3 new K's next year

Just to confirm earlier comments I made:
http://www.hoya.co.jp/english/investor/2009_2Q_meeting_summary.pdf

Thanks, Gwyn, that's very interesting.

That does look interesting - thanks

Tricky as this has been translated I would think.
This could mean their launching cameras in 3 different sectors & that the new SLR is only a minor design change.

This would fit in with the rumoured Medium format sensor that's been long in development & also the K20d upgrade with GPS built in.

Of course rumours are unreliable by nature. Whatever is released I hope it's a worthwhile upgrade & is properly advertised, the growth of Pentax will benefit us all.

But will it have face detection?

Sorry.... Bad Joke

Seriously though sounds to me more along the Sports compact range although a medium format would be interesting Pentax do need to hit the mass markets first. Who knows maybe even a camcorder?

If I read properly, it said three cameras, not three "K".

As I read it is says three new DSLRs, some just minor design changes to current versions.
Either way it shows Pentax is not dead, and they are concentrating on the DSLR market.
Now if they can get the lenses sorted (and he admits they are a mess) then we'll all be happy.....or not.

Sony and Samsung have both recently come out and said that Consumer Electronics demand generally has fallen off a cliff.

As such Pentax (read Hoya) could yet scrap those model launches but I think the alliance with Samsung is going to work in our favour, since a release schedule jointly committed to requires management time to abandon; it may just be too much bother.

It's never too much bother for management to slash programmes and costs.

The plans will be there to make a profit and expand market share, or not bother at all. I don't think there will be any middle way about it.

I'm expecting that, when the current agreement with Tokina ends, that we will see Pentax developed lenses being released for other systems under the Hoya banner.

I'll be happy. A few tweaks to the K20D making a K30D, Yes I would be happy.

If it means they get their lenses out faster, and keep/improve the quality of them then I am all in favour. As it is it seems that Tokina get the lenses for other makes out far quicker than the Pentax badged models.

We have to hope that Hoya will not be as badly hit as some other manufacturers (such as Sony) by the current recession. Since they don't have their fingers in quite so many recession sensitive field they may fare better.

Interesting to see how many new cameras the like's of Sony, Nikon, Canon will churn out in 2009.

Hi Tel, I've used Tokina lenses in the past, but Tokina seem reluctant to manufacture Pentax Ka fit lenses, and seem to concentrate on Nikon & Canon, what's your take on this?
Roscoe

Roscoe,
I must admit I have never used other manufactures lenses always the camera makers, but I think now with hard times ahead there will be a shift in the way Tokina, Tamron etc will be working. With the rise in sales of other Cameras (Sony, Pentax, etc) 3rd party lens makers will have to change to survive..