Interview with head of Ricoh Imaging

JPT · 09-25-2014, 03:01 AM

Japanese website DC Watch has posted an interview from Photokina with Noboru Akahane, boss of Ricoh Imaging.

http://m.dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/interview/20140925_668471.html

Google translate
Interview: Do not create products that do not have a [Photokina] personality - Ricoh Imaging - Digital Camera Watch

I haven't had a chance to read it all yet. Just sharing.

**beachgardener** · 09-25-2014, 03:14 AM

I can't make head nor tail of that translated interview.

**clackers** · 09-25-2014, 03:15 AM

Thanks for posting, JPT ... I think. Google Translate has as usual struggled with not just the words but the meanings behind them. (Sigh).

Mistral75 · 09-25-2014, 04:11 AM

The Chairman of Ricoh Imaging Corp. is a former investment banker.

Ricoh Imaging is dooooomed!™

SyncGuy · 09-25-2014, 04:18 AM

Hmm... There's a PF member here that helped to translate the previous interview right?

What's his name again? Perhaps he could help to translate better..

Clavius · 09-25-2014, 04:33 AM - **3 Likes**

The term is getting kinda old. But if google translate would have simply stated "Pentax is doomed" as a result of translating that interview, it would have been hilarious.

pinholecam · 09-25-2014, 04:57 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Mistral75

The Chairman of Ricoh Imaging Corp. is a former investment banker.

Ricoh Imaging is dooooomed!™

Hmm... if we took the web link address, inverted it, then pass it theu google translate....

It says.

"PENTAX IS DOOMED!"

6BQ5 · 09-25-2014, 05:09 AM - **1 Like**

Thanks for posting the interview! I'm sure there are some interesting nuggets in there but the grammar from the Google translation is pretty rough.

From I can gather, the overall theme that Ricoh is following is to do everything differently than Canon or Nikon. If they aren't doing something then that is something Ricoh ought to do. The Q comes to mind. As everyone tries to make a mirrorless camera with larger sensors Ricoh will make one with a small one. Since everyone makes black cameras we'll make them in every other color. Etc, etc, etc. They definitely don't want to be a "me too" company. The danger is turning into a "so what?" company. I think they have a pretty good "why" or belief system they want customers to buy into. They believe cameras should be small and inviting to use so that you want to carry them around everywhere you go. Pressing the sitter button should be a special experience every time.

Giklab · 09-25-2014, 06:06 AM

Originally posted by pinholecam

Hmm... if we took the web link address, inverted it, then pass it theu google translate....

It says.

"PENTAX IS DOOMED!"

lmth.174866_52904102\weivretni\swen\scod\pj.oc.sserpmi.hctaw.cd

It recommends Haiti Kreolean to translate from.

RonHendriks1966 · 09-25-2014, 06:06 AM

Would be great to read a propper translation.

Zygonyx · 09-25-2014, 06:12 AM

Yeah , until that, no sense.

JPT · 09-25-2014, 06:16 AM

In the first part, he compares the company culture of Ricoh Imaging with western companies he has worked with before. Western companies start with a business model and then work with partners to bring products to market. He was surpassed at the culture of Ricoh Imaging when he joined, because they have a very serious product focus and tend to think about the business model later. He sees his job as being to change this culture.

It's seriously difficult biz-talk, by the way, and I'm not sure I can understand more than the gist.

**Fontan** · 09-25-2014, 06:24 AM - **1 Like**

You guys didn't miss much. Just typical hords of BS that we have heard in the past.

JPT · 09-25-2014, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by Fontan

You guys didn't miss much. Just typical hords of BS that we have heard in the past.

I agree that he doesn't really say anything concrete about the products, but it does give some insight into the guy who is running Ricoh Imaging.

Clavius · 09-25-2014, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by 6BQ5

Thanks for posting the interview! I'm sure there are some interesting nuggets in there but the grammar from the Google translation is pretty rough.

From I can gather, the overall theme that Ricoh is following is to do everything differently than Canon or Nikon. If they aren't doing something then that is something Ricoh ought to do. The Q comes to mind. As everyone tries to make a mirrorless camera with larger sensors Ricoh will make one with a small one. Since everyone makes black cameras we'll make them in every other color. Etc, etc, etc. They definitely don't want to be a "me too" company.

Well in that case, they sure are practicing what they're preaching... ...So a tiny FF MILC but with tiny lenses to go with it would be a suitable niche for them too? The other manufacturers all tend to go with the bazooka-on-a-deck-of-cards approach.

09-25-2014, 03:01 AM	#1
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821	Interview with head of Ricoh Imaging Japanese website DC Watch has posted an interview from Photokina with Noboru Akahane, boss of Ricoh Imaging. http://m.dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/interview/20140925_668471.html Google translate Interview: Do not create products that do not have a [Photokina] personality - Ricoh Imaging - Digital Camera Watch I haven't had a chance to read it all yet. Just sharing.

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09-25-2014, 03:14 AM	#2
beachgardener Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,842	I can't make head nor tail of that translated interview.

09-25-2014, 03:15 AM	#3
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Thanks for posting, JPT ... I think. Google Translate has as usual struggled with not just the words but the meanings behind them. (Sigh).

09-25-2014, 04:11 AM	#4
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,526	The Chairman of Ricoh Imaging Corp. is a former investment banker. Ricoh Imaging is dooooomed!™

09-25-2014, 04:18 AM	#5
SyncGuy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 821	Hmm... There's a PF member here that helped to translate the previous interview right? What's his name again? Perhaps he could help to translate better..

09-25-2014, 04:33 AM - 3 Likes	#6
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150	The term is getting kinda old. But if google translate would have simply stated "Pentax is doomed" as a result of translating that interview, it would have been hilarious.

09-25-2014, 04:57 AM - 1 Like	#7
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	Originally posted by Mistral75 The Chairman of Ricoh Imaging Corp. is a former investment banker. Ricoh Imaging is dooooomed!™ Hmm... if we took the web link address, inverted it, then pass it theu google translate.... It says. "PENTAX IS DOOMED!"

09-25-2014, 05:09 AM - 1 Like	#8
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	Thanks for posting the interview! I'm sure there are some interesting nuggets in there but the grammar from the Google translation is pretty rough. From I can gather, the overall theme that Ricoh is following is to do everything differently than Canon or Nikon. If they aren't doing something then that is something Ricoh ought to do. The Q comes to mind. As everyone tries to make a mirrorless camera with larger sensors Ricoh will make one with a small one. Since everyone makes black cameras we'll make them in every other color. Etc, etc, etc. They definitely don't want to be a "me too" company. The danger is turning into a "so what?" company. I think they have a pretty good "why" or belief system they want customers to buy into. They believe cameras should be small and inviting to use so that you want to carry them around everywhere you go. Pressing the sitter button should be a special experience every time.

09-25-2014, 06:06 AM	#9
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Originally posted by pinholecam Hmm... if we took the web link address, inverted it, then pass it theu google translate.... It says. "PENTAX IS DOOMED!" lmth.174866_52904102\weivretni\swen\scod\pj.oc.sserpmi.hctaw.cd It recommends Haiti Kreolean to translate from.

09-25-2014, 06:06 AM	#10
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Would be great to read a propper translation.

09-25-2014, 06:12 AM	#11
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,032	Yeah , until that, no sense.

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09-25-2014, 06:16 AM	#12
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821 Original Poster	In the first part, he compares the company culture of Ricoh Imaging with western companies he has worked with before. Western companies start with a business model and then work with partners to bring products to market. He was surpassed at the culture of Ricoh Imaging when he joined, because they have a very serious product focus and tend to think about the business model later. He sees his job as being to change this culture. It's seriously difficult biz-talk, by the way, and I'm not sure I can understand more than the gist.

09-25-2014, 06:24 AM - 1 Like	#13
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610	You guys didn't miss much. Just typical hords of BS that we have heard in the past.

09-25-2014, 06:34 AM	#14
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821 Original Poster	Originally posted by Fontan You guys didn't miss much. Just typical hords of BS that we have heard in the past. I agree that he doesn't really say anything concrete about the products, but it does give some insight into the guy who is running Ricoh Imaging.

09-25-2014, 06:34 AM	#15
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150	Originally posted by 6BQ5 Thanks for posting the interview! I'm sure there are some interesting nuggets in there but the grammar from the Google translation is pretty rough. From I can gather, the overall theme that Ricoh is following is to do everything differently than Canon or Nikon. If they aren't doing something then that is something Ricoh ought to do. The Q comes to mind. As everyone tries to make a mirrorless camera with larger sensors Ricoh will make one with a small one. Since everyone makes black cameras we'll make them in every other color. Etc, etc, etc. They definitely don't want to be a "me too" company. Well in that case, they sure are practicing what they're preaching... ...So a tiny FF MILC but with tiny lenses to go with it would be a suitable niche for them too? The other manufacturers all tend to go with the bazooka-on-a-deck-of-cards approach.