In a very recent interview with the same Ricoh senior official in my last blog article by a local Hong Kong photo magazine (current issue, owing to the copyright, I do not upload any image copy of the interview page here), Mr. Murano told the following:
1. The K-3 is a very strong APS-C DSLR as a result of extensive and special R&D;
2. APS-C is the mainstream of DSLR cameras;
3. The market share of 135 FF is only from 10 to 20%, versus the 80 to 90% of the APS-C market;
4. For that 10 to 20% small market segment, there are already a number of choices in the market. While they are able to make such a similar 135 FF body, it will not be of anything special. As such, they opted not to make one! :-[
5. The new 645D replacement project is now undergoing. It must happen before any RP 135 FF comes! (But isn't it that he has just said a RP 135 FF is not viable marketing wise?!)
6. They will not get rid of the name "Pentax", as "Ricoh" is a far larger company with far more businesses than Pentax and that they have no interest to make Ricoh becoming a sole camera brand! >:-o
Thursday, December 26, 2013
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maksa · 585 weeks ago
Bukaj · 585 weeks ago
FyBy · 585 weeks ago
Dan Johnson · 585 weeks ago
P. S.
I'm sure Ricoh/Pentax will push the price of it's medium format camera over $10,000.00...
twil · 585 weeks ago
It is sad that Murano is probably right about FF. I bet that Sony A7 put a chill on the FF plans of Pentax and Fuji. Come next Sept, it might not be so fun being a Pentaxian.
fullframe when? · 585 weeks ago
They don't want to alienate APS-C cutsomer? Well, what about the bread and butter that made Pentax the brand it is by promoting the FA_LTDs and full frame lenses? What about those users waiting forever?
APSC sucks · 585 weeks ago
Mike Kawasaki · 585 weeks ago
me2 · 585 weeks ago
[In that Pentax only has 1 to 2% of the entire market, there still is a significant market share to be captured. ]
4. For that 10 to 20% small market segment, there are already a number of choices in the market. While they are able to make such a similar 135 FF body, it will not be of anything special. As such, they opted not to make one! :-[
[There are just as many choices with the ASP-c market segment - probably more. So, this is a concern, but it is still the same problem faced in the APS-c segment. This is a cop out to a degree. If Pentax is able to do something "special" in the cropped sensor market (based on "extensive and special R&D"), why can't they look to do the same in the FF sensor market. Again, a cop out. ]
This whole presentation is an attempt to deflate expectations and stretch a timeline.
RottenPentaxFan · 585 weeks ago
No FF= Noooo FFuture for you!
Uncle Vova · 585 weeks ago
What we may understand from that great idea?
1. There are two main classes of camera manufacturers in the World:
a) Clever and tricky: Ricoh, Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung etc.
b) Some other ;-) : Canon, Nikon, Sony
;-)
Clever and tricky manufacturers do not want to spend their efforts "for only 10 to 20% small market segment" (C) - they leave this market segment for the other manufacturers.
Some other :-) manufacturers do not understand this trick and great strategy and fighting each other for that small and stupid segment.
2. Clever and tricky Ricoh finally gave up it's "we are still working on the FF DSLR" (C) - more than 12 years of work presented the expected result: they finally could make only "such a similar 135 FF body" - nothing special, nothing competitive to the products of "some other" manufacturers. ;-)
OK, we understand: changing the rings on the lenses from green to red - much more innovative. And the new HD coating is also great.
3. Pentaxians, your expectations, needs and wishes do not bother clever and tricky Ricoh any more: "...there are already a number of choices in the market." (C) ;-)
Do you need something special or something what "some other" firms make? - Go away! - "There are already a number of choices in the market." (C) ;-) ;-)
FromerlyPentax · 585 weeks ago
Again, Pentax are not planning ahead.
How big is the market in Medium Format? I mean that's got to be <0.1% of the market. PhaseOne and Hasselblad are the main players in that market along with Leica and its S2.
From the dismal AF performance of my K-5IIs over Christmas, and I worked that thing hard, any future camera budget will be staying put. Not going to bother with any manufacturer or system for the next five years.
Snappertim · 585 weeks ago
Full frame will give Pentax buyers a sense of buying into a large and upgradeable system, and the pride that Pentax is a Pro system, thousands of OM10 Olympus cameras were sold in the 1970's because many pro photographers used the OM1 and OM2.
Regards Snappertim
Antot · 585 weeks ago
drkgrrts · 585 weeks ago
- Pentax 645D for medium format
- Pentax K-3 for APS-C DSLR
- Ricoh GR for high-level compacts.
For a fourth segment, the "take-all-legacy-glass" mirrorless camera, Ricoh used to lead with the fabulous GXR with the A12 module for M-mount (which, with the right adapter, accommodates a myriad of older lenses). The A7/R is the next logical step in this segment, but Ricoh unfortunately failed to take that step itself. So, the main question for Ricoh now may not be whether to develop a FF DSLR, but rather how to respond to the challenge of the A7/R in mirrorless segment.
pentaxfools · 585 weeks ago
The entire concept of Pentax moving into the FF market brings back thoughts of when the industry moved from film to digital. Although Pentax had some early digital prototypes Pentax was the last to put out a digital camera.
I don't believe Pentax will be able to pull off another late entry into this market. The Pentax customer base has been jumping ship for several years due to the way Pentax has executed their business model.
A Reader · 585 weeks ago
Jean Pierre · 585 weeks ago
About Image Quality is now great difference between FF or APS-C even MFT is very good now (see Olympus and Panasonic).
So, I think APS-C will go in future for sale!
And Pentax goes always a good way. For me I would apreciate that Pentax(Ricoh) comes out with very good lenses in PRO Quality, as Olympus has made with the new lens (12-40/2.8 Pro) for the EM-1.
For Consumer Pentax/Ricoh should launch a slim-Series or build in digicam-technology for smartphone and tablet.
When Sony comes out with new digicam, it is not say that the market will have it! Sony is big and can do some "try and error" things.
Take a look at Fuji. The X-Series with that special X-APS-C-Sensor is great and Fuji takes care to not do to much with different digicam-body and lenses.
I hope Pentax will go this way!
Pentax go one and give your best and convince Ricoh to let your brand PENTAX. Then it is quality and is even with the 645D in high-class representive.
foton · 585 weeks ago
Daedbird · 585 weeks ago
To me, March 2014 is pivotal for Pentax. If they only release some lukewarm 645 replacement, and no FF, then things look bleak. If they release a great 645 replacement, and mention a FF for summer, or have it ready, then the future is bright.
Cooler · 585 weeks ago
arrrgh · 585 weeks ago
I think they are doomed cause they missed the FF trend years ago. Now Sony offers consumer models with FF sensor while Ricoh only has croped DA lenses. Game over. If you think about the Pentax "innovations" of the past years it becomes obvious that they will sell similar cameras with different numbers until Aps c market ends. Finaly the name "Pentax" will be sold to someone who produces cheepo-plasic-toy-cams or so...
Sh**! I'll buy a Canon tomorrow
Pentaxfools · 585 weeks ago
At least Ricoh/Pentax is being honest about it now.
Really how many April firsts have passed with Pentaxian's being the butt of the DLSR worlds jokes. Their are pentax folks that bite every year.
So on the bright side at least this April 1st no one should be able to get over on the Pentaxian's.
Bzrkd · 585 weeks ago
Ricoh Imaging must be really desperate to tell everyone, loud and clear, exactly the things they are planing for the future.
Indeed.
anunnaki · 585 weeks ago