On Sat, Jul 9, 2011 at 9:19 AM, Miserere <[email protected]> wrote: > You'd be surprised at how many posts have been written (in other > forums) in the last week saying "I was about to buy a K-5 and a few > lenses but now I don't think I will because I don't want to end up > like those Olympus shooters." > > I feel like taking a bullhorn to the internet and screaming: "What > part of 'Ricoh has bought Pentax for its interchangeable lens > division' says 'end of line' to you?????" > > Like most discerning readers on this here list, I agree that this will > be a good thing for Pentax, and probably even better for Ricoh. > > Cheers, > > > —M. >
Only time will tell. I've questioned the wisdom of my last two Pentax body purchases and a number of lenses. When Samsung partnered, the optimistic view was that it would bolster Pentax and could only be a good thing, possibly leading to Samsung purchasing the brand and infusing it with R&D funds. It's generally accepted, I believe, that Hoya's purchase of the entire Pentax business rescued the camera division from imminent collapse. Now that Hoya is keeping the more profitable medical equipment division, and selling the camera division, it raises at least one legitimate question. Is Ricoh purchasing them to strength the Pentax brand or to strengthen the Ricoh brand? It's entirely possible that Ricoh will be good for Pentax. Or they could cannibalize the parts they desire, lens technology, manufacturing plants, and distribution pipeline, for example, and use those for the promotion of Ricoh instead of Pentax. Promoting two competing consumer camera lines might not be the way to greatest profitability. Hoya's press release states that Ricoh wants to "obtain the small and lightweight interchangeable lens camera technology, lens technology and sales channels held by the Pentax Imaging Systems Division to pave the way for further advancement and innovations in the digital camera market." There's nothing that remotely sounds like 'Ricoh wants to invest in and build the Pentax brand itself'. If Ricoh intended to do that, would it not make sense to make that statement to alleviate fear and uncertainty? Would it not make sense to heighten expectations in that regard? I can understand squeamishness due to the instability. I myself was considering a K5. This gives me pause. Tom -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
