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Oh, how I miss Minolta!...Where did they go wrong! (nt)
- Thread starter digititus
- Start date
steelhead3
Veteran Member
They were bought out by Konica; Minolta hasn't existed for a long time.
Are you serious?
Well, it depends what steelhead3 means by not a long time 
Minolta was founded in 1928, merged with Konica in 2003 (note: merged with, not bought out by), and finally sold camera business part of operation to Sony in 2006. Konica Minolta still exists:
http://www.konicaminolta.com/
Minolta was founded in 1928, merged with Konica in 2003 (note: merged with, not bought out by), and finally sold camera business part of operation to Sony in 2006. Konica Minolta still exists:
http://www.konicaminolta.com/
WaltKnapp
Forum Pro
However Konica took over top management with the merger, and at that point they were not a camera company, they gave up on their own brand long before that. The end of cameras with Minolta was a Konica decision I'd say.Well, it depends what steelhead3 means by not a long time
Minolta was founded in 1928, merged with Konica in 2003 (note: merged with, not bought out by),
The rot started in when Honeywell drained Minolta's funds. Ever after that they did not have enough R&D money to recover.
Walt
Renato1
Senior Member
Konica merged with Minolta to form KM, put out a lot of KM lenses and several KM cameras, and just about everyone refers to them as Minolta cameras and Minolta lenses. I you refer to them as Konica camaras and lenses, most would think you batty.
Where did Konica go wrong, that such an old established camera brand was effectively wiped out in most everyone's perception?
Renato
Where did Konica go wrong, that such an old established camera brand was effectively wiped out in most everyone's perception?
Renato
My original subject was a bad attempt at poking fun at all the similar "headlines" regarding Sony and how they went wrong or lost their way.
Ironically, some people thought I was serious and tried to explain what happened to Minolta. Others politely chatized me for adding to the negative posts. And of course, one person called me an arrogant meathead.
I'll try to refrain from any future humor. I guess I'm not funny!
Ironically, some people thought I was serious and tried to explain what happened to Minolta. Others politely chatized me for adding to the negative posts. And of course, one person called me an arrogant meathead.
I'll try to refrain from any future humor. I guess I'm not funny!
Bexter
Leading Member
Never feed the trolls! Though granted this one did come out from his cave briefly, with his tongue in his cheek. I don't think you will get your 150 replies but here's one to help you on your way.
In answer to your question, they abandoned film and went digital, merged with Konica then became Sony. Then they waited far too long to release an A700 successor with video and live view.
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http://www.mokeweb.co.uk/gallery2/main.php
antares103
Senior Member
12
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Film is a four letter word
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Film is a four letter word
See my previous post. My op was sick humor. Actually, I know the Minollta story all too well. I purchased my first Minolta camera in the mid 1960's. I'm now on my second A700.Never feed the trolls! Though granted this one did come out from his cave briefly, with his tongue in his cheek. I don't think you will get your 150 replies but here's one to help you on your way.
In answer to your question, they abandoned film and went digital, merged with Konica then became Sony. Then they waited far too long to release an A700 successor with video and live view.
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http://www.mokeweb.co.uk/gallery2/main.php
ZeevK
Leading Member
Konica-Minolta merger actually produced apositive effect on sales and many good KM products hit the market. But the problem was that KM was no longer a camera brand and they actually made (and still make) much more money from all other busineses they have - from office coppiers to very high tech materials and components in variouse fields.
The big hit KM took was when SONY discovered that the upcoming KM DSLR was about to have the FOVEON sensor. SONY forced KM to revert to SONY sensor, othervice they will stop providing sensors for all other KM products, which produced most of the income then. LM failed to fight SONY, the KM7D was delayed for almost a year and came to the market to late to gain volume.
Eventually, SONY managed to dry KM to a level they reluctantly sold SONY the whole photography business. The rumor says SONY originally wanted to buy Nikon, but failed.
ZeevK
http://www.pbase.com/zeevk
The big hit KM took was when SONY discovered that the upcoming KM DSLR was about to have the FOVEON sensor. SONY forced KM to revert to SONY sensor, othervice they will stop providing sensors for all other KM products, which produced most of the income then. LM failed to fight SONY, the KM7D was delayed for almost a year and came to the market to late to gain volume.
Eventually, SONY managed to dry KM to a level they reluctantly sold SONY the whole photography business. The rumor says SONY originally wanted to buy Nikon, but failed.
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ZeevK
http://www.pbase.com/zeevk
Renato1
Senior Member
That's very interesting. They must have very slack trade practices law over there. Down here they'd be handing out multi million dollar fines on the actual executives, as well as the company.
Renato
Renato
dennismullen
Veteran Member
Sorry digititus, but my "Chicken Coop" thread is clearly ahead in this area.
Cheers,
--
“Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Ben Franklin.
You can see larger versions of my pictures at http://www.dennismullen.com .
OldClicker
Senior Member
If you want a record, you are going to have to bash Minolta, not support it. - TF
Note that there are certain similarities between Ricoh and Minolta (or Konica Minolta). Both are relatively large and well established companies with often similar product ranges (ie. office products), and both have (or had) small camera manufacturing divisions with history of offering innovative, unusual products. Such approach usually creates small-ish group of enthusiastic followers, but rarely brings profits at corporate level.
While Minolta (now Konica Minolta) decided to sell camera business and today concentrates on what brings them $$, Ricoh continues to operate its small camera division and continues offering unique products (see Ricoh GXR, for example). What helps Ricoh to continue with digital cameras is that another part of their operation is designing and manufacturing of integrated circuits (image processing LSI, PC interface circuits, real time clock ICs, etc.).
What also helps is that (in my experience) Ricoh is one of the very few companies who actually listens to their users and think about what they hear. While they may reject various suggestions, they actually consider them. Maybe less corporate arrogance is a secret to surviving and answers "what went wrong with company XXX"?
While Minolta (now Konica Minolta) decided to sell camera business and today concentrates on what brings them $$, Ricoh continues to operate its small camera division and continues offering unique products (see Ricoh GXR, for example). What helps Ricoh to continue with digital cameras is that another part of their operation is designing and manufacturing of integrated circuits (image processing LSI, PC interface circuits, real time clock ICs, etc.).
What also helps is that (in my experience) Ricoh is one of the very few companies who actually listens to their users and think about what they hear. While they may reject various suggestions, they actually consider them. Maybe less corporate arrogance is a secret to surviving and answers "what went wrong with company XXX"?
I really thought this thread would be good for about three replies before people realized they had been had, but now I'm catching your "Coop" thread. Clearly, we all have too much time on our hands. We need a Sony press release!Sorry digititus, but my "Chicken Coop" thread is clearly ahead in this area.
Cheers,
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C
cgarrard
Guest
Good post in my opinion.
Seems always to boil down to the customer is always right.
The better you listen to them the more that want to talk to you and support you.
C
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http://www.AlphaMountWorld.com
Seems always to boil down to the customer is always right.
The better you listen to them the more that want to talk to you and support you.
C
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http://www.AlphaMountWorld.com
Sorry I could not resist.
Then somebody just need to talk Ricoh into producing a FF alpha dslr body.
Russell Ervin
Senior Member
I guess you didn't get the memo. "You can't criticize any other company than Sony....You can't criticize anyone that criticizes Sony...Even as a joke...And never ever say anything good about Sony and use your own screen name" (you risk being tarred and feathered)
The Minority has spoken and they are to be obeyed!
Just a bit of humor...heheh.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/quietrvr/
Gear=A camera with a lens.
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