interview with Ricoh Imaging General Sales Manager for Europe

rodaballo · 11-23-2019, 01:58 PM - **5 Likes**

It is great to have you on the forum, Mistral75.

**monochrome** · 11-23-2019, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxis

There are millions of k-mount film cameras gathering dust in attics,

99% of which would never be operable.

**monochrome** · 11-23-2019, 02:04 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by zzeitg

Mirrorless? Available from Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, Leica and Sigma.

I don't see any reason, why Pentax should (anyway too late) join this trend.

REASONS:

30% fewer parts
40+% fewer humans to assemble
Therefore - Higher margins

It is inevitable a Ricoh Mirrorless will happen eventually

**mlt** · 11-23-2019, 02:07 PM - **3 Likes**

Ricoh may do a mirrorless, but will keep Pentax firmly in the dslr camp.

rawr · 11-23-2019, 02:11 PM

L-mount alliance is interesting. That would couple Pentax with Sigma again.
Not much on offer for Pentax from the other L-mounters (Leica and Panasonic) though.

On the other hand, L-mount alliance would gain a lot, I think, from an established consumer brand like Pentax joining. L-mount at the moment is rather too luxe.

**Madaboutpix** · 11-23-2019, 02:22 PM

Thanks a lot for sharing this. Very informative, and kind of uplifting in its dedication.

Mistral75 · 11-23-2019, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by rodaballo

It is great to have you on the forum, Mistral75.

Thank you kind sir!

Tashbir · 11-23-2019, 02:33 PM

I am really glad to hear the news that Pentax is committed to developing all three SLR products: MF, FF and APS-C in the near future. That way it meets all my requirements and there will never be a need to switch brands.

thibs · 11-23-2019, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by Mistral75

Having talked to Philippe Farreng during the 100th Anniversary event at the Pentax Pop-up Café I got the impression he was personally in favour of Ricoh joining the L-mount alliance and/or he had heard about discussions on this topic.

I might be wrong though, he didn't say anything specific.

If Ricoh was to join an existing mount, this one would be best indeed IMO

leekil · 11-23-2019, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

A very interesting interview, indeed, but I don’t understand why a DSLR takes nearly twice as long to come to market.

I think the difficulty lies not in making a DSLR, but in making a DSLR and being able to improve it beyond the previous model. Maybe making it faster, more features, etc. are what is hard, and possibly harder to improve the speed because you have the more complex and heavier mirror/shutter to deal with.

**c.a.m** · 11-23-2019, 02:55 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by rodaballo

It is great to have you on the forum, Mistral75.

I second this! @Mistral75, your objective information is always a benefit to the members here. Merci beaucoup pour votre dévouement. Thank you so much for your dedication.

- Craig

thibs · 11-23-2019, 02:58 PM - **2 Likes**

L-mount would:

1/ position Ricoh as a rather high-end offering (it's all a question of image after all, pin intended)

2/ allow Ricoh to iterate around GR. Not a GR, that one will always be single lens compact but around it.

**monochrome** · 11-23-2019, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by thibs

L-mount would:

1/ position Ricoh as a rather high-end offering (it's all a question of image after all, pin intended)

2/ allow Ricoh to iterate around GR. Not a GR, that one will always be single lens compact but around it.

I can imagine an L-mount camera with Ricoh and Pentax DNA. Quirky, But Good.

fsge · 11-23-2019, 03:05 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by PePe

Hmm.... not a word about MF...

Mr Farreng said Pentax expects to stay in the MF market for many more years, rather positive news I would say

---------- Post added 11-23-2019 at 11:09 PM ----------

Originally posted by Mistral75

Having talked to Philippe Farreng during the 100th Anniversary event at the Pentax Pop-up Café I got the impression he was personally in favour of Ricoh joining the L-mount alliance and/or he had heard about discussions on this topic.

I might be wrong though, he didn't say anything specific.

Thank you Mistral for your detailed feedback. Possibly joining L mount alliance in case of a ML development makes a lot of sense as Pentax could not develop a full range of lenses in a short period of time as stated by Philippe F.
In this case the only sunk cost of developping a ML body would be related R&D with no additional costs except maybe royalties to use this new L mount

Pentikonian · 11-23-2019, 04:47 PM

Wow. Thanks for the info.

11-23-2019, 02:04 PM - 3 Likes	#33
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by zzeitg Mirrorless? Available from Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, Leica and Sigma. I don't see any reason, why Pentax should (anyway too late) join this trend. REASONS: 30% fewer parts 40+% fewer humans to assemble Therefore - Higher margins It is inevitable a Ricoh Mirrorless will happen eventually Last edited by monochrome; 11-23-2019 at 02:54 PM.

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11-23-2019, 01:58 PM - 5 Likes	#31
rodaballo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 158	It is great to have you on the forum, Mistral75.

11-23-2019, 01:58 PM	#32
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Pentaxis There are millions of k-mount film cameras gathering dust in attics, 99% of which would never be operable.

11-23-2019, 02:07 PM - 3 Likes	#34
mlt Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,159	Ricoh may do a mirrorless, but will keep Pentax firmly in the dslr camp.

11-23-2019, 02:11 PM	#35
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	L-mount alliance is interesting. That would couple Pentax with Sigma again. Not much on offer for Pentax from the other L-mounters (Leica and Panasonic) though. On the other hand, L-mount alliance would gain a lot, I think, from an established consumer brand like Pentax joining. L-mount at the moment is rather too luxe.

11-23-2019, 02:22 PM	#36
Madaboutpix Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Rhine-Westphalia Posts: 1,440	Thanks a lot for sharing this. Very informative, and kind of uplifting in its dedication.

11-23-2019, 02:27 PM	#37
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527 Original Poster	Originally posted by rodaballo It is great to have you on the forum, Mistral75. Thank you kind sir!

11-23-2019, 02:33 PM	#38
Tashbir New Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 18	I am really glad to hear the news that Pentax is committed to developing all three SLR products: MF, FF and APS-C in the near future. That way it meets all my requirements and there will never be a need to switch brands.

11-23-2019, 02:42 PM	#39
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by Mistral75 Having talked to Philippe Farreng during the 100th Anniversary event at the Pentax Pop-up Café I got the impression he was personally in favour of Ricoh joining the L-mount alliance and/or he had heard about discussions on this topic. I might be wrong though, he didn't say anything specific. If Ricoh was to join an existing mount, this one would be best indeed IMO

11-23-2019, 02:42 PM	#40
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	Originally posted by RobA_Oz A very interesting interview, indeed, but I don’t understand why a DSLR takes nearly twice as long to come to market. I think the difficulty lies not in making a DSLR, but in making a DSLR and being able to improve it beyond the previous model. Maybe making it faster, more features, etc. are what is hard, and possibly harder to improve the speed because you have the more complex and heavier mirror/shutter to deal with.

11-23-2019, 02:55 PM - 1 Like	#41
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189	Originally posted by rodaballo It is great to have you on the forum, Mistral75. I second this! @Mistral75, your objective information is always a benefit to the members here. Merci beaucoup pour votre dévouement. Thank you so much for your dedication. - Craig

11-23-2019, 02:58 PM - 2 Likes	#42
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	L-mount would: 1/ position Ricoh as a rather high-end offering (it's all a question of image after all, pin intended) 2/ allow Ricoh to iterate around GR. Not a GR, that one will always be single lens compact but around it.

11-23-2019, 03:05 PM	#43
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by thibs L-mount would: 1/ position Ricoh as a rather high-end offering (it's all a question of image after all, pin intended) 2/ allow Ricoh to iterate around GR. Not a GR, that one will always be single lens compact but around it. I can imagine an L-mount camera with Ricoh and Pentax DNA. Quirky, But Good.

11-23-2019, 03:05 PM - 1 Like	#44
fsge Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Genf Posts: 1,138	Originally posted by PePe Hmm.... not a word about MF... Mr Farreng said Pentax expects to stay in the MF market for many more years, rather positive news I would say ---------- Post added 11-23-2019 at 11:09 PM ---------- Originally posted by Mistral75 Having talked to Philippe Farreng during the 100th Anniversary event at the Pentax Pop-up Café I got the impression he was personally in favour of Ricoh joining the L-mount alliance and/or he had heard about discussions on this topic. I might be wrong though, he didn't say anything specific. Thank you Mistral for your detailed feedback. Possibly joining L mount alliance in case of a ML development makes a lot of sense as Pentax could not develop a full range of lenses in a short period of time as stated by Philippe F. In this case the only sunk cost of developping a ML body would be related R&D with no additional costs except maybe royalties to use this new L mount

11-23-2019, 04:47 PM	#45
Pentikonian Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 780	Wow. Thanks for the info.