----- Original Message ----- From: "Pål Jensen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 7:32 AM Subject: Re: Pentax Profits Fall 42%
I'm not sure the 645D is meant to make money. Theres isn't a single slr system in existence were every item is profitable. Maybe its function is image boosting reason and to keep customers who buy profitable items like eg. lenses? The alternative is to discontinue the whole MF department something that could be far less profitable.
the MF part of the business was making money and might still be because all of the development cost has been sunk. the 645D isn't cheap to develop because the hardware, except for the sensor, doesn't make up the majority of the development cost.
Right! And the 645D fits right into this picture. It is more upmarket than any 35mm based DSLR. It goes into a territory where competition so far at least is non-existing. It fits with Pentax high-end user demographics. The fact is that a high-end K-mount DSLR will have much more difficulties in the market place: firstly, this market is "owned" by Nikon and Canon. Secondly, Pentax doesn't have much of a customer base in this segments.
a 645D is incompatible with the 35mm equipment. producing it and sticking with it until the end is going to mean giving up on every other part of the camera market. if Honda produced only the Civic and the NSX, i would agree with you, but they don't. Honda has two other cars in the Acura line and many more in the Honda line.
Herb...
