[Daikokuya]

The 80% market is dominated because Canon and Nikon flood the big box channels with entry level models. The FF market is fought for online and at specialty stores with people who are much more engaged in photography. They might not have considered pentax before b/c they were shopping for a FF camera but they have certainly heard of them.

The reason why Pentax hasn't flooded the market with entry models is, I think, because Ricoh hasn't fully committed to Pentax. I have had a serious doubt of Ricoh's support for Pentax. Of course, it's far better than Hoya, but it looks like to me that Ricoh's support would keep tenuous unless Pentax improves its performance with existing models.

[thibs]

The reason why Pentax hasn't flooded the market with entry models is, I think, because Ricoh hasn't fully committed to Pentax. I have had a serious doubt of Ricoh's support for Pentax. Of course, it's far better than Hoya, but it looks like to me that Ricoh's support would keep tenuous unless Pentax improves its performance with existing models.

Nope, Sony did that (fllod the market) and certainly bought marketshare but financially in deep hole.
Ricoh wants to play it safe, who can disagree with that?

[RobA_Oz]

The reason why Pentax hasn't flooded the market with entry models is, I think, because Ricoh hasn't fully committed to Pentax. I have had a serious doubt of Ricoh's support for Pentax. Of course, it's far better than Hoya, but it looks like to me that Ricoh's support would keep tenuous unless Pentax improves its performance with existing models.

Well, that's hardly in accordance with their stated aim of becoming a significant manufacturer of DSLRs.

[thibs]

By their remark we shall never get it, because the situation will never get really so much better. The remark is crazy. On the other hand, I just got the specs of the new FF lens just made. Cannot tell details but I can tell a fortune cookie wisdom, "Never trust a salesman who puts up an act during the exhibition".

Mmmm like the 17-85/2.8 which went to 17-85/2.8-4 which still unreleased (if even exists) ?
* nothing personal btw *

[Uluru]

Mmmm like the 17-85/2.8 which went to 17-85/2.8-4 which still unreleased (if even exists) ?
* nothing personal btw *

18-70.

But no, it's a new one, that starts above 70. But don't blame me for their slow pace. My only explanation is that they are making more, to present during and after the CP+. If nothing else, than damned TC was promised in times when Moses walked the Earth.

Thus despite all these all new lenses, I'm quite sincerely much more interested in the fate of the existing DA* line. To me, that is the issue that should have been addressed before the Limiteds. Even if they issue all new lenses we have never seen before, but do not address the DA* line, I shall think their move is a failure.

[Daikokuya]

Ricoh wants to play it safe, who can disagree with that?

Nobody disagrees with that, except for those who say "that's hardly in accordance with their stated aim of becoming a significant manufacturer of DSLRs." I haven't seen Ricoh set a numerical target like market share or so in the camera market. For them, the meaning of "siginigicant" varies a lot.

[RobA_Oz]

Nobody disagrees with that, except for those who say "that's hardly in accordance with their stated aim of becoming a significant manufacturer of DSLRs." I haven't seen Ricoh set a numerical target like market share or so in the camera market. For them, the meaning of "siginigicant" varies a lot.

Well, you'd hardly expect them to make a numerical target like that public, would you?

[thibs]

18-70.

Indeed.

But no, it's a new one, that starts above 70. But don't blame me for their slow pace. My only explanation is that they are making more, to present during and after the CP+. If nothing else, than damned TC was promised in times when Moses walked the Earth.

I don't and LOL for Moses

Thus despite all these all new lenses, I'm quite sincerely much more interested in the fate of the existing DA* line. To me, that is the issue that should have been addressed before the Limiteds. Even if they issue all new lenses we have never seen before, but do not address the DA* line, I shall think their move is a failure.

I somehow agree. They need to sort this out properly.
But how the heck do you get those lens specs from ?

[Daikokuya]

Well, you'd hardly expect them to make a numerical target like that public, would you?

I wouldn't expect them to do that. Why would I? That's the way business works. Once the target is made public, it bears responsibility which they want to avoid.

[thibs]

I wouldn't expect them to do that. Why would I? That's the way business works. Once the target is made public, it bears responsibility which they want to avoid.

What target ?

[RobA_Oz]

What target ?

The one they don't talk about, of course.

[monochrome]

It might help if one reads financial analysis reports on Ricoh and the ILC market globally and consumer electronics sector globally before one makes sweeping generalizations about the global markets and Ricoh's commitment to the Business to Consumer digital imaging sector.

Ricoh believes there is room in the market for a third dSLR maker; Ricoh believes it will be Pentax; Ricoh is committed to becoming THE alternbative to Canon and Nikon over the intermediate term, but will NOT be another CaNikon. Ricoh is conservative, believes in long-term incremental, constant growth over time and is an absolutely relentless competitor.

To invest enough money to compete head-to-head TODAY with CaNikonY would actually decrease the earnings of the parent company, which Ricoh will not do. Ricoh will invest capital in manufacturing processes and facilities that will either lower costs through efficiency or offer licensing revenue. Pentax will then grow by reinvesting its own internally-generated cash flow.

Markets and products are not fixed in time. An action (or lack thereof) today, viewed from the outside, means nothing unless one knows everything about Ricoh's business strategy, tactics, plans and position, which we don't.

Pentax is not Doomed.

[Uluru]

..

Ricoh believes there is room in the market for a third dSLR maker; Ricoh believes it will be Pentax; Ricoh is committed to becoming THE alternative...

When it comes to Pentax, even that DSLR acronym one should not take literally, or use Nikon's or Canon's definition ... as things are going, and from what I hear.

[Clavius]

When it comes to Pentax, even that DSLR acronym one should not take literally, or use Nikon's or Canon's definition ... as things are going, and from what I hear.

Maybe I am not understanding you correctly here... But in what way are Ricoh's DSLR's, not DSLR's?

[ElJamoquio]

The problem is that nobody knows for sure whether Pentax can beat Canon, Nikon or even Sony in the US markets. It looks like to me that Pentax has decided to keep in the APS-C market as good as possible without venturing into a field where they don't know. Of course, that's my opinion.

Pentax has given us everything but an introduction date for FF. I expect it in October, but I think the 'optimists' might be thinking a spring release and the 'pessimists' are thinking a spring 2015 release.