[Kunzite]

IIRC they did something like that with Priolite.
So they're not completely closed to working with others...

[aurele]

Something like that Even Cactus got the silent treatment, but they still try to make it Pentax friendly.

If Pentax had the best flash system in the world, i would understand the behaviour.

Pentax is far from having a great flash and light system, some want to work their way to make it great and Ricoh says "no" ? It's really a strange thing to do, unless they want to ditch in the near future the P-TTL for something else.

[rawr]

I think part of the problem is Japanese business culture, which can be very insular.

Simple things like not facilitating software developers, reviewers or tester's access to new Pentax gear seems a common criticism about the company. Yet this is the sort of simple task that one might give to an intern to handle. So I can only imagine how hard it must be for would-be Pentax product partners to ask for access to Ricoh's intellectual property.

[eurostar]

IIRC they did something like that with Priolite.
So they're not completely closed to working with others...

I have just opened the Priolite site, the last news is an invitation to Photokina 2016. The German home page is just slightly kept to date.

I'd say they talk because they speak the same language...

[Winder]

Im not worried about Pentax not releasing high end stuff, but whats worrying, is that Ricoh totally ignore requests from other manufactures that wants to include Pentax in their systems..Thats the main reason for Elinchrome having Pentax as only camera brand left out of their new lights and HSS system. And the story goes on with other brands too..So there is a reason for everyone to ditch Pentax...Elinchrome,Tamron, Sigma, Profoto etc etc..

I just assumed Pentax market share was so low that the 3rd party companies had no interest in developing products to support it. It is also possible that Ricoh is working on updating their entire flash system (definitely needed) and introducing a completely new system. They need to do something like Sony and introduce their own wireless system with HSS support.

I like Sony's marketing. From interview with Focus Numerique : "Sony says that because they are “challengers” they have to innovate faster to stimulate interest in their products." This is something Ricoh needs to learn.

[JPT]

I can well imagine that Ricoh is not good at communicating with reviewers and accessory makers overseas, and it causes them problems. It's clear that they don't have enough marketing people around the world.

However, I don't think it makes much sense to say that 3rd party lens makers have abandoned K-mount because of Ricoh hasn't given them the technical assistance they need. Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and Cosina/Zeiss have all make K-mount products before, and there is nothing to stop them doing so again. Also, consider that foreign brands like Samyang, Irix, and Laowa have started to make K-mount more recently.

Actually, I think Sigma would say that they do support K-mount. A number of their current generation lenses are available in K-mount. If they renew one of their lenses that has a good record of selling in K-mount, like the 16-50 f2.8, there is a good chance it would come out in K-mount. The problem is that the more niche lenses they made in K-mount don't seem to be very popular with Pentaxians (18-35 f1.8 and 35mm f1.4).

In the case of Tamron, they probably feel their deal to make selected lenses for Pentax takes the risk out of it. The others have just decided that there aren't enough sales in it. At any rate, I think Ricoh's compliance with their requests for information has little to do with their business decisions. They just need more active K-mount users to sell to.

[dcpropilot]

I for one, would greatly appreciate OCF/HSS/TTL options, and I presume many other portrait photographers would as well. A majority of my work involves OCF single or multiple camera flash units. I don't understand why this isn't given more of a priority.

[zapp]

Actually, I think Sigma would say that they do support K-mount. A number of their current generation lenses are available in K-mount. If they renew one of their lenses that has a good record of selling in K-mount, like the 16-50 f2.8, there is a good chance it would come out in K-mount. The problem is that the more niche lenses they made in K-mount don't seem to be very popular with Pentaxians (18-35 f1.8 and 35mm f1.4).

.

The 35 Art was released in Pentax mount during APS-C age in Pentax land. No need for a big wide angle that behaves like a 50 for a coiple years - today it probably sells better, but noone really cares.
Pentax has to earn recognition by other companies. I don't need Sigma Art lens lineup for a generic camera, but Pentax has no alternatives to offer. I am not craving for Tamron F/1.8 lenses, but Pentax has no modern alternatives.

The pace of D-FA lens developement feels like former medium format days. Big lenses are released from time to time, but not more than one per year from Pentax. Problem is that Pentax is serving three serious sensor formats, two of them with k-mount.

[normhead]

The pace of D-FA lens developement feels like former medium format days. Big lenses are released from time to time, but not more than one per year from Pentax. Problem is that Pentax is serving three serious sensor formats, two of them with k-mount.

Two were announced yesterday. Since the K-1 was announced, a Feb. 2016, so going on 2 years ago
Released DFA 15-30, DFA 24-70, DFA 28-105, DFA 70-200, DFA 100 macro 2.8 WR, DFA 150-450
Announced soon (images today) DFA 50 1.4, DA 11-18

That's 4 per year my friend.

Do you ever check your facts or do you just run off at the mouth?

[sculptor666]

Two were announced yesterday. Since the K-1 was announced, a Feb. 2016, so going on 2 years ago
Released DFA 15-30, DFA 24-70, DFA 28-105, DFA 70-200, DFA 100 macro 2.8 WR, DFA 150-450
Announced soon (images today) DFA 50 1.4, DA 11-18

That's 4 per year my friend.

Do you ever check your facts or do you just run off at the mouth?

dfa wr 100mm macro was released in 2009.

2 lenses produced in 2015
3 produced in 2016
3 announced in 2017, dunno when they'll be available though.

[monochrome]

Pentax shooters are such Existential Nihilists.

PentaxIsDoomed - only 10 lenses (1 design update) in 30 months

DA 55-300 PLM 2015
DA18-50 RE 2015
(5) D FA ZOOMS 2015-2016 = 7

Soft Announcement today (formal announcement in two weeks)

DA*11-18/2.8
D FA*50/1.4 = 9

PLUS
(Rumored Soft announcement late January for CP+)
D FA*85/1.4 = 10

K-1 2016
K-70 2016
KP 2017
APSc flagship is soon
and something else is coming no one talks much about

[normhead]

dfa wr 100mm macro was released in 2009.

Wat Wid Dat, an FF lens released in 2010...

DA 55-300 PLM 2015
DA18-50 RE 2015
(5) D FA ZOOMS 2015-2016 = 7

The pace of D-FA lens developement feels like former medium format days. Big lenses are released from time to time, but not more than one per year from Pentax. Problem is that Pentax is serving three serious sensor formats, two of them with k-mount.

Care for a retraction?

Are we man enough?

[Gedeon]

and something else is coming no one talks much about

Everybody know...a fourteenth 35mm f1.4.... 8 pounds & 1870 dollars 😂

[monochrome]

Everybody know...a fourteenth 35mm f1.4.... 8 pounds & 1870 dollars 😂

Maybe. But there’s something else.

[timautin]

But there’s something else.

If you know something, why don't you share??