[Kunzite]

Well word I got was that when Ricoh took control of Pentax, the first thing management did was lay off people in the camera division.

I would be surprised if that really happened; as Pentax had (maybe still has) a shortage of qualified people.

[creampuff]

I would be surprised if that really happened; as Pentax had (maybe still has) a shortage of qualified people.

I think you read it wrong... from what I heard, Ricoh management axed Ricoh camera engineers to be replaced by Pentax staff. All part of staff redundancies and corporate restructuring.

[Kunzite]

We even had a thread or two about it:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/173978-pentax-re-hirin...t-go-hoya.html
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/173676-new-lenses-pent...engineers.html
If Pentax indeed hired and/or is hiring engineers, it would be strange IMO to fire the Ricoh ones. Unless they're incompetent, which I doubt.

Maybe what was axed were positions outside of R&D?

[lytrytyr]

Check this link:

Re-organization of Imaging Systems Business including Digital Camera Business / News Release | Ricoh Global

Pentax unit: Consumer businesses such as digital cameras for B2C market
(This includes Ricoh development resources to improve capabilities and support Ricoh branded cameras)

Ricoh unit: B2B businesses including security system business, and imaging solutions business for B2B market

[Kunzite]

Yes, apparently the Ricoh consumer cameras R&D resources were moved to Pentax Ricoh - and I really can't see why it would be otherwise.

[Laurentiu Cristofor]

We will release a new camera in 2013. I believe it is a very Ricoh camera that our core Ricoh users will appreciate.

A new generation of GXR that offers mount+sensor modules instead of lens+sensor modules would be interesting., especially if they have some FF modules down the roadmap.

[IchabodCrane]

A new generation of GXR that offers mount+sensor modules instead of lens+sensor modules would be interesting., especially if they have some FF modules down the roadmap.

Indeed, this would be a game changing product, IMHO.

[frank]

There was a little absence from Ricoh branded cameras, but we can expect a come back?

Yes, we will come back strong. For our customers who have been waiting for a Ricoh branded camera, please stay tuned.

It's too soon to release another dSLR since K5II/K5IIs were out just a few months ago. Probably they'd make a Ricoh branded p&s camera even though it's developed by Pentax (since Ricoh camera division has been merged into Pentax already)?

But then, I don't see how they'd come back strong if it's just a p&s camera

[ElJamoquio]

It's too soon to release another dSLR since K5II/K5IIs were out just a few months ago.

Nikon:
D5200 November
D600 September
D3200 April
D800 Feb
D4 Jan

The D4,D600,andD800 were all major overhauls. I don't know anything about the other two cameras. In either case it's one DSLR short of a camera every-other-month.

The K5->K5II was a minor refreshing IMO. Nice but not 'wow'. Announced in Sep and shipped 1.5 months later. If Pentax announces in late Jan it'll be one and one-half DSLR's in ~2.5 years.

[Laurentiu Cristofor]

All the Pentax products released since Ricoh took over were just bidding time. It remains to be seen what they were bidding time for.

[frank]

Nikon:
D5200 November
D600 September
D3200 April
D800 Feb
D4 Jan

The D4,D600,andD800 were all major overhauls. I don't know anything about the other two cameras. In either case it's one DSLR short of a camera every-other-month.

The K5->K5II was a minor refreshing IMO. Nice but not 'wow'. Announced in Sep and shipped 1.5 months later. If Pentax announces in late Jan it'll be one and one-half DSLR's in ~2.5 years.

Pentax is not Nikon. They won't be able to release so many dSLR cameras in such a short period of time.

Anyway, CP+ is close. Let's see what Ricoh will give us this round

[the swede]

Any Forum people present at CP?

[Fogel70]

A new generation of GXR that offers mount+sensor modules instead of lens+sensor modules would be interesting., especially if they have some FF modules down the roadmap.

It would be easy for them to design a new mount for GXR (a short register MILC mount). And they could easily use the optics from existing modules for new lenses.

And if they also design a K-mount module it might be the best mirrorless system for K-mount users.

Another idea is if they design a module with a generic mount design with an open software and hardware specification, so someone can easily create full support adapters for any existing mount. Including electronic aperture control and AF.

[ElJamoquio]

Pentax is not Nikon. They won't be able to release so many dSLR cameras in such a short period of time.

I'm quite aware. But Nikon has done that in one year. If Pentax can't keep up with, say, 1/3rd of the release rate of Nikon, they will have to give up the ghost.

Look at automobile manufacturers... Chrysler may sell 1/5th the vehicles of Toyota, GM, or VW, but for any given segment in which Chrysler wants to compete, they have to redesign at roughly the same rate as the competition.

[Kunzite]

1/3 should be quite easy for them, keeping in mind they're working on increasing their capacity.
In the same 2012, they had 4 cameras - although 1 was the Q10, and the K-5 II(s) was an "old' model made better. I'll venture to guess that next year we should see at least 3 new cameras, plus maybe another Q.
About lenses, they were only 1 lens behind Nikon; even if with only 2 ambitious projects (the 560mm and the stabilized D FA645 90mm).