of them when you are carrying a DSLR, they just look at you curiously. They know what it is, but something like my K-30 has as much relevance to them as a Model T car did to me at that age. Changes!

But I'll bet if we re-sold K-01s to the younger people, claiming psychic photography powers, it would work. At least here in California. 'Photograph the future... see when you'll get a job!' kind of thing...

[p38arover]

In Japan, there are multi storey camera shops like BIC camera and Yodobashi. They're great. A man could lose his marriage there.

There are? Hmm, my wife was thinking of us taking a holiday in Japan.........

[calsan]

Bic Camera Yokohama West Branch / Computer Store Yokohama Station branch - Yokohama Visitors' Guide
Yodobashi Camera Multi Media Yokohama - Yokohama Visitors' Guide

That's just two that I went to in Yokohama. You will need to pick up at least 3 or 4 lenses to be properly prepared for cherry blossom season.

[lytrytyr]

Even worse, no sky-blue K-01.

It's still out there:

K-01 White×Blue | RICOH IMAGING

[mamethot]

Still showing on Canada's page, which means nothing...lol

Ricoh Imaging Canada | K-01.

[tclausen]

Bic Camera Yokohama West Branch / Computer Store Yokohama Station branch - Yokohama Visitors' Guide
Yodobashi Camera Multi Media Yokohama - Yokohama Visitors' Guide

That's just two that I went to in Yokohama. You will need to pick up at least 3 or 4 lenses to be properly prepared for cherry blossom season.

Head to Shinjuku, for many and big camera stores. The Yokohama branches of Bic and Yodobashi are tiny and quaint in comparison to the branches there.....

[aleonx3]

In Japan, Ricoh and Pentax's presences are in the camera stores everywhere they sell cameras; not hiding in the corner either. I have no problem finding and trying the new and old models.