Originally posted by reh321 People keep looking ahead for a K-1iii. Whether there is one depends on a very practical issue - did the last one add profits for Pentax. That is why I keep asking that question.
I'd wager that it probably was. The K-1ii is a K-1 with a different motherboard. As such, the camera's development cost would have been relatively low. But, of course, I'm guessing.
Another thing to consider (and I'm not, of course, saying this is the case for Pentax) is that businesses do not always exist to make profit for their shareholders. Usually, but not always. I know of several that continuously run at a loss, but that suits their owners, usually, for one of only a few reasons, for example:
1. To offset the profit made by one or more of their other businesses and reduce taxable income.
2. Because the technology developed in one business may benefit one or more of their other businesses.
3. Because of being a hobby or vanity or artistic project for the owner(s).
All I'm saying is it may not simply be about profit. And, even if it was, the owner(s) won't say whether they're making a profit or not, except as required from their shareholder reporting.