Tethering for APS-C? Pentax USA open to the idea

Docrwm · 01-12-2012, 10:58 AM

In an interview published today at Imaging Resource online, John Carlson, Senior Manager of Sales and Marketing at Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp., stated that:

DE: On the APS-C cameras, do you think we'll see tethering software come back at some point? Is there really a shift, like there was in demand for it?
JC: Yeah, I think it was a matter of not much demand, and I think what we'd like to do at least here in the U.S. is explore third-party options that will work with our products.
DE: Do you have some efforts underway, working with third-party folks?
JC: Not currently, no.
DE: But you're open to it if someone came to you.
JC: Yep, definitely.

So, how about PK Tether getting some support from Pentax officially?

ducdao · 01-12-2012, 11:07 AM

Well let's remember that John is "only" a Senior Manager in sales and marketing. I don't think he has any weights when it comes to final decision making process. He can recommend for sure but it has a long way to go.

Of course, they should be open to the tethering, they better, since all their serious competitors support it and their loyals fans want it 10 years ago. Wake up Pentax or PRIC!

Edit - hmm confusing is he a VP or Senior Manager?

ofer4 · 01-12-2012, 12:13 PM

I wonder why 3rd party? If you own the firmware, it seems like one in-house designer/engineer could probably handle this project. Or is this too simplistic of me?

Mister Horrible · 01-12-2012, 12:14 PM

Seems a bit disingenious: "Oh yes, if someone wanted to develop tethering for our cameras, we'd let them."

jake14mw · 01-12-2012, 12:24 PM

Let's not take this thread down the same path as the Full Frame thread went because of the thread title. He was asked a question about tethering, said there wasn't much demand for it, they are not currently working on it, but might work with someone if they are willing to do the work. That's not much of a positive response.

Moo · 01-12-2012, 01:05 PM

If they published protocol details etc, that would make it much easier for third parties to produce software.
I'm guessing being "open to it" means they might give the details to someone if they asked... But perhaps only for the right price? Or to the "right" third party?

mattdm · 01-12-2012, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by ducdao

Well let's remember that John is "only" a Senior Manager in sales and marketing.

And for Pentax USA. It's become pretty clear that, while they seem to be good people and all, their connection to the real Pentax company is roughly the same as that of Bogen to Metz — they're the US marketer and distributor. While their feedback on some matters has more weight than ours, they don't set what goes on — or hear about long in advance, or hear all the technical details.

This isn't meant to be disparaging. It's just the reality.

Noisychip · 01-12-2012, 01:47 PM

As far as I know there is tethering software that is said to work pretty good with all Pentax DSLRs from the last 5 years or so.

pkTriggerCord
PK_Tether | Tethering and remote control software for Pentax DSLR cameras

Or maybe I misunderstood the term 'tethering' ....?

bobmaxja · 01-12-2012, 01:56 PM

It,S still beta under 1 , version 0.6.1

sjwaldron · 01-12-2012, 02:00 PM

Pentax should put out the complete specification to teathering. It would make improvements to the few open source projects a lot easier I'm sure. Maybe we should send some emails out to Pentax USA requesting that data?

Verglace · 01-12-2012, 02:20 PM

They should open up the protocols and maybe provide an SDK it would be good for software developers like me.

Docrwm · 01-12-2012, 02:51 PM

I did not put this up as a bash on Pentax or Pentax USA. I simply know that tethering is a regular issue and that Pentax had official tethering for previous dSLR models. I saw an answer from an official, even if he's only from marketing, and saw it as an opening.

mattdm · 01-12-2012, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

I did not put this up as a bash on Pentax of Pentax USA. I simply know that tethering is a regular issue and that Pentax had official tethering for previous dSLR models. I saw an answer from an official, even if he's only from marketing, and saw it as an opening.

I'm not bashing. To the contrary, I think that hoping for more than they can do from Pentax USA sets up unrealistic expectations.

bwDraco · 01-12-2012, 03:52 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by dcshooter

Anyone know tkos, the PKtether author? Perhaps it would be helpful to suggest he reach out to Pentax, as they might be more receptive to opening up to someone who has a semi-working project already, especially given the content of this interview.

I've sent him a PM.

Edit: I got a response from tkos, but I'm not going to post it here. I'll wait for him to post to this thread.

--DragonLord

dougfrey · 01-12-2012, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by mattdm

And for Pentax USA. It's become pretty clear that, while they seem to be good people and all, their connection to the real Pentax company is roughly the same as that of Bogen to Metz — they're the US marketer and distributor. While their feedback on some matters has more weight than ours, they don't set what goes on — or hear about long in advance, or hear all the technical details.

This isn't meant to be disparaging. It's just the reality.

I have worked for Japanese companies for over 20 years, and this is typical business style (relationship between Japan and US subsidiary) for Japanese companies. It not necessarily bad news.

01-12-2012, 10:58 AM	#1
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Tethering for APS-C? Pentax USA open to the idea In an interview published today at Imaging Resource online, John Carlson, Senior Manager of Sales and Marketing at Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp., stated that: DE: On the APS-C cameras, do you think we'll see tethering software come back at some point? Is there really a shift, like there was in demand for it? JC: Yeah, I think it was a matter of not much demand, and I think what we'd like to do at least here in the U.S. is explore third-party options that will work with our products. DE: Do you have some efforts underway, working with third-party folks? JC: Not currently, no. DE: But you're open to it if someone came to you. JC: Yep, definitely. So, how about PK Tether getting some support from Pentax officially?

01-12-2012, 11:07 AM	#2
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Well let's remember that John is "only" a Senior Manager in sales and marketing. I don't think he has any weights when it comes to final decision making process. He can recommend for sure but it has a long way to go. Of course, they should be open to the tethering, they better, since all their serious competitors support it and their loyals fans want it 10 years ago. Wake up Pentax or PRIC! Edit - hmm confusing is he a VP or Senior Manager? Last edited by ducdao; 01-12-2012 at 11:13 AM.

01-12-2012, 02:51 PM	#12
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	I did not put this up as a bash on Pentax or Pentax USA. I simply know that tethering is a regular issue and that Pentax had official tethering for previous dSLR models. I saw an answer from an official, even if he's only from marketing, and saw it as an opening. Last edited by Docrwm; 01-12-2012 at 05:21 PM.

01-12-2012, 03:52 PM - 2 Likes	#14
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071	Originally posted by dcshooter Anyone know tkos, the PKtether author? Perhaps it would be helpful to suggest he reach out to Pentax, as they might be more receptive to opening up to someone who has a semi-working project already, especially given the content of this interview. I've sent him a PM. Edit: I got a response from tkos, but I'm not going to post it here. I'll wait for him to post to this thread. --DragonLord Last edited by bwDraco; 01-12-2012 at 05:17 PM.

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01-12-2012, 12:13 PM	#3
ofer4 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 428	I wonder why 3rd party? If you own the firmware, it seems like one in-house designer/engineer could probably handle this project. Or is this too simplistic of me?

01-12-2012, 12:14 PM	#4
Mister Horrible Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 100	Seems a bit disingenious: "Oh yes, if someone wanted to develop tethering for our cameras, we'd let them."

01-12-2012, 12:24 PM	#5
jake14mw Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 977	Let's not take this thread down the same path as the Full Frame thread went because of the thread title. He was asked a question about tethering, said there wasn't much demand for it, they are not currently working on it, but might work with someone if they are willing to do the work. That's not much of a positive response.

01-12-2012, 01:05 PM	#6
Moo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 173	If they published protocol details etc, that would make it much easier for third parties to produce software. I'm guessing being "open to it" means they might give the details to someone if they asked... But perhaps only for the right price? Or to the "right" third party?

01-12-2012, 01:17 PM	#7
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by ducdao Well let's remember that John is "only" a Senior Manager in sales and marketing. And for Pentax USA. It's become pretty clear that, while they seem to be good people and all, their connection to the real Pentax company is roughly the same as that of Bogen to Metz — they're the US marketer and distributor. While their feedback on some matters has more weight than ours, they don't set what goes on — or hear about long in advance, or hear all the technical details. This isn't meant to be disparaging. It's just the reality.

01-12-2012, 01:47 PM	#8
Noisychip Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 282	As far as I know there is tethering software that is said to work pretty good with all Pentax DSLRs from the last 5 years or so. pkTriggerCord PK_Tether \| Tethering and remote control software for Pentax DSLR cameras Or maybe I misunderstood the term 'tethering' ....?

01-12-2012, 01:56 PM	#9
bobmaxja Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laval, Quebec Canada Posts: 2,171	It,S still beta under 1 , version 0.6.1

01-12-2012, 02:00 PM	#10
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	Pentax should put out the complete specification to teathering. It would make improvements to the few open source projects a lot easier I'm sure. Maybe we should send some emails out to Pentax USA requesting that data?

01-12-2012, 02:20 PM	#11
Verglace Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 468	They should open up the protocols and maybe provide an SDK it would be good for software developers like me.

01-12-2012, 03:43 PM	#13
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by Docrwm I did not put this up as a bash on Pentax of Pentax USA. I simply know that tethering is a regular issue and that Pentax had official tethering for previous dSLR models. I saw an answer from an official, even if he's only from marketing, and saw it as an opening. I'm not bashing. To the contrary, I think that hoping for more than they can do from Pentax USA sets up unrealistic expectations.

01-12-2012, 09:05 PM	#15
dougfrey Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Algonquin, IL Posts: 26	Originally posted by mattdm And for Pentax USA. It's become pretty clear that, while they seem to be good people and all, their connection to the real Pentax company is roughly the same as that of Bogen to Metz — they're the US marketer and distributor. While their feedback on some matters has more weight than ours, they don't set what goes on — or hear about long in advance, or hear all the technical details. This isn't meant to be disparaging. It's just the reality. I have worked for Japanese companies for over 20 years, and this is typical business style (relationship between Japan and US subsidiary) for Japanese companies. It not necessarily bad news.