[cadmus]

This news article / interview with Jonathan Martin was published this morning on amateurphotographer.co.uk:
Pentax hints at new DSLR camera news - Amateur Photographer - news, camera reviews, lens reviews, camera equipment guides, photography courses, competitions, photography forums

Martin, Pentax Imaging general manager, said nothing overly surprising but the article claims:
"the Pentax name will continue"
"Ricoh has indicated that it plans to expand Pentax's camera business and re-hire engineers that Hoya dispensed with"
"Pentax plans to attend next month's CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging show in Japan, so it seems likely the firm will announce new products there." thats nice, and reassuring.
"[Jonathan Martin] remained tight-lipped when asked whether we can expect a full-frame camera."

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Last edited by cadmus; 01-31-2012 at 08:17 AM.

[Asahiflex]

Please God, let them re-hire Jun Hirakawa!

[rvannatta]

well if it's anything other than the mirrorless wonder that has a piles of messages here, it would be an astounding job of securiti given the total absence of leaks about anything else.

[JinDesu]

Additional important quote:

"Martin told AP: 'We have the K5, the KR, nothing in the middle and nothing above it.'"

Lovely to hear. Maybe the K-01 coming out is to be in the middle, and I would love to see what's going to be above.

But subsequent important quote:

"Yet he stressed that, just because CSCs may seem to pose a greater threat to lower-end DSLRs, this doesn't automatically mean Pentax is set to launch a high-end DSLR."

YES IT DOES. RELEASE A HIGH END DSLR! DO ITTTT

[Mehlsack]

maybe nobody thought it was worth stealing/ leaking :P

[cadmus]

I also found a summery of Hoya's earning reports from this last year. Article is from today and reports were released today or yesterday.
All quarters negative.
Hoya Reports Third Quarter Results and Full-Year Forecasts - MarketWatch

I figured this was not worth it's own thread but if i am wrong tell me and i will repost it

[Pål Jensen]

well if it's anything other than the mirrorless wonder that has a piles of messages here, it would be an astounding job of securiti given the total absence of leaks about anything else.

A replacement for the K-r is expected...

[JinDesu]

I also found a summery of Hoya's earning reports from this last year. Article is from today and reports were released today or yesterday.
All quarters negative.
Hoya Reports Third Quarter Results and Full-Year Forecasts - MarketWatch

I figured this was not worth it's own thread but if i am wrong tell me and i will repost it

That's interesting - Hoya is only proceeding with the medical market, no?

What about Ricoh's forecasts?

[normhead]

Hirakawa Jun[1] (平川純, born ca. 1962) is a Japanese lens designer. He was responsible for lens designs like the following:
DA 10-17mm Fish-Eye
DA 14mm f2.8
FA ★ 24mm F2.0 AL
FA 28mm F2. 8AL
FA 35mm F2
DA 40mm F2.8 Limited
FA 43mm F1.9 Limited
DA ★ 55mm F1.4 SDM
FA 77mm F1.8 Limited
FA ★ 80-200 F2.8
FA ★ 85mm F1.4 (IF)
He worked for Pentax until 2010.

Camerapedia

[ducdao]

Additional important quote:

"Martin told AP: 'We have the K5, the KR, nothing in the middle and nothing above it.'"

Lovely to hear. Maybe the K-01 coming out is to be in the middle, and I would love to see what's going to be above.

But subsequent important quote:

"Yet he stressed that, just because CSCs may seem to pose a greater threat to lower-end DSLRs, this doesn't automatically mean Pentax is set to launch a high-end DSLR."

YES IT DOES. RELEASE A HIGH END DSLR! DO ITTTT

"'We have the K5, the KR..." should have been "'We have the K5 and HAD the KR"

They really need to replace the KR first.

[ogl]

"'We have the K5, the KR..." should have been "'We have the K5 and HAD the KR"

They really need to replace the KR first.

By the way, K-r's replacement is not planned to be released...IMO
As I understand - we will see K-5's replacement and camera above K-5 this year. K-01 is instead of K-r.

[LaurenOE]

"Ricoh has indicated that it plans to expand Pentax's camera business and re-hire engineers that Hoya dispensed with"

I can't believe how good THAT news is!!!

Will the REAL Pentax engineers please stand up!!!

[m8o]

Additional important quote:

"Martin told AP: 'We have the K5, the KR, nothing in the middle and nothing above it.'"

Lovely to hear. Maybe the K-01 coming out is to be in the middle, and I would love to see what's going to be above.

I didn't think anything needed to be between the K-5 and K-r ... [???] Given marketing of competitor and Pentax's market position to them, I'd think that would only serve to dilute and confuse the buyer on the Pentax offerings, and only steal sales away within the brand.

I hadn't been thinking the upcoming K-01 would have been looked at as something between the two ... but hey, maybe I need to re-jigger my thinking.

Any [real] news [like this] is great news to hear.

[eddie1960]

Please God, let them re-hire Jun Hirakawa!

yeeessss!!!!
he was responsible for pretty much all the best lenses Pentax made in the last 20 years except the FA31

[maxfield_photo]

Please God, let them re-hire Jun Hirakawa!

+1

mmmm.... DFA* 80-200 2.8 <drool>