Ricoh may close shutter on personal camera business

[Steve.Ledger]

The Japanese company will radically review a production and manufacturing strategy centered on cameras for the retail market, including such brands as Pentax and GR. Options include withdrawing from this segment altogether.

► http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Compani ... a-business

[Smeggypants]

Interesting article. This is going to cause a lot of scaremongering and chit chat in Pentax circle across the globe

[Steve.Ledger]

Interesting article. This is going to cause a lot of scaremongering and chit chat in Pentax circle across the globe

Pentax is doomed!!




Personally I can't see it happening for anything other than their WG series and the Q. Perhaps even the GR. But not the APS-C and FF.

[Smeggypants]

hehe - I could hear the echos of "Pentax is DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!" over the horizon.

[Steve.Ledger]

Turns out it might be fake news after all:

On April 12, Ricoh refuted "not a fact" about some reports on the same day that the company is considering withdrawing from the personal camera business . "Although we will pursue high value-added products by focusing on product lineups, we are not planning on withdrawing from individuals, and we plan to expand high value-added models for individuals in the future" (Ricoh Public Relations Office).

► http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/ ... ws063.html

[richandfleur]

I liked the bit where they thought the Pentax brand would carve the way for (presumably Ricoh) cameras into the big time.
The odd ball offerings of recent years have been rather testing the waters in nature (K-S series for example) and I wonder if it comes to a shock to them that they haven't made significant inroads into the market with them?

I'd love to see the model sales figures, but I'd hazard a guess that their core cameras sell the best. Although on the flip side, Pentax has always chased the 'unique' market of the Japanese, with their multi coloured offering etc.

Will wait and see where it goes over the next 5 years or so. They have a pretty solid core of main offerings now, with the K-70 K-3 KP K1 and 645Z. That's pretty impressive really. Ricoh are doing well with their Theta range, having for once lead the market into a new subject area that really is taking off now.

[Smeggypants]

None of this would stop me buying another new Pentax camera model. Pentax has a tiny market share compared to the sheep brands but who cares?

[richandfleur]

Pentax has a tiny market share compared to the sheep brands but who cares?

Umm, Ricoh?

[Smeggypants]

Pentax has a tiny market share compared to the sheep brands but who cares?

Umm, Ricoh?

Sure, but as long as it's financially viable then does it matter?