Originally posted by jsherman999 Those are brilliant images, thanks for sharing. I'm astonished that they haven't elicited more response.
Further to acquisition, I'll add the following thoughts despite my non-qualification in both the marketing and technical aspects:
1. It's clear from the wording of the press releases that Ricoh plans to take the existing Pentax line and run with it - it's worded from a B2B company's perspective (e.g. use of "consumer") but it's really very straightforward IMHO. Not worth days of debate.
2. I've been looking for two new cameras recently: a walkaround rangefinder (where I'm currently using a film body) and an ILC (where I use a Pentax body and various film bodies). I'm not enamored of the DSLR form and think that a mirrorless body could replace both. Until Friday I was thinking NX or u43. Thanks to Friday's news, the GXR is at the top of the line (despite being unavailable at the moment in Canada). The reason being: it's one body that solves both uses. (Not ruling out buying two bodies, though.)
3. A challenge/opportunity that I see before Ricoh is using the GXR and the DSLR line together in a way that drives both to being major contenders. Aside from improving on Pentax's DSLR momentum (eg start advertising), I've had a thought on how they could capitalize on the GXR system's strengths. Because they can now produce modules for two popular mounts with native support, they have very broad reach across "serious amateurs". Those who may for instance have a Canon system plus an M lens or two or maybe some old K glass. A straightforward line of buyer reasoning could look like:
a. "Hey, an affordable M mirrorless body!"
or
a1. "Hey, a black and white module that supports my old SMC glass"
b. "Gee, look at the other modules available for this body I've got. That new Pentax glass looks great."
c. "Now that I've got some Pentax glass, I want a sports/FF/whatever DSLR body"
Who knows, possibly Ricoh could start making a u43 module and bring that crowd into the same channel....