Re: MZ-S vs Z-1p (Pentax's fabuluous new camera)
The Pentax UK statement indicated that most of the cuts in the 35mm camera line were going to come in the compact camera area. This only makes sense as they have several different compact 35's that overlap each other. DG At 11:22 PM 10/31/02 +0100, you wrote: Henry wrote: I don't believe Pentax is going to completely re-new their SLR camera line-up in a sudden with three new camera. They haven't done anything dramatic in the past 10 years when the SLR market then was growing. There is no reason to expect they will do it now or in the future, especially they are saying that they think the market is shrinking. Doing so will be a commercial suicide. According to the original Japanese news report, Pentax was quoted as saying to cut their current line-up of 6 cameras down to 3 cameras. They have not said they are going to replace them with 3 new cameras. I'm not convinced. All MZ-series cameras are essentially the same camera with different labels. Pentax is just trying to milk the last drop off this chassis. In my opinion, the current MZ-series isn't really that competitive. What Pentax did say in they press message was that they intended to reduce the number in the line-up in order to increase the sales of each model. I can't see how this could happen with the MZ-6 and the MZ-60 as the volume models in the line-up. We have lots of conflicting messages. The fact is that Pentax near future line-up will consist of three film slr models (i have gooten this confirmed by safe sources). If the MZ-60 and the MZ-6 are two of those then the MZ-5n and MZ-3 must be discontinued without replacement or the MZ-S needs to be discontinued. However,Chris Brogden claim Pentax will replace the MZ-5n next year with a compeltely new and very different model. If this is true, either the MZ-S or the MZ-6 has to go if the MZ-60 stays. At the same time, Pentax UK claim all future Pentax slr's will be built on the same chassis: if this is to be believed there are three posibilities; 1) the MZ- chassis, 2) MZ-S chassis, 3) A cmpletely new chassis. Only the latter is likely (and what Pentax UK says) in my opinion as the MZ- chassis is not suited for anything higher end or digital. I don't agree that it is unlikely that Pentax will release a completely new series of cameras. Thats the way Pentax model policy has always worked. The Z-series was released 10 years ago; the MZ-series 7 years ago. It is time for a new generation of cameras. We know that Pentax is working on modification of the lens mount. We also know that all Pentax new lens mounts have been accompanied with new series of cameras. In all this, I put my faith in Pentax UK statements. Not because they have to be true but because it is the best we have at present. Pål
RE: MZ-S vs Z-1p (Pentax's fabuluous new camera)
-Original Message- From: Iren Henry Chu [mailto:irenhenry;hotmail.com] In fact, Pentax has just release a fabulous new film slr in Japanese market: It's a piece of junk with 2 segment metering(MZ-60). I don't believe Pentax is going to completely re-new their SLR camera line-up in a sudden with three new camera. They haven't done anything dramatic in the past 10 years when the SLR market then was growing. There is no reason to expect they will do it now or in the future, especially they are saying that they think the market is shrinking. Doing so will be a commercial suicide. According to the original Japanese news report, Pentax was quoted as saying to cut their current line-up of 6 cameras down to 3 cameras. They have not said they are going to replace them with 3 new cameras. Interesting that the MZ-60 has a new control interface with wheels etc rather than being based on the MZ-30/7/6/L body which was an evolution of the MZ-50. I wonder if all the effort that goes into designing a completely new layout was worthwhile because it will form the basis of a new lineup? In their press release for MZ-60, they said they are manufacturing 15,000 MZ-60 per month, 5,000 more than MZ-L! This is roughly equals to 10% of film SLRs manufactured in the world. So we are going to see this fabuluous camera continuously in the Pentax line-up for a while. This camera will do a lot to put people off Pentax when it comes to upgrade time...
Re: MZ-S vs Z-1p (Pentax's fabuluous new camera)
The MZ60 replaces the MZ50 and targets those upgrading from a point and shoot to a SLR. In Australia, the MZ50 insured Pentax was the market leader with the number of SLRs sold. Unfortunately, they are sold with cheap Sigma zooms. In the releases, there is a 24-105 point and shoot. That too should be a winner in that market. Bob - Original Message - From: Iren Henry Chu [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 8:22 PM Subject: Re: MZ-S vs Z-1p (Pentax's fabuluous new camera) Dear all, Pål Jensen wrote: Also, large camera stores in japan has been told from Pentax reps that Pentax will release a fabulous film slr. In fact, Pentax has just release a fabulous new film slr in Japanese market: http://www.pentax.co.jp/japan/news/2002/200242.html it is a fabuluous PS film camera happens to have a SLR look. I don't believe Pentax is going to completely re-new their SLR camera line-up in a sudden with three new camera. They haven't done anything dramatic in the past 10 years when the SLR market then was growing. There is no reason to expect they will do it now or in the future, especially they are saying that they think the market is shrinking. Doing so will be a commercial suicide. According to the original Japanese news report, Pentax was quoted as saying to cut their current line-up of 6 cameras down to 3 cameras. They have not said they are going to replace them with 3 new cameras. In their press release for MZ-60, they said they are manufacturing 15,000 MZ-60 per month, 5,000 more than MZ-L! This is roughly equals to 10% of film SLRs manufactured in the world. So we are going to see this fabuluous camera continuously in the Pentax line-up for a while. Regards, Henry Chu 31/10/2002 _ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
Re: MZ-S vs Z-1p (Pentax's fabuluous new camera)
Henry wrote: I don't believe Pentax is going to completely re-new their SLR camera line-up in a sudden with three new camera. They haven't done anything dramatic in the past 10 years when the SLR market then was growing. There is no reason to expect they will do it now or in the future, especially they are saying that they think the market is shrinking. Doing so will be a commercial suicide. According to the original Japanese news report, Pentax was quoted as saying to cut their current line-up of 6 cameras down to 3 cameras. They have not said they are going to replace them with 3 new cameras. I'm not convinced. All MZ-series cameras are essentially the same camera with different labels. Pentax is just trying to milk the last drop off this chassis. In my opinion, the current MZ-series isn't really that competitive. What Pentax did say in they press message was that they intended to reduce the number in the line-up in order to increase the sales of each model. I can't see how this could happen with the MZ-6 and the MZ-60 as the volume models in the line-up. We have lots of conflicting messages. The fact is that Pentax near future line-up will consist of three film slr models (i have gooten this confirmed by safe sources). If the MZ-60 and the MZ-6 are two of those then the MZ-5n and MZ-3 must be discontinued without replacement or the MZ-S needs to be discontinued. However,Chris Brogden claim Pentax will replace the MZ-5n next year with a compeltely new and very different model. If this is true, either the MZ-S or the MZ-6 has to go if the MZ-60 stays. At the same time, Pentax UK claim all future Pentax slr's will be built on the same chassis: if this is to be believed there are three posibilities; 1) the MZ- chassis, 2) MZ-S chassis, 3) A cmpletely new chassis. Only the latter is likely (and what Pentax UK says) in my opinion as the MZ- chassis is not suited for anything higher end or digital. I don't agree that it is unlikely that Pentax will release a completely new series of cameras. Thats the way Pentax model policy has always worked. The Z-series was released 10 years ago; the MZ-series 7 years ago. It is time for a new generation of cameras. We know that Pentax is working on modification of the lens mount. We also know that all Pentax new lens mounts have been accompanied with new series of cameras. In all this, I put my faith in Pentax UK statements. Not because they have to be true but because it is the best we have at present. Pål
RE: MZ-S vs Z-1p (Pentax's fabuluous new camera)
What do you mean Pal? The earth isn't flat? A new Pentax model range? Wow? :):):):):) Shaun Canning PhD Student Archaeology Department La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia, 3086. e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 0414-967 644 -Original Message- From: Pål Jensen [mailto:paaljensen;sensewave.com] Sent: Friday, 1 November 2002 09:22 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: MZ-S vs Z-1p (Pentax's fabuluous new camera) Henry wrote: I don't believe Pentax is going to completely re-new their SLR camera line-up in a sudden with three new camera. They haven't done anything dramatic in the past 10 years when the SLR market then was growing. There is no reason to expect they will do it now or in the future, especially they are saying that they think the market is shrinking. Doing so will be a commercial suicide. According to the original Japanese news report, Pentax was quoted as saying to cut their current line-up of 6 cameras down to 3 cameras. They have not said they are going to replace them with 3 new cameras. I'm not convinced. All MZ-series cameras are essentially the same camera with different labels. Pentax is just trying to milk the last drop off this chassis. In my opinion, the current MZ-series isn't really that competitive. What Pentax did say in they press message was that they intended to reduce the number in the line-up in order to increase the sales of each model. I can't see how this could happen with the MZ-6 and the MZ-60 as the volume models in the line-up. We have lots of conflicting messages. The fact is that Pentax near future line-up will consist of three film slr models (i have gooten this confirmed by safe sources). If the MZ-60 and the MZ-6 are two of those then the MZ-5n and MZ-3 must be discontinued without replacement or the MZ-S needs to be discontinued. However,Chris Brogden claim Pentax will replace the MZ-5n next year with a compeltely new and very different model. If this is true, either the MZ-S or the MZ-6 has to go if the MZ-60 stays. At the same time, Pentax UK claim all future Pentax slr's will be built on the same chassis: if this is to be believed there are three posibilities; 1) the MZ- chassis, 2) MZ-S chassis, 3) A cmpletely new chassis. Only the latter is likely (and what Pentax UK says) in my opinion as the MZ- chassis is not suited for anything higher end or digital. I don't agree that it is unlikely that Pentax will release a completely new series of cameras. Thats the way Pentax model policy has always worked. The Z-series was released 10 years ago; the MZ-series 7 years ago. It is time for a new generation of cameras. We know that Pentax is working on modification of the lens mount. We also know that all Pentax new lens mounts have been accompanied with new series of cameras. In all this, I put my faith in Pentax UK statements. Not because they have to be true but because it is the best we have at present. Pål
