timing is everything.......

kmanlaker · 08-12-2008, 07:22 AM

oh yeah ---- as soon as I get back into the Pentax system here comes the bad news from the bean counters

here is the link ----- just remember that corporations like to chop heads and not necessarily products

Hoya Sales, Profit Fall on Photo Masks, Pentax Unit -- Tech-On!

kman

Tom S. · 08-12-2008, 08:43 AM

Not good news on the digital side!

Nesster · 08-12-2008, 08:54 AM

Not all is bad news:
"From now, the company will attempt to expand its business through entering the SLR camera lens market, which it has been holding back from entering as it believes margins are lower than for compact cameras lenses. "

In other words, HOYA will produce more third party / OEM lenses, which should be good for Pentax lens production as well.

But this bit isn't good:

"Concerning the digital camera business operated by Pentax, Hoya said it will aim to secure its profit by reducing the business scale from now on. Amid the market environment, where the price competition intensified and sales growth of SLR products slowed, financial results of Pentax also plunged with unit sales decreasing and unit price lowering in the April-June quarter.

A sales decline of about 20% is anticipated to continue in the July-September quarter, as the business unit is building up inventory, lagging behind its rivals and market demand when releasing products, according to Hoya. The company is planning to cut costs by streamlining its bases in Japan by shifting production overseas and outsourcing, as well as reducing production to an appropriate level from now, it said. "

**Ray Pulley** · 08-12-2008, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by kmanlaker

oh yeah ---- as soon as I get back into the Pentax system here comes the bad news from the bean counters

here is the link ----- just remember that corporations like to chop heads and not necessarily products

Hoya Sales, Profit Fall on Photo Masks, Pentax Unit -- Tech-On!

kman

Just as I feared, Hoya's pricing strategy broke the Pentax value formula and it cost them sales.

Of course, being consistently late in releasing products that folks have been waiting for is costing them customers as well, as is the perceived lag in performance in some areas of the products (AF in particular).

The overall world economic situation isn't going to help either, but I would sure hate to see my choices in future cameras pared down to mainly Canon and Nikon.

Ray

séamuis · 08-12-2008, 09:15 AM

certainly not good news.

thePiRaTE!! · 08-12-2008, 09:21 AM

Anyone see a sale of Pentax to Samsung in the future?

arbutusq · 08-12-2008, 09:34 AM

This doesn't surprise me much. My K100d is getting long in the tooth and I was looking at replacing it with the K200 so I went into the local brick and mortar store and tried it out beside all of the competition. While still a great camera it seemed a bit clunky compared to the competition, and was priced higher to boot.

When I got my K100d it was a better value for money than any other DSLR out there. That was IMO Pentax's best selling point, and I don't see that anymore.

I decided to use my K100d till it falls apart and then decide.

thibs · 08-12-2008, 10:37 AM

Originally posted by arbutusq

When I got my K100d it was a better value for money than any other DSLR out there. That was IMO Pentax's best selling point, and I don't see that anymore.

I decided to use my K100d till it falls apart and then decide.

Wait for Photokina

arbutusq · 08-12-2008, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by thibs

Wait for Photokina

Definitely. Sometimes I wonder if we all get swept up in this New Model Fanaticism. My K100 still works well and I am still not getting the most out of it, but I go into the stores and try out all those new cameras with the bells and whistles and the salesman has to get a mop to wipe up the drool.....Cameras with tilting screens, GPS, dust removal and ones that stop time to freeze the subject for the picture. My mind boggles.

Red · 08-12-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

GOLDEN, COLO. — Despite whispered rumors to the contrary, Pentax is determined to stay in the digital camera market for the "long haul," according to the company's new sales and marketing VP Bill Zani.

"No, we're not getting out of point-and-shoot, and, no, we're not getting out of d-SLRs," Zani said.

In an effort to bolster sales following the company's merger with Hoya, Pentax will shift its account-management strategy, replacing a model based on regional geography with a channel-specific approach. "In the past, our account-management team consisted of generalists — now they'll be specialists," Zani said.

The move was spurred by a "360-degree evaluation of how we go to market," Zani said. "The majority of our customers will see significant changes in terms of how the account managers do business with them. We'll be talking sell through much more than sell-in," he added.
The plan "is steady growth, niche growth. It's not unit volume driven," Zani said. As part of the change, Pentax will seek to expand its sales channels, particularly with niche products like its waterproof cameras, he said.
The Hoya merger will bring other changes, Zani said. The company will move from annual assessments of its numbers to quarterly appraisals, he said.
Zani joined Pentax last month, having held positions at SanDisk, Concord Camera and Iomega.

Twice Copyright © 2008 Reed Business Information A division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Zani: Pentax In Cameras For The Long Haul

séamuis · 08-13-2008, 04:52 AM

Originally posted by Red

Zani: Pentax In Cameras For The Long Haul

that's good. I'm not overly concerned with pentax disappearing, or Samsung taking it over. they are in an awkward position at the moment and are trying to settle in, making the appropriate changes to restructure and place themselves in the market. they are not now nor have they ever really aimed at beating canon and nikon though I think they could but I wont go into my ideas about a 'pro' camera aimed at the fashion industry and such. ie: interchangable viewfinders ala the LX. but I think they have the ability to stick it out and carve a new place in the market and to be the camera company they once were.

I think some people here just need to stop worrying about it and stop hanging onto every rumor that pops up. I could end up being wrong.... but I really doubt that I will.

**tranq78** · 08-13-2008, 07:59 AM

The sky is not falling. The sky is getting cloudy and overcast but it is not falling.

Hoya operates in a cyclical business. In other words, things go up and down depending on the part of the economic cycle.

Most of the disappointments are from the Hoya side of the business. On the Pentax side the article does not distinguish whether point & shoots or SLRs were the problem. Before jumping to any further conclusions, maybe we can get some clarity on this point.

Finally, people seem to overlook the blindingly obvious fact that the combined company is still making money. Lots of it. All that's happened is the company missed their earnings expectations. This means something if you own shares in the company but not if you are simply a consumer of its products.

Nesster · 08-13-2008, 10:11 AM

Note also that a lot of the over capacity and slowdown is with OEM optical stuff: cell phone and digicam lenses, the low end / high volume sort of stuff. This is where the bigger portion of the photo related money is. And in this market, Hoya states they will get into SLR lenses in a bigger way.

On the Pentax side, what the article implies - to me at least - is that Hoya recognizes two current problems. One, over production due to global slowdown. Two, lagging the competition in new product introductions. The solutions: produce less right now, and 'streamline' which means both cut out overhead and inefficiency AND develop new product to keep up with the market.

In the short term, this MAY mean shortages of specific items (anyone remember not so long ago when the arrival of a shipment of 50/1.4's was big news?), and the working out of built up inventories.

ricardobeat · 08-13-2008, 06:13 PM

very good news actually:

from now, the company will attempt to expand its business through entering the SLR camera lens market, which it has been holding back from entering (...)

that could mean no further delays in the lenses roadmap!

Groucho · 08-14-2008, 04:26 AM

Originally posted by Ray Pulley

Just as I feared, Hoya's pricing strategy broke the Pentax value formula and it cost them sales.

Of course, being consistently late in releasing products that folks have been waiting for is costing them customers as well, as is the perceived lag in performance in some areas of the products (AF in particular).

To be fair, the K20D was released well ahead of schedule, and the K200D right about on time. I doubt many potential first-time Pentax buyers were put off that the 55mm F1.4 and 60-250mm F4 have been behind schedule.

08-12-2008, 07:22 AM	#1
kmanlaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fort Wayne Posts: 136	timing is everything....... oh yeah ---- as soon as I get back into the Pentax system here comes the bad news from the bean counters here is the link ----- just remember that corporations like to chop heads and not necessarily products Hoya Sales, Profit Fall on Photo Masks, Pentax Unit -- Tech-On! kman

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08-12-2008, 08:43 AM	#2
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Not good news on the digital side!

08-12-2008, 08:54 AM	#3
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	Not all is bad news: "From now, the company will attempt to expand its business through entering the SLR camera lens market, which it has been holding back from entering as it believes margins are lower than for compact cameras lenses. " In other words, HOYA will produce more third party / OEM lenses, which should be good for Pentax lens production as well. But this bit isn't good: "Concerning the digital camera business operated by Pentax, Hoya said it will aim to secure its profit by reducing the business scale from now on. Amid the market environment, where the price competition intensified and sales growth of SLR products slowed, financial results of Pentax also plunged with unit sales decreasing and unit price lowering in the April-June quarter. A sales decline of about 20% is anticipated to continue in the July-September quarter, as the business unit is building up inventory, lagging behind its rivals and market demand when releasing products, according to Hoya. The company is planning to cut costs by streamlining its bases in Japan by shifting production overseas and outsourcing, as well as reducing production to an appropriate level from now, it said. "

08-12-2008, 09:13 AM	#4
Ray Pulley Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fallon Nevada Photos: Albums Posts: 504	Originally posted by kmanlaker oh yeah ---- as soon as I get back into the Pentax system here comes the bad news from the bean counters here is the link ----- just remember that corporations like to chop heads and not necessarily products Hoya Sales, Profit Fall on Photo Masks, Pentax Unit -- Tech-On! kman Just as I feared, Hoya's pricing strategy broke the Pentax value formula and it cost them sales. Of course, being consistently late in releasing products that folks have been waiting for is costing them customers as well, as is the perceived lag in performance in some areas of the products (AF in particular). The overall world economic situation isn't going to help either, but I would sure hate to see my choices in future cameras pared down to mainly Canon and Nikon. Ray

08-12-2008, 09:15 AM	#5
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	certainly not good news.

08-12-2008, 09:21 AM	#6
thePiRaTE!! Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Calgary, AB Photos: Gallery Posts: 942	Anyone see a sale of Pentax to Samsung in the future?

08-12-2008, 09:34 AM	#7
arbutusq Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vancouver BC canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 380	This doesn't surprise me much. My K100d is getting long in the tooth and I was looking at replacing it with the K200 so I went into the local brick and mortar store and tried it out beside all of the competition. While still a great camera it seemed a bit clunky compared to the competition, and was priced higher to boot. When I got my K100d it was a better value for money than any other DSLR out there. That was IMO Pentax's best selling point, and I don't see that anymore. I decided to use my K100d till it falls apart and then decide.

08-12-2008, 10:37 AM	#8
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by arbutusq When I got my K100d it was a better value for money than any other DSLR out there. That was IMO Pentax's best selling point, and I don't see that anymore. I decided to use my K100d till it falls apart and then decide. Wait for Photokina

08-12-2008, 12:14 PM	#9
arbutusq Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vancouver BC canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 380	Originally posted by thibs Wait for Photokina Definitely. Sometimes I wonder if we all get swept up in this New Model Fanaticism. My K100 still works well and I am still not getting the most out of it, but I go into the stores and try out all those new cameras with the bells and whistles and the salesman has to get a mop to wipe up the drool.....Cameras with tilting screens, GPS, dust removal and ones that stop time to freeze the subject for the picture. My mind boggles.

08-12-2008, 07:19 PM	#10
Red Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Suwanee, GA USA Posts: 153	Quote: GOLDEN, COLO. — Despite whispered rumors to the contrary, Pentax is determined to stay in the digital camera market for the "long haul," according to the company's new sales and marketing VP Bill Zani. "No, we're not getting out of point-and-shoot, and, no, we're not getting out of d-SLRs," Zani said. In an effort to bolster sales following the company's merger with Hoya, Pentax will shift its account-management strategy, replacing a model based on regional geography with a channel-specific approach. "In the past, our account-management team consisted of generalists — now they'll be specialists," Zani said. The move was spurred by a "360-degree evaluation of how we go to market," Zani said. "The majority of our customers will see significant changes in terms of how the account managers do business with them. We'll be talking sell through much more than sell-in," he added. The plan "is steady growth, niche growth. It's not unit volume driven," Zani said. As part of the change, Pentax will seek to expand its sales channels, particularly with niche products like its waterproof cameras, he said. The Hoya merger will bring other changes, Zani said. The company will move from annual assessments of its numbers to quarterly appraisals, he said. Zani joined Pentax last month, having held positions at SanDisk, Concord Camera and Iomega. Twice Copyright © 2008 Reed Business Information A division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Zani: Pentax In Cameras For The Long Haul

08-13-2008, 04:52 AM	#11
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by Red Zani: Pentax In Cameras For The Long Haul that's good. I'm not overly concerned with pentax disappearing, or Samsung taking it over. they are in an awkward position at the moment and are trying to settle in, making the appropriate changes to restructure and place themselves in the market. they are not now nor have they ever really aimed at beating canon and nikon though I think they could but I wont go into my ideas about a 'pro' camera aimed at the fashion industry and such. ie: interchangable viewfinders ala the LX. but I think they have the ability to stick it out and carve a new place in the market and to be the camera company they once were. I think some people here just need to stop worrying about it and stop hanging onto every rumor that pops up. I could end up being wrong.... but I really doubt that I will.

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08-13-2008, 07:59 AM	#12
tranq78 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,005	The sky is not falling. The sky is getting cloudy and overcast but it is not falling. Hoya operates in a cyclical business. In other words, things go up and down depending on the part of the economic cycle. Most of the disappointments are from the Hoya side of the business. On the Pentax side the article does not distinguish whether point & shoots or SLRs were the problem. Before jumping to any further conclusions, maybe we can get some clarity on this point. Finally, people seem to overlook the blindingly obvious fact that the combined company is still making money. Lots of it. All that's happened is the company missed their earnings expectations. This means something if you own shares in the company but not if you are simply a consumer of its products.

08-13-2008, 10:11 AM	#13
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	Note also that a lot of the over capacity and slowdown is with OEM optical stuff: cell phone and digicam lenses, the low end / high volume sort of stuff. This is where the bigger portion of the photo related money is. And in this market, Hoya states they will get into SLR lenses in a bigger way. On the Pentax side, what the article implies - to me at least - is that Hoya recognizes two current problems. One, over production due to global slowdown. Two, lagging the competition in new product introductions. The solutions: produce less right now, and 'streamline' which means both cut out overhead and inefficiency AND develop new product to keep up with the market. In the short term, this MAY mean shortages of specific items (anyone remember not so long ago when the arrival of a shipment of 50/1.4's was big news?), and the working out of built up inventories.

08-13-2008, 06:13 PM	#14
ricardobeat Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brazil Posts: 376	very good news actually: from now, the company will attempt to expand its business through entering the SLR camera lens market, which it has been holding back from entering (...) that could mean no further delays in the lenses roadmap!

08-14-2008, 04:26 AM	#15
Groucho Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 416	Originally posted by Ray Pulley Just as I feared, Hoya's pricing strategy broke the Pentax value formula and it cost them sales. Of course, being consistently late in releasing products that folks have been waiting for is costing them customers as well, as is the perceived lag in performance in some areas of the products (AF in particular). To be fair, the K20D was released well ahead of schedule, and the K200D right about on time. I doubt many potential first-time Pentax buyers were put off that the 55mm F1.4 and 60-250mm F4 have been behind schedule.