[LaurenOE]

Why do people have to get angry every time there is a new Pentax or Ricoh that's not a full frame. It's good to keep innovating. A full frame by Pentax would either have to a expensive camera with low volume aiming at the pro market or a value camera undercutting Canon an Nikon offerings while not leaving out any specs. Both take time to develop. Better a good offering than some half baked piece of crap.

Because people like *me* are the target market for these kinds of toys.
I can blow $400 without blinking/thinking on toys.
I've got no kids and a dual income with a hubby who is a Director/VP.

I also collect Pentax gear. Sometimes just to LOOK at it.

There is NOTHING that would stop me from buying this toy - if I could find a sane reason to buy it.

As a die-hard Pentaxian, if I can't see the reason to purchase this, who then?

Every time a new Ricoh/Pentax product is released, I sit, get excited to buy it, and walk through my mind how I might use it.

Hmmm...The Theta.
360' is pretty cool.
$400?
Not *too* bad.
Wait, there is no "dead zone" where I can get out of the shot?
Ugh, the IQ is pretty bad.
No Android?
Those bug-eyes can get scratched.
Video?

Hmmm...$400?

The DA10-17 is near that price point, and I can use my existing camera.
Besides fish-eye views are limited to appeal and there are cheap/free software tools to make 360' panos.

Then the balance point tips away from the Theta.

What better uses can that $400 give me?

Then the wave of "buy" passes and I move on.
I guess there are some people NOT like me who want this, and they are unknown to me.
No biggie.

Six months later.....

Ricoh posts an operational loss from their digital camera division.
They cite lack of interest in digital photography in general for the decline, and the industry-wide downturn in sales.

Yep.

---

Last edited by LaurenOE; 09-06-2013 at 08:05 AM.

[D1N0]

Because people like *me* are the target market for these kinds of toys.
I can blow $400 without blinking/thinking on toys.
I've got no kids and a dual income with a hubby who is a Director/VP.

I also collect Pentax gear. Sometimes just to LOOK at it.

There is NOTHING that would stop me from buying this toy - if I could find a sane reason to.

As a die-hard Pentaxian, if I can't see the reason to purchase this, who then?

Every time a new Ricoh/Pentax product is released, I sit, get excited to buy it, and walk through my mind how I might use it.

Hmmm...The Theta.
360' is pretty cool.
$400?
Not *too* bad.
Wait, there is no "dead zone" where I can get out of the shot?
Ugh, the IQ is pretty bad.
No Android?
Those bug-eyes can get scratched.
Video?

Hmmm...$400?

The DA10-17 is near that price point, and I can use my existing camera.
Besides fish-eye views are limited to appeal and there are cheap/free software tools to make 360' panos.

Then the balance point tips away from the Theta.

What better uses can that $400 give me?

Then the wave of "buy" passes and I move on. I guess there are some people NOT like me who want this, and they are unknown to me. No biggie.

Six months later.....

Ricoh posts an operational loss from their digital camera division. They cite lack of interest in digital photography in general for the decline, and the industry-wide downturn in sales.

Yep.

You could shoot pano's with it while riding your bike. That would be cool. Especially when there are people in your shot doing stupid stuff. Use your imagination.

[LaurenOE]

You could shoot pano's with it while riding your bike. That would be cool. Especially when there are people in your shot doing stupid stuff. Use your imagination.

Maybe. I have been pooling money aside to either purchase the new K3 or whatever, or buy a new Kawasaki ZX10R.

Either Ricoh/Pentax gets my money this year or Kawasaki.

Someone in Japan will love me and my money.

Your user name reminds me of a "Honda DN01".
Another product that a large corporation thought was a good idea.

Back to cameras and photography.

$400 is better used to get the new WR flashes or used towards a new DSLR.
Maybe a video slider or pocket travel jib (got them too).
Maybe better camera travel luggage (never enough luggage!).
Maybe a new Gimbal (not me, but for the hubby).

A dedicated 360' camera is soooooooooo far down the list.

[7samurai]

I hear Google is buying a ton of these for the Google map trucks...
Maybe a security camera for the house. Mount one on the tv antenna. Do people own tv antenna's anymore?

[monochrome]

Concept might be cool but it's still too early to say it's a premium gadget.

I'm by no means advocating for or against Theta. I don't know anything yet. I'm just commenting that deadwolfbones has actually touched one and says it feels extremely well-constructed, like an Apple product. That leads me to a suggestion that the price/value proposition (to Ricoh) might be construction / tactile at first, like the original magnesium body Q. Which further leads to question how they'll ever get people to touch one in the Western world with the distribution channel in the condition it's in.

We all laughed at that original Q price, too, and the idea of it and the tiny sensor, the AF and the IQ, just the way so many commenters have dismissed the idea of Theta or the IQ or the price or the need. Once Ricoh (it was Ricoh not Pentax) started doing FW upgrades on Q, and body evolution and sensor increases - suddenly there is a devoted little Q group here.

Who knows where this will go?

And I also agree with Lauren - give us a camera, dammit! (wait just a few more weeks).

[7samurai]

And I also agree with Lauren - give us a camera, dammit! (wait just a few more weeks).

The wait is killing me. I should have moved on, but that damn fire sale K-01 is so much fun.
I guess I can keep buying strobes until they release something.

[LaurenOE]

Who knows where this will go?

Eureka! I got it!

Ricoh will make it WR in future generations and it will become an "Early-Warning-Shark-Detector"

And I also agree with Lauren - give us a camera, dammit! (wait just a few more weeks).

Are you sure that is a good idea?

[Kunzite]

If you want a new camera, wait just a few more weeks. If you want a bike, don't

[monochrome]

Are you sure that is a good idea?

Isn't that the complete sentence?

PF: Give us .......
RIAC: (wait a few weeks)

Really!
It's
Coming
Over the
Holidays

Just to ensure - I have nothing to disclose. And if I told you I'd have to --- you get the drift.

But - this from a friend . . . . Sure Only Not Yet

[Mistral75]

August 31st, 2005

• Optio XPi
• Optio S6
  
• OptioS60 (August 23rd)
• *ist DS2 (August 21st)

September 13th, 2006

• K10D
• smc DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited
• smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] (under development)
• smc DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED [IF] (under development)
• smc DA* 60-250 mm F4 ED [IF] (under development)
• Optio T20
• Optio E20
  
• Optio A20 (August 21st)
• Optio M20 (August 21st)

October 1st, 2007

• Optio A40
• Optio V10
  
• Optio Z10 (August 23rd)
• Optio S10 (August 23rd)

September 22nd, 2008

• K-m / K2000
• smc DA-L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
• smc DA-L 50-200mm f/4-5.6
• smc DA* 60-250mm f/4 ED [IF] SDM
• smc DA 55mm f/1.4 SDM
• smc DA 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited (under development)
• smc DA 1.4X Rear Converter SDM (under development)
• AF160FC Macro flash

September 17th, 2009

• K-x

September 20th, 2010

• K-5
• smc DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] DC WR
  
• K-r (September 9th)
• smc DA 35mm f/2.4 AL (September 9th)
• Optio RZ10 (September 9th)
• Optio RS1000 (September 9th)

September 15th, 2011

• Ricoh GR Digital IV
  
• Optio RZ18 (September 12th)

September 10th, 2012

• K-5 II
• K-5 IIs
• Q10
• smc DA 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 ED SDM
• HD DA 560mm f/5.6 ED AW
• HD DFA 645 Macro 90mm f/2.8 ED AW SR
  
• X-5 (August 22nd)

September 5th, 2013

• Ricoh Theta 360
• Ricoh HZ15 (August 28th)
• HD DA 15mm f/4 Limited (August 27th)
• HD DA 21mm f/3.2 Limited (August 27th)
• HD DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited (August 27th)
• HD DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited (August 27th)
• HD DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited (August 27th)
• AF540FGZ II (August 27th)
• AF360FGZ II (August 27th)

We've already got plenty for an odd year.

[mamethot]

When were K-7 and 645D?

[deadwolfbones]

Android is coming by the end of the year, according to Ricoh.

I asked Shu Ubukata about WP8 and he said if consumer demand for WP increases they'll consider it.

[deadwolfbones]

btw, I'll have a First Impressions Review of this up tomorrow, most likely.

[Mistral75]

When were K-7 and 645D?

• K-7: May 20th, 2009
• 645D: March 10th, 2010.

[wed7]

Why bother with the K-7 and 645D? They already gave us Theta, lol