[Adam]

Earlier today, we asked you for any comments or shout-outs that you might have for Pentax Ricoh at our interview today:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/199465-photokina-2012-...-pentax.htmlWe shared a summary of these comments with the Pentax prior to our interview.

Official reply to your comments:

1. Regarding Pentax's USA marketing/customer relations, and the distributor in New Zealand: noted
2. India is a tough market, but we (Pentax Ricoh) do plan to start selling products there in the very near future
3. We do plan on developing AF systems with a greater number of AF points
4. Regarding the full-frame: it typically takes at least 18 months to develop a new product, such as the Pentax Q, from scratch. It may take longer for larger formats. In the past, we told you that we were evaluating the market to see whether a FF body was in demand and feasible to make. Let's just say that we are looking at this particular product type more than ever right now...

A side note: Ricoh, unlike Pentax, finds individual customer feedback to be integral to its product development decisions. We will be listening to your suggestions and they will not go ignored!

The Japanese Pentax Ricoh representative took a hardcopy of the following data (which we had prepared) with them:
(Item for improvement)
(Number of votes)
Lens Lineup
*********************
Autofocus
******************
Full-Frame DSLR
****************
Flash System
************
US Public Relations/Marketing
***********
Tethering
*********
Roadmaps
********
Weather-Sealed Gear
*******
K-01 / Mirrorless
*******
Retail Availability
*******
Accessories
******
Third-Party Lens Availability
******
Ricoh GXR System
*****
Video
*****
Firmware Updates
*****
APS-C DSLR
****
No Distributor in India
**
Retro “Classics”
**
Australia Marketing
**
New Zealand Customer Satisfaction
*
Professional Services
*
645D Lenses
*
More kit offerings
*

---------

We asked two questions today on which the Pentax Ricoh representatives declined to comment:
1. Is the Pentax 18-270mm based on a Tamron design? If so, are there future plans of collaboration with Tamron?
2. What can you tell us about the in-lens shake reduction in the new D-FA 645 90mm macro lens?

Off the record, I spoke to someone else at the booth who said that yes, it's obviously a Tamron lens. His friend works for Tamron and said that it's essentially a direct clone of the lens and that is uses Tamron technology. I have a hunch that the in-lens SR was also acquired from a third party, though the lens is obviously Pentax's own.

There will be no further mention of these questions in the video interview or transcript.

Adam
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[SyncGuy]

Point number 4 is GREAT!!! Thank you Adam!

It's out now...! So those who has been waiting for so many year, if wish to, go ahead and switch system!
But do come back in 2 years time!

[Adam]

Read into it as you wish, but the Pentax/Ricoh merger happened 12 months ago. This would suggest that we can expect to hear a full-frame announcement in 6-12 month's time.

[gazonk]

Point number 4 is GREAT!!! Thank you Adam!

It's out now...! So those who has been waiting for so many year, if wish to, go ahead and switch system!
But do come back in 2 years time!

Or 1 year... Ricoh may have said "go ahead" 1 year ago - so let's say "more than 18 months" = 2 years, i.e. 1 year from now.

[Adam]

Also, when I asked them about the full-frame (even as I was reading the question), everyone couldn't help but smile. People smile when they're hiding something

They also said that the FF will NOT be at CP+, but chances were high that we'll see one in 2013. That's not to say that other shinies won't be announced at CP+!

[Clavius]

A side note: Ricoh, unlike Pentax, finds individual customer feedback to be integral to its product development decisions. We will be listening to your suggestions and they will not go ignored!

Wow! This is even better news then the part of them looking at FF. Actually, I personally find this the best Pentax news this year!

[froeschle]

Regarding the full-frame: it typically takes at least 18 months to develop a new product, such as the Pentax Q, from scratch. It may take longer for larger formats. In the past, we told you that we were evaluating the market to see whether a FF body was in demand and feasible to make. Let's just say that we are looking at this particular product type more than ever right now...

So "looking at" means, there has not yet been any development towards this direction, which will result in at least a 18+ months waiting time?

[Kenn100D]

Thanks Adam for the effort. I believe the 18 months study of FF has already started last year or so. (FF next year?) Now that all the players lay there cards down, its time to study the market.

[Adam]

So "looking at" means, there has not yet been any development towards this direction, which will result in at least a 18+ months waiting time?

Unfortunately he couldn't be very direct about it, but I did get the impression that the idea has been in the works for a while now.

[D4rknezz]

Thanks Adam
Great work !

[SyncGuy]

I'm betting 2 years! Hey, that's a decent time actually!
C'mon.... Atleast it means some of you guys can actually spend at least 2 years to play with a new set of "toys" in peace; Canikon FF, without worries!

[ogl]

NO FF till the spring of 2013 - no any serious future for Pentax Ricoh...IMO
They will miss the train of modern photo market forever.

no HIGH-END APS-C camera till January, 2013 - really bad...
if they will announce it at CP+, it means that the cameras will be on sale from March, 2013....
K-5 will be almost 2.5 year old!!!!

Amen

[NightPorter]

Also, when I asked them about the full-frame (even as I was reading the question), everyone couldn't help but smile. People smile when they're hiding something

They also said that the FF will NOT be at CP+, but chances were high that we'll see one in 2013. That's not to say that other shinies won't be announced at CP+!

Thanks for your report
Their reaction sounds strange but your meaning seems a good news in 2013 (if we can still survive after 21th Dec, 2012)

[jatrax]

A side note: Ricoh, unlike Pentax, finds individual customer feedback to be integral to its product development decisions. We will be listening to your suggestions and they will not go ignored!

A Ricoh representative actually said that? Seems like a real slap in the face to Pentax from Ricoh if that is true. Not saying it is not good to hear but you usually do not hear upper management disparage their employees in public. It's just not done.

[french_mike]

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