Pentax phasing out DLSRs?

**LaurenOE** · 05-14-2012, 12:15 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Except that most of the users here, when stating a supposed path, precede the statement with an, "I think . . .," and none of us claims to be in a position of knowledge and inside information, such as a salesman in a camera store would be when whispering, "Pentax is phasing out dSLR's. Buy this Nikon if you know what's good for you long term.".

True too, but I think Joe was directing his comment at more "immediate" forum posters.

eddie1960 · 05-14-2012, 12:15 PM

I tend to agree Lauren. I think the Ricoh brand may well stick around for the specialist items like the GXR and GRD in future. As for the P/S models i think they will pretty much disappear with both brands aside from more specialty models as generic P/S are in massive decline thanks to cell phones and they generally are also really low margin for the maker. Pentax may well continue to sell lenses into that market though having their lenses on Chinese P/S cameras (they've already done this type of thing in the past)

joe.penn · 05-14-2012, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

True too, but I think Joe was directing his comment at more "immediate" forum posters.

Well, I was really just being goofy

**LaurenOE** · 05-14-2012, 12:23 PM

Originally posted by joe.penn

Well, I was really just being goofy

I'm just relieved that it *was* directed at me, given that I don't want to appear self centered or narcissistic!

Nothing wrong with a little "ribbing".

Err...it *was* directed at me...right?

joe.penn · 05-14-2012, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

Err...it *was* directed at me...right?

Well really not directed specifically at anyone - haha, even I fall under the "know everything but know nothing" category...

lammie200 · 05-14-2012, 01:33 PM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

...I believe the GXR/Ricoh branded cameras will be absorbed/dead in the near future...

Maybe for the GXR product, but I doubt that Ricoh will cease branding cameras. The higher ups at R/P must be thinking of certain short term and long term strategies and assessing risks to each one. What if they make the Pentax brand much more attractive to buyers than Hoya was able to do? If they only produced Pentax branded cameras and sold the Pentax brand, then Ricoh would be devoid of branded cameras and would likely never be able to enter the market again with Ricoh branded cameras.

I see Ricoh cameras becoming more like Pentax cameras except with Ricoh branding. Even if Ricoh unloads Pentax, they will still be a player (albeit, as always, a very small one) in the P&S and niche product arena. I say that knowing that future Ricoh cameras would need to start from the ground up since Pentax would have likely ended up doing all the heavy lifting.

selar · 05-14-2012, 07:18 PM - **1 Like**

Pentax is going to phase out dSLRs. Henceforth they will be called SLRs. Film SLRs will be called fSLRs.

Alizarine · 05-14-2012, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by selar

Pentax is going to phase out dSLRs. Henceforth they will be called SLRs. Film SLRs will be called fSLRs.

You mean they will be phasing out the term "DSLR"? I don't know if Pentax has that much influence...

Anyway I think the GXR is somewhat a weird sort of LX. Very unique product, but I don't think Ricoh will rebrand it into the Pentax lineup.

selar · 05-14-2012, 07:59 PM

Well they did drop the D from K7 on. The d for digital is redundant nowadays.

Alizarine · 05-14-2012, 08:16 PM

Originally posted by selar

Well they did drop the D from K7 on. The d for digital is redundant nowadays.

but that's because the K-7 was Pentax's own product, not a universal term like "DSLR".

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05-14-2012, 12:15 PM	#31
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Originally posted by monochrome Except that most of the users here, when stating a supposed path, precede the statement with an, "I think . . .," and none of us claims to be in a position of knowledge and inside information, such as a salesman in a camera store would be when whispering, "Pentax is phasing out dSLR's. Buy this Nikon if you know what's good for you long term.". True too, but I think Joe was directing his comment at more "immediate" forum posters.

05-14-2012, 12:15 PM	#32
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	I tend to agree Lauren. I think the Ricoh brand may well stick around for the specialist items like the GXR and GRD in future. As for the P/S models i think they will pretty much disappear with both brands aside from more specialty models as generic P/S are in massive decline thanks to cell phones and they generally are also really low margin for the maker. Pentax may well continue to sell lenses into that market though having their lenses on Chinese P/S cameras (they've already done this type of thing in the past)

05-14-2012, 12:19 PM	#33
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by LaurenOE True too, but I think Joe was directing his comment at more "immediate" forum posters. Well, I was really just being goofy

05-14-2012, 12:23 PM	#34
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Originally posted by joe.penn Well, I was really just being goofy I'm just relieved that it was directed at me, given that I don't want to appear self centered or narcissistic! Nothing wrong with a little "ribbing". Err...it was directed at me...right?

05-14-2012, 12:39 PM	#35
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by LaurenOE Err...it was directed at me...right? Well really not directed specifically at anyone - haha, even I fall under the "know everything but know nothing" category...

05-14-2012, 01:33 PM	#36
lammie200 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Francisco Photos: Albums Posts: 1,033	Originally posted by LaurenOE ...I believe the GXR/Ricoh branded cameras will be absorbed/dead in the near future... Maybe for the GXR product, but I doubt that Ricoh will cease branding cameras. The higher ups at R/P must be thinking of certain short term and long term strategies and assessing risks to each one. What if they make the Pentax brand much more attractive to buyers than Hoya was able to do? If they only produced Pentax branded cameras and sold the Pentax brand, then Ricoh would be devoid of branded cameras and would likely never be able to enter the market again with Ricoh branded cameras. I see Ricoh cameras becoming more like Pentax cameras except with Ricoh branding. Even if Ricoh unloads Pentax, they will still be a player (albeit, as always, a very small one) in the P&S and niche product arena. I say that knowing that future Ricoh cameras would need to start from the ground up since Pentax would have likely ended up doing all the heavy lifting.

05-14-2012, 07:18 PM - 1 Like	#37
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	Pentax is going to phase out dSLRs. Henceforth they will be called SLRs. Film SLRs will be called fSLRs.

05-14-2012, 07:39 PM	#38
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by selar Pentax is going to phase out dSLRs. Henceforth they will be called SLRs. Film SLRs will be called fSLRs. You mean they will be phasing out the term "DSLR"? I don't know if Pentax has that much influence... Anyway I think the GXR is somewhat a weird sort of LX. Very unique product, but I don't think Ricoh will rebrand it into the Pentax lineup.

05-14-2012, 07:59 PM	#39
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	Well they did drop the D from K7 on. The d for digital is redundant nowadays.

05-14-2012, 08:16 PM	#40
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by selar Well they did drop the D from K7 on. The d for digital is redundant nowadays. but that's because the K-7 was Pentax's own product, not a universal term like "DSLR".