[RonHendriks1966]

Another good step from Ricoh Imaging.

[Tanzer]

These appear to be very low volume, very high cost items for inventory that can significantly degrade such metrics as annual inventory turn, cost of carry, etc. If my compensation were in some way tied to perforamce on these metrics I might be reluctant to order Pentax USA stock them too.

I tend to agree ... I'm not so sure that ignoring the US market was an oversight; it may have been intentional.

Maybe the 645Z is going to be so awesome and dominate the US market that they think this is the right time.

[jatrax]

These appear to be very low volume, very high cost items for inventory that can significantly degrade such metrics as annual inventory turn, cost of carry, etc. If my compensation were in some way tied to perforamce on these metrics I might be reluctant to order Pentax USA stock them too.

While all that is likely true, there is no particular reason those lenses had to be actually stocked in the US was there? Shipping from Japan is days. All you really need is to offer them for sale with delivery of say 7-14 days. If they are so low volume that stocking is impractical at the brick & mortar level then global fulfillment should work. Or am I am totally missing something?

[clawhammer]

While all that is likely true, there is no particular reason those lenses had to be actually stocked in the US was there? Shipping from Japan is days. All you really need is to offer them for sale with delivery of say 7-14 days. If they are so low volume that stocking is impractical at the brick & mortar level then global fulfillment should work. Or am I am totally missing something?

I think this will work when coupled with a good professional program (something like this but better: PENTAX - PENTAX ANNOUNCES PRO PROGRAM: BENEFITS INCLUDE EQUIPMENT LOANS AND EXPEDITED REPAIRS). Pros who need gear Right Now can get it from Ricoh USA while their lens/camera/whatever is shipped from Japan.

[Aristophanes]

While all that is likely true, there is no particular reason those lenses had to be actually stocked in the US was there? Shipping from Japan is days. All you really need is to offer them for sale with delivery of say 7-14 days. If they are so low volume that stocking is impractical at the brick & mortar level then global fulfillment should work. Or am I am totally missing something?

For these prices a test drive may be necessary. Most buyers will come from areas where they can drive to a B&H or one of the brick and mortar stores that actually stocks a 645z and accessories. Prestige stores catering to some customers definitely need some inventory and showpieces. That takes up capital, expertise, warranty services, taxes, etc.

[monochrome]

For these prices a test drive may be necessary. Most buyers will come from areas where they can drive to a B&H or one of the brick and mortar stores that actually stocks a 645z and accessories. Prestige stores catering to some customers definitely need some inventory and showpieces. That takes up capital, expertise, warranty services, taxes, etc.

And probably requires some support fromPentax.

[fuent104]

If they are afraid to sell their lenses, I'm not sure what the point of manufacturing them would be. Our why they wouldn't be afraid to sell the more expensive d.a. lenses.

[Kenn100D]

645Z with K mount adapter with auto crop sensor would be nice.��

[Tanzer]

The flange distance for 645 lenses is much greater than the K-mount (to accommodate the larger mirror), so that wouldn't be possible, unless there were a removable adapter, and some other way to swing the mirror up so it wouldn't hit the aperture lever on the back of the K-mount.

I think some folks are still hopeful a future design might be mirrorless and use different length adapters for either 645 or K-mount lenses. However there are some reasons why Pentax might never want to go that route; someone might come up with a 3rd party adapter that would fit 3rd party lenses which would defeat the purpose of selling the 645Z to begin with.

[Adam]

While all that is likely true, there is no particular reason those lenses had to be actually stocked in the US was there? Shipping from Japan is days. All you really need is to offer them for sale with delivery of say 7-14 days. If they are so low volume that stocking is impractical at the brick & mortar level then global fulfillment should work. Or am I am totally missing something?

Drop shipping is ok, but there was no way to get warranty on those lenses in the US. Plus, no catalogs listed them.

[ElJamoquio]

For these prices a test drive may be necessary. Most buyers will come from areas where they can drive to a B&H or one of the brick and mortar stores that actually stocks a 645z and accessories. Prestige stores catering to some customers definitely need some inventory and showpieces. That takes up capital, expertise, warranty services, taxes, etc.

Dunno. I live in one of the most affluent areas in the country and I have never seen a K-5 in a camera store.

---------- Post added 04-14-14 at 05:20 AM ----------

And probably requires some support fromPentax.

Yup, if it was 'subsidized' it would happen.

[rangercarp]

645Z with K mount adapter with auto crop sensor would be nice.

645z with K mount adapter = Pentax full frame.

[Kunzite]

645z with K mount adapter = expensive cropped macro-only system.

[Mistral75]

645z with K mount adapter = expensive cropped macro-only system.

Or expensive cropped, mirror-up, live view-only system (with inner adapter).

[Kunzite]

And if used with a 40mm Limited, inner lens