Originally posted by Nubi Wait. There are 2 DSLR in the works.
I don't know anything, but it smells to me as if Hoya is going to bomb the entire DSLR industry over the next 12 months and make Pentax a positive contributor to their bottom line.
- WR / WS releases of classic FA designs (full-coverage image circle)
- 645D - same story on lenses
- ILX-d FF body using K-7/K-x electronics and ergonomics
Proof? I have none. But it is clear
- the K-7 changed direction about this time last year (spread 645/FF R&D over a larger volume product)
- the "Viral Marketing" program of directed teaser leaks is intentional (K-7 photos; 645D manual pressplate cover; D-FA 100/2.8 Macro, plus reference to covering a film image circle in offical press release; "faked DA* 400/4 photo)
- the Lens Roadmap disappeared last spring
- Lens prices immediately started rising as a policy decision, not due to currency fluctuation, extracting a huge return from sunk R&D costs (used to finance future R&D).
- Pentax is incrementally improving components in rolling model introductions, which maximizes return on R&D budget by using cash flow from one improvement to finance the next.
- K-7 many upgrades but IQ retains K20D level sensor
- K-x upgrades senspr and ISO capability
- K-7S (Super) will upgrade sensor and autofocus?
- Slight stirrings of advertising in targeted print publications; negotiating with dpreview and banner advertising; banner advertising on photo.net; JCPentax posting here; Ned posting here.
These are the actions of a company with a long view. Benjamin Franklin called compound interest the eighth wonder of the world. Honda has, over the last 50 years, employed a doctrine of constant improvement to gradually establish itself as a quiet, dependable car brand with extremely loyal customers. The power of constant, gradual improvement and engineering brilliance will eventually destroy hollow marketing ploys (who cares what camera Justin what's-his-name uses). Think of it as compound interest - pun intended.
I am cautiously excited about the future for Pentax. I think I see a hint of their strategy, and it can work over time. I've most certainly missed some indicators, and likely empress relevance onto coincidences somewhere.
But I tire of our constant harping that whatever they do is wrong or bad decision or not what we need today. We all thought it was so funny that the D-FA 100/2.8 must be real because only Pentax could make such an illogical decision as to re-release an already exiting lens - then we laughed again when we were right. Well, maybe they made a somewhat inferior macro a better lens - wait and see.
.Let them play it out and accept what they do. Use the product if it is useful to you; don't if it isn't; and stop buggering everything they do because it isn't what you wanted right now.
My 3c
Last edited by monochrome; 12-11-2009 at 03:11 PM.