Thanks for posting this, Ken. Things seem to be looking up for Pentax. It's nice to know that staff motivation is one of the driveing forces in the company. Afterall, it's often people, rather than organizations the create progress. regards Jens
Jens Bladt http://www.jensbladt.dk +45 56 63 77 11 +45 23 43 85 77 Skype: jensbladt248 -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- Fra: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] vegne af K.Takeshita Sendt: 28. september 2006 02:23 Til: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Emne: Interview w/Pentax exec You will remember in the last year's show in Japan, Mr.Torigoe, the head honcho of imaging System Div gave an interview regarding the K mount lens and its future evolution etc. This time, he offer somewhat broader view of their future plan in Photokina. His interview is obviously peppered with upbeat, positive and very confident tone, saying that the whole company is now motivated unlike last Photokina when Pentax were somewhat losing the sight. If I have time, I try to translate this interview (or perhaps DPReview might do so anyway), but list some snippets here. Q. K series digital is the main line, right? A. K series digital will continue to "high end". Q. Does that mean the MF (645) Digital? A. No. It is going to be the K mount. But I wish to pre-empt you. High-end does not necessarily mean FF. It means we are preparing to launch a flagship model. Q. Considering the naming pattern, is it going to be K1D? A. It's surely a K series camera. K1D could be one candidate but the name may not necessarily be K1D. I do not want to cause any speculation here so we want name it here, but it could be any name such as K20D or K30D etc. But the point is that we will launch more models so that our customers have a firm upgrade path. Q. K100D is a very popular model but the short supply of lenses is really a problem. A. Indeed it is, and we are fully aware of it. Making lenses lead-free was taking time, and there was a period when Pentax was struggling. Q. Specifically how are you going to increase the lens lineup? A. In the new lens road map, 10 lenses are shown, which will become available in 2007. However, we know these are too small a number. We are going to launch far larger number of lenses. Our origin is optics, and we are determined to accelerate our lens offering capability now. We are in the process of completing such capabilities in response to the needs by customers. Q. Are there any quantitative targets or goals? A. Sony are said to announce additional 21 lenses. This is a very ambitious plan. However, we wish to do more than they do. I cannot tell you any specific target now, but the determination exists and I intend to proceed with more restructuring to beef up the lens development capability. Q. Collaboration with Tokina? A. It will of course continue. Important thing is Pentax are changing. Staff motivation is so high that the traditional top-down management is now changing into bottoms-up. We are now talking about the lens dream. Perhaps Coty should buy another hat and prepare to wrestle with a 500Lb flesh? ;-). Ken -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.9/457 - Release Date: 09/26/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.10/459 - Release Date: 09/29/2006 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
