Originally posted by striker_ I hope they still have the pentax name on the DSLRs. I think they will keep the Pentax name for the DSLRs but the brand name being Ricoh. Like Leitz and Leica.
It depends if their target audience has name recognition with either brand. BTW, Leica originally stood for "LEItz CAmera" - but Leitz sold off Leica decades ago, and it has gone through a few owners since. Brand names are commodities now, unrelated to the owners or even to the items sold - just a means to attract buyers. I'm not sure "Pentax" means much to the next generation of buyers.
The press notice really stresses the "consumer" orientation of the company. Perhaps they are realizing more that professional photography is a dying market. If so they may also be re-grouping on any future plans for the 645D and traditional SLR cameras, especially FF.