Jump to content

The Future Today: Ricoh and Pentax to End Mass Production


c_watson1

Recommended Posts

I thought the prognostication was unfavorable when, after the merger with Pentax, they at first suggested the combined name of something on the order of "PRIC" as I recall.

I think it was explained to them that this was not a felicitous name.

 

There were times when I was unsure whether some things were April Fools or not:

rainbow.jpeg.c6bd879fc8bf0aec63e64eed44cc5185.jpeg

I loved my first "real" camera which was a Heiland Pentax H2. It also, more ominously, led me into a fascination with M42 in general and Praktica in particular/

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe a good thing, to call things whatever they are?

While I probably hadn't been much of a real Pentax customer, things felt odd for a long time, like their German homepage listing lenses with lots of them "currently not available", even the 35mm stuff, not only MF. Rather few shops (while there still were some) bothered to carry Pentax and their inventory was never great either.

 

Ricoh being transparent about their plans / our options might feel better? An automated website could tell how many orders it takes to trigger a production run and for how long the assembly line is still occupied with something else.

If they are somewhat smart, they 'll give customers a chance to buy multiple options on a "whatever you 'll produce next" base and ask what they could sell next, when shipping something. Example: You have money for a 70-200/2.8. You 'd also like 85/1.4 & 35/2. If Ricoh make and ship the 35mm first, they should ask when you 'll recover to be ready for the expensive zoom. (Some amateurs' wallets are that imature)

 

Heavily customizable cameras would be super nice. A BW K1 II or K3 might trigger me once again. (But I am feeling mostly done with Pentax, just trying to consume what I already have.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would that be a bad idea? Especially when imagined with service tech(s), in a back room.

 

Major camera companies are running on empty--zero marketing innovation and clueless about who buys their product or why. In Canada, Fujifilm runs rings around Nikon and Canon in terms of CRM and consumer outreach. Suspect the business of selling camera systems is poised for some big changes. The Ricoh announcement is just the curtain-raiser.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have no idea of how severely the smartphone camera paradigm shift has damaged the business model of the camera producers - but it has obviously left it deeply wounded.

 

The whole profitable P&S + entry level SLR consumer base of the film era was mirrored into digicam+entrylevel DSLR of the digital age - only to disappear completely in a few years due to advancement in smartphone cameras. "If you want better pictures, buy a more advanced smartphone".

 

Only the entusiast and pro level remains - and even the pro segment has shrunk significantly with news outlets using smartphone footage pulled from social media streams, the bottom feeding mundane product photography for small businesses' online catalogues and ads can be acceptably produced by anyone in-house with a smartphone and some cheap Chinese led lights - etc. etc.

 

Companies that would sell cameras as a commodity (10 million Olympus Trip 35 sold) need now to reposition and reinvent themselves as producers of lifestyle products - that is a huge change in company culture - currently only achieved on a larger scale by Fujifilm and Leica.

Of the 4 camera shops still existing in the centre of the city where I live, 2 are Leica boutiques!

  • Like 2
Niels
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The article has been updated:

 

Update #1 1/21/2022, 2:12 PM PST: Ricoh USA has provided the following statement:

 

The announcement made by Ricoh Imaging Co., Ltd. on January 20, 2022 regarding a revamped approach to Ricoh’s digital camera manufacturing and distribution was specific to the local market in Japan only.

 

“Ricoh/Pentax will not change its distribution structure in North America, and the company has significant plans and goals for the North America market this year that will utilize mass production of its products,” said Kazumichi Eguchi, President, Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation.

 

“Customers in North America can continue to purchase Ricoh and Pentax cameras through our authorized dealers and directly via our website.”

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The article has been updated:

 

It's clear that Ricoh's first moves would be Japan-based; changes to its N. American operation will likely follow that model. I did read the statement from their American operation that "the company has significant plans and goals for the North America market this year." Doubtful that those "plans and goals" would differ from those in Japan as reported in Petapixel. The timing might different but not the direction of Ricoh's course changes. I read the update as a "comfort letter." Soothing but just signalling a delay in Ricoh's future plans as stated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Meanwhile back at the proverbial ranch, the whole "new" film movement subsists on "retro" cameras, with people madly consuming the (?) millions (?) of cameras produced in previous decades- all the way back to LF models and lenses from the 1800s & early 20th century. No stone is left unturned, with even the most basic P&S film cameras drawing lots of attention and even adulation.

 

Maybe it's these folks who are driving the changes- then again, maybe not... but in the end who needs a super-camera with 5000 functions?

 

I know it's a lot to ask, but I'd still prefer an over-simplified super-camera with an SD slot, manual ISO, shutter, & aperture settings and OK lets toss in up-to-date auto focus with the option of manually focusing too. Oh and can it please not cost 7,000.00 dollars/pounds/euros?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Meanwhile back at the proverbial ranch, the whole "new" film movement subsists on "retro" cameras, with people madly consuming the (?) millions (?) of cameras produced in previous decades- all the way back to LF models and lenses from the 1800s & early 20th century. No stone is left unturned, with even the most basic P&S film cameras drawing lots of attention and even adulation."

 

Don't start. That's really a bit of mirage, magical thinking, whatever. I shoot film but it's never delivered a religious experience. The whole "cult" thing is over-baked. Plenty of junk cameras on offer; the good stuff rarely surfaces. When it does, especially medium format, it's crazy pricey. Kodak went broke 20 years ago this month for a reason. Besides, where are all those born-again labs handling that tsunami of film?

 

"I know it's a lot to ask, but I'd still prefer an over-simplified super-camera with an SD slot, manual ISO, shutter, & aperture settings and OK lets toss in up-to-date auto focus with the option of manually focusing too. Oh and can it please not cost 7,000.00 dollars/pounds/euros?"

 

Buy a used Fuji X-100 series or X-E series camera. The 16mp versions are affordable--and very good.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Meanwhile back at the proverbial ranch, the whole "new" film movement subsists on "retro" cameras, with people madly consuming the (?) millions (?) of cameras produced in previous decades- all the way back to LF models and lenses from the 1800s & early 20th century. No stone is left unturned, with even the most basic P&S film cameras drawing lots of attention and even adulation."

 

Don't start. That's really a bit of mirage, magical thinking, whatever. I shoot film but it's never delivered a religious experience. The whole "cult" thing is over-baked. Plenty of junk cameras on offer; the good stuff rarely surfaces. When it does, especially medium format, it's crazy pricey. Kodak went broke 20 years ago this month for a reason. Besides, where are all those born-again labs handling that tsunami of film?

 

"I know it's a lot to ask, but I'd still prefer an over-simplified super-camera with an SD slot, manual ISO, shutter, & aperture settings and OK lets toss in up-to-date auto focus with the option of manually focusing too. Oh and can it please not cost 7,000.00 dollars/pounds/euros?"

 

Buy a used Fuji X-100 series or X-E series camera. The 16mp versions are affordable--and very good.

 

Correction: "Kodak went broke 20 years ago this month," should read 10 years ago.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What I would like in a modern camera:-.

All metal superior construction and build quality ("Brass and Glass").

A "stills" camera only , NO video.

Manual over ride capability for all functions.

NO plastic except where absolutely necessary (electronics).

No pre-progammed "scenes".

SD card.

Use a Standard easily available battery (world wide).

Be readily repairable.

A reasonable price.

But I don't think that this will ever happen :D:D.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Meanwhile back at the proverbial ranch, the whole "new" film movement subsists on "retro" cameras, with people madly consuming the (?) millions (?) of cameras produced in previous decades- all the way back to LF models and lenses from the 1800s & early 20th century. No stone is left unturned, with even the most basic P&S film cameras drawing lots of attention and even adulation."

 

Don't start. That's really a bit of mirage, magical thinking, whatever. I shoot film but it's never delivered a religious experience. The whole "cult" thing is over-baked. Plenty of junk cameras on offer; the good stuff rarely surfaces. When it does, especially medium format, it's crazy pricey. Kodak went broke 20 years ago this month for a reason. Besides, where are all those born-again labs handling that tsunami of film?

 

 

I'm just going off of personal observations mainly from being on social media sites where groups abound. F@c3b00k has photo groups too numerous to ever know: one for every type of camera imaginable, a handful of generic "vintage camera" and "vintage lens" groups, as well as groups covering specific brands of vintage lenses. Any and all kinds, types, & brands of film has its own group or multiple groups. There are color film groups, B&W film groups, and "film chat" groups. Every format has at least one group, and a couple groups cover multiple formats. There are tintype groups, pinhole groups, experimental process groups, home-made camera groups, groups of this who are shooting directly onto positive film photo paper. Darkroom & lab groups... Instant & Polaroid groups... regional & local groups.

I mean it sure seems to be kinda endless- and of course there is definitely some cross-over of members from group to group- but there are still uncountable groups worldwide with many many members and seemingly adding more each day. Copycat & new groups pop up constantly, too- adding to the fray.

 

There are film processing labs all over the place. I personally have used several (4? 5?) from east to west (CA, NYC) & north to south (NH, TN, Portland OR). Within a 70 mile radius there are 2 "Retro Photo" shops with labs in both Reading & York and another film lab/shop in Allentown PA- not to mention my local film/camera store right here in my town. New film labs keep opening up- I am just now getting adverts for a new one I think on the east coast, in my Instagram feed.

 

In terms of just the people I know, my friends shoot all kinds of stuff- 1890s tintype cameras with lenses from the early 1900s, early 20th Century 4x5 & 8X10 cameras my buddy rebuilds, all manner of 35mm stuff, 6x9 Linhofs, 1930s and 40s MF folders, one guy I know didi a series of portraits in the Amazon using Daguerrotype methods (went to France to learn and get licensed or certified) on like 3x4 inch glass plates. One or two of these folks are getting great international attention and all are doing impressive work.

 

I know Kodak is going broke and barely hanging on, Fuji is cutting out film production, etc etc... but maybe the so-called "boom" in film and old cameras isn't

as much a mirage as you might think. Too little, too late? Maybe but there's a sh*t load of people right now having a ton of fun shooting film in cameras old & new(er/ish).

 

Yet companies like Ricoh- who are compartmentalized into their small-ish digital niche- are being killed off by the smart phone. No doubt the top tier manufacturers like Canon & Nikon are fine and are gong to continue to be fine.

 

Downplay it or pooh-pooh it all you like- some of us will shoot our old cameras using film, until there simply isn't any more. "Religious experience"? LOL not so much but I get a lot of satisfaction out of shooting my cameras. And have a LOAD of fun when I get into a situation where a handful of my friends & I are gathered at an event all shooting together or all shooting the event. There's a definite family vibe amongst my film-camera fiends and I- and that's as much fun or more than actually shooting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pass the bong...Film is a residual market. It's pricey and not always easy to find. Social media chatter isn't a reliable index of demand for film. You know it, I know it. Pro shooters kept the labs open for the rest of us; when they went digital, the clock started running down and finally stopped, ending available, affordable C-41 processing. Pro labs and reliable c-41/b&w labs seem to survive only in larger cities. No more Noritsu or Frontier mini-labs everywhere(anywhere?).

 

Sorry but your exceptions don't prove the rule. Have fun but magical thinking won't bring it back. Your tone reminds me of posts from 2012 when Kodak sank that couldn't quite grasp what brought it down.

 

BTW, when did your local Costcos close their processing lines?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Film sales (and production) are definitely on the rise. No myth, or wishfull thinking. They bottomed in the 1990s, but have been going up since then, and the rise is picking up pace. Kodak, for instance, reported a doubling of the amount they make and sell in the second half of the 2010s.

Yes, numbers are nowhere near what they were before the switch to digital. But thinking that this means that there is no viable, healthy market for film is a mistake. Prices are high. Finding a place to develop the film for you is more difficult. Yes. That reflects the change since the 1990s. But not only have sales figures been on the rise, the number of available film types/brands has increased as well. And while there are countless millions of usable old film cameras, you can still get freshly produced ones.

 

In short: film is as healthy and future proof as candles and lamp oil have proved to be. Don't let a comparison of absolure sales figures 'way back when' and now fool you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not again. Please share the time series data for film production since 2012 that shows the substantial turnaround trend you're imagining. I think you'll have trouble finding it. Kodak and Fuji have greatly reduced their film offerings over the last decade. Why? Just the usual magical thinking.

 

Hopefully you're just playing provocateur.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not again. Please share the time series data for film production since 2012 that shows the substantial turnaround trend you're imagining. I think you'll have trouble finding it. Kodak and Fuji have greatly reduced their film offerings over the last decade. Why? Just the usual magical thinking.

 

Hopefully you're just playing provocateur.

C, use Google and you will find Kodak's own report of sales increasing by up to 30% per annum, resulting in that doubling i reported. All in the time frame you want to limit your view to.

 

Here's a quote to help you find what you are looking for:

 

“We are making more than twice the amount of rolls in 2019 than we made in 2015. It’s been a steady increase – it’s gone up 15, 20 even 30% per year. It’s great for us, it’s been a challenge for us, but it’s been great for us to see that growth.”

 

It is real.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not this one again...Did it ever occur to you that those percentages are meaningless without actual production figures, absolute numbers, time series data to show the magnitude of the "increases?" How many rolls made in 2015, 2020? See the problem? You're simply repeating companyspeak. Have a look sometime at Eastman Kodak worldwide revenues from 2005-2020. Hopefully, you'll get the problem with claims of those large "increases." No apparent effect on revenues.

 

Yup, film's still available but it all but vanished years ago in many N.American retail spaces where it was often purchased, along with fast, inexpensive dev/print service. People simply stopped buying it. That's now a very old tune but one I guess you've not heard--or rather chose not to listen to.

 

That's "real." Besides, what's the point of dragging this thread into OT territory? This supposed film "revival" is old news, which is to say "no news." Enough trolling.

Edited by c_watson|1
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, C. When the question is whether there is an incline in film sales, we're talking about relative numbers. Nothing else. See your problem?

 

That the absolute number of film sales is nowhere near as high as it was before digital took over is of course true.

But, as mentioned, it would be a mistake to look at those, comparing today with 30 years ago. Especially when you stipulate that we must look at the last decade.

 

I mentioned candles and lamp oil. It is undeniable that with the advent of electrical lighting, sales volumes dropped enormously. But despite that, the market for candles and lamp oil is still here, shows no sign of ever going away, and many companies make a good living producing and selling such.

No matter that the "absolute numbers" can't compare with what they once were.

So, again, do not confuse a small market being small in comparison with former glory as a sign of failing health and unprofitability.

 

The "magnitude of increases"? Again, Kodak (pronounced dead very prematurely) alone reports a doubling in about 5 years. I.e. 2 times more.

Very clear.

 

Sales are up. That is reality.

 

Trolling would be to jump on people who mention a continued interest in film and film cameras, as in this thread, responding with suggestions that those people are living in a fantasy world. Your contribution is demonstrably incorrect, and says something derogative about those people (for instance that they are trolling). Ignorant rant aimed at asserting your personal superiority. Troll? You, sir. Textbook example.

Edited by q.g._de_bakker
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Troll? Me? Hardly. Your record speaks for itself, though, Here, you're just demonstrating determined innumeracy and unwillingness to face facts. Kodak's vital signs aren't exactly encouraging, nor do they reflect anything resembling meaningful growth. It barely has a pulse. Put another way, would you invest in this company? Sad.

 

Eastman Kodak Revenue 2006-2021 | KODK

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...