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jsherman999 · 09-22-2012, 11:23 PM

Originally posted by winder

they should have announced that at the show..... It would have been bigger than any product the showed.

+1

.

MMVIII · 09-22-2012, 11:30 PM

Originally posted by LFLee

The original poster said it was a mistake. He thought that was a new patent but apparently is some kind of giving out/separate his right of the DA10-17 design.

Ok, this was a misunderstanding, right? There is no hint Hirakawa may be involved in any new PRIC developments, right? Just to make this clear before the rumourmill starts spinning too fast

LINCOLN · 09-23-2012, 03:10 AM

Sorry it is me to post that news.....
I was too exciting and post that news before even go through the whole patent.....

RonHendriks1966 · 09-23-2012, 03:35 AM

I don't get all the fuss, but......................well I have some lenses from his design.....................they are nice......................and next to Marc Newson he is my favorite designer

**Pål Jensen** · 09-23-2012, 03:58 AM

Originally posted by jva59

Wow! Hope this is true. The 77 & the 31 are such wonderful lenses.

He was not involved in the 31mm design.

RonHendriks1966 · 09-23-2012, 05:18 AM

Nice line-up:

Hirakawa Jun - Camerapedia

I owned 14mm wich is fantastic. And have 40mmLtd, 55mm and 85mm wich are al great!

Docrwm · 09-23-2012, 06:31 AM

Originally posted by Adam

Pentax needs to get a lot done before they can launch an FX system, so this is great news!

Adam,
Any chance of following up on this and finding out if it is true? Rehiring Mr. Hirakawa Jun shouldn't be a corporate secret, and it would really ignite some positive energy (which is sorely lacking right now) toward Pentax-Ricoh if they confirmed this rumor.

Blue · 09-23-2012, 06:57 AM - **1 Like**

A few months ago there had been some discussion that some of the Pentax engineers let go by Hoya were being brought back. Keep in mind if Hirakawa is back, it doesn't automatically mean there is or is not a FF on the horizon. He also designed several DA lenses including the DA 40 LTD, DA 14/2.8 and the DA 10-17mm FE and also the DA* 55/1.4. That said, he is one of the better Pentax engineers and designers in recent times.

Docrwm · 09-23-2012, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by Blue

A few months ago there had been some discussion that some of the Pentax engineers let go by Hoya were being brought back. Keep in mind if Hirakawa is back, it doesn't automatically mean there is or is not a FF on the horizon. He also designed several DA lenses including the DA 40 LTD, DA 14/2.8 and the DA 10-17mm FE and also the DA* 55/1.4. That said, he is one of the better Pentax engineers and designers in recent times.

I agree on all counts. FF is not the main issue for me, never has been, but I think we can all agree that Pentax needs the best engineers and designers it can possibly get to work on new glass if it is to succeed.

bobell69 · 09-23-2012, 08:27 AM

Does anyone know how long it takes to design a lens from beginning to production? Just wondering if a lens design is the result of many months of design work by a team or an individual. I see Pentax currenty developing one or two lenses a year in the K mount, and about one every 18 months or so in the 645 mount. Is it reasonable to assume that if focused on one mount only that a ramp up could deliver three to five or more quality K mount lenses in a year?

Blue · 09-23-2012, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by bobell69

Does anyone know how long it takes to design a lens from beginning to production? Just wondering if a lens design is the result of many months of design work by a team or an individual. I see Pentax currenty developing one or two lenses a year in the K mount, and about one every 18 months or so in the 645 mount. Is it reasonable to assume that if focused on one mount only that a ramp up could deliver three to five or more quality K mount lenses in a year?

In most cases, they don't have to start from scratch on lenses due to their long history in design. Heck, they out to slip some of their designs into F-mount.

Docrwm · 09-23-2012, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by bobell69

Does anyone know how long it takes to design a lens from beginning to production? Just wondering if a lens design is the result of many months of design work by a team or an individual. I see Pentax currenty developing one or two lenses a year in the K mount, and about one every 18 months or so in the 645 mount. Is it reasonable to assume that if focused on one mount only that a ramp up could deliver three to five or more quality K mount lenses in a year?

They have been laboring under very difficult conditions because of the bean counters of Hoya, Hoya fired or "retired" many of the best of the lens engineers/designers several years back. That has put Pentax in a really deep hole IMHO because they have had to rely on old designs for the most part. It has not helped that they have also had to service three mounts - 645, K, and now the Q - with the Q requiring an entire lineup to start off. Ricoh announced that they were rehiring designers/engineers almost the day they acquired Pentax from Hoya. There is currently speculation that Hirakawa Jun is back on board designing lenses (lets all hope that is true) because he did some of the best designs Pentax has in their line. I'm sure that there are many involved in the ultimate production of a lens but all the stories refer to a single engineer as the father of a specific lens, so having more capable engineers back at their designs stations can only make it more likely that Pentax will produce outstanding lenses.....again.

**Fontan** · 09-23-2012, 08:57 AM - **1 Like**

He didn't get forced out. He left on his own accord, and went to work for Canon, and still does now. Please. Stop this nonsense about Hoya being this or that. Pentax became more or less a hobby for one of the sons of the CEO. There were some family feuds over this, with Pentax losing money at the time when the bad economy was dragging the company south and the stockholders got pissy. Hoya's interest in Pentax was the medical device division, something they always aspired to get into. But they did thei best not to derail the path that Pentax was already onto.

Blue · 09-23-2012, 09:26 AM

Originally posted by Fontan

He didn't get forced out. He left on his own accord, and went to work for Canon, and still does now. Please. Stop this nonsense about Hoya being this or that. Pentax became more or less a hobby for one of the sons of the CEO. There were some family feuds over this, with Pentax losing money at the time when the bad economy was dragging the company south and the stockholders got pissy. Hoya's interest in Pentax was the medical device division, something they always aspired to get into. But they did thei best not to derail the path that Pentax was already onto.

Do you have any verification of this? Or any Canon lenses he worked on?

Docrwm · 09-23-2012, 09:43 AM

Originally posted by Blue

Do you have any verification of this? Or any Canon lenses he worked on?

Ditto. EVERY source I have found online says the same thing - he retired (or was forced to retire) and nothing I have seen says anything about working for Canon. I'll look but giving some source for the one differing voice isn't asking too much.

Here is a Japanese Language interview with one of Hirakawa, Jun (平川纯) colleagues who also "retired" from Pentax but went over to Nikon and is happily working away at lens designs for them. In it he laments these early retirements and the loss to the field of Hirakawa, Jun (平川纯) abilities. The implication is clear that he is NOT working as a lens design engineer at that point at all, for anyone.

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20101001_397410.html

09-23-2012, 08:57 AM - 1 Like	#28
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610	He didn't get forced out. He left on his own accord, and went to work for Canon, and still does now. Please. Stop this nonsense about Hoya being this or that. Pentax became more or less a hobby for one of the sons of the CEO. There were some family feuds over this, with Pentax losing money at the time when the bad economy was dragging the company south and the stockholders got pissy. Hoya's interest in Pentax was the medical device division, something they always aspired to get into. But they did thei best not to derail the path that Pentax was already onto. Last edited by Fontan; 09-23-2012 at 09:02 AM.

09-23-2012, 09:43 AM	#30
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Blue Do you have any verification of this? Or any Canon lenses he worked on? Ditto. EVERY source I have found online says the same thing - he retired (or was forced to retire) and nothing I have seen says anything about working for Canon. I'll look but giving some source for the one differing voice isn't asking too much. Here is a Japanese Language interview with one of Hirakawa, Jun (平川纯) colleagues who also "retired" from Pentax but went over to Nikon and is happily working away at lens designs for them. In it he laments these early retirements and the loss to the field of Hirakawa, Jun (平川纯) abilities. The implication is clear that he is NOT working as a lens design engineer at that point at all, for anyone. http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20101001_397410.html Last edited by Docrwm; 09-23-2012 at 09:50 AM.

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09-22-2012, 11:23 PM	#16
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by winder they should have announced that at the show..... It would have been bigger than any product the showed. +1 .

09-22-2012, 11:30 PM	#17
MMVIII Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: EU Posts: 1,121	Originally posted by LFLee The original poster said it was a mistake. He thought that was a new patent but apparently is some kind of giving out/separate his right of the DA10-17 design. Ok, this was a misunderstanding, right? There is no hint Hirakawa may be involved in any new PRIC developments, right? Just to make this clear before the rumourmill starts spinning too fast

09-23-2012, 03:10 AM	#18
LINCOLN New Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: CANTON, CHINA Posts: 11	Sorry it is me to post that news..... I was too exciting and post that news before even go through the whole patent.....

09-23-2012, 03:35 AM	#19
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	I don't get all the fuss, but......................well I have some lenses from his design.....................they are nice......................and next to Marc Newson he is my favorite designer

09-23-2012, 03:58 AM	#20
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Originally posted by jva59 Wow! Hope this is true. The 77 & the 31 are such wonderful lenses. He was not involved in the 31mm design.

09-23-2012, 05:18 AM	#21
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Nice line-up: Hirakawa Jun - Camerapedia I owned 14mm wich is fantastic. And have 40mmLtd, 55mm and 85mm wich are al great!

09-23-2012, 06:31 AM	#22
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Adam Pentax needs to get a lot done before they can launch an FX system, so this is great news! Adam, Any chance of following up on this and finding out if it is true? Rehiring Mr. Hirakawa Jun shouldn't be a corporate secret, and it would really ignite some positive energy (which is sorely lacking right now) toward Pentax-Ricoh if they confirmed this rumor.

09-23-2012, 06:57 AM - 1 Like	#23
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	A few months ago there had been some discussion that some of the Pentax engineers let go by Hoya were being brought back. Keep in mind if Hirakawa is back, it doesn't automatically mean there is or is not a FF on the horizon. He also designed several DA lenses including the DA 40 LTD, DA 14/2.8 and the DA 10-17mm FE and also the DA* 55/1.4. That said, he is one of the better Pentax engineers and designers in recent times.

09-23-2012, 08:24 AM	#24
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Blue A few months ago there had been some discussion that some of the Pentax engineers let go by Hoya were being brought back. Keep in mind if Hirakawa is back, it doesn't automatically mean there is or is not a FF on the horizon. He also designed several DA lenses including the DA 40 LTD, DA 14/2.8 and the DA 10-17mm FE and also the DA* 55/1.4. That said, he is one of the better Pentax engineers and designers in recent times. I agree on all counts. FF is not the main issue for me, never has been, but I think we can all agree that Pentax needs the best engineers and designers it can possibly get to work on new glass if it is to succeed.

09-23-2012, 08:27 AM	#25
bobell69 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Courtenay BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 498	Does anyone know how long it takes to design a lens from beginning to production? Just wondering if a lens design is the result of many months of design work by a team or an individual. I see Pentax currenty developing one or two lenses a year in the K mount, and about one every 18 months or so in the 645 mount. Is it reasonable to assume that if focused on one mount only that a ramp up could deliver three to five or more quality K mount lenses in a year?

09-23-2012, 08:32 AM	#26
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by bobell69 Does anyone know how long it takes to design a lens from beginning to production? Just wondering if a lens design is the result of many months of design work by a team or an individual. I see Pentax currenty developing one or two lenses a year in the K mount, and about one every 18 months or so in the 645 mount. Is it reasonable to assume that if focused on one mount only that a ramp up could deliver three to five or more quality K mount lenses in a year? In most cases, they don't have to start from scratch on lenses due to their long history in design. Heck, they out to slip some of their designs into F-mount.

09-23-2012, 08:32 AM	#27
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by bobell69 Does anyone know how long it takes to design a lens from beginning to production? Just wondering if a lens design is the result of many months of design work by a team or an individual. I see Pentax currenty developing one or two lenses a year in the K mount, and about one every 18 months or so in the 645 mount. Is it reasonable to assume that if focused on one mount only that a ramp up could deliver three to five or more quality K mount lenses in a year? They have been laboring under very difficult conditions because of the bean counters of Hoya, Hoya fired or "retired" many of the best of the lens engineers/designers several years back. That has put Pentax in a really deep hole IMHO because they have had to rely on old designs for the most part. It has not helped that they have also had to service three mounts - 645, K, and now the Q - with the Q requiring an entire lineup to start off. Ricoh announced that they were rehiring designers/engineers almost the day they acquired Pentax from Hoya. There is currently speculation that Hirakawa Jun is back on board designing lenses (lets all hope that is true) because he did some of the best designs Pentax has in their line. I'm sure that there are many involved in the ultimate production of a lens but all the stories refer to a single engineer as the father of a specific lens, so having more capable engineers back at their designs stations can only make it more likely that Pentax will produce outstanding lenses.....again.

09-23-2012, 09:26 AM	#29
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Fontan He didn't get forced out. He left on his own accord, and went to work for Canon, and still does now. Please. Stop this nonsense about Hoya being this or that. Pentax became more or less a hobby for one of the sons of the CEO. There were some family feuds over this, with Pentax losing money at the time when the bad economy was dragging the company south and the stockholders got pissy. Hoya's interest in Pentax was the medical device division, something they always aspired to get into. But they did thei best not to derail the path that Pentax was already onto. Do you have any verification of this? Or any Canon lenses he worked on?

Hirakawa Jun back to Pentax/Ricoh?

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!