Originally posted by JPT I think Ricoh has to make a $2000 camera and a $3500 camera to stand a chance. Without both, they won't get the volume on the lenses they need to make a viable system.
If they can't release them at the same time, it makes much more sense to release the high end one first. Pentax is never going to be the cheapest FF option while there are second hand cameras on the market from their competitors anyway. Also, look at what happened to Sony when they tried the cheap conventional FF strategy with the AX00 cameras.
Ricoh needs to make a splash with the best image quality and new features if they are too stand a chance of getting people to switch from Canon and Nikon. I don't see how a D750 clone alone will help them do that.
This might not make people who are expecting for a cheap FF in November happy, but I think it makes sense if Ricoh wants to make a success of K-mount FF.
That's an interesting thought. The primary issue I see with this, however, is if Ricoh does as you say and releases the top end FF body first, if they then dont release the lower cost body soon after, they jeopardize sales of the lower cost body due to second hand sales of the top end body. I mean, once the top end FF body is out there for sometime, prices inherently lower. Second hand prices are usually at least 25% under that price. The Lower cost body then comes out and why buy it when one can get a better specced camera for the same or slightly more (even if having to buy second hand) ??