Ricoh used to make a line of second string K mount SLRs, prior to that
they made a line of second string m42 mount SLRs, and apparently they
marketed a Nikon mount SLR, made by Mamiym. They put some pretty nice
technology into them, often the K mount bodies seemed to have somewhat
better tech and more features than Pentax, and they were pretty nice
cameras, but there was always something off about their ergonomics.
Back when Pentax still had a presence in most Cameras stores, (not that
long ago actually), one of the best local camera stores in the area went
out of business, (they had one of my LXen in for repair, and I was
worried about getting it back, I did eventually), at their going out of
business sale they had a used Ricoh, I forget the model number, it
resembled a Pentax A3 but included a ME Super style button system for
setting manual shutter speeds IIRC. This particular camera seemed to be
pristine condition and the price was certainly right, I was seriously
considering buying it as a body to carry where I didn't want to risk a
LX or MX, when one of the buttons simply fell off. The salesman who I
knew, (it wasn't a paid liquidator running the sale), said, "That seems
to happen a lot, it just snaps back on." I decided to take a pass.
Ricoh abandoned the SLR market sometime in the 90's. I don't remember
when, exactly. I don't remember any big announcement, such as when
Yashica stopped making cameras, Ricoh just sort of stopped, making SLRs.
On 9/21/2013 7:40 AM, Stan Halpin wrote:
On Sep 21, 2013, at 2:42 AM, P.J. Alling wrote:
... Pentax no longer exists. There isn't even a Pentax division of Ricoh
anymore. All we can hope is that Ricoh, designs builds and markets K mount
cameras a little smarter than Pentax and then Hoya did, though history doesn't
offer a lot of hope there.
Ricoh seems to think that their own brand is the prestige photographic brand
compared with Pentax and they've made a conscious effort to make Pentax a
secondary brand. Unfortunately, I don't think this bodes all that well for the
future, it seems like a bad marketing decision...
On 9/20/2013 5:12 AM, Tanya Love wrote:
But, K3 - October.
That's all I'm saying... :-)
Sent from my iPhone
Does Ricoh make cameras other than those branded Pentax? That is a half serious
question; I know from discussion here that there is some sort of Ricoh camera
division that has been in business for a few(?) years. But I have no
recollection of ever seeing a Ricoh camera, ever seeing an ad for one or a
listing in a 5th Street Camera ad, ever hearing anybody talk about one. It
baffles me to think that a product or product line that I as a somewhat aware
consumer is unfamiliar with can be a prestige photographic brand. Don't you
have to be known first before you can be accorded Prestige status?
stan
--
A newspaper is a device for making the ignorant more ignorant, and the crazy,
crazier.
- H.L.Mencken
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