Pentax vs Ricoh Brand Name Clarification

VoiceOfReason · 02-06-2014, 08:12 AM

I'll go ahead and toss something out here to all the Pentax is Doomed crowd, and that is as long as my K mount lenses will work on it with no problem, and thye keep the feel, value, and ergonomics of the Pentax bodies I've bought then I could care less if it says Ricoh.

Pablom · 02-06-2014, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by Adam

The PENTAX name will continue to appear on all of our interchangeable lens cameras, lenses and sport optics, while the Ricoh name will be reserved for our compact cameras

Does this mean the end of GXR system?

**monochrome** · 02-06-2014, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by LFLee

But pricing of some new items are seriously out of their mind, e.g. the 20-40 ltd, the x1.4 converter.

It is my humble opinion - and it is entirely a guess - that the amount of hand-work in a product drives its price. It appears Ricoh has invested to improve machine manufacturing processes on volume items and retained handwork on 'Limited' items.

I guess we pay for human skill and attention to detail.

**monochrome** · 02-06-2014, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by Pablom

Does this mean the end of GXR system?

The statement should be self-evident.

mrNewt · 02-06-2014, 08:18 AM

Stop thinking of Pentax as a company... is a product line now

.

**skid2964** · 02-06-2014, 09:08 AM - **1 Like**

Things happen....

Jeep was considered "doomed" at one point... it has always been a uniquely great vehicle. The original Jeep was made by Ford... Jeep has been owned by
so many companies I cannot count them all... AMC managed them poorly so Chrysler snatched Jeep up before they died completely.
They left the name on it but it became a vehicle with "Mopar" stamped all over it and a Jeep emblem on the fender... AND!!! became and MUCH better vehicle!
If they had renamed the Wrangler the "Chrysler Dust Mudder" or something silly like that yet still provided a great line of vehicles, I'd still buy them.

You see my point.... lets enjoy the spirit of this product line and hope the word "Pentax" stays in the mix somewhere.

mikemike · 02-06-2014, 09:31 AM

I think Jeep was saved by the SUV craze of the nineties and early aughts.

LFLee · 02-06-2014, 09:35 AM

Originally posted by skid2964

Things happen....

Jeep was considered "doomed" at one point... it has always been a uniquely great vehicle. The original Jeep was made by Ford... Jeep has been owned by
so many companies I cannot count them all... AMC managed them poorly so Chrysler snatched Jeep up before they died completely.
They left the name on it but it became a vehicle with "Mopar" stamped all over it and a Jeep emblem on the fender... AND!!! became and MUCH better vehicle!
If they had renamed the Wrangler the "Chrysler Dust Mudder" or something silly like that yet still provided a great line of vehicles, I'd still buy them.

You see my point.... lets enjoy the spirit of this product line and hope the word "Pentax" stays in the mix somewhere.

hm.... own a Liberty 05 and regret it after the gas price hiked....

But sometime watching videos showing how 'rugged' it is on Youtube makes me think I bought the right vehicle.....
but then I never took it to really rugged terrains....

come to think about it, is kind of like my Pentax Gear: always impress when I see someone pour water on it on Youtube, but never put my own camera in that situation...

**skid2964** · 02-06-2014, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by mikemike

I think Jeep was saved by the SUV craze of the nineties and early aughts.

Adequate to superior products still have to be offered to survive even during a "craze"...Lee Iacocco made sure of this and marketed them effectively. Pentax needs this also.
There is a consumer DSLR craze going on right now... I click "thumbs down" 99% of the time in PPG now....

but I am thankful for all the Pentax camera sales....

Mistral75 · 02-06-2014, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by skid2964

(...)
The original Jeep was made by Ford...
(...)

Actually the first prototype was made by American Bantam Car Company

Mistral75 · 02-06-2014, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by skid2964

(...)
The original Jeep was made by Ford...
(...)

Actually the first prototype was made by Bantam (American Bantam Car Company) and the first production batches divided between Ford and Willys-Overland.

ryan s · 02-06-2014, 01:55 PM

Kinda related to the discussion, you don't buy a "Dodge Ram" or "Dodge Viper" these days. It's a Ram 1500 (whatever trim) or an SRT Viper. Still the same thing, made by the same people, so who cares what the "make" blank says?

Personally, I can't wait till the GR's price starts with a 4 instead of a 6. I'm a Pentax fanboy--MX-1 ordered at 2am this morning--but that camera will be on the block once the GR has a big price drop. I'm glad to see Ricoh's commitment to the Pentax name on certain products; in fact, those products which enhance the brand's name like the 645/K mount/Q/binoculars/etc.

Now give us a Pentax K-02

**skid2964** · 02-06-2014, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by ryan s

Personally, I can't wait till the GR's price starts with a 4 instead of a 6.

I couldn't wait.... I love my GR so much I don't care what name is on it...
They still accept my images in the PPG!

Originally posted by ryan s

Now give us a Pentax K-02

I agree 100%

Zygonyx · 02-06-2014, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by DeadJohn

The name doesn't concern me. I am confused why one name instead of two. Would not one name let marketing dollars go further? Can someone who understands marketing explain?

As an example, there's a "Ricoh" billboard in NYC Times Square. The money spent on that does little for the Pentax brand. Similarly, Pentax marketing won't increase visibility of Ricoh cameras. Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc. use a single brand for all cameras regardless of format.

+ 1000
Today's clarification is probably just a temporary measure.

**monochrome** · 02-06-2014, 02:51 PM

Originally posted by Zygonyx

Today's clarification is probably just a temporary measure.

Why on earth would you write that? Wasn't the letter clear enough? Ricoh and Pentave has repeatedly said Q, K and 645 are Pentax, compacts (and new technology like Theta) are Ricoh.

Do you have inside information? Do you know people in Ricoh or Pentax management?

Or are you so absolutely determined to stake Pentax that you're just stirring the pot for fun?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ricoh announces company name change - no more Pentax Ricoh Imaging, just Ricoh.	rawr	Pentax News and Rumors	528	10-28-2013 04:39 PM
Quality name brand lens filter	Adk X	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	9	05-24-2012 06:47 PM
Facts about the Pentax brand name under Ricoh	falconeye	Pentax News and Rumors	276	08-30-2011 05:44 PM
Extra batteries for K-5: genuine Pentax or no-name brand?	secateurs	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	6	10-18-2010 04:10 PM
Pentax K-R - rather interesting name - maybe it's digital version of Ricoh KR	ogl	Pentax News and Rumors	9	08-20-2010 11:48 AM

02-06-2014, 08:12 AM	#61
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	I'll go ahead and toss something out here to all the Pentax is Doomed crowd, and that is as long as my K mount lenses will work on it with no problem, and thye keep the feel, value, and ergonomics of the Pentax bodies I've bought then I could care less if it says Ricoh.

02-06-2014, 08:13 AM	#62
Pablom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Usa Posts: 1,940	Originally posted by Adam The PENTAX name will continue to appear on all of our interchangeable lens cameras, lenses and sport optics, while the Ricoh name will be reserved for our compact cameras Does this mean the end of GXR system?

02-06-2014, 08:13 AM	#63
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by LFLee But pricing of some new items are seriously out of their mind, e.g. the 20-40 ltd, the x1.4 converter. It is my humble opinion - and it is entirely a guess - that the amount of hand-work in a product drives its price. It appears Ricoh has invested to improve machine manufacturing processes on volume items and retained handwork on 'Limited' items. I guess we pay for human skill and attention to detail.

02-06-2014, 08:14 AM	#64
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Pablom Does this mean the end of GXR system? The statement should be self-evident.

02-06-2014, 08:18 AM	#65
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	Stop thinking of Pentax as a company... is a product line now .

02-06-2014, 09:08 AM - 1 Like	#66
skid2964 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Posts: 614	Things happen.... Jeep was considered "doomed" at one point... it has always been a uniquely great vehicle. The original Jeep was made by Ford... Jeep has been owned by so many companies I cannot count them all... AMC managed them poorly so Chrysler snatched Jeep up before they died completely. They left the name on it but it became a vehicle with "Mopar" stamped all over it and a Jeep emblem on the fender... AND!!! became and MUCH better vehicle! If they had renamed the Wrangler the "Chrysler Dust Mudder" or something silly like that yet still provided a great line of vehicles, I'd still buy them. You see my point.... lets enjoy the spirit of this product line and hope the word "Pentax" stays in the mix somewhere.

02-06-2014, 09:31 AM	#67
mikemike Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Orleans Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,053	I think Jeep was saved by the SUV craze of the nineties and early aughts.

02-06-2014, 09:35 AM	#68
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	Originally posted by skid2964 Things happen.... Jeep was considered "doomed" at one point... it has always been a uniquely great vehicle. The original Jeep was made by Ford... Jeep has been owned by so many companies I cannot count them all... AMC managed them poorly so Chrysler snatched Jeep up before they died completely. They left the name on it but it became a vehicle with "Mopar" stamped all over it and a Jeep emblem on the fender... AND!!! became and MUCH better vehicle! If they had renamed the Wrangler the "Chrysler Dust Mudder" or something silly like that yet still provided a great line of vehicles, I'd still buy them. You see my point.... lets enjoy the spirit of this product line and hope the word "Pentax" stays in the mix somewhere. hm.... own a Liberty 05 and regret it after the gas price hiked.... But sometime watching videos showing how 'rugged' it is on Youtube makes me think I bought the right vehicle..... but then I never took it to really rugged terrains.... come to think about it, is kind of like my Pentax Gear: always impress when I see someone pour water on it on Youtube, but never put my own camera in that situation...

02-06-2014, 09:40 AM	#69
skid2964 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Posts: 614	Originally posted by mikemike I think Jeep was saved by the SUV craze of the nineties and early aughts. Adequate to superior products still have to be offered to survive even during a "craze"...Lee Iacocco made sure of this and marketed them effectively. Pentax needs this also. There is a consumer DSLR craze going on right now... I click "thumbs down" 99% of the time in PPG now.... but I am thankful for all the Pentax camera sales....

02-06-2014, 01:40 PM	#70
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,526	Originally posted by skid2964 (...) The original Jeep was made by Ford... (...) Actually the first prototype was made by American Bantam Car Company

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

02-06-2014, 01:41 PM	#71
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,526	Originally posted by skid2964 (...) The original Jeep was made by Ford... (...) Actually the first prototype was made by Bantam (American Bantam Car Company) and the first production batches divided between Ford and Willys-Overland.

02-06-2014, 01:55 PM	#72
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	Kinda related to the discussion, you don't buy a "Dodge Ram" or "Dodge Viper" these days. It's a Ram 1500 (whatever trim) or an SRT Viper. Still the same thing, made by the same people, so who cares what the "make" blank says? Personally, I can't wait till the GR's price starts with a 4 instead of a 6. I'm a Pentax fanboy--MX-1 ordered at 2am this morning--but that camera will be on the block once the GR has a big price drop. I'm glad to see Ricoh's commitment to the Pentax name on certain products; in fact, those products which enhance the brand's name like the 645/K mount/Q/binoculars/etc. Now give us a Pentax K-02

02-06-2014, 02:05 PM	#73
skid2964 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Posts: 614	Originally posted by ryan s Personally, I can't wait till the GR's price starts with a 4 instead of a 6. I couldn't wait.... I love my GR so much I don't care what name is on it... They still accept my images in the PPG! Originally posted by ryan s Now give us a Pentax K-02 I agree 100%

02-06-2014, 02:45 PM	#74
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,032	Originally posted by DeadJohn The name doesn't concern me. I am confused why one name instead of two. Would not one name let marketing dollars go further? Can someone who understands marketing explain? As an example, there's a "Ricoh" billboard in NYC Times Square. The money spent on that does little for the Pentax brand. Similarly, Pentax marketing won't increase visibility of Ricoh cameras. Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc. use a single brand for all cameras regardless of format. + 1000 Today's clarification is probably just a temporary measure.

02-06-2014, 02:51 PM	#75
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Zygonyx Today's clarification is probably just a temporary measure. Why on earth would you write that? Wasn't the letter clear enough? Ricoh and Pentave has repeatedly said Q, K and 645 are Pentax, compacts (and new technology like Theta) are Ricoh. Do you have inside information? Do you know people in Ricoh or Pentax management? Or are you so absolutely determined to stake Pentax that you're just stirring the pot for fun?