Originally posted by regken Richard,
In no way do I mean to imply Pentax should stop manufacturing or developing the type of special lenses they are famous for. The exact opposite is true. Why should they waste there time developing pedestrian lenses that have already been done well by other manufacturers. Adding these lenses will in no way dilute the line, just expand it. It would also free up R & D to concentrate on the Pentax "Special" type lenses.
In regards to Hoya, they are selling glass to all of the OEM's also. It would stand to reason they could care less if someone buys a Tamron lens, a Tamron OEM Pentax lens, or a Pentax made lens for their Pentax camera as long as there is Hoya glass in it. When selling OEM like Hoya is you make the same amount of profit regardless of who is buying it.
Ken
I never took your statement that they should not develop their own lenses, I'm sure they (Hoya) would like to do both!
But I do think that Pentax/Hoya should concentrate on developing the specialist lenses that I outlined, some of which are (I believe) already in the pipeline, namely the 11-16 SDM and a 18-200 SDM. With the others I suggested, it's only another 4 zooms over a 2 year period which is not a huge road-map even for Pentax.
At this time they have 1 more zoom, 3 primes and 1 (?) TC on the existing map to deliver, I'm sure they are fairly close (3 to 9 months maybe?).
Since that map was first published some 18 months ago and subsequently updated, there have been 5 zooms (+ 1 about to arrive) and 6 primes brought to market and that was during a period fraught with a protracted takeover and new factory challenges. That's 12 new optics, or 10 if you concede that one is a re-badge and the other a mkII.
With the one's left to come, plus the 4 zooms and 2 primes I've suggested, I don't see how that's such a big challenge, i.e. 10 lenses in total. Even a 3 year program would not be totally unacceptable considering that there will be more pressure on new body development than glass, even if they have a FF development program in the wings.
More importantly, the lenses I've suggested are not currently available from any other OEM, so I cannot see how any other "me too" lens is desirable or required.
Apart from some very exotic big fast long primes (i.e. very expensive) I cannot envisage much else that is really needed, can you?
The Pentax we have today is a far cry from the Pentax of 2 years ago, even considering the advances made by other marques. I think Pentax have actually improved further than any other brand, they certainly have increased their market share, and kudos must also go to Oly and Sony as well, but we must remember that despite some peoples faith being shaken by recent QC issues, the name Pentax is synonymous with good glass and that does not mean having a raft of re-badged lenses.
I believe it's better to have less (but good) lenses, than a host of "me too's" to fill the holes as perceived by customers. I can see why you suggest what you do, but I don't share your enthusiasm about your suggestions, that's all.