Would you buy a Pentax phone?

JohntheThird · 05-21-2013, 10:10 AM

Well,

What I really dislike about my simple Nokia C2: everything is hidden far away in the most illogical menus and complicated buttons. Even when it is said to be the most robust phones, I doubt that it will last more than two years. I don't dare to phone in the rain. It gave up on me at -10 degrees celcius.

My K5 gives me full control of all the essential functions ready at the fingertips. After almost 2 years it still operates as new, even when I took it out in the rain. During a winter holiday at -15 deg C it gave me over 600 pics on one battery.

**RobA_Oz** · 05-21-2013, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by theperception2008

Well Pentax worked with HP before to make a camera. Sony just came out with a waterproof smartphone. So Apple needs wr tech and experience, who else knows this better than Pentax? Imagine iPhone 6 with weather sealing, 31mm equivalent lens, f1.8 (nod to the FA 31 of course), Pentax lens design and made. Zeiss on Sony, Pentax on Apple? I think it would work. Leave the U.I. and hardware to Apple, the camera to Pentax Ricoh. Look at the GR, it's the first compact camera from R/P to garner so much media attention imho...

That would work, I reckon. Anyone else remember the "Eyes of Pentax" advertising campaign from the 1980s? A revival of that in this context might work. It might offend those who've swallowed the anti-Apple pill, but maybe a Pirelli calendar shot with a Pentax-equipped iPhone would change a few minds. Where's Sam Haskins when you need him?

starbase218 · 05-21-2013, 03:08 PM

To be honest I don't quite understand brand loyalty. If I buy a new phone, I buy a new phone. Not a camera. I don't need it to be from a particular brand. For that matter, I don't need a compact camera to be from a particular brand either. I got an Olympus Tough TG-2 and it works fine beside my K-5. I didn't get an Olympus because Olympus is the greatest manufacturer on earth. I got an Olympus because Olympus makes cameras. It's really no more complicated than that. So why would I want the phone to be the same brand as my DSLR? (which, by the way, I also did not buy just because it said "Pentax")

Now, if Pentax would make a phone with some special new feature I could see myself using, then maybe I would buy a Pentax phone. But I can't imagine what that would be. But even if they would do that: I wouldn't buy a Pentax, I'd buy a phone. The fact that it would be made by Pentax is not the reason I'd choose it. The fact that that phone has that feature might be.

But anyway, my iPhone is in no need for a replacement anyway. And speaking of iPhone, I bought some apps and books for that. So I'm kind of invested into that platform.

**RobA_Oz** · 05-21-2013, 03:36 PM

I don't think brand loyalty is hard to understand, although it differs from brand fanaticism, which I find difficult to fathom. Although the modern business and marketing schools only seem to think that loyalty to a brand can be bought with money equivalence (frequent-flyer points etc) the old-fashioned reasons for brand loyalty were family connection (think football and cars), reliability and economy (appliances) and comfortable familiarity (clothes etc). These days, you can add association (Tee-shirts with slogans or logos) and self-definition (socio-economic class or sub-group). Brand fanaticism, on the other hand, is probably more associated with a psychological condition (think religion or secular cult).

To the point, I inherited a Pentax SV from my father, and found it to be comfortable, reliable and highly functional, just like all of its successors. I've tried other camera brands and found them to be good (in some cases, very good) but comfortable familiarity and satisfactory performance brings me back each time, although I can't imagine the time and effort I'd have to put into re-investing in an alternative system now. If it does what you want, there's no sin involved.

deus ursus · 05-21-2013, 03:47 PM

I'd buy a Pentax phone even if it had only one button that said "phone home"!

Uluru · 05-21-2013, 04:14 PM

They already have cheap wrist watches :-) But not theirs, of course.
Phones are a commodity; they are given for free today because tech behind them has become worthless.
Good cameras still are not in the same basket and are more valued.
More Pentax moves out of gadget and commoddity markets (abandoning cheap p&s), they will fare better.

**Aristophanes** · 05-21-2013, 04:48 PM

Kind of the wrong forum for this thread. Not news and rumours about Pentax.

jogiba · 05-21-2013, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Phones are a commodity; they are given for free today because tech behind them has become worthless.

I agree, phones are worthless but smartphones is were the big money is and the top models have more computing power than the fastest desktop PCs from a few years ago.

**RobA_Oz** · 05-21-2013, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by Aristophanes

Kind of the wrong forum for this thread. Not news and rumours about Pentax.

You can back it in that someone will trawl through here and pick it up. If so, this thread becomes a sort of proto-rumour.

Cannikin · 05-21-2013, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by pencil

LG L-03C has a Pentax lens. Quite rare today, though.

I find it interesting that the first (and only) post you made on these forums was to dig up a 4 year old thread. Surely that's not your only reason for joining PF?

**geomez** · 05-21-2013, 09:13 PM

If Samsung can make a good smartphone, a good camera, a good clothes dryer, and a good refrigerator, I don't see why Pentax couldn't build a good version of any of those things if they wanted to. They just don't seem to want to.

theperception2008 · 05-21-2013, 11:40 PM

Originally posted by geomez

If Samsung can make a good smartphone, a good camera, a good clothes dryer, and a good refrigerator, I don't see why Pentax couldn't build a good version of any of those things if they wanted to. They just don't seem to want to.

True, but the structure and the resources that Samsung has at it's disposal is tremendous. So Pentax has focused itself on cameras. I don't think Pentax making their own smartphone is the answer. Because then Pentax has to break into an already cluttered market and that will take money, lots of it. Partnering with say LG, or Apple, will provide the engineering knowledge and marketing presence that Pentax lacks, especially in the mobile electronics area. I say Apple because the iPhone camera development, minus sensor of course, has been in house. Sony's been working really aggressively at reestablishing its presence, for me the Xperia ZR being the first real waterproof smartphone is a huge breakthrough. Apple will need to respond at least weather proofing the next iPhone. An LG partnership i think is less desirable as I feel their presence is not a significant as Apple and they do need some expertise on rugged weather resistant electronics, Pentax Ricoh does not have any competing segments as well so a mutual partnership seems quite possible... just my .02 :-)

Na Horuk · 05-22-2013, 02:30 AM

What kind of lens and sensor would you guys like to see on a camera phone? Zoom, prime? Folding, fixed size?
Would be neat, sure. But the phone would also have to perform in all the other areas.

RonHendriks1966 · 05-22-2013, 03:25 AM

Maybe a Pentax tablet would come in more handy then a Phone.

Uluru · 05-22-2013, 03:37 AM - **1 Like**

Actually, I'd love Pentax to make graphite pencils. They work everywhere, even in space, under water etc.
And they can be erased with a rubber, which is a big plus. Great for kids, students, teachers, artists, graphic designers, photographers on the go, etc.
They don't need power, batteries, and developing of a sophisticated repair network isn't necessary.

05-21-2013, 03:08 PM	#48
starbase218 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, Universe Posts: 1,119	To be honest I don't quite understand brand loyalty. If I buy a new phone, I buy a new phone. Not a camera. I don't need it to be from a particular brand. For that matter, I don't need a compact camera to be from a particular brand either. I got an Olympus Tough TG-2 and it works fine beside my K-5. I didn't get an Olympus because Olympus is the greatest manufacturer on earth. I got an Olympus because Olympus makes cameras. It's really no more complicated than that. So why would I want the phone to be the same brand as my DSLR? (which, by the way, I also did not buy just because it said "Pentax") Now, if Pentax would make a phone with some special new feature I could see myself using, then maybe I would buy a Pentax phone. But I can't imagine what that would be. But even if they would do that: I wouldn't buy a Pentax, I'd buy a phone. The fact that it would be made by Pentax is not the reason I'd choose it. The fact that that phone has that feature might be. But anyway, my iPhone is in no need for a replacement anyway. And speaking of iPhone, I bought some apps and books for that. So I'm kind of invested into that platform. Last edited by starbase218; 05-21-2013 at 03:20 PM.

05-21-2013, 06:19 PM	#55
Cannikin Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SW Washington Posts: 833	Originally posted by pencil LG L-03C has a Pentax lens. Quite rare today, though. I find it interesting that the first (and only) post you made on these forums was to dig up a 4 year old thread. Surely that's not your only reason for joining PF? Last edited by Cannikin; 05-21-2013 at 06:27 PM.

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05-21-2013, 10:10 AM	#46
JohntheThird Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 94	Well, What I really dislike about my simple Nokia C2: everything is hidden far away in the most illogical menus and complicated buttons. Even when it is said to be the most robust phones, I doubt that it will last more than two years. I don't dare to phone in the rain. It gave up on me at -10 degrees celcius. My K5 gives me full control of all the essential functions ready at the fingertips. After almost 2 years it still operates as new, even when I took it out in the rain. During a winter holiday at -15 deg C it gave me over 600 pics on one battery.

05-21-2013, 01:51 PM	#47
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Originally posted by theperception2008 Well Pentax worked with HP before to make a camera. Sony just came out with a waterproof smartphone. So Apple needs wr tech and experience, who else knows this better than Pentax? Imagine iPhone 6 with weather sealing, 31mm equivalent lens, f1.8 (nod to the FA 31 of course), Pentax lens design and made. Zeiss on Sony, Pentax on Apple? I think it would work. Leave the U.I. and hardware to Apple, the camera to Pentax Ricoh. Look at the GR, it's the first compact camera from R/P to garner so much media attention imho... That would work, I reckon. Anyone else remember the "Eyes of Pentax" advertising campaign from the 1980s? A revival of that in this context might work. It might offend those who've swallowed the anti-Apple pill, but maybe a Pirelli calendar shot with a Pentax-equipped iPhone would change a few minds. Where's Sam Haskins when you need him?

05-21-2013, 03:36 PM	#49
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	I don't think brand loyalty is hard to understand, although it differs from brand fanaticism, which I find difficult to fathom. Although the modern business and marketing schools only seem to think that loyalty to a brand can be bought with money equivalence (frequent-flyer points etc) the old-fashioned reasons for brand loyalty were family connection (think football and cars), reliability and economy (appliances) and comfortable familiarity (clothes etc). These days, you can add association (Tee-shirts with slogans or logos) and self-definition (socio-economic class or sub-group). Brand fanaticism, on the other hand, is probably more associated with a psychological condition (think religion or secular cult). To the point, I inherited a Pentax SV from my father, and found it to be comfortable, reliable and highly functional, just like all of its successors. I've tried other camera brands and found them to be good (in some cases, very good) but comfortable familiarity and satisfactory performance brings me back each time, although I can't imagine the time and effort I'd have to put into re-investing in an alternative system now. If it does what you want, there's no sin involved.

05-21-2013, 03:47 PM	#50
deus ursus Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stårheim, Norway Posts: 658	I'd buy a Pentax phone even if it had only one button that said "phone home"!

05-21-2013, 04:14 PM	#51
Uluru Banned Join Date: May 2010 Location: Back to my Walkabout Creek Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,535	They already have cheap wrist watches :-) But not theirs, of course. Phones are a commodity; they are given for free today because tech behind them has become worthless. Good cameras still are not in the same basket and are more valued. More Pentax moves out of gadget and commoddity markets (abandoning cheap p&s), they will fare better.

05-21-2013, 04:48 PM	#52
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	Kind of the wrong forum for this thread. Not news and rumours about Pentax.

05-21-2013, 04:51 PM	#53
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	Quote: Phones are a commodity; they are given for free today because tech behind them has become worthless. I agree, phones are worthless but smartphones is were the big money is and the top models have more computing power than the fastest desktop PCs from a few years ago.

05-21-2013, 06:02 PM	#54
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Originally posted by Aristophanes Kind of the wrong forum for this thread. Not news and rumours about Pentax. You can back it in that someone will trawl through here and pick it up. If so, this thread becomes a sort of proto-rumour.

05-21-2013, 09:13 PM	#56
geomez Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Roanoke, Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,760	If Samsung can make a good smartphone, a good camera, a good clothes dryer, and a good refrigerator, I don't see why Pentax couldn't build a good version of any of those things if they wanted to. They just don't seem to want to.

05-21-2013, 11:40 PM	#57
theperception2008 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Łódź, Poland and Riverside, California, U.S.A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 488	Originally posted by geomez If Samsung can make a good smartphone, a good camera, a good clothes dryer, and a good refrigerator, I don't see why Pentax couldn't build a good version of any of those things if they wanted to. They just don't seem to want to. True, but the structure and the resources that Samsung has at it's disposal is tremendous. So Pentax has focused itself on cameras. I don't think Pentax making their own smartphone is the answer. Because then Pentax has to break into an already cluttered market and that will take money, lots of it. Partnering with say LG, or Apple, will provide the engineering knowledge and marketing presence that Pentax lacks, especially in the mobile electronics area. I say Apple because the iPhone camera development, minus sensor of course, has been in house. Sony's been working really aggressively at reestablishing its presence, for me the Xperia ZR being the first real waterproof smartphone is a huge breakthrough. Apple will need to respond at least weather proofing the next iPhone. An LG partnership i think is less desirable as I feel their presence is not a significant as Apple and they do need some expertise on rugged weather resistant electronics, Pentax Ricoh does not have any competing segments as well so a mutual partnership seems quite possible... just my .02 :-)

05-22-2013, 02:30 AM	#58
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	What kind of lens and sensor would you guys like to see on a camera phone? Zoom, prime? Folding, fixed size? Would be neat, sure. But the phone would also have to perform in all the other areas.

05-22-2013, 03:25 AM	#59
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Maybe a Pentax tablet would come in more handy then a Phone.

05-22-2013, 03:37 AM - 1 Like	#60
Uluru Banned Join Date: May 2010 Location: Back to my Walkabout Creek Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,535	Actually, I'd love Pentax to make graphite pencils. They work everywhere, even in space, under water etc. And they can be erased with a rubber, which is a big plus. Great for kids, students, teachers, artists, graphic designers, photographers on the go, etc. They don't need power, batteries, and developing of a sophisticated repair network isn't necessary.