Re: Worrying trend
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Six M-pix true with pro quality glass is that invisible boundary where photojournalists will go digital as the primary tool. With an anticipated sugg price of $3,000 Where is this price being mentioned? So far most of the rumours I have heard (stemming from the Photokina appearance) suggest that the price is $7,000. I'd love it if you were right - I could just about consider paying $3,000 for a nice digital body - but I'm not going to start saving just yet. -- John Francis [EMAIL PROTECTED] Silicon Graphics, Inc. (650)933-82952011 N. Shoreline Blvd. MS 43U-991 (650)932-0828 (Fax) Mountain View, CA 94043-1389 Hello. My name is Darth Vader. I am your father. Prepare to die. - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Worrying trend
Alin Flaider wrote: (Unconfirmed) rumors are that Minolta is in big trouble with its recently announced digital SLRs Dimage 7 and 5. It seems they have problems with the CCD chips (4 and 5 MPixel) and release is delayed for October (it was expected for May). I have heard the "after summer" date from beginning on. The 3M Pentax EI-3000 is also not available in the next months. Besides, Minolta lost 40% of share price in the past 3 months. Apparently they grossly overestimated demand for Maxxum 7 to 60,000(!) units/month while they only manage to sell 8000, losing 3 millions USD each month. Digital SLRs were their life-buoy, now this is sinking as well. This figures are hard to believe, even though I also have heard that Minolta is in trouble (since 2 years already). They recently reorganized and relocated more business units outside Japan. In fact, digital cameras are planned as their main business area for the future. Delays in this product area are a problem indeed, but this is not unusual. I somehow doubt they had such high expectations in the Minolta 7 worldwide, but maybe this refers to the US market and Minolta US distributor? The US consumer market in general is not so hot any more, and the Elan 7 of course was the winner amongst the advanced mid class releases. Canon just celebrated another incredible record in lens sales, so interest in system cameras basically is still alive. Bad management or dying SLR breed? ... Now I'm positive we won't see any film body beyond MZ-S; we are lucky if we get the upgraded MZ-3. Kodak just announced the cut of 3500 jobs due to the decreasing consumer demand. However, I don't know whether this is mainly due to the situation in the US or has something to do with interest in photography in general. Pentax is in a special situation with their 5-10% market share. Till 1996, they made 4 completely different camera chassis. In the last 5 years it was basically only one, and this allowed them to survive without large volume. Minoltas range e.g. is a mess regarding production efficiency - hence they demand on volume. The MZ-S might somehow be a test balloon how far this can go. Here the conventional SLR shares parts with a digital sibling they wanted to introduce for several reasons. While I'm sure we will see new MZ-derivates in future too, I also have doubts that a real solitary SLR design is possible any longer. Ralf - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Worrying trend
Alin wrote: Besides, Minolta lost 40% of share price in the past 3 months. Apparently they grossly overestimated demand for Maxxum 7 to 60,000(!) units/month while they only manage to sell 8000, losing 3 millions USD each month. If anyone at Minolta expected 60 000 units/months then he must be a certified nutcase. The most optimistic figures I've seen for the F100, the class bestseller, is 10 000 units/month. I guess 60 000 units/month may be in the area of the original 7000 in 1985 but those days are long gone. I said a few days ago that the Dynaxx 7 must be a money drain for Minolta. There is no volume in this class of cameras anymore. Still, 8000 units/months is impressive. Bad management or dying SLR breed? If it's the first - hope that Pentax plays safer. Pentax plays safer. The MZ-S is proof of that. Its obviously not made for high volume/many features for the bucks. It selling point is an unique market position and built quality. This ensure higher profit margins. Same for Limited lenses; they don't depend on volume to be profitable. What you will see in the future are volume product like the current MZ-series and low volume/high quality products like the MZ-S and Limited lenses. As for the latter, this would be tragic. Only the major players will survive this trend, and Pentax hasn't made the transition to digital yet. Now I'm positive we won't see any film body beyond MZ-S; we are lucky if we get the upgraded MZ-3. I'm not so sure. While the big three stop investing in film based slr the market may open up for others. I'm certain that film based photography will be around for awhile. Although, I too see a stand alone upper level slr as an imposibility. You will see digital siblings. Pl - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re[2]: Worrying trend
Pl wrote: PJ If anyone at Minolta expected 60 000 units/months then he must be PJ a certified nutcase. Hence my exclamation mark and emphasis on unconfirmed source (it's said to originate from the Wall Street Journal). It's unlikely any SLR camera sales at this rate. Anyway, the financial figures are in concordance with Minolta's own predicted loss. Servus,Alin - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Worrying trend
Fear not... Extremely reliable sources are buzzing about the prototype Pentax K-mount body sporting the Phillips 6.0 true M-pixel CCD. Six M-pix true with pro quality glass is that invisible boundary where photojournalists will go digital as the primary tool. With an anticipated sugg price of $3,000 , us poor guys should see comparable hardware in the $ 750. range in about 36 months. Good times are coming... (teaser: how would you like a replacement CCD/screen back for your Z-body...?.) BG - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Worrying trend
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: With an anticipated sugg price of $3,000 , us poor guys should see comparable hardware in the $ 750. range in about 36 months. Good times are coming... I wouldn't be surprised if it were within 12 months. tv - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
