Ricoh to buy Pentax camera business from Hoya

jsherman999 · 07-01-2011, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by Raffwal

Sorry, but I don't buy that. If you're buying a house and have negotiated the deal for some time, the seller hardly makes significant changes to the house two days before signing the contract without your approval.

There's a difference between implicit approval and actual interference.

Ricoh may have just not cared about the 'Q' enough either way to kill the deal over it.

.

jsherman999 · 07-01-2011, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by macTak

The best thing Ricoh can do right now is reach out to the Pentax community and expain their plans for the Pentax camera division. They have to assure people the K-mount will continue, and so they are safe to keep purchasing. Second, release a lens-roadmap with an agressive schedule of new releases. That will really bolster confidence in the new ownership and future direction of Pentax.

+1.

Quote:

This really could be a great devolpment for all of us Pentax users, and I will say I don't think we could have found a better buyer than Ricoh.

Let's hope. (I'm hopeful.)

.

v5planet · 07-01-2011, 09:53 AM

This sounds like good news to me, though it was a bit of a shock to wake up to. If Ricoh is serious about competing in the interchangeable lens camera market -- as their press release stated in no uncertain terms -- then it's rather clear they are investing in the K-mount. Whether they'll be successful or not is something else altogether, but it speaks volumes to me that a camera company is buying a camera brand so that they can make and sell more cameras.

Who knows, as a side benefit, we might even see a handful of panicked Pentax owners abandoning ship and selling some FA Limiteds for dirt cheap on the marketplace. ogl, since you're usually the one leading the wave of pessimism on these forums, do you have any equipment you want to sell?

Couscousdelight · 07-01-2011, 09:54 AM - **4 Likes**

It's obviously saner for Pentax to be owned by a company who wants to develop a photo branch, than a company who wants to sell one...

civiletti · 07-01-2011, 10:08 AM

Pentax is a phototramp.

the swede · 07-01-2011, 10:09 AM

Originally posted by Couscousdelight

It's obviously saner for Pentax to be owned by a company who wants to develop a photo branch, than a company who wants to sell one...

+1 on that

**Rondec** · 07-01-2011, 10:09 AM

Originally posted by Couscousdelight

It's obviously saner for Pentax to be owned by a company who wants to develop a photo branch, than a company who wants to sell one...

Absolutely. At best, Hoya was a half-hearted partner for Pentax. Why would Ricoh buy a camera company whose big sellers are SLRs, unless they plan to increase their market share? Nothing bad here that I can see and a lot to say in favor of it.

Winder · 07-01-2011, 10:09 AM

Hopefully we will see the R&D needed to develop a good line of new high quality glass and a much improved AF system. No more golf ball sized AF points.

bwDraco · 07-01-2011, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by Winder

Hopefully we will see the R&D needed to develop a good line of new high quality glass and a much improved AF system. No more golf ball sized AF points.

What did you mean by "golf ball sized AF points"? Perhaps the area AF systems I've discussed before could become a reality?

--DragonLord

epqwerty · 07-01-2011, 10:22 AM

Im a liilte bit worried aboutbthis news. If rumors that pentax is gone hadnt been at full force then this recent activity is going to bring it to full force. However the good news is that since pentax camera wise is bigger then ricoh i cant see thrm dropping it all together but i think gone are the days or backwards compatibility. I cant see ricoh continuing to allow this. I for one have not purchased a new da lens in the past year but 2 m42 pentax lens instead. And i think this will hurt pentax sales q wise and kr wise as people will be less inclinced to jump on board a company that just got sold. Ricoh has to put it on paper that pentax the brand will not disappear to ensure that potential users will still consider it.

Urkeldaedalus · 07-01-2011, 10:25 AM - **2 Likes**

Five things:

1. Ricoh buying Pentax means Ricoh is serious about getting into the camera business, and wants to invest to do so. Hoya selling Pentax means that they wanted to get out of the camera business, and wanted to keep Pentax mean and lean so they could sell it as an asset. Unless they nix the K mount, I see this as a good thing for Pentax users.

2. Ricoh and Pentax both have a history of making really great prime lenses.

3. The Q Mount makes more sense as a Ricoh GXR module than it did as a camera system. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them integrated somehow.

4. For all of you who have trashed the GXR system in this thread, I'm dubious that you've ever tried it. It packs a lot of imaging into a small package-- which is the same thing people have been having nerdgasms over the larger Fuji X100 for. Oh wait, can you change the sensor in that one? No I guess you can't. Must have been a terrible idea!

The only thing it really is lacking at the moment for the GXR is more modules and more distribution/publicity.

5. As an owner of both systems -- I'm glad to say I'm pretty well covered. Score!

Kenn100D · 07-01-2011, 10:31 AM - **1 Like**

If It means something... Brand name will be "COHNTAX"

Kenn100D · 07-01-2011, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus

Five things:

1. Ricoh buying Pentax means Ricoh is serious about getting into the camera business, and wants to invest to do so. Hoya selling Pentax means that they wanted to get out of the camera business, and wanted to keep Pentax mean and lean so they could sell it as an asset. Unless they nix the K mount, I see this as a good thing for Pentax users.

2. Ricoh and Pentax both have a history of making really great prime lenses.

3. The Q Mount makes more sense as a Ricoh GXR module than it did as a camera system. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them integrated somehow.

4. For all of you who have trashed the GXR system in this thread, I'm dubious that you've ever tried it. It packs a lot of imaging into a small package-- which is the same thing people have been having nerdgasms over the larger Fuji X100 for. Oh wait, can you change the sensor in that one? No I guess you can't. Must have been a terrible idea!

The only thing it really is lacking at the moment for the GXR is more modules and more distribution/publicity.

5. As an owner of both systems -- I'm glad to say I'm pretty well covered. Score!

Regarding GXR, ricoh can make a module with Q-Mount. So Q-Lenses will fit in. (Just an idea)

bwDraco · 07-01-2011, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by Kenn100D

Regarding GXR, ricoh can make a module with Q-Mount. So Q-Lenses will fit in. (Just an idea)

Yes, the Q mount is ideal for the GXR system, considering the size and nature of the mount.

--DragonLord

kent · 07-01-2011, 10:42 AM

actually, i would love K-mount in GXR modules. Really really would want it

07-01-2011, 10:13 AM	#234
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071	Originally posted by Winder Hopefully we will see the R&D needed to develop a good line of new high quality glass and a much improved AF system. No more golf ball sized AF points. What did you mean by "golf ball sized AF points"? Perhaps the area AF systems I've discussed before could become a reality? --DragonLord Last edited by bwDraco; 07-01-2011 at 10:23 AM.

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07-01-2011, 09:47 AM	#226
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by Raffwal Sorry, but I don't buy that. If you're buying a house and have negotiated the deal for some time, the seller hardly makes significant changes to the house two days before signing the contract without your approval. There's a difference between implicit approval and actual interference. Ricoh may have just not cared about the 'Q' enough either way to kill the deal over it. .

07-01-2011, 09:50 AM	#227
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by macTak The best thing Ricoh can do right now is reach out to the Pentax community and expain their plans for the Pentax camera division. They have to assure people the K-mount will continue, and so they are safe to keep purchasing. Second, release a lens-roadmap with an agressive schedule of new releases. That will really bolster confidence in the new ownership and future direction of Pentax. +1. Quote: This really could be a great devolpment for all of us Pentax users, and I will say I don't think we could have found a better buyer than Ricoh. Let's hope. (I'm hopeful.) .

07-01-2011, 09:53 AM	#228
v5planet Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Photos: Albums Posts: 1,915	This sounds like good news to me, though it was a bit of a shock to wake up to. If Ricoh is serious about competing in the interchangeable lens camera market -- as their press release stated in no uncertain terms -- then it's rather clear they are investing in the K-mount. Whether they'll be successful or not is something else altogether, but it speaks volumes to me that a camera company is buying a camera brand so that they can make and sell more cameras. Who knows, as a side benefit, we might even see a handful of panicked Pentax owners abandoning ship and selling some FA Limiteds for dirt cheap on the marketplace. ogl, since you're usually the one leading the wave of pessimism on these forums, do you have any equipment you want to sell?

07-01-2011, 09:54 AM - 4 Likes	#229
Couscousdelight Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Frog-eaters country Photos: Gallery Posts: 357	It's obviously saner for Pentax to be owned by a company who wants to develop a photo branch, than a company who wants to sell one...

07-01-2011, 10:08 AM	#230
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	Pentax is a phototramp.

07-01-2011, 10:09 AM	#231
the swede Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,310	Originally posted by Couscousdelight It's obviously saner for Pentax to be owned by a company who wants to develop a photo branch, than a company who wants to sell one... +1 on that

07-01-2011, 10:09 AM	#232
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	Originally posted by Couscousdelight It's obviously saner for Pentax to be owned by a company who wants to develop a photo branch, than a company who wants to sell one... Absolutely. At best, Hoya was a half-hearted partner for Pentax. Why would Ricoh buy a camera company whose big sellers are SLRs, unless they plan to increase their market share? Nothing bad here that I can see and a lot to say in favor of it.

07-01-2011, 10:09 AM	#233
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	Hopefully we will see the R&D needed to develop a good line of new high quality glass and a much improved AF system. No more golf ball sized AF points.

07-01-2011, 10:22 AM	#235
epqwerty Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 550	Im a liilte bit worried aboutbthis news. If rumors that pentax is gone hadnt been at full force then this recent activity is going to bring it to full force. However the good news is that since pentax camera wise is bigger then ricoh i cant see thrm dropping it all together but i think gone are the days or backwards compatibility. I cant see ricoh continuing to allow this. I for one have not purchased a new da lens in the past year but 2 m42 pentax lens instead. And i think this will hurt pentax sales q wise and kr wise as people will be less inclinced to jump on board a company that just got sold. Ricoh has to put it on paper that pentax the brand will not disappear to ensure that potential users will still consider it.

07-01-2011, 10:25 AM - 2 Likes	#236
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	Five things: 1. Ricoh buying Pentax means Ricoh is serious about getting into the camera business, and wants to invest to do so. Hoya selling Pentax means that they wanted to get out of the camera business, and wanted to keep Pentax mean and lean so they could sell it as an asset. Unless they nix the K mount, I see this as a good thing for Pentax users. 2. Ricoh and Pentax both have a history of making really great prime lenses. 3. The Q Mount makes more sense as a Ricoh GXR module than it did as a camera system. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them integrated somehow. 4. For all of you who have trashed the GXR system in this thread, I'm dubious that you've ever tried it. It packs a lot of imaging into a small package-- which is the same thing people have been having nerdgasms over the larger Fuji X100 for. Oh wait, can you change the sensor in that one? No I guess you can't. Must have been a terrible idea! The only thing it really is lacking at the moment for the GXR is more modules and more distribution/publicity. 5. As an owner of both systems -- I'm glad to say I'm pretty well covered. Score!

07-01-2011, 10:31 AM - 1 Like	#237
Kenn100D Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Paranaque City, Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 697	If It means something... Brand name will be "COHNTAX"

07-01-2011, 10:32 AM	#238
Kenn100D Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Paranaque City, Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 697	Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus Five things: 1. Ricoh buying Pentax means Ricoh is serious about getting into the camera business, and wants to invest to do so. Hoya selling Pentax means that they wanted to get out of the camera business, and wanted to keep Pentax mean and lean so they could sell it as an asset. Unless they nix the K mount, I see this as a good thing for Pentax users. 2. Ricoh and Pentax both have a history of making really great prime lenses. 3. The Q Mount makes more sense as a Ricoh GXR module than it did as a camera system. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them integrated somehow. 4. For all of you who have trashed the GXR system in this thread, I'm dubious that you've ever tried it. It packs a lot of imaging into a small package-- which is the same thing people have been having nerdgasms over the larger Fuji X100 for. Oh wait, can you change the sensor in that one? No I guess you can't. Must have been a terrible idea! The only thing it really is lacking at the moment for the GXR is more modules and more distribution/publicity. 5. As an owner of both systems -- I'm glad to say I'm pretty well covered. Score! Regarding GXR, ricoh can make a module with Q-Mount. So Q-Lenses will fit in. (Just an idea)

07-01-2011, 10:41 AM	#239
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071	Originally posted by Kenn100D Regarding GXR, ricoh can make a module with Q-Mount. So Q-Lenses will fit in. (Just an idea) Yes, the Q mount is ideal for the GXR system, considering the size and nature of the mount. --DragonLord

07-01-2011, 10:42 AM	#240
kent Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 344	actually, i would love K-mount in GXR modules. Really really would want it