Originally posted by monochrome I have now heard three times that Ricoh has stopped (Pentax) projects in process to rework and make them better (Ricoh) products. This first came in a high-level, private conversation about the vacuum of information and products in the spring and summer. I am seriously, deeply encouraged to hear this again. It fits my concept of where Ricoh wants to take Pentax and it fits the overall culture of quality of Ricoh globally. I am convinced we are going to be very happy and I believe we will see a significant new product or a rework of several existing products announced monthly for a few YEARS.
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It's the language barrier.
It doesn't mean "Pentax" was doing something "sloppy" and "good old daddy Ricoh came to teach them a few good values he learned in the big boys game", like it sounds from asahiman's quotes and other explanations around the net.
As I understood from Pentax Australia contacts recently (and which changed my perspective too), the issue is that many concepts Pentax already had, have gone through a comprehensive revising process. Because the situation has changed and the new investment came, new people came, old concepts albeit being great, can be improved in new circumstances and when all new factors are added. It's quite normal to happen.
Two things aligned together: Pentax team's own desire to polish up their lines (as they have always imagined them, but never given a chance), and Ricoh's own that they are not in hurry to please anyone in particular outside the company. Regarding the "old Pentax K-3" to be introduced in 2012, it was there, but only as a last resort and preferably, not to be shown at all. Ricoh management insisted it to be there just in case, but in fact it was pulled back by engineers as they believed tweaked K5 in the form of K5II will do enough to buy them some time.
"Pentax" and "Ricoh" seem to have a very similar engineering culture and are one team now.
Last edited by Uluru; 11-05-2013 at 05:39 PM.