
The Chinese Fengniao editors interviewed the Ricoh head who is in charge of the Pentax camera business just a few days ago, when he came to China for something:
http://qicai.fengniao.com/387/3874303.html
(in Simplified Chinese, Google English Translation Here.)
I've opted to translate some key excerpts of the interview and putting aside all the other marketing bullshits (although many things are still bullshiting, which I can't help and avoid!), as follows:
Q: With the integration of Pentax and Ricoh, will the brand Pentax be removed in the end?
A: No, we have no plan to do so. For those products which are special enough, they will continue to carry the Pentax badge, like the Q and WG series. Otherwise, some adjustments would be needed.
My comment: Did he mean that only mediocre products should carry the Ricoh badge? ;-p And do note that the K series is not mentioned! :-o
A: The ex-Pentax and Ricoh staff of the development team are now working together as a team and at the same place. They can complement each other for the shortcomings amongst them. Because of the integration, some staff are now travelling in longer distances. An Hi-end product is being developed by the team. (But what it actually is was not disclosed.)
My comment: I do not believe in what he said for that "hi-end" thing, according to his past tracking records! :-o
Q: Now, what's going on for the Pentax Full Frame thing?
A: Our development team is still working on it and the project is not aborted.
Q: What Pentax is to do to tackle with the higher pixel count and new generation of sensors with new functions by the competitors, like the newly developed one used in the Canon 70D?
A: To be a responsible company, we are not chasing only the pixel count, as higher pixel count means worse noise and high ISO performance. That's the reason that we did not follow blindly.
My comment: I have only two words to say: BULL SHIT!
Q: All the 16MP Pentax cameras are with the same architecture?
A: No. They are different and the newer is better. If one is going to disassemble the cameras, the differences can be seen.
My comments: Bull shitting again, as usual. Is he going to tell us the K-30 and K-50 are much different, putting aside the body shell?! He forgot that there are also official specifications of the cameras?! Actually, Pentaxians are good at disassembling cameras and lenses! And my Blog has documented many of those, here.
Other things that told by the Ricoh Head himself:
- The K-01 Blue White (Smurfs) edition was endorsed by Marc Newson for the colour combination.
- The K-01 was not discontinued owing to the low demand. But it was discontinued owing to the higher demand than that the production could meet.
My comment: Man, are you serious? Are you kidding? You are a LIAR!!
Oh, I've really given up at this point. This guy is really helpless and the replies are mostly junk. I do appreciate the direct and acute questions that the Fengniao editors have asked for us, for what we all Pentaxians have been concerning most, though! Thanks, guys! :-)
Z.T. · 609 weeks ago
1. Yes, Pentax will *always exist* at the product level,
2. In the future, *in the professional field's name is still a Pentax*.
Thus I believe we can at least relax regarding those two issues. If the Q, and K50 and even K500 are branded as Pentax, well, bodies above will too. That answers your question re K-mount products.
However, I have understood from the interview that some non-system, *compact* cameras are still under question re exact branding. They may be branded either as Pentax or Ricoh.
Uncle Vova · 609 weeks ago
This is the chatter: a lot of empty words without the useful encouraging sense. No any sense.
Especially good illustration with the Full Frame camera: "Our development team is still working on it and the project is not aborted." (C)
In the same manner the Communist Party of the USSR was working at the building of Communism... more than 70 years... ;)))
Hey, Ricoh, more than 10 years have passed and we are ready to wait 60 years more - please don't hurry up!
It doesn't matter that some of us will not be among the alive 60 years after - our children will continue to live and wait... ;)
Ricoh, don't give up! Let your "development team still working on it and the project is not aborted"! Forever!
Z.T. · 608 weeks ago
Imagine such thing happened to your family, I’d ask you how much time you’d have for undisturbed and clear thinking re major new life’s strategy.
Uncle Vova · 608 weeks ago
Turning back to the Ricoh and former Pentax: it seems that Pentax is the deep past time. Let's see what will Ricoh show in the future...
Business is a business and as a customer I don't want to compassionate to any difficulties and troubles of my supplier's business: If it can make what I need - I will buy it, If no - I shall pay to other supplier.
I do not need discussion such as "we is still working and the project is not aborted" (C) for years. Where is the result of work?
Oh, yes, I see: the wonderfull line of Q-gadgets is the by-product of the Full Frame Camera Project.
Uncle Vova · 608 weeks ago
Simon · 608 weeks ago
Alex · 608 weeks ago
Simon · 608 weeks ago
Where's the problem to get a FF sensor (Sony/Aptina), get a off the shelf Copal FF shutter, and a more beefy PRIME cpu and put it in a case ?
Dan Johnson · 608 weeks ago
arrrgh! · 608 weeks ago
Alex · 608 weeks ago
Dean Koontz · 608 weeks ago
The K-mount may be here to stay but probably only in Chinese adapters for NEX cameras. Get real!
Alex · 608 weeks ago
RiceHigh 110p · 608 weeks ago
Andrés · 608 weeks ago
RiceHigh 110p · 608 weeks ago
Halo · 608 weeks ago
Making colorful boxes wont help. People need to take you seriously, and they wont take you seriously if you cameras are yellow, hot pink, electric blue, funky green etc and the lenses are called toy lenses.
Ricoh GRV - Now thats a great camera! Brilliant job Ricoh.
Please repeat that same seriousness with DSLRs- fix the Pathetic TTL system and bring something a pro wedding photographer can use.
Please get some help if you need it- there is no shame in admitting you have a problem. Getting those Sony sensors was the best thing Pentax has done in years. Please get your hands on some very reliable TTL flash system. Its a shame to sell a amazingly brilliant camera that can't handle TTL flash in 2013-14. Especially when your company was one of the pioneers of TTL flash metering in the 70s and 80s.
Would love to see Ricoh/Pentax give the giants a run for their money. You can do it!
Make a great camera- will buy it. What more can i say?
RiceHigh 110p · 608 weeks ago
Alex · 608 weeks ago
RiceHigh 110p · 608 weeks ago
stone · 607 weeks ago