Company name change

Adam · 07-02-2013, 07:10 AM

News update from the official Pentax website:

PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. announces the company name change as follows.

New company name
RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.

Effective Date of the change
August 1, 2013

Purpose of the change
Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company was formed October 1, 2011 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd. to provide more consumer–oriented offerings to the market.

The company’s goal is to leverage the tremendo...

Pentax news announcement: http://www.pentaximaging.com/about/press/309

Adam
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scratchpaddy · 07-02-2013, 07:16 AM - **1 Like**

I'll add this to avoid mass panic:

Quote:

Both PENTAX and RICOH products will remain in the market to reinforce the company’s commitment to the business.

ENicolas · 07-02-2013, 10:23 AM

Ni...Ni...Nik...Niko....

Damn, I can't even say it - how will I ever get used to using it?

Kunzite · 07-02-2013, 11:51 AM

Originally posted by scratchpaddy

I'll add this to avoid mass panic:

There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and mass panic

Let's see who made Pentax cameras:
Asahi Optical, 1957 - 2002
Pentax Corporation, 2002 - 31 March 2008
Hoya Corporation, 1st April 2008 - 1st October 2011
Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, 2011 - 31 July 2013
Ricoh Imaging Company, 1st August 2013 - ?

So in their entire history (56 years and counting), we had less than 9 years and 4 months of "Pentax" making "Pentax". We could also count how many "Pentax" cameras were made by "Pentax", if you wish - but I'd say the result is obvious.

Honeywell was just importing and rebranding Pentax products made by Asahi Optical.

Ed n Georgia · 07-02-2013, 06:25 PM

Originally posted by ENicolas

Ni...Ni...Nik...Niko....

Damn, I can't even say it - how will I ever get used to using it?

You won't. You'll never get used to turning the lens the wrong way to mount and dis-mount it.

JinDesu · 07-02-2013, 06:39 PM

Quote:

The company’s goal is to leverage the tremendous strength and awareness of the Ricoh brand along with the superior technical innovation of Pentax products to deliver a world- class consumer experience.

When you leave it as "The company's goal is to leverage the tremendo...", I was confused for a few seconds wondering - what the heck is a tremendo?

**boriscleto** · 07-02-2013, 06:44 PM

Originally posted by Kunzite

There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and mass panic

Let's see who made Pentax cameras:
Asahi Optical, 1957 - 2002
Pentax Corporation, 2002 - 31 March 2008
Hoya Corporation, 1st April 2008 - 1st October 2011
Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, 2011 - 31 July 2013
Ricoh Imaging Company, 1st August 2013 - ?

So in their entire history (56 years and counting), we had less than 9 years and 4 months of "Pentax" making "Pentax". We could also count how many "Pentax" cameras were made by "Pentax", if you wish - but I'd say the result is obvious.

Honeywell was just importing and rebranding Pentax products made by Asahi Optical.

And prior to WWII the trademark to Pentax was owned by Zeiss Ikon, though never used.

mickey · 07-03-2013, 09:00 AM

Maybe it might come down to customer surveys and if the Ricoh name is more recognisable than Pentax then it might change...just throwing it out there.

eastman · 07-04-2013, 11:12 AM - **1 Like**

I never thought that the company being known as "PRIC" was such a good idea, anyways.

Kunzite · 07-22-2013, 11:56 PM

Read the announcement; the PENTAX brand is here to stay. Only the company name was changed.

**arv** · 07-23-2013, 06:14 AM

IMO something is changing, we just do not know what exactly. If this has happened 2 years ago, everything was clear now. Ricoh bought Pentax and now makes Penatx branded cameras, and actually I do not care who makes them. However, now it is different story. It seems that Ricoh gradually eliminates Pentax name, but does it slowly for not to scare the users (?). I do not care if my next camera will be called Ricoh, but I will be disappointed if they will go Sony or Olympus route.

A.

mamethot · 07-23-2013, 06:47 AM

Other than for nostalgia, it does not really matter to me if "Pentax" name disappears, as long as my K mount lenses continue to be supported...

normhead · 07-23-2013, 07:20 AM

I hate change, I love change....change is good, change is bad.... but for me and a pile of others who picked our camera brand years ago... I can buy a Nikon or a Canon camera, however I'm not sure I could buy a Ricoh camera even if it was rebranded Pentax. Ricoh used to make SLRs. They didn't last as long as Pentax. Years of programming would have to be overcome. I'm not sure that's something I want to put a lot of energy into. Ya, I'm only half serious.... but, for Ricoh, the bad thing is, I'm half serious.

**boriscleto** · 07-23-2013, 07:36 AM

Originally posted by JF Jayhawk

I DID READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT....and I am referring to the Company Name, and addressing the issue that this all sets up the Branding on the camera itself to be threatened.

So it doesn't matter at all to you that Pentax was just a brand of the Asahi Optical Co. from 1957-2002? What difference does it make what name is on the bottom of the camera? It only said Pentax Corp. from 2002 - 2007, then it said Hoya from 2007 - 2011, then Pentax Ricoh Imaging Co., now it will say Ricoh. The world must be coming to an end...

It's still going to say Pentax on the front of the camera and it's still going to be K-mount...

**THoog** · 07-23-2013, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by JF Jayhawk

Ever shoot a Pentax-M or Pentax-A lens?

You mean lenses made by Asahi Optical Company? Not by "Pentax" - Pentax was just a brand of Asahi Optical Company from the 1950s until 2002. The company name changed to 'Pentax Corporation' in 2002, then 'Hoya Pentax' in 2007, then 'Pentax Ricoh Imaging' in 2011...

From what Ricoh has said, they know the marketing value of the Pentax brand - but that's all it really is, a brand. If the name on the building is what matters, the time to be upset was 2007. Or 2002.

Edit: BorisCleto types faster than I do...

07-02-2013, 07:10 AM	#1
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,593	Company name change News update from the official Pentax website: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. announces the company name change as follows. New company name RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. Effective Date of the change August 1, 2013 Purpose of the change Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company was formed October 1, 2011 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd. to provide more consumer–oriented offerings to the market. The company’s goal is to leverage the tremendo... Pentax news announcement: http://www.pentaximaging.com/about/press/309 Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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07-02-2013, 07:16 AM - 1 Like	#2
scratchpaddy Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,361	I'll add this to avoid mass panic: Quote: Both PENTAX and RICOH products will remain in the market to reinforce the company’s commitment to the business.

07-02-2013, 10:23 AM	#3
ENicolas Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 137	Ni...Ni...Nik...Niko.... Damn, I can't even say it - how will I ever get used to using it?

07-02-2013, 11:51 AM	#4
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by scratchpaddy I'll add this to avoid mass panic: There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and mass panic Let's see who made Pentax cameras: Asahi Optical, 1957 - 2002 Pentax Corporation, 2002 - 31 March 2008 Hoya Corporation, 1st April 2008 - 1st October 2011 Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, 2011 - 31 July 2013 Ricoh Imaging Company, 1st August 2013 - ? So in their entire history (56 years and counting), we had less than 9 years and 4 months of "Pentax" making "Pentax". We could also count how many "Pentax" cameras were made by "Pentax", if you wish - but I'd say the result is obvious. Honeywell was just importing and rebranding Pentax products made by Asahi Optical.

07-02-2013, 06:25 PM	#5
Ed n Georgia Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 940	Originally posted by ENicolas Ni...Ni...Nik...Niko.... Damn, I can't even say it - how will I ever get used to using it? You won't. You'll never get used to turning the lens the wrong way to mount and dis-mount it.

07-02-2013, 06:39 PM	#6
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Quote: The company’s goal is to leverage the tremendous strength and awareness of the Ricoh brand along with the superior technical innovation of Pentax products to deliver a world- class consumer experience. When you leave it as "The company's goal is to leverage the tremendo...", I was confused for a few seconds wondering - what the heck is a tremendo?

07-02-2013, 06:44 PM	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,473	Originally posted by Kunzite There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and mass panic Let's see who made Pentax cameras: Asahi Optical, 1957 - 2002 Pentax Corporation, 2002 - 31 March 2008 Hoya Corporation, 1st April 2008 - 1st October 2011 Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, 2011 - 31 July 2013 Ricoh Imaging Company, 1st August 2013 - ? So in their entire history (56 years and counting), we had less than 9 years and 4 months of "Pentax" making "Pentax". We could also count how many "Pentax" cameras were made by "Pentax", if you wish - but I'd say the result is obvious. Honeywell was just importing and rebranding Pentax products made by Asahi Optical. And prior to WWII the trademark to Pentax was owned by Zeiss Ikon, though never used.

07-03-2013, 09:00 AM	#8
mickey Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Maybe it might come down to customer surveys and if the Ricoh name is more recognisable than Pentax then it might change...just throwing it out there.

07-04-2013, 11:12 AM - 1 Like	#9
eastman Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chicagoland Photos: Gallery Posts: 83	I never thought that the company being known as "PRIC" was such a good idea, anyways.

07-22-2013, 11:56 PM	#10
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Read the announcement; the PENTAX brand is here to stay. Only the company name was changed.

07-23-2013, 06:14 AM	#11
arv Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 413	IMO something is changing, we just do not know what exactly. If this has happened 2 years ago, everything was clear now. Ricoh bought Pentax and now makes Penatx branded cameras, and actually I do not care who makes them. However, now it is different story. It seems that Ricoh gradually eliminates Pentax name, but does it slowly for not to scare the users (?). I do not care if my next camera will be called Ricoh, but I will be disappointed if they will go Sony or Olympus route. A.

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07-23-2013, 06:47 AM	#12
mamethot Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Greater Montreal Area Posts: 736	Other than for nostalgia, it does not really matter to me if "Pentax" name disappears, as long as my K mount lenses continue to be supported...

07-23-2013, 07:20 AM	#13
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,448	I hate change, I love change....change is good, change is bad.... but for me and a pile of others who picked our camera brand years ago... I can buy a Nikon or a Canon camera, however I'm not sure I could buy a Ricoh camera even if it was rebranded Pentax. Ricoh used to make SLRs. They didn't last as long as Pentax. Years of programming would have to be overcome. I'm not sure that's something I want to put a lot of energy into. Ya, I'm only half serious.... but, for Ricoh, the bad thing is, I'm half serious.

07-23-2013, 07:36 AM	#14
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,473	Originally posted by JF Jayhawk I DID READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT....and I am referring to the Company Name, and addressing the issue that this all sets up the Branding on the camera itself to be threatened. So it doesn't matter at all to you that Pentax was just a brand of the Asahi Optical Co. from 1957-2002? What difference does it make what name is on the bottom of the camera? It only said Pentax Corp. from 2002 - 2007, then it said Hoya from 2007 - 2011, then Pentax Ricoh Imaging Co., now it will say Ricoh. The world must be coming to an end... It's still going to say Pentax on the front of the camera and it's still going to be K-mount...

07-23-2013, 07:45 AM	#15
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	Originally posted by JF Jayhawk Ever shoot a Pentax-M or Pentax-A lens? You mean lenses made by Asahi Optical Company? Not by "Pentax" - Pentax was just a brand of Asahi Optical Company from the 1950s until 2002. The company name changed to 'Pentax Corporation' in 2002, then 'Hoya Pentax' in 2007, then 'Pentax Ricoh Imaging' in 2011... From what Ricoh has said, they know the marketing value of the Pentax brand - but that's all it really is, a brand. If the name on the building is what matters, the time to be upset was 2007. Or 2002. Edit: BorisCleto types faster than I do...