Originally posted by Andi Lo I just want to remind everyone that the "pentax is doomed" talk is as old as the brand itself
I've heard the same story repeated over the years and despite that, Pentax is still making things today...
If any other company did what Pentax did throughout history, they'd go out of business. But, as with the help of some magic, that name still sticks around. Because of its users and their high hopes. The most valuable asset of the Pentax brand aren't patents, but its users.
However, I'd love, absolutely love that old Pentax dies, now and forever. Old Pentax ways, I mean.
Let's observe it: if I were Ricoh, and my good reputation, long terms plans I have and excitement I see in making things others haven't dreamt about are the stakes, then what is presented as the next Pentax product cannot be a flop.It mustn't be a flop. Not a semi-finished product that catches up in 2 years, or three.
It must be so good the day it's announced it will sell itself without any sales effort. If it's an FF, the first day after the announcement will mark the 1,000,000 preorders worldwide, and will be the top ranking camera in sales in a decade — that kind of product I'd be interesting in making.
As I was grumpy too, up until the announcement of the new Fujitsu's image processor, I have then realised why the K5IIs move was necessary. And why the whole year was 'wasted', but in expectations of a chip that will ensure a quantum leap in performance. Ricoh obviously wasn't interested wasting time in a small incremental step which Nikon did with their D7100, and further locked it in the market for 2 years. Only now I can see that, because that piece of the puzzle was hidden.
Ricoh now has a chance to come up with a range of all new, fresh products
and not be burdened with tons of old tech they must fire-sale like all other players will. They'll be ready for the imaging challenge of the next few years. Optimistically, but still cautiously, I see the 2014 a year of Ricoh .. of people who worked for Asahi, for Hoya, for Ricoh, new members, and all the brains employed to work on Pentax products .. that are better than anything we've seen coming under the name of Pentax ever before.