Pentax Interview

[yoshi]

(R&D of ) 645D will be definitely resumed.The M&A by Hoya did not raise disturbances at Pentax : --- omitted

#(the second chapter: headline) Short-term profit alone does not determine the future of Pentax --- omitted

#(the third chapter: headline) Consequently the IQ, functions and user interfaces are considerably different (between Pentax and Samsung).

#645 Digital has higher priorities than 35mm FF

#It is also necessary to add MF digital camera as a tool for hobbysts (not only for business/high end use)

[Ian]

Re: Pentax Interview

Hi Yoshi - this is most interesting, thank you. I look forward to any updates you may be able provide us with!

I have also sent you a message via the Private Mail system of the forum, please check your messages next time you log on.

Ian

[yoshi]

Re: Pentax Interview

continued from the previous one.

****************
#645 Digital has higher priorities than 35mm FF

[yoshi]

Re: Pentax Interview

The last one.

*************
#It is also necessary to add an MF digital camera as a tool for hobbysts (not only for business/high end use)

I: You implied that in a near future the product planning of 645D will be resumed. Will it be a high-end product aimed at business (professional) uses?

Tori: It will be a product that can fully capture landscapes so it should be one that has high image quality. At initial stage (of the R&D), 645D had 18 M pixels only but we changed it to 30 Mp later as we thought it better for an ideal landscape camera.

When it is resumed, it would be a model which entails total solution that has high Mega pixel, high image quality that can be usable for landscape photos and also that can be suitable for business (professional) purposes. When taking into account needs of various usages such as advertising use, studio use and printing (publishing) use, it must be a camera not only excellent as an input gear but also the one that can provide system solution (with those professional users) that covers from the input to the output. True, not all the processes are developed internally, but our proposal (that is, the camera Pentax is going to propose to the markets) should have consistency.

On the other hand, there are many consumer users in Japan who use MF cameras. So I also think it necessary to propose another [affordable] MF camera that can meet their expectation --- an MF camera as a tool of hobby.

I: Then are you planning to develop two kinds of MF digital cameras, one for professional uses and another for hobbyists?

Tori: Ideally two, yes, but not be able to do so from the very beginning. During the film era, Pentax was developing an expensive high-end 645 SLR. But this project was stopped. We did not think that such a camera could be sold well. What the markets wanted was a 645 SLR that can be purchased for 100K thousands yen (approx. US $ 1000 or 630 Euros). There were many users who said they would but it if the price level was at that level. Those were the people who were interested in MF cameras, so if we could provide a body at suitable price level, then they would surely add lenses later.
We would not be able to create markets without our due efforts to provide more opportunities with them so that users can understand advantages/attractiveness of MF cameras.

In this sense I would like to challenge in future an affordable 645 DSLR. There should be users who want a large format camera for their personal hobby use and not for business use. It is our dream to have two models. The first one (that is, for professional uses) would be, however, the one which can be accepted by wider range of users, though.

**************

My remarks: If you think the translation is not good, kindly point it out to me. I would try more to improve it. I know it's not good.

[yoshi]

[yoshi]

645D - recent rumour(news)?

A photographer said in his blog today (Aug. 7) something like this.

"There seems to be a campaign among Pentax users that strongly request the introduction of 35mm FF models. I (=the photographer) am personally against that campaign. Pentax has (film) 645 MF camera and that's the market where Canon/Nikon cannot enter into.
I happened to have an opportunity to use an "alpa" prototype of the so-called 645D recently. It's not "beta" at all but I got the impression that it can be launched at any time soon. The IQ is quite good and imagine it's better than 35mm FF models.
Pentax should lauch 645D ASAP and not the 35mm FF. How about to start another campaign of requesting immediate launch of 645D?"

This is his (name: Tanaka) opinion. What do you think?

yoshi

p.s. He did comment that the price would be the real issue. He requested 800K yen or less.

[Ian]

Re: Pentax Interview

Thanks for that, Yoshi - as usual!

I must say that from what I have seen, the Samsung CMOS sensor used in the Pentax K20D and the Samsung G20 is an excellent first effort. It has good noise characteristics and no sign that I can see of banding at high ISO. Panasonic's MOS sensors used in Four Thirds cameras are certainly out-shone by the Samsung sensor at high ISOs, whic h is interesting as they have virtually the same pixel pitch.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: 645D - recent rumour(news)?

A photographer said in his blog today (Aug. 7) something like this.

"There seems to be a campaign among Pentax users that strongly request the introduction of 35mm FF models. I (=the photographer) am personally against that campaign. Pentax has (film) 645 MF camera and that's the market where Canon/Nikon cannot enter into.
I happened to have an opportunity to use an "alpa" prototype of the so-called 645D recently. It's not "beta" at all but I got the impression that it can be launched at any time soon. The IQ is quite good and imagine it's better than 35mm FF models.
Pentax should lauch 645D ASAP and not the 35mm FF. How about to start another campaign of requesting immediate launch of 645D?"

This is his (name: Tanaka) opinion. What do you think?

yoshi

p.s. He did comment that the price would be the real issue. He requested 800K yen or less.