Interview with Pentax Japan Executive

Urkeldaedalus · 01-12-2012, 12:35 PM

I know John Carlson has said before that he thinks this forum is full of nasty people, so I don't want to add to that reputation, but when I see him do interviews I always wonder if he knows as little about what people want from Pentax as it seems like he does, or if he's just toeing the company line, so to speak.

**Aristophanes** · 01-12-2012, 12:38 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Raffwal

Jumping off a bridge is a bold move. Performing seppuku is a bold move. No reason though to actually do either. Like the Q.

A bigger sensor and the Q is a hit.

Small sensor + big price = fail.

Raffwal · 01-12-2012, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus

I know John Carlson has said before that he thinks this forum is full of nasty people, so I don't want to add to that reputation, but when I see him do interviews I always wonder if he knows as little about what people want from Pentax as it seems like he does, or if he's just toeing the company line, so to speak.

I bet his leash is pretty short. He's middle management (or atleast below the top dog) at one local distributing daughter company. What he can say is defined elsewhere.

philbaum · 01-12-2012, 01:12 PM

I think there's a interesting line from the John Carlson quote about the Kr:

Quote:

JC: That's one where the production is finished with that product. I hesitate to call it "discontinued," because there is still product in the channel. Obviously, there's material or product available out there, and it's still a great camera. It's still a very capable camera. As far as a replacement to that, I can't address that. I wouldn't call the Q a replacement for that.

It may be an admission that the Km, K2000, Kx Kr line is no longer competitive against the micro 4/3, Fuji and Sony compact mirrorless cameras.

I've got this hunch that the replacement for the Kr is a mirrorless compact camera from Pentax - Yeah!!! The two options for its lenses are 1) K mount, or 2) a new mount design with a K mount adapter. They probably won't do 2) because of the overlap with GXR. But 1) would be interesting.

**monochrome** · 01-12-2012, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus

I know John Carlson has said before that he thinks this forum is full of nasty people, so I don't want to add to that reputation, but when I see him do interviews I always wonder if he knows as little about what people want from Pentax as it seems like he does, or if he's just toeing the company line, so to speak.

Sux when your very own customers critically, rationally and very publicly rebuke your company's business strategy, doesn't it? I recall JC had a member profile here where he would answer questions - as long as we adhered to the admonishment that we be polite, not overly critical and not expect timely repsonses to our questions.

That lasted about - what? - a week?

**jpzk** · 01-12-2012, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by falconeye

That's sad actually.
IMHO, a 300/2.8 is a thing of the past where film was slow and image stabilization the exception.

IMHO, the thing to do is Falk Lumo: A hypothetical Pentax DFA* 500mm F5.6 ED(IF) SDMii

This is the sort of lens in which I would be highly interested, thanks for the reminder for this link.

I already have a DA*300/4 and also use a AF-A 1.7X Pentax adapter BUT !!! ... if I could go without a TC at that (500mm) focal length, I'd be one happy camper.
I am presently loking at a Sigma 500/4.5 but Ouch! the price!

Give me a high quality 500/5.6 such as the one you describe and of course I would be buying the Pentax lens.

Cheers!

JP

eddie1960 · 01-12-2012, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Sux when your very own customers critically, rationally and very publicly rebuke your company's business strategy, doesn't it? I recall JC had a member profile here where he would answer questions - as long as we adhered to the admonishment that we be polite, not overly critical and not expect timely repsonses to our questions.

That lasted about - what? - a week?

Yeah why would you want to know what your customers really want

I will give him the nature of forums is they can get nasty and it's not productive. but his skin is pretty thin. the big issue is of course that being mid level like he is he can't really tell us much we don't already know without going higher for approval to release info.
it's the Japanese end we need represented here

calcad · 01-12-2012, 01:49 PM

I would settle for a 400 f5,6 with better sdm sistem than the 300's one but I think that a 300-500 (or 200-400) f4-5,6 would be a best seller

Noisychip · 01-12-2012, 01:49 PM

Still no news on the original Japanese article? I assume the Japanese are all in bed now

Kunzite · 01-12-2012, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by philbaum

I think there's a interesting line from the John Carlson quote about the Kr:

It may be an admission that the Km, K2000, Kx Kr line is no longer competitive against the micro 4/3, Fuji and Sony compact mirrorless cameras.

It certainly doesn't sound like that.
It's standard procedure, to stop making cameras soon-to-be-replaced; they did it with every model. And the K-r will be replaced by another DSLR.

But on this forum, everything is a sign they'll go full-mirrorless

SteveM · 01-12-2012, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by Kunzite

But on this forum, everything is a sign they'll go full-mirrorless

Or K mount lenses are discontinued, or Pentax is going out of business....

s.randy · 01-12-2012, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by Aristophanes

A bigger sensor and the Q is a hit.

Small sensor + big price = fail.

I would love nothing more than to see a larger Q style camera that is K-mount and has a APS-C sensor!

glanglois · 01-12-2012, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by SteveM

Or K mount lenses are discontinued, or Pentax is going out of business....

Now stop that, Steve! Some here cannot seem to recognize your tongue when it retreats into your cheek.

Kunzite · 01-12-2012, 02:13 PM

I bet there are by now several "Breaking news: K-mount lenses discontinued, Pentax is going out of business" threads on dpreview, linking to Steve's post. By morning (GMT+3 here) someone will post about it here - and the circle will be complete

glanglois · 01-12-2012, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by Raffwal

Jumping off a bridge is a bold move. Performing seppuku is a bold move. No reason though to actually do either. Like the Q.

The fastest way to shut down innovation in a company is to criticize or punish it when it doesn't work out.

I'm not suggesting that Q was a great idea. I don't know that and I'm not sure we ever will, not knowing the opportunity cost that members here refer to..

But I'd rather that they try some new and risky ideas (some of which will surely fail) on occasion than to sit on their hands waiting until they've proved that the next decision is certain to be a winner. I worked for a company like that - once the country's largest (~ 1 M employees) - and saw it sold for a dime on the proverbial dollar.

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01-12-2012, 12:35 PM	#46
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	I know John Carlson has said before that he thinks this forum is full of nasty people, so I don't want to add to that reputation, but when I see him do interviews I always wonder if he knows as little about what people want from Pentax as it seems like he does, or if he's just toeing the company line, so to speak.

01-12-2012, 12:38 PM - 1 Like	#47
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	Originally posted by Raffwal Jumping off a bridge is a bold move. Performing seppuku is a bold move. No reason though to actually do either. Like the Q. A bigger sensor and the Q is a hit. Small sensor + big price = fail.

01-12-2012, 12:59 PM	#48
Raffwal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The North Posts: 879	Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus I know John Carlson has said before that he thinks this forum is full of nasty people, so I don't want to add to that reputation, but when I see him do interviews I always wonder if he knows as little about what people want from Pentax as it seems like he does, or if he's just toeing the company line, so to speak. I bet his leash is pretty short. He's middle management (or atleast below the top dog) at one local distributing daughter company. What he can say is defined elsewhere.

01-12-2012, 01:12 PM	#49
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	I think there's a interesting line from the John Carlson quote about the Kr: Quote: JC: That's one where the production is finished with that product. I hesitate to call it "discontinued," because there is still product in the channel. Obviously, there's material or product available out there, and it's still a great camera. It's still a very capable camera. As far as a replacement to that, I can't address that. I wouldn't call the Q a replacement for that. It may be an admission that the Km, K2000, Kx Kr line is no longer competitive against the micro 4/3, Fuji and Sony compact mirrorless cameras. I've got this hunch that the replacement for the Kr is a mirrorless compact camera from Pentax - Yeah!!! The two options for its lenses are 1) K mount, or 2) a new mount design with a K mount adapter. They probably won't do 2) because of the overlap with GXR. But 1) would be interesting.

01-12-2012, 01:17 PM	#50
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus I know John Carlson has said before that he thinks this forum is full of nasty people, so I don't want to add to that reputation, but when I see him do interviews I always wonder if he knows as little about what people want from Pentax as it seems like he does, or if he's just toeing the company line, so to speak. Sux when your very own customers critically, rationally and very publicly rebuke your company's business strategy, doesn't it? I recall JC had a member profile here where he would answer questions - as long as we adhered to the admonishment that we be polite, not overly critical and not expect timely repsonses to our questions. That lasted about - what? - a week?

01-12-2012, 01:18 PM	#51
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by falconeye That's sad actually. IMHO, a 300/2.8 is a thing of the past where film was slow and image stabilization the exception. IMHO, the thing to do is Falk Lumo: A hypothetical Pentax DFA* 500mm F5.6 ED(IF) SDMii This is the sort of lens in which I would be highly interested, thanks for the reminder for this link. I already have a DA300/4 and also use a AF-A 1.7X Pentax adapter BUT !!! ... if I could go without a TC at that (500mm) focal length, I'd be one happy camper. I am presently loking at a Sigma 500/4.5 but Ouch! the price! Give me a high quality* 500/5.6 such as the one you describe and of course I would be buying the Pentax lens. Cheers! JP

01-12-2012, 01:40 PM	#52
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by monochrome Sux when your very own customers critically, rationally and very publicly rebuke your company's business strategy, doesn't it? I recall JC had a member profile here where he would answer questions - as long as we adhered to the admonishment that we be polite, not overly critical and not expect timely repsonses to our questions. That lasted about - what? - a week? Yeah why would you want to know what your customers really want I will give him the nature of forums is they can get nasty and it's not productive. but his skin is pretty thin. the big issue is of course that being mid level like he is he can't really tell us much we don't already know without going higher for approval to release info. it's the Japanese end we need represented here

01-12-2012, 01:49 PM	#53
calcad New Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Italy Posts: 19	I would settle for a 400 f5,6 with better sdm sistem than the 300's one but I think that a 300-500 (or 200-400) f4-5,6 would be a best seller

01-12-2012, 01:49 PM	#54
Noisychip Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 282 Original Poster	Still no news on the original Japanese article? I assume the Japanese are all in bed now

01-12-2012, 01:49 PM	#55
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by philbaum I think there's a interesting line from the John Carlson quote about the Kr: It may be an admission that the Km, K2000, Kx Kr line is no longer competitive against the micro 4/3, Fuji and Sony compact mirrorless cameras. It certainly doesn't sound like that. It's standard procedure, to stop making cameras soon-to-be-replaced; they did it with every model. And the K-r will be replaced by another DSLR. But on this forum, everything is a sign they'll go full-mirrorless

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01-12-2012, 01:58 PM	#56
SteveM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Vancouver Island, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,294	Originally posted by Kunzite But on this forum, everything is a sign they'll go full-mirrorless Or K mount lenses are discontinued, or Pentax is going out of business....

01-12-2012, 02:01 PM	#57
s.randy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 177	Originally posted by Aristophanes A bigger sensor and the Q is a hit. Small sensor + big price = fail. I would love nothing more than to see a larger Q style camera that is K-mount and has a APS-C sensor!

01-12-2012, 02:07 PM	#58
glanglois Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Madison, Wis., USA Posts: 1,506	Originally posted by SteveM Or K mount lenses are discontinued, or Pentax is going out of business.... Now stop that, Steve! Some here cannot seem to recognize your tongue when it retreats into your cheek.

01-12-2012, 02:13 PM	#59
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	I bet there are by now several "Breaking news: K-mount lenses discontinued, Pentax is going out of business" threads on dpreview, linking to Steve's post. By morning (GMT+3 here) someone will post about it here - and the circle will be complete

01-12-2012, 02:17 PM	#60
glanglois Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Madison, Wis., USA Posts: 1,506	Originally posted by Raffwal Jumping off a bridge is a bold move. Performing seppuku is a bold move. No reason though to actually do either. Like the Q. The fastest way to shut down innovation in a company is to criticize or punish it when it doesn't work out. I'm not suggesting that Q was a great idea. I don't know that and I'm not sure we ever will, not knowing the opportunity cost that members here refer to.. But I'd rather that they try some new and risky ideas (some of which will surely fail) on occasion than to sit on their hands waiting until they've proved that the next decision is certain to be a winner. I worked for a company like that - once the country's largest (~ 1 M employees) - and saw it sold for a dime on the proverbial dollar.