[boriscleto]

Because that part of Pentax was never bought back and belongs to Hoya who I hold responsible for many of the ills the brand has suffered. PENTAX Medical (Global) (see further down page for Parent Company....

The medical imaging was the only part of Pentax Hoya wanted.

The eyeglass business had been sold off years earlier. The surveying equipment business was sold off shortly after the merger. Ricoh bought the camera & sport optic business, but Pentax astronomical telescopes are a thing of the past.

[UncleVanya]

The medical imaging was the only part of Pentax Hoya wanted.

Yup. So I have heard... sigh.

[Nass]

Looks like fun - wish I could afford one

[UncleVanya]

Can you do your own DIY colonoscopy at home with it?

@sandy hancock

Perhaps just a rigid sigmoidoscopy...

[david94903]

Very cool. Time to sell another kidney

[SSGGeezer]

but Pentax astronomical telescopes are a thing of the past.

That is a sad fact, since I now know what wonderful things Pentax can do with coatings and quality glass. I suspect that even if they wanted to make a telescope body, they would not have the production capability to manufacture a telescope line as well as all the new lenses coming in the pipeline.

---------- Post added 08-13-18 at 12:44 PM ----------

After looking at the kickstarter, I am actually pretty impressed by the prototype. I guess using Kickstarter is one way to make sure there is enough interest in a niche product before you commit to manufacturing it in bulk.

[UncleVanya]

The medical imaging was the only part of Pentax Hoya wanted.

The eyeglass business had been sold off years earlier. The surveying equipment business was sold off shortly after the merger. Ricoh bought the camera & sport optic business, but Pentax astronomical telescopes are a thing of the past.

Who makes the binoculars now?

[boriscleto]

Who makes the binoculars now?

I don't know who manufactures the sports optics. I assume they source them from an OEM in China like the compact cameras.

[UncleVanya]

I don't know who manufactures the sports optics. I assume they source them from an OEM in China like the compact cameras.

Does Ricoh or Hoya or someone else control that line?

[boriscleto]

Does Ricoh or Hoya or someone else control that line?

Ricoh.

Sport Optics

[torashi]

Because that part of Pentax was never bought back and belongs to Hoya who I hold responsible for many of the ills the brand has suffered. PENTAX Medical (Global) (see further down page for Parent Company....

I know. Sad. But in my mind I was thinking of vintage equipment for sale that sometimes crosses my searches. I know you couldn't possibly hold a grudge against one of those. But hen again, image quality sucks, and you can't attach a camera to it. Maybe after butchering and tinkering with it.