Ricoh to buy Pentax camera business from Hoya

TZH · 07-01-2011, 02:32 AM

Can't wait to see whats going on after this ~

sjwaldron · 07-01-2011, 02:33 AM - **1 Like**

Hopefully this doesn't turn into a konica + minolta death story. It's kind of sad such a history and intellectual property warehouse amounts to only $124 million dollars.

Ricoh is probably the ideal company to get Pentax though. Small well constructed photographer's tools seem to be something they have in common. I'll just pretend the GXR system never existed though. Hopefully Ricoh will do the same and further the Q-mount system moving forward. I'll just assume the Q-mount specification can handle larger sensors eventually.

Maybe we will see a new major player in APS-C and FF DSLRs. I just hope the tools are top notch and better than what I have now.

...wait:

Ricoh to acquire HOYA's PENTAX Imaging Systems Business / News Release | Ricoh Global

"On completion of the Acquisition, Ricoh will begin to use the PENTAX brand name for some
of its digital camera products, and HOYA will continue to use the PENTAX brand name for
their endoscopes and other products.
Furthermore, with the Acquisition, both companies will cooperate with each other to
increase the value of the PENTAX brand."

So it looks like they will use the Pentax name at least.

TZH · 07-01-2011, 02:35 AM

Originally posted by Steve Beswick

On the plus side, we may be able to buy Tokina lenses again.

Maybe.

Sounds great !

Nass · 07-01-2011, 02:37 AM

Thanks Asahiflex, Krg

juu · 07-01-2011, 02:37 AM

Originally posted by sjwaldron

Ricoh is probably the ideal company to get Pentax though. Small well constructed photographer's tools seem to be something they have in common.

Also in common is not having much market share

.

Quote:

I'll just pretend the GXR system never existed though. Hopefully Ricoh will do the same

That's extreme wishful thinking, I think they aren't giving it up.

Quote:

and further the Q-mount system moving forward. I'll just assume the Q-mount specification can handle larger sensors eventually.

That's also wishful thinking, the most it can do is probably 1/1.7''.

I think this is pretty bad news, as Ricoh doesn't really bring anything to the table for K-mount DSLRs, while with Ricoh Pentax will no longer develop a larger-sensored EVIL system as Ricoh already has the GXR.

CypherOz · 07-01-2011, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Strategic objectives for Ricoh
The goal of the Acquisition is to establish a firmer presence in the consumer business, which has been a considerable challenge for Ricoh.

Ricoh believes that the borderline between office and home will fade and this will be reflected in a major change in products and services. Ricoh aims to provide more consumer–oriented offerings not only in the field of digital cameras but also video conferencing systems, network appliances, and others, to their customers around the world. The Acquisition is the first step in this direction.

Ricoh intends to maximize the synergy from the merger between Ricoh’s digital camera business and PENTAX Imaging System Business in various ways.
1) Strengthening the digital camera business
- Enhanced interchangeable-lens cameras to meet expected future growth
- Expansion of product lineup and interchangeable lens portfolio

2) Creation of new business delivering added value to consumers
- Creation and development of value-added businesses such as making it easy to view, save and retouch photos.

3) Other benefits
- Possible entry into the image archiving business using medium format digital cameras
- Expansion of security related products

Sounds good

Erik · 07-01-2011, 02:50 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Raffwal

And what does it tell us that they want products such as GXR and Q?

It tells us that they're not ready to become completely dominated and utterly slaughtered by attempting to compete head-on with Canon and Nikon in the full-frame DSLR and point-n-shoot markets. When you're a small player in digital cameras, you either run a successful company that creates niche products (Pentax, Ricoh, Leica,) or you run a company that doesn't exist. Those are the options.

Raffwal · 07-01-2011, 02:56 AM

Well, if the future of Ricoh-Pentax is GXR/Q or nothing, I prefer the latter.

dlacouture · 07-01-2011, 02:59 AM

Well, I just had a look to their firmware update pages, and man they are at another level altogether!

No vague sentence leaving you wondering what were the changes, no silent firmwares...
If that's the only change we will see, it will already be good!

aurele · 07-01-2011, 03:04 AM

i have to say that i'm sceptical about it. I agree that both Hoya and Ricoh need to keep the Pentax brand because it's a well known brand (in medic and photo). Pentax and Ricoh can found mutual asset in each other : Pentax bring the knowledge in APS-C to Ricoh, and Ricoh bring some knowledge in compact. Moreover, Ricoh tech in other sector (printers, etc ...) can be usefull for photo (maybe ?) But Ricoh, seems to not be in such a good shape (maybe i'm wrong), and whatever positive they have to offer to the Pentax brand, i still remain sceptical about it.

timh · 07-01-2011, 03:39 AM

Hmm.
I think maybe this could be good...
But it probably isn't. Sigh.

(And y'know, the Q is just as silly and overpriced and unnecessary as the GRX.)

the swede · 07-01-2011, 03:58 AM

I'll dream and hope for a FF sensor to put the Ltd's on...
No i dont care about Canikon FF.

I'll stay Pentax, FF or no FF, Ricoh/Pentax or Volvo/Pentax doesnt matter

dgaies · 07-01-2011, 04:00 AM

Originally posted by the swede

I'll stay Pentax, FF or no FF, Ricoh/Pentax or Volvo/Pentax doesnt matter

Volvo/Pentax would be perfect for me! I currently have as many Volvo bodies as Pentax bodies

Verglace · 07-01-2011, 04:07 AM

I'm not really familiar with Ricoh, never heard of them before I started visiting these forums, and even then I just thought they were some small company that used to make k-mount lenses in the past!

I hope that they didn't just buy Pentax for the Intellectual Property and actually improve on the products. I don't care what they will be called, Pentax, Ricoh, Ricoh-Pentax it doesn't matter.I just hope that they support and grow the current Pentax system. So I will be optimistic for this, here's to hoping for more lenses, more support and hopefully a full frame body!

Yakim · 07-01-2011, 04:07 AM

Originally posted by Clavius

I've been working for Ricoh for the past 6 years. They have the habit of buying brands for technology, and then sticking their own logos on it.

I seriously dislike the idea of a disappearing Pentax brand.

Well, you can't buy Minolta cameras and lenses either but the A-mount lives on. I think this is the most important thing.

07-01-2011, 02:33 AM - 1 Like	#92
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	Hopefully this doesn't turn into a konica + minolta death story. It's kind of sad such a history and intellectual property warehouse amounts to only $124 million dollars. Ricoh is probably the ideal company to get Pentax though. Small well constructed photographer's tools seem to be something they have in common. I'll just pretend the GXR system never existed though. Hopefully Ricoh will do the same and further the Q-mount system moving forward. I'll just assume the Q-mount specification can handle larger sensors eventually. Maybe we will see a new major player in APS-C and FF DSLRs. I just hope the tools are top notch and better than what I have now. ...wait: Ricoh to acquire HOYA's PENTAX Imaging Systems Business / News Release \| Ricoh Global "On completion of the Acquisition, Ricoh will begin to use the PENTAX brand name for some of its digital camera products, and HOYA will continue to use the PENTAX brand name for their endoscopes and other products. Furthermore, with the Acquisition, both companies will cooperate with each other to increase the value of the PENTAX brand." So it looks like they will use the Pentax name at least. Last edited by sjwaldron; 07-01-2011 at 02:48 AM.

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07-01-2011, 02:32 AM	#91
TZH Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 118	Can't wait to see whats going on after this ~

07-01-2011, 02:35 AM	#93
TZH Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 118	Originally posted by Steve Beswick On the plus side, we may be able to buy Tokina lenses again. Maybe. Sounds great !

07-01-2011, 02:37 AM	#94
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Thanks Asahiflex, Krg

07-01-2011, 02:37 AM	#95
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	Originally posted by sjwaldron Ricoh is probably the ideal company to get Pentax though. Small well constructed photographer's tools seem to be something they have in common. Also in common is not having much market share . Quote: I'll just pretend the GXR system never existed though. Hopefully Ricoh will do the same That's extreme wishful thinking, I think they aren't giving it up. Quote: and further the Q-mount system moving forward. I'll just assume the Q-mount specification can handle larger sensors eventually. That's also wishful thinking, the most it can do is probably 1/1.7''. I think this is pretty bad news, as Ricoh doesn't really bring anything to the table for K-mount DSLRs, while with Ricoh Pentax will no longer develop a larger-sensored EVIL system as Ricoh already has the GXR.

07-01-2011, 02:40 AM	#96
CypherOz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Adelaide Posts: 246	Quote: Strategic objectives for Ricoh The goal of the Acquisition is to establish a firmer presence in the consumer business, which has been a considerable challenge for Ricoh. Ricoh believes that the borderline between office and home will fade and this will be reflected in a major change in products and services. Ricoh aims to provide more consumer–oriented offerings not only in the field of digital cameras but also video conferencing systems, network appliances, and others, to their customers around the world. The Acquisition is the first step in this direction. Ricoh intends to maximize the synergy from the merger between Ricoh’s digital camera business and PENTAX Imaging System Business in various ways. 1) Strengthening the digital camera business - Enhanced interchangeable-lens cameras to meet expected future growth - Expansion of product lineup and interchangeable lens portfolio 2) Creation of new business delivering added value to consumers - Creation and development of value-added businesses such as making it easy to view, save and retouch photos. 3) Other benefits - Possible entry into the image archiving business using medium format digital cameras - Expansion of security related products Sounds good

07-01-2011, 02:50 AM - 1 Like	#97
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	Originally posted by Raffwal And what does it tell us that they want products such as GXR and Q? It tells us that they're not ready to become completely dominated and utterly slaughtered by attempting to compete head-on with Canon and Nikon in the full-frame DSLR and point-n-shoot markets. When you're a small player in digital cameras, you either run a successful company that creates niche products (Pentax, Ricoh, Leica,) or you run a company that doesn't exist. Those are the options.

07-01-2011, 02:56 AM	#98
Raffwal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The North Posts: 879	Well, if the future of Ricoh-Pentax is GXR/Q or nothing, I prefer the latter.

07-01-2011, 02:59 AM	#99
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	Well, I just had a look to their firmware update pages, and man they are at another level altogether! No vague sentence leaving you wondering what were the changes, no silent firmwares... If that's the only change we will see, it will already be good!

07-01-2011, 03:04 AM	#100
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	i have to say that i'm sceptical about it. I agree that both Hoya and Ricoh need to keep the Pentax brand because it's a well known brand (in medic and photo). Pentax and Ricoh can found mutual asset in each other : Pentax bring the knowledge in APS-C to Ricoh, and Ricoh bring some knowledge in compact. Moreover, Ricoh tech in other sector (printers, etc ...) can be usefull for photo (maybe ?) But Ricoh, seems to not be in such a good shape (maybe i'm wrong), and whatever positive they have to offer to the Pentax brand, i still remain sceptical about it.

07-01-2011, 03:39 AM	#101
timh Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wales Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 445	Hmm. I think maybe this could be good... But it probably isn't. Sigh. (And y'know, the Q is just as silly and overpriced and unnecessary as the GRX.)

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07-01-2011, 03:58 AM	#102
the swede Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,310	I'll dream and hope for a FF sensor to put the Ltd's on... No i dont care about Canikon FF. I'll stay Pentax, FF or no FF, Ricoh/Pentax or Volvo/Pentax doesnt matter

07-01-2011, 04:00 AM	#103
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by the swede I'll stay Pentax, FF or no FF, Ricoh/Pentax or Volvo/Pentax doesnt matter Volvo/Pentax would be perfect for me! I currently have as many Volvo bodies as Pentax bodies

07-01-2011, 04:07 AM	#104
Verglace Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 468	I'm not really familiar with Ricoh, never heard of them before I started visiting these forums, and even then I just thought they were some small company that used to make k-mount lenses in the past! I hope that they didn't just buy Pentax for the Intellectual Property and actually improve on the products. I don't care what they will be called, Pentax, Ricoh, Ricoh-Pentax it doesn't matter.I just hope that they support and grow the current Pentax system. So I will be optimistic for this, here's to hoping for more lenses, more support and hopefully a full frame body!

07-01-2011, 04:07 AM	#105
Yakim Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 29	Originally posted by Clavius I've been working for Ricoh for the past 6 years. They have the habit of buying brands for technology, and then sticking their own logos on it. I seriously dislike the idea of a disappearing Pentax brand. Well, you can't buy Minolta cameras and lenses either but the A-mount lives on. I think this is the most important thing.