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Hoya didn't listen...

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When Hoya bought Pentax, they made absolutely no secret that it was the medical imaging division that they were after. I suspect they would have preferred to kill the camera division but didn't, probably a clause written into the merger agreement kept them from doing it.

So, they kept the division afloat and did as little as they could get away with while at the same time maximizing profit as much as possible, thereby making it look more appealing to a potential buyer.

Ricoh comes along, expresses interest and all of a sudden the camera division is split off and sold at fire sale pricing.

I truly think Ricoh will do more with Pentax than Hoya did. Ricoh bought because they want the division, Hoya bought because they were stuck with it.
 
Alex Sarbu said:
But don't you think it's Marques Lamont's job to prove his "645D... FAIL" statement?
Click to expand...
I am surprised this statement got so much of a reply.

I cannot bring up the numbers or prove technically that the 645D is a failure. I'm not into sales numbers and figures and those sort of things. I'm a photographer, not a financial analyst or anything. But in my opinion, it IS a failure. 645D = FAIL. Why?
  • No tethering
  • Only 2 new lenses?
  • Where exactly can you buy or rent the other 645D lenses? THEY ARE OUT OF PRODUCTION!!!!
  • No tilt-shift adapter or lenses
  • Limited rental availability
  • Again, no tethering, which is a joke
How does one make up for the fact that there are only 2 lenses in production?
 
Marques Lamont said:
Alex Sarbu said:
But don't you think it's Marques Lamont's job to prove his "645D... FAIL" statement?
Click to expand...
I am surprised this statement got so much of a reply.
Click to expand...
Expect such strong statements to be challenged. Yes, I know, on this forum it's a habit to only challenge positive comments...
Marques Lamont said:
I cannot bring up the numbers or prove technically that the 645D is a failure. I'm not into sales numbers and figures and those sort of things. I'm a photographer, not a financial analyst or anything. But in my opinion, it IS a failure. 645D = FAIL. Why?
Click to expand...
You should be aware that a product which you do not think is appropriate for your needs is not necessarily "FAIL". If in a certain area a brand is not properly represented, that doesn't mean the camera is "FAIL". If you just don't like it, it's not "FAIL" either.

Many other photographers are enjoying their 645Ds, and I'll point out to Chris Wilson's blog:
http://travel67.wordpress.com/
The camera, certainly, isn't a "FAIL" for him.
Marques Lamont said:
  • No tethering
Click to expand...
I would agree to use the word "FAIL" on this issue (not about the camera itself), since Pentax promised tethering ages ago.
Marques Lamont said:
  • Only 2 new lenses?
Click to expand...
A new lens each year; what's the problem with that? Is the competition any better?
Marques Lamont said:
  • Where exactly can you buy or rent the other 645D lenses? THEY ARE OUT OF PRODUCTION!!!!
Click to expand...
Are you sure, or you're just guessing - because (I assume) they aren't available in US?
Marques Lamont said:
  • No tilt-shift adapter or lenses
  • Limited rental availability
  • Again, no tethering, which is a joke
Click to expand...
You like to repeat yourself ;)
Marques Lamont said:
How does one make up for the fact that there are only 2 lenses in production?
Click to expand...
Let's count them:
http://www.pentax.jp/japan/products/lens/index645_list.html

Alex S
 
Didn't Pentax say a while back when they made the DA 17-70 and the DA*55, that there would be no more dual drive lenses, either screw drive ie limiteds and cheaper lenses and SDM. Of course there is the DC version of SDM too....
paulkienitz said:
Barry Fitzgerald said:
Ok thanks for that Ron that explains things well.

Sounds like a dual drive system would be a good thing for users and maybe allay fears of SDM issues
Click to expand...
But it's also been argued that the dual drive approach is the whole reason they built the SDM system around small crappy motors that break! If they used proper ring-motors in the star lenses, we probably wouldn't have this issue.
Click to expand...
--
Justin
--------------------------------------------------------
http://www.pentaxphotogallery/justinwatson
 
What I find amusing about the lack of lenses argument for the 645D seems to apparently not apply for a new FF camera if developed.

Pentax have actually covered the two lenses most MF photographers need. Wide and normal.

My opinion is the 645D was a success in terms of what was expected. I'd love to see figures but from the sounds of it, the 645D would be the highest selling MF camera. Just like for dSLRs the highest selling camera are the entry level/cheapest to buy.
Alex Sarbu said:
Marques Lamont said:
Alex Sarbu said:
But don't you think it's Marques Lamont's job to prove his "645D... FAIL" statement?
Click to expand...
I am surprised this statement got so much of a reply.
Click to expand...
Expect such strong statements to be challenged. Yes, I know, on this forum it's a habit to only challenge positive comments...
Alex Sarbu said:
I cannot bring up the numbers or prove technically that the 645D is a failure. I'm not into sales numbers and figures and those sort of things. I'm a photographer, not a financial analyst or anything. But in my opinion, it IS a failure. 645D = FAIL. Why?
Click to expand...
You should be aware that a product which you do not think is appropriate for your needs is not necessarily "FAIL". If in a certain area a brand is not properly represented, that doesn't mean the camera is "FAIL". If you just don't like it, it's not "FAIL" either.

Many other photographers are enjoying their 645Ds, and I'll point out to Chris Wilson's blog:
http://travel67.wordpress.com/
The camera, certainly, isn't a "FAIL" for him.
Alex Sarbu said:
  • No tethering
Click to expand...
I would agree to use the word "FAIL" on this issue (not about the camera itself), since Pentax promised tethering ages ago.
Alex Sarbu said:
  • Only 2 new lenses?
Click to expand...
A new lens each year; what's the problem with that? Is the competition any better?
Alex Sarbu said:
  • Where exactly can you buy or rent the other 645D lenses? THEY ARE OUT OF PRODUCTION!!!!
Click to expand...
Are you sure, or you're just guessing - because (I assume) they aren't available in US?
Alex Sarbu said:
  • No tilt-shift adapter or lenses
  • Limited rental availability
  • Again, no tethering, which is a joke
Click to expand...
You like to repeat yourself ;)
Alex Sarbu said:
How does one make up for the fact that there are only 2 lenses in production?
Click to expand...
Let's count them:
http://www.pentax.jp/japan/products/lens/index645_list.html

Alex S
Click to expand...
--
Justin
--------------------------------------------------------
http://www.pentaxphotogallery/justinwatson
 
Back to the OP....

I'd like something between 400 and 600mm also.
Doesn't have to be super fast. so a 400 or 500 f5.6 would be fine.

After all shouldn't a 500 f5.6 be better than say the bigma which is f6.3 at 500? I'd think also lighter, but maybe not depending on the glass elements used.

Also a 150-200mm macro would be nice.

lots of other lenses down the wide end too, would love something like the DA12-24 but WR and a bit wider maybe...

I guess the firt thing is to hope the Pentax/Ricoh develop more lenses.
brandrx said:
Hoya didn't listen, maybe Ricoh/Pentax will.

Many of us really need/want a 400mm and/or 500mm Pentax lens. Quit pussyfooting around and make them for us.

I really beleive that even a 400mm f5.6 will sell well for many of us commited Pentax users.

Go! Go! Go! Go Ricoh!

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
Click to expand...
--
Justin
--------------------------------------------------------
http://www.pentaxphotogallery/justinwatson
 
moving_comfort said:
Joe Wisniewski has speculated that worldwide MFD sales before the 645D was about 6000 units per year, worldwide. There have been some indications that the 645D has sold about 10,000 units in the first 20 or so months since introduction - this, if true, would mean that it essentially doubled the existing MFD market, in annual unit sales.
Click to expand...
10,000 units over 20 months is 500 units a month. That's 6,000 units a year. On par with Wsniewski's speculations. Not bad, for a medium format DSLR.

Being a working pro, however, I'd rather go with a Phase One, Mamiya or Hasselblad camera if I had to choose. The basic 30-40 Mpix digital MF kit starts at around $ 15,000 or less now, a bit more than the Pentax 645D kit. But the customer service is much better with P1, Mamiya and Blad...

I dealt with Phase One customer's service on a few occasions (regarding issues with their Capture One software, which I use extensively), and I can confirm they were on top of their game: acknowledgement of the problem was made in less than 12 hours (24 hours on weekends) and help came within 24 hours (48 hours on weekends).

If Pentax had even half as good a service as Phase One, a few pros would consider the 645D more seriously.

--

If photography can be considered like painting, then I'm still at the preschool "paint with your fingers" level.
 
A f5.6 500 mm prime would be sharper than a 50-500, all these zooms tend to be weaker at the long end; at f5.6 the focus would be faster and more accurate than at f6.3 too;
--
jpgoube
 
justin23 said:
Didn't Pentax say a while back when they made the DA 17-70 and the DA*55, that there would be no more dual drive lenses, either screw drive ie limiteds and cheaper lenses and SDM.
Click to expand...
Yes, but as I understand it they didn't change the SDM motor. They took the cheap path of using what they knew.
justin23 said:
Of course there is the DC version of SDM too....
Click to expand...
Which was designed and intended as a lower budget version, not as a higher performance version.

They've got an opportunity here: come out with some "DA* II" lenses with new ring motors (and in the case of the 16-50, maybe some optical improvements).
 
justin23 said:
Back to the OP....

I'd like something between 400 and 600mm also.
Doesn't have to be super fast. so a 400 or 500 f5.6 would be fine.

After all shouldn't a 500 f5.6 be better than say the bigma which is f6.3 at 500? I'd think also lighter, but maybe not depending on the glass elements used.
Click to expand...
It will be great to have something like a 400/4.0 or a 500/5.6. I guess I should get the Sigma 500.
justin23 said:
Also a 150-200mm macro would be nice.
Click to expand...
Rereleasing the FA*200 macro as a DFA*200 macro would be great. Guess if Sigma releases thier 150 macro in K-mount I will get it.
justin23 said:
lots of other lenses down the wide end too, would love something like the DA12-24 but WR and a bit wider maybe...
Click to expand...
A DA*11-16/2.8 would be great. Then again maybe a DA*8-16 would be really nice.
justin23 said:
I guess the firt thing is to hope the Pentax/Ricoh develop more lenses.
Click to expand...
Pentax was orginally an optical company. Under Hoya ownership not much in way of lenses were released. I am thinking the only lenses were the DAL35/2.4, DA18-135 and the redo DFA100 Macro. For two years that is not much.

Just rerelease the FA* lenses as DFA* lenses with modern lens coatings would be really nice.

Dave
--

 
Dale108 said:
According to a Pentax Canada rep, Bill, Ricoh is hiring engineers in Japan. If true, this would suggest that Pentaxmay be planning on expanding. Bill doesn't have specifics of their plans but expects news around April 2012 when the new bussiness year starts. I also told Bill about the need for longer glass and he agreed.
Click to expand...
That's good news Dale. Let's hope that something comes of it.

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
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