Ricoh Selling Off or Licensing Pentax Designs/Patents?

Ducky62 · 07-16-2013, 07:25 PM

This discontinued Pentax 100SDUF astrograph 100SDUF II???????????PENTAX RICOH IMAGING appears to be coming back as a Vixen offering http://www.vixen.co.jp/en/img/lp/vsd/topbnr_130705_en.jpg.

Last edited by Ducky62; 07-16-2013 at 08:26 PM.

stevebrot · 07-16-2013, 07:32 PM

Pentax is doomed!

Docrwm · 07-16-2013, 07:38 PM

If it's been discontinued where is the problem is licensing its manufacture by another company? Is Pentax leaving the telescope field?

**ramseybuckeye** · 07-16-2013, 07:56 PM

??? I don't see the resemblance in the photo or anything on the Vixen page to the Pentax telescope.

I do find it interesting that the Pentax website has a link to the Pentax Ceramics Division, and at the bottom of the page it says "Copyright © 2010 HOYA Corporation All rights reserved"

Ducky62 · 07-16-2013, 08:05 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

If it's been discontinued where is the problem is licensing its manufacture by another company? Is Pentax leaving the telescope field?

Pentax quit selling telescopes. It is good that their designs are reappearing so long as they meet or excede the original. This particular telescope is really more of a camera lens and quite difficult to obtain on the secondary market. I stumbled across this info when I was trying to use my camera in prime focus to shoot the Moon on another Vixen telescope.

Ducky62 · 07-16-2013, 08:14 PM

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

??? I don't see the resemblance in the photo or anything on the Vixen page to the Pentax telescope.

If you see the pic of the Vixen VSD 100 F3.8 it looks like a Pentax 100SDUF and is mounted on what looks like a 645D .

**THoog** · 07-16-2013, 08:42 PM

From what I could scrounge on the Interwebs, Pentax stopped making telescopes in 2011, after earthquake/tsunami damage to the optics factory. I found various rumblings in the past two years that Vixen was going to license some of the Pentax designs.

(I'm sure this is somehow further proof that Pentax was / is / will have been Doooooomed!. Darnit, think of all the panic we missed out on in the past two years!)

**monochrome** · 07-16-2013, 08:54 PM - **1 Like**

I've just had the idea come over me in the last several weeks that it feels like Ricoh is cleaning up dead assets all over Pentax - warehouse stock, return items stock from Denver to KEH, K-01 and Q Fire Sales, K-x batteries as giveaways with Q packages on New Egg (I got one of those and sold it here) . . . . anything of value.

Perhaps the same concept applies to unused patents that might have some value to another company.

I know that some US auto companies have sold tooling from old models to secondary market OEM parts manufacturers who are doing a land-office business both in the Collector Car restoration market and just plain rehabbing older vehicles. Of course, US auto companies really are doomed.

**filoxophy** · 07-16-2013, 09:41 PM - **1 Like**

I know nothing about this astrograph, but I know Pentax's XW and XO telescope eyepieces were regarded as among the best wide field EPs available. Wish they were still in the astronomy business. :/

DeadJohn · 07-16-2013, 09:51 PM

Pentax stopped making telescopes, so if they work with other companies to bring new products to market (including resurrecting good designs from the past) it benefits Pentax and amateur astronomers.

Borg's 125SD telescope is another Pentax partnership. This was around pre-Ricoh, dating back to at least 2009. Borg's USA dealer page says "Featuring a collaboration between Borg and Pentax on a new objective design." Hutech Astronomical Products - Borg 125SD

Ducky62 · 07-16-2013, 10:07 PM

Pentax eyepieces are still in production and widely available. They seem to sell quite well at a premium price.

Uluru · 07-17-2013, 12:43 AM

This is just another way to say to Pentax, 'Take me to the moon' ...

RonHendriks1966 · 07-17-2013, 12:45 AM

It looks cool on a 645D.

Don't remember it, but I thought the scoping wasn't with the deal to Ricoh. Or was it?

msalicat · 07-17-2013, 01:27 AM

I recently attended a photography workshop where the lecturer said he had heard from a supplier that Pentax will no longer be making SLR's and will be changing everything to mirrorless and suggested that I change brands. Is this true? I am looking at buying the K5IIs as an additional camera as I have the K7 (which is my 3rd Pentax camera). Should I now switch brands or should I stay with Pentax? Switching brands is an expensive exercise.

MartinMcFly · 07-17-2013, 02:06 AM - **2 Likes**

I wouldn't believe everything you hear. Especially hearsay. Nothing is guaranteed in life, only death and taxes so stick with what you like and feel comfortable with.

07-16-2013, 07:25 PM	#1
Ducky62 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 40	Ricoh Selling Off or Licensing Pentax Designs/Patents? This discontinued Pentax 100SDUF astrograph 100SDUF II???????????PENTAX RICOH IMAGING appears to be coming back as a Vixen offering http://www.vixen.co.jp/en/img/lp/vsd/topbnr_130705_en.jpg. Last edited by Ducky62; 07-16-2013 at 08:26 PM.

07-16-2013, 08:54 PM - 1 Like	#8
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I've just had the idea come over me in the last several weeks that it feels like Ricoh is cleaning up dead assets all over Pentax - warehouse stock, return items stock from Denver to KEH, K-01 and Q Fire Sales, K-x batteries as giveaways with Q packages on New Egg (I got one of those and sold it here) . . . . anything of value. Perhaps the same concept applies to unused patents that might have some value to another company. I know that some US auto companies have sold tooling from old models to secondary market OEM parts manufacturers who are doing a land-office business both in the Collector Car restoration market and just plain rehabbing older vehicles. Of course, US auto companies really are doomed. Last edited by monochrome; 07-17-2013 at 08:10 AM.

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07-16-2013, 07:32 PM	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Pentax is doomed!

07-16-2013, 07:38 PM	#3
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	If it's been discontinued where is the problem is licensing its manufacture by another company? Is Pentax leaving the telescope field?

07-16-2013, 07:56 PM	#4
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,288	??? I don't see the resemblance in the photo or anything on the Vixen page to the Pentax telescope. I do find it interesting that the Pentax website has a link to the Pentax Ceramics Division, and at the bottom of the page it says "Copyright © 2010 HOYA Corporation All rights reserved"

07-16-2013, 08:05 PM	#5
Ducky62 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 40 Original Poster	Originally posted by Docrwm If it's been discontinued where is the problem is licensing its manufacture by another company? Is Pentax leaving the telescope field? Pentax quit selling telescopes. It is good that their designs are reappearing so long as they meet or excede the original. This particular telescope is really more of a camera lens and quite difficult to obtain on the secondary market. I stumbled across this info when I was trying to use my camera in prime focus to shoot the Moon on another Vixen telescope.

07-16-2013, 08:14 PM	#6
Ducky62 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 40 Original Poster	Originally posted by ramseybuckeye ??? I don't see the resemblance in the photo or anything on the Vixen page to the Pentax telescope. If you see the pic of the Vixen VSD 100 F3.8 it looks like a Pentax 100SDUF and is mounted on what looks like a 645D .

07-16-2013, 08:42 PM	#7
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	From what I could scrounge on the Interwebs, Pentax stopped making telescopes in 2011, after earthquake/tsunami damage to the optics factory. I found various rumblings in the past two years that Vixen was going to license some of the Pentax designs. (I'm sure this is somehow further proof that Pentax was / is / will have been Doooooomed!. Darnit, think of all the panic we missed out on in the past two years!)

07-16-2013, 09:41 PM - 1 Like	#9
filoxophy Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 1,132	I know nothing about this astrograph, but I know Pentax's XW and XO telescope eyepieces were regarded as among the best wide field EPs available. Wish they were still in the astronomy business. :/

07-16-2013, 09:51 PM	#10
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	Pentax stopped making telescopes, so if they work with other companies to bring new products to market (including resurrecting good designs from the past) it benefits Pentax and amateur astronomers. Borg's 125SD telescope is another Pentax partnership. This was around pre-Ricoh, dating back to at least 2009. Borg's USA dealer page says "Featuring a collaboration between Borg and Pentax on a new objective design." Hutech Astronomical Products - Borg 125SD

07-16-2013, 10:07 PM	#11
Ducky62 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 40 Original Poster	Pentax eyepieces are still in production and widely available. They seem to sell quite well at a premium price.

07-17-2013, 12:43 AM	#12
Uluru Banned Join Date: May 2010 Location: Back to my Walkabout Creek Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,535	This is just another way to say to Pentax, 'Take me to the moon' ...

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07-17-2013, 12:45 AM	#13
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	It looks cool on a 645D. Don't remember it, but I thought the scoping wasn't with the deal to Ricoh. Or was it?

07-17-2013, 01:27 AM	#14
msalicat Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hopetown - Northern Cape Photos: Gallery Posts: 29	I recently attended a photography workshop where the lecturer said he had heard from a supplier that Pentax will no longer be making SLR's and will be changing everything to mirrorless and suggested that I change brands. Is this true? I am looking at buying the K5IIs as an additional camera as I have the K7 (which is my 3rd Pentax camera). Should I now switch brands or should I stay with Pentax? Switching brands is an expensive exercise.

07-17-2013, 02:06 AM - 2 Likes	#15
MartinMcFly New Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 21	I wouldn't believe everything you hear. Especially hearsay. Nothing is guaranteed in life, only death and taxes so stick with what you like and feel comfortable with.