Originally posted by Pentax_WA .. so initially, some folks said the healthcare rep wasn't right, then some other said, healthcare section has nothing to do with imaging section, now some folks claim this is not new. I merely posted what I was told and looking at how the company operates, it makes sense that Ricoh isn't as excited about their Pentax lineup development as some of us would have liked them to. If this isn't something new as "monochrome" says, then it makes perfect sense why Pentax production line has been quite slow compared to other competitors over the past few years. I own many Pentax equipment ( as you can see in my signature line ) and I would love for the company to grow, so I'll purchase more of what I need. It's very childish for some of the folks here to bluntly attack another member just because they have a poor understanding of the business operation, design, and marketing or simply are in disagreement. Everyone is entitled to their opinion , but please stay professional in your response. I simply shared what I was told. If it doesn't make sense to you, "Kunzite", or anyone else, that is fine. I have been doing business over 18 years and it makes perfect sense to me why Ricoh would switch gears in order to stay in the Market, And that's we ALL want. If they lose their bigger market share, i.e. photocopy, medical equipment etc, I foresee they let go of Pentax cameras since this is probably the smallest part of their revenues.
I hope my responses didn't come across as an attack; that certainly wasn't my intention. You should absolutely expect to be treated courteously here.
That said, this is an emotive subject. You've drawn a somewhat pessimistic conclusion, if I may say, regarding the future of Ricoh's photography business - on the basis of a comment from a trade show representative working for an unrelated division of the group company. And it appears as if you've readily accepted that comment as factual inside information, without questioning or validating it (at least, that's how it comes across to me). For someone who is clearly a Pentax enthusiast, that's quite unusual.
We have a few members here that seem to revel in negative news for Ricoh, and whilst I personally don't believe you're one of them, that may in part explain some of the robust responses you've received. We see many posts espousing baseless rumours and assumptions around Ricoh / Pentax, and I can understand how that gets frustrating for members here. We know that such posts are visible publicly, and fuel for those who are critical of the brand. They can become viral, and potentially damaging if they affect someone's buying decisions. So I can understand your view, and the basis of it, generating spirited conversation and rebuttal.
But, as I said at the start, you should expect to be treated courteously
And with that, perhaps - as @Rondec implied - we should return to the continuation of the K-3 line... something to be very positive about