There is a new rumor about the second Pentax mirrorless system. It’s coming via tmcnet.com:
“Ricoh Co. is considering fully entering the mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera market in a bid to boost its digital camera operations, informed sources told Jiji Press Saturday.
A new mirrorless camera will be developed by Pentax Imaging Systems Co., which the Japanese office equipment maker will acquire on Oct. 1 to take over the Pentax brand, the sources said.
Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, which are smaller and lighter than conventional single-lens reflex cameras, attract a wide range of consumers including young women.
A super compact mirrorless camera was rolled out under the Pentax brand in late August. But it was rather designed for beginners with a small image sensor, which converts light captured through lens into an electronic signal.
Equipped with a larger sensor, the new model will allow for a wide variety of photo styles, such as making out-of-focus areas in a shot much more blurry, the sources said.
Among other Japanese makers, Panasonic Corp. and Olympus Corp. are already offering mirrorless cameras featuring large sensors.
Ricoh will offer characteristic compact cameras under its own label, while trying to bring the Pentax brand on par with Nikon Corp. and Canon Inc. in interchangeable-lens cameras, Ricoh President Shiro Kondo said.“
Don’t know how much sense it makes for Ricoh to develop and maintain three different mirrorless systems! Let’s see if the rumor will become true…
6 Responses
“Don’t know how much sense it makes for Ricoh to develop and maintain three different mirrorless systems!”
If they make a module for GXR with Pentax mirrorles mount, they’ve got two systems. And with Q sensor size making it useless, it leaves Ricoh with one relevant system.
Not just GXR + Q + “mirror-less X”, but also the K-series DSLRs and 645D. It is waayyy too many systems to support.
I think that K-series DSLRs are the greates worry for Pentax/Ricoh. It takes a lot of efforts to just keep up with the competition, and still they dont grab any market share from CaNikon. (Not dissing K5, just saying that Pentax dont get the return for their investments).
How about a (relatively) low-cost K-mount module for GXR ?
Basically take the 12MP M-mount module and change it to a K-mount.
Then later make a higher-end version with the 16MP sensor of the K5, including OIS.
That could bring the number of systems to support down to 2:
GXR (and modules) + 645D.
Let K-mount DSLRs fade out slowly.
Let Q-mount die an instant death.
I really don’t think that would be a good idea.
THe problem is that they have to keep up in technology while selling to few units. Then it makes sense to find as many niche markets as possible where they can use the tech. 645D was a fine example as it basically used the same tech as the K5. I think the Q is similar, it reuses old tech. In this sense more systems are better. The problem is that they must supply the glass for them.
Killing off the K-system would mean losing the bulk of their sales and thus the basis of their R&D and is where they go head to head with the competition. The GXR,645D and Q are safe niches without any cometition to speak of where they can make a profit…. Adding another niche can be done i suppose but I cant find where as an APS-C mirrorless would threaten both K-mount and GXR.
It looks like I’m going to have to turn myself into a mirrorless camera.
(to attract young women)
should not be hard to be on par with Nikon and Canon in the mirrorless marked 😀 they are simply not there yet..