the danger is that then medium format will be the ONLY camera market they
will be in at the end of 2 years, having no longer anything competitive in
the 35mm-type body range because they can't sell enough to make any money at
it. also, what makes Pentax think that the 645D will be competitive in the
medium format market when it finally ships? selling lots of low end
35mm-type bodies where they make very little money means there won't be much
money around later. if the body specs aren't continually being upgraded,
even if it is just because other manufacturers are doing so, what makes
anyone think that the current bodies will continue to sell anyway. if the
imaging products division is forever going to be subsidized by the other two
divisions, shareholders will have a thing or two to say about that.
Herb...
----- Original Message -----
From: "K.Takeshita" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Pentax Discuss" <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2005 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: Pentax Profits Fall 42%
4. I believe the answer to why P create and market 645D first is rather
simple. I believe it has far less to do with their technical ability to
produce larger sensor SLR. It is simply because they basically own the
studio pro (and nature photographers) market through 645 and 6x7, and this
is a "paying" market on which they can pretty much count (and a lot of
enthusiasts market too). This plus their very close relationship with
this
particular "pro" group is making it so much easier for P to invest in and
market 645D. I know Hassy and Mamiya etc have their own market but the
position of Pentax 645 in the pro market is special. P also benefits from
a
lot of advices from these pros. Concept of the Limited lenses was one of
them.
So, simply speaking, 645 pro market to P is like a PJ market to Canon.
C/N
have to serve their captive market and even though their FF DSLR cost so
much, there is a paying segment of the market.
