Why Hoya Pentax release press releases only in Japanese?

Thanks to "Kimpira" at pentaxforums, you may now read a better than google translation of what pentax said in Japanese Media. I cannot understand why hoya pentax offers no translations and instead rely on google to get their messages out ? ! ? ! ??? "I tried translation" "DC Watch, IMPRESS

 

Title:PENTAX will introduce a new DSLR in the summer 2009, the concept changes from K20D. PENTAX has no relation to Samsung mirror-less camera.

 

In Photokina, PENTAX insisted in introducing successors of K20D and K200D by the summer. What has been developed by PENTAX?

Many PENTAX freaks anticipated no DSLR introduction in PMA 2009 but they want to know the move of PENTAX.

 

DC Watch interviewed Mr. Taku Kawauchi, a planning group manager, PENTAX imaging system company, HOYA. He got the manager post in March 2009.

 

-----K20D class model will not be a direct successor of K20D?

 

Mr. Kawauchi had been publicity management before PMA, so he knew very well the past published information by PENTAX. Before DC Watch asked questions, he mentioned 2 models of DSLR.

 

PENTAX developed 2 DSLR models in September 2008, Photokina season, but PENTAX revised development roadmap after Photokina; K20D class model will hit the market by the summer 2009, K200D class model will hit the market in the New Year season 2010.

 

"This in not because the world-wide recession. PENTAX revised the plan to introduce K20D class DSLR after the hard discussion. Although now PENTAX cut some lenses and T/C on the lens- developing roadmap, PENTAX plans to reintroduce the lenses afterward." Mr. Kawauchi said.

 

PENTAX plans to revise standard DA lenses that will to be fit to new K20D class model (this is not a direct successor of K20D).

Mr. Kawauchi said "When new camera will appear, you must know the whole thing about the reason of revising. Enjoy waiting."

"The lenses revising include no optical layout change, but refinement to fit to the new body."

What functions will new body have?

He did not mention specific things about it. "New body should have full functions in trend of DSLR world. If the functions are not enough, PENTAX users will get disappointed apparently."

 

PENTAX does not only seem to develop the new body with full latest function, but also the attitude of the K20D class model will be a competing thing.

'K20D class' means the model is not a direct successor of K20D.

Although many users like K20D body, Mr. Kawauchi think "K20D body maybe lack a certain attitude that PENTAX had for a long time."

 

" For instance, Limited lenses have many attractive features: precise design, easy to use and high performance. We can't evaluate the body that can not compete with rivals a few months after the release. What is the competence of PENTAX? This is the question for you."

 

Mr. Kawauchi hinted some things.

For instance, DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited has the following features; a built-in hood is capable for handling and the design of the gauge area is very precise.

It seems to be a precision product. The lenses cap with embossed PENTAX logotype is well made because the logotypes correctly horizontal at the secure position.

 

These features are not high technology things, but from the PENTAX attitude that makes good things. The new camera should have such an attitude and the users will always love it "even in the bed."

 

Mr. Kawauchi said PENTAX evaluates size-factor because K20D is big to handle and PENTAX users want to have smaller bodies.

He said new DSLR will be so smaller than K20D that it should be match to DA Limited lenses.

 

He said K20D and K200D have a similar design scheme, but new K20D class DSLR will have a different design taste to 2010 new year season camera(K200D class DSLR).

He said "development staffs are very pleased to join the new DSLR projects. They think they could show the ability as PENTAX. The new model might be suitable for PENTAX users' expectation.

In addition, PENTAX mentioned the priority of 645D was higher than FF DSLR and the development of 645D resumed. In this interview, Mr. Kawauchi said the development of 645D is going on. DC Watch thinks PENTAX might make a presentation about 645D as a real product in PIE 2009 or later.

 

-----PENTAX has no relation to NX system

 

Mr. Kawauchi said they have completely no relation to NX system of Samsung.

But in other category, PENTAX have a partnership still with Samsung.

 

Mr. Kawauchi said "We did not know more than the information about mirror-less camera of Samsung from international news media after Photokina. In fact, there is no joint venture about NX system. Right now, we have no conversation about NX system and Lenses for NX."

The rumor that PENTAX and Samsung have a partnership about NX system is not correct according to Mr. Kawauchi.

Actually the partnership of PENTAX and Samsung deals the development of camera bodies, not lenses. (Samsung DSLR lenses are OEM of PENTAX.)

Also the rumor that Sigma and Samsung has a partnership about NX lenses was denied by Kazuto Yamamoto, Sigma president. ”Many people ask me about joint venture to Samsung, in fact Sigma has no business in the NX.”

DC Watch has no information about NX lenses manufacturer.

 

----PENTAX gives priority to K mount system more than a mirror-less system

"We want to make the product with the proud of a manufacture company."(Mr. Kawauchi)

 

Mr. Kawauchi said "We are interesting in the system change by the mirror-less method, however our priority is to complete our lens-system. Mirror-less system is worth to think about, but we have no plan right now." He mentioned that the focal point of PENTAX will be to develop DSLR as an optical maker, not mirror-less.

 

“We also have to develop 645D system. It needs power. Creating new lenses mount like NX system needs as huge power as a Full-frame DSLR system. If we can not comprehend that the new system is superior to K mount system in all aspects, we never enter the mirror-less category.”

Same with EBay replies on items from Japan.

Still, they speak my language better than I speak theirs....;)

This is from 2008...

I saw the date.

Pre K30 which is the only DSLR I have, old lens compatible....

Think he was commenting on the language barrier.

Just saying-

I was at a international scientific meeting some years ago, in which a Danish scientist complained about the lack of awareness of people of his work published in his native tongue.

Of course, the lamentation was presented and published in Englisho_O

 

English, for better or for worse, has much the same place in international communications today that Latin had still in the 16th and 17th c.

 

Of course, the signs are already there of a coming "English language family", as regional. non-mutually intelligible derivatives become established despite the 'leveling' impact of TV and such.

Language can be confusing.....

Latin frosting being an excellent example.....

 

Publix supermarket in South Carolina censors high school graduate's 'Summa Cum Laude' cake

I was at a international scientific meeting some years ago, in which a Danish scientist complained about the lack of awareness of people of his work published in his native tongue.

Of course, the lamentation was presented and published in Englisho_O

 

When I was in Graduate school, the only "translated" journals I ever needed to read were the Soviet Journal of Chemistry. By and larger the translations were pretty decent. I had to dig into several issues since they were the only published references for compounds similar to the ones I was synthesizing(and in some cases the exact same precursors as what I was also synthesizing). That one was a fun one since-horror of horrors-I had to actually go to the library to get it off the shelf(this was around 2011).

 

I can remember looking up some other journals like the Indian Journal of Chemistry, and remember that it specifically was written in English. At the same time, all the folks I know and work with from India are what I would consider native English speakers-things still get lost, though, because they speak the Queen's English :)

This is from 2008...

yes

Obvious answers: Pentax and marketing simply don't match...

Evolution stroke, Hoya sold Pentax.

Practical approach: You speak a language; you'll be most likely to use it. Hiring somebody to translate your utterings into a target language gets expensive but results might still lack understandability style or class. Best way to get something translated well, is to have a native target group nerd bite themself through your text and rewrite it. "Pro" everything & the kitchen sink translators tend to cut corners by ignoring the target group's established lingo (due to never having talked about the subject).

 

If somebody run's a rumors site: Let them do the grunt work! That's what they are getting rewarded for. Who cares about foreign markets? - You want their best; their money. - Do corporate utterings and "road maps" really sell stuff today? I'd buy what is there and got decent reviews.

I know this is not the subject of this post, but I have to say that on paper the K-1 looks like a pretty darn impressive camera and is ~$1K or better less than cameras of comparable resolution. If I shot Pentax, I'd be all over it.

 

It's a camera that seems to fall into obscurity though. There again, I'm not a Pentax user, but there's a huge selection of K-mount lenses out there. Granted the fact that there haven't been a lot of newer native lenses may hold it back, but Sigma also puts out some impressive stuff these days.

@ben--Marketing hasn't been Pentax's strong suit for a long time, and at this point most pros have a lot of lenses for other systems (primarily Canon or Nikon) so a cheaper camera body isn't that strong an attraction. I have been a loyal Pentax user for many years, starting with MX bodies and continuing with LX bodies and multiple Pentax lenses for film and various DSLRs up to the K3, which I currently use with great satisfaction. For the work that I do I don't need the additional quality that the FF K1 would provide, so I haven't gone for one yet. Maybe a used one in a couple of years? It always amuses me when photographers won't buy a particular camera system because a particular long fast lens isn't made for it even though they have no interest in sports or wildlife photography where these lenses are essential equipment for professional work. Pentax is missing a fair number of these exotic lenses at this point, but I don't need them and offerings from Sigma, Tamron and Tokina have filled in the few gaps for me. Contrary to some, my personal experience with these "brand X" lenses has been good, both optically and mechanically.

Sigma also puts out some impressive stuff these days.

For whom? - K mount seems to be their neglected step child. - You'll find a few bread & butter consumer zooms and one single "Art" lens per format. -> click 4 proof