Originally posted by benjikan Thanks..I promise that I will respond to the best of my knowledge to any queries you have. Look. I didn't make my career by using a brand. It is just a tool for creating an image. A great tool none the less the Pentax is.
Look , between my discussions and conflicts with Carole, Philippe etc. at Pentax France, I had the feeling that they really didn't quite get how to build a myth from a brand. Their creative marketing choices were not credible to my sector. Perhaps with the improvements of the Pentax line there will be more migrations.
My intention was to re-establish the pedigree that was Pentax=Fashion. Not ephemeral but deeply ensconced in Fashion and therefore cutting edge and avant garde.
I was also taken aback by a certain lobbying magazine that placed pressure on Pentax in regards to my rather unconventional approach...That is..."he is actually using a Pentax and coming out of the closet with conviction. That is dangerous." Pentax seems to need the main stream press more than they needed me it seems.
But that is between N-d, myself and and a very P-Pular magazine.
C'est la vie...
Ben
Pentax needs to fix the autofocus issue, IMMEDIATELY, way more than they need to get rid of you, Ben.
Some people are WAY too politically correct, and figure they or their company HAVE to follow the way of others, the easy path. It is really too bad, as they are losing an amazing talent, an innovator, and a great advocate for the brand, inspite of it's lacklustre performance in the recent autofocus test (simply dreadful! I am still shocked.).
Perhaps you're just too outspoken and honest, but that's what we love about you, Benjikan. They were lucky to have you as long as they did.
And as far as getting back to their iconic roots in fashion, the 67 was THE camera in the fashion industry, and was always the camera I personally lusted after; that's why I bought Pentax 35mm stuff, always having in the back of my mind to get one of those. I always wished, as still do, that they would do a digital 67, maybe a quad sensor model (stitch it together with software internally; what's the problem?). You were right in this, from the little you have told us. I once saw a high-end shoot for Toyota, with a model on the beach. He was shooting with a 67, shooting Scala (really ******* expensive) and was blasting away like freaking crazy. Had 3 bodies with identical lenses; 2 helpers, 1 loading cameras continually, the other relaying empty cameras and full ones back and forth. They blasted off at least 20 rolls of the stuff just while I was standing there, same pose, same lighting. No expense spared. I could see why they used the 67 - handled just like an SLR. Fast and efficient, and great big negatives. It would be nice if Pentax could recapture that somehow, but not if they are going to piss off great artists likes you, man. Short sighted and just plain dumb, IMHO.
I've had a few endorsements in the music industry over the years, and while some were good, and just supported me in my work, some were very problematic, troublemsome, meddling, and finicky. I guess yours got to the point where it was more trouble than it was worth.
Sorry about that; I know it hurts a bit, but stay with us, man. We love having you around, like a big brother/mentor.
Cheers,
Cameron
Last edited by Cambo; 04-21-2008 at 05:55 PM.