Originally posted by monochrome or are they Ricohing each other? I mean really - was that intentional?
As to FF, Pentax can and will release a FF camera, but it's time is somewhat determined by a new fab, or Sony's supply of sensors (and willingness to sell them to Pentax), will require considerable engineering investment as well as significant ongoing investment, both in the form of developemnt costs and planned losses on the product line as sales do not initially cover costs for MANY quarters (several years).
The question is is not whether but when Ricoh chooses to make the commitment. The answer we can not possibly know. I suspect the conditions will not be right until we are in the midst of the next global recession, at which time Sony and other intermediate parts suppliers might just have excess capacity and more willing to negotiate.
Don't forget Canon and Nikon are experiencing involuntary inventory build as they run production lines faster than output is purchased (make things while you have money, because later you might not have money). If Nikon subsequently dramatically slows orders of sensors and intermediate assemblies, and begins to net-liquidate stock, Pentax can act as a slack buyer.
Think mid-2015. (There I go again. Thinking like a business. Oh well, I just can't help myself.)
That would be a liturgical death for Ricoh, and Pentax in particular.
When times are tough, most companies get rid of the 'expenses' and give the steering wheel in accountant's hands. First thing they do is axe the marketing expense and R&D.
Bleep! Plainly wrong! A typical accountant-style self entrenching perspective.
In times of crises, good marketing have an extra reach, stimulates people's imagination in the wake of otherwise bad news from all around, and together with extensive R&D and commitment to innovation creates a place to thrive otherwise impossible to conquer in times when everyone is ready to market something.
If Ricoh has ANY marketing wisdom, and I hope they do, they will hit with GR-like smart guerilla attacks *right now*, and not wait for times when accountants in other companies give their marketing depts green light because accountants feel comfortable to step out of trenches.
Many good companies were lost because of that — not because products were bad, but because their management didn't dare to be brave and take necessary risk to advance and stimulate people's imagination. I tell now, at this very moment, Fuji is braver in that respect and lo and behold after the so called crisis end: everyone will talk about Fuji's X system and those adorable retro looking cameras. People will love them despite their flaws.
Thus the crisis was .. for whom? Ricoh and Nikon, but not for Fuji?
Any crisis is only a matter of perspective.
I'm only afraid that because Ricoh won't (*) have guts to play their own brave and visionary act when it was silently expected of them to do, that their bold statements will yield in nothingness.
Invigorate people in rough times and they are your faithful in times of prosperity too.
_
* For some reason: not strong in R&D, too much wait and restructure, starting games from scratch, lack of good marketing ideas, waiting for too many constellations to align to act finally, etc. — those are all possible reasons.