Originally posted by Kunzite ..
"alleged Ricoh's performance and promises"... interesting choice of words. I see you didn't answer: what exactly must happen before you'd acknowledge that "one iota" was changed? ...
This is an interesting question, to which I don't have a precise answer. Everyone has different expectations, and any progress is reflected through the prism of an individual's own vision.
However, what I was arguing about, is that I cannot see anything new and improved happening in the Pentax kingdom that could not be done by Pentax's old ways, using same old means and efforts. And not just that, but so far, not a single Pentax camera or product has been introduced that clearly shows significant time spent on core product enhancement which many Pentax product beg for. Yet we have seen a core enhancement of a Ricoh product.
Say, the new GR is a total overhaul of the old GR digital. I don't doubt even for a second that the new GR would be impossible to accomplish for Ricoh without some significant help from Pentax. In fact, I can go so far and say that the new GR is Pentax's child, only bearing Ricoh's name and software. So I know for sure that Pentax has worked hard on the new GR during the last 12-18 months. The exam passed with flying colours.
But what product, originally designed by Pentax, was worked on so diligently and improved upon? None so far. K50 is repacked K30 done under Hoya, it's almost the same camera. K5II is repacked K5. Q7 is almost same as Q10. Pentax's 18-135 repacked Tamron.
Pentax's own core products (DSLRs) get a facelift, but Ricoh's product get a ground up rethinking. Starting from much more refined and humanised touches to the handling of camera, to the GR lens, which has magnificent Pentax SMC coating.
The entry level offer, like the MX-1 et al, was designed in collaboration with third party suppliers, as stated by Ricoh CEO in the recent shareholder's meeting. So that is not original Pentax's camera in the real essence of that word; the lens in MX-1 is variation on one done by Sanyo for Olympus, and packaging / outer design is done Pentax. To minimise R&D cost, that's for sure.
You see, what I would like to see — finally and rather sooner than later – is a Pentax camera or lens that has been built up thoroughly by Pentax, and that was clearly done with Ricoh's financial, operational, marketing and distribution help. Why not show something entirely new so far for Pentax? Pentax users are not dumb — we know all too well what is old and what is new and what is repackaging and what is groundbreaking new. Even new colours are not new — Pentax has thought of it during the Hoya's management.
In fact, Pentax did A LOT for itself during Hoya. It all sustains us now.
So far I see that Ricoh really benefits from this marriage. But I'm yet to see whether the Ricoh's spouse is happy too and improves significantly its own merits, talents, fares and assets.