[GregL65]

Has there been any data on how well the K-3 iii is selling?

[jersey]

I think other then better then expected that was mentioned in some report from Ricoh there is no data. At least I am not aware of any. I suppose we need to wait for end of fiscal year report.

[Paul the Sunman]

They seemed to be caught unawares by the initial demand, but I don't know how it's settled since then.

[AfterPentax Mark II]

Has there been any data on how well the K-3 iii is selling?

If I look at the number of shops that have it on display, not to good. If I look at the fact that a little while ago the K-3 Mark III was on sale with the kitlens 18-135 for less than body only and the fact that there are no enthousiasts to buy the all black version from the internetshops or Pentax.eu, I guess the public demand was bigger than the public buying... Now with black Friday coming they are looking for a boost in sales and € 300 less for that camera is a big discount. The older K-1 II just gets € 200 knocked off.

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Last edited by AfterPentax Mark II; 11-20-2022 at 08:23 AM. Reason: typo

[normhead]

They seemed to be caught unawares by the initial demand, but I don't know how it's settled since then.

That does seem to be a theme with almost every new camera or lens. You'd think by now they'd have figured it out. I think what they are really saying is, they always release new gear before they have enough in stock to satisfy the initial demand. With marketing and official announcements, it's always wise to consider what the announcement could mean, not just what its most likely interpretation is.

I'm not going to say marketing is the work of weasels.... of course that would be unfair to weasels.






We saw the little white guy at the top today, (he seems to have a den in our wood pile) bringing weasels to the forefront of my consciousness.

[zapp]

I think the camera is selling very well. Many FF users just added the apsc flagship to their K1.
Whether it sell better than expected, gains market share, I don’t know.

[RGlasel]

For what it is worth, there was a comment from a Ricoh Europe representative (sorry no link, but I read it here) that initial sales were disappointing. The GR-III was selling much better than anticipated and Ricoh Imaging was outperforming the rest of the market. Then there were the delays in bring the K-3iii to market, with a carefully planned series of teasers and interviews leading up to the final release. Expectations (both internal and external) were high, but the price and missing features took a lot of wind out of its sails (pun intended).

Under the new workshop manufacturing regime, the K-3iii isn't going away, but it will be a long time before a successor is released (if ever). Updated models (like the KF update of the K-70) might come out as needed, but a new body (with a redesigned shell and new physical features, like a movable rear display) will never have the sales volume necessary to justify the expense of developing it.

[jersey]

Europe and I suspect rest of the world is rather insignificant for Ricoh. Japan is the main front of their work and if K33 sells well there they will make new with specs expected on home market and rest of the world will get scrapes as usual.

[RobA_Oz]

For what it is worth, there was a comment from a Ricoh Europe representative (sorry no link, but I read it here) that initial sales were disappointing. The GR-III was selling much better than anticipated and Ricoh Imaging was outperforming the rest of the market. Then there were the delays in bring the K-3iii to market, with a carefully planned series of teasers and interviews leading up to the final release. Expectations (both internal and external) were high, but the price and missing features took a lot of wind out of its sails (pun intended).

Under the new workshop manufacturing regime, the K-3iii isn't going away, but it will be a long time before a successor is released (if ever). Updated models (like the KF update of the K-70) might come out as needed, but a new body (with a redesigned shell and new physical features, like a movable rear display) will never have the sales volume necessary to justify the expense of developing it.

That’s a big call, especially in the light of the limited verifiable information we have. We shouldn’t allow the Japan-centric “workshop” notion to fool us into thinking that’s the main game for Pentax under Ricoh, either, although I’m not sure that’s what you were intending by that comment. Anyway, sales volume is only one side of the equation, as we’ve seen with the K-3iii, ie you charge what you think will cover costs and make an acceptable profit, given your assessment of the state of the market segment you’re in. Ricoh knows that there’s a part of the market that prefers an OVF, so they’ve occupied that space as the soon-to-be sole maker in it. I’m confident they’ll produce a new high-end APS-C body when they think they’ll make some profit from it. I don’t expect that to be any time soon, but I do expect it’ll be pricier than the K-3iii.

[bspn]

As an owner of a Jet Black K3iii, I questioned how 'rare' was the Jet Black version, not counting the initial round made to fulfill crowd funded orders available to only the Japanese market. I didn't ask if the information I received was for public consumption, but I think it would be safe to report that the number made available to the US market was less than thirty cameras, split between Ricoh's website and authorized Dealers.

[normhead]

but a new body (with a redesigned shell and new physical features, like a movable rear display) will never have the sales volume necessary to justify the expense of developing it.

Then I'll have to watch for used KPs. AN obnoxious friend of mine once bragged in front of an off duty OPP officer that wth one phone call, he could have a half pound of weed brought to the house in 15 minutes. My OPP buddy said "Well you make your phone call and I'll make mine." Everyone has to do what they have to do.

[leekil]

As an owner of a Jet Black K3iii, I questioned how 'rare' was the Jet Black version, not counting the initial round made to fulfill crowd funded orders available to only the Japanese market. I didn't ask if the information I received was for public consumption, but I think it would be safe to report that the number made available to the US market was less than thirty cameras, split between Ricoh's website and authorized Dealers.

If I was buying a new camera, I would buy a jet black version, but not if it was released 6-9 months after the regular version, and I had already bought one of those. I suspect that most everyone that wanted a K-3 III already had one by the time that came out, and didn't need to pay for another one.

[bspn]

If I was buying a new camera, I would buy a jet black version, but not if it was released 6-9 months after the regular version, and I had already bought one of those. I suspect that most everyone that wanted a K-3 III already had one by the time that came out, and didn't need to pay for another one.

I'm not sure I buy into the 'already had one' in your comment. I am not always an early adopter and have been known to wait until initial prices settle to the market. The K3iii isn't as expensive as when released, but will/may still fall more, maybe even this holiday season. That could encourage more buyers.

I had a K3 when I bought the K3iii, now that I also have a Jet Black too, I'm passing the K3 along to someone I know who is interested in photography who could not afford to buy a used K3.
The K3iii has more features than I'll ever use much less master, and it far and away the best camera I have owned and used.

[clackers]

Has there been any data on how well the K-3 iii is selling?

Camera companies don't release that kind of data, Greg.

If shareholders are lucky ... Nikon ones seem to have demanded it ... they may give numbers for global sales of all models.

I don't even remember Panasonic ever giving revenue figures for their camera division.

[Wasp]

In the last Ricoh annual report that I saw, the camera division was only a line or two. Pentax was not mentioned by name.