RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: Interview with Hoya's Marketing Director of the Imaging Division

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Interview with Hoya's Marketing Director of the Imaging Division

by the Japanese Impress DC Watch:-

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20100928_396427.html
(in Japanese, an English Web Translation Here)

Some key points:-

1. Hoya will continue to sell stylish products like the K-r and K-x and identifies themselves as a stylish camera maker to make them different. The launch of the interchangeable shell cover RS1000 and the retro-look products like the Optio I-10 (which is intended to be an "experimental" product to test the water) or even the classic-look K-7 are marketed under the same principle and with the same intention.

2. The 645D has been a success in the Japanese home market and they will try to expand the 645D market further with more (maybe different) marketing channels both locally and worldwide.

3. Hoya will study the market opportunities and look into the feasibility of "mirrorless" ILDCs with their limited resources. In the meantime, they will use low end entry level DSLRs like K-r and K-x to compete with those other mirrorlesses which are already in the marktet.

4. They are now not in bed with Samsung anymore and they will not use/join the NX by no means.

Comments (12)

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Steve · 757 weeks ago

So in other words, the higher end DSLR line (K-5 etc.) isn't strategic for them. I never saw the K-7 marketed as a stylish DSLR.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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david · 757 weeks ago

There is nothing that states in his interview that Pentax thinks that way about the K-5, quite to the contrary. He notes that, while it may not look it, the K-5 and 645D have a lot in common with the K4 and RS1000, where Pentax does different things to fill a need in the market.

In essence, they are going to try different things to provide something different than the 'big boys.' They feel the color entry-level cameras and changeable shells are things that attract customers.

He also said that they keep looking at EVIL cameras, but they did not want to jump in because it sends the wrong message to the current system owners - He noted mirrorless growth, and that they were looking internally, but also at potential partners, but that the Kx/Kr and future models will compete with mirrorless, both in size and features, and allows them to offer products that are inexpensive.

Rice, while he downplayed their relationship, he never stated they were no longer working with Samsung, noting they work with many partners and suppliers.

The question not asked - why not make your flagship SLR look more like your vaunted legacy SLRs of the past, and not just one PS camera? A K5 in anodized aluminum with the K/M/SF Pentax script, now that would sell like hotcakes.....

-2 Vote up Vote down

Pentax is DOOMED · 757 weeks ago

"Japanese Homemarket" amuses me

645D is a Vietnamese camera, its homemarket is Vietnam, NOT Japan !

Nothing Pentax makes and offers today is Made in Japan.

All Hoya's Pentax production is off shored to cheap labor countries, so more profits for Hoya who creates the illusion Pentax remains a Japanese brand.

Pentax is not Japanese made.

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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mrgreycard · 757 weeks ago

They are referring to SALES and it's a Japanese company regardless of where they are assembled. .... in case that wasn't obvious for some reason. BTW: the cameras are assembled in the Philippines so in your logic that's the home market. Pentax always caters to the "home market" (Japan) first where their brand recognition is the strongest.....

0 Vote up Vote down

Michael A. · 757 weeks ago

Last time I check ALL current Pentax DSLR bodies are ASSEMBLED IN PHILIPPINES. If yours is not, it's a bootleg (not made by Pentax) and you should get your money back.

Lenses are ASSEMBLED IN VIETNAM from parts made in multiple other locations and glass made (and coated) by HOYA in JAPAN. (therefore, "Nothing Pentax makes and offers today is Made in Japan." is a baseless nonsense, because components are MIJ)

Even almighty C & N are buying optical glass from HOYA, reportedly largest (in volume) manufacture of optical glass on this planet...

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Dukie · 757 weeks ago

So what's wrong with Vietnamese? I am sure your duke smell just as bad as theirs.

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Dukie · 757 weeks ago

I meant your dukie. I hate iPad.

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OGL · 757 weeks ago

Canon is made in China too. Nikon is made in Thailand.
Sony could be made in China too. Olympus is made in China.

Is this companies Chinese brand???? :)))

ha-ha

Hitachi excavators and Toyota cars are made in China too.. Guess and GAP are made in China... And a lot of cloth brands...

4 replies · active 756 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 757 weeks ago

China is now called the "World Factory". In fact, it is difficult to not buying things that is made in China todays, especially for all those updated electronics gadgets. Even the iPhones and iPads are manufactured there btw.

Canon and Nikon are still producing pure MIJ items, though, but only for their most expensive and top-of-the-line lenses. Canon is being better, all of their EOS digital bodies are still MIJ, nevertheless. There was once a factory of theirs in Taiwan for making the EOS 300D, but it was closed subsequently (and people did not like the 300D that was made in the ROC!).