A Petition

I would like to suggest starting a Petition aimed at Hoya in regards to sustaining Pentax in the event they decide to drop the brand. I think it is important that we become pro-active and not wait around like cattle off to the slaughter house. Believe me, I am ready to call the President of Hoya to give him my point of view which will be quite compelling to say the least. I have the "Kahuna's" to speak directly to him as I have with many CEO's in the past..Just another human when it comes down to it.

Let's get the e-mail address of Hoya, Japan and compose a letter stating how disappointed we would be if they were to discontinue the Pentax brand and how that would affect our perception of Hoya and all brands associated with them.

I doubt that they will drop the brand, but let's show our loyalty to Pentax with a strong message...Don't play with "Mother Pentax!"

I am not concerned, as it would not affect my status or jeopardize my position as a photographer, creative director or music composer.

Let's Do It!


Ben

OK.

Executive Officers
Hiroshi Suzuki President & CEO

Kenji Ema Chief Financial Officer
Hiroaki Tanji Chief Technology Officer & General Manager of New Business Development

Head Office 2-7-5 Naka-Ochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8525 Japan

Is this the right address?

Disappointment won't cut it. Buying Pentax equipment will.

Hoya might sell the camera division, but they won't close it unless it loses money.

G

Not always true. I worked for a group of businesses and we were the most profitable division in terms of return on capital employed, but we were also the smallest. We got sold off. Not "core business" you see.

Now, a few of the lucky ones are millionaires, the rest of us took early retirement

What isn't true?

I said they might sell it, but they won't close it unless it loses money.

You got sold off. That in no way contradicts what I wrote.

G

What can i say?

I humbly submit to a thrashing

But...Many businesses that get sold off do disappear quickly (and not so quickly) when they lose the support of the larger group. It is something that the business strategists call "critical mass" - though that is a somewhat subjective phrase to my way of thinking. Let's hope that sufficient of the Pentax remains intact for a viable long term business in what is obviously a cut throat world.

Pentax is not going to be bought by Joe round the corner. The buyer will be a big electronics company.

I think that whatever Hoya are saying at the moment, they have either got a buyer already lined up, or they are going to evaluate the situation once they've got their grubby paws on the company, and they will then have one of three choices:

1 Keep it (having determined a source for sensors).
2 Sell it.
3 Close it, having decided that it is, or soon will be, going to lose money, and having failed to find a buyer.

As far as I am aware, Samsung are not assembling any Pentax-designed cameras or lenses themselves - Pentax are doing it for them. However, I believe they already supply some components. I would put bets on Samsung acquring the Pentax camera business (if it is put up for sale) because if they don't, they will have no way to assemble Samsung-branded Pentax gear, and will have to start again from scratch.

I personally am confident that the K-mount will survive, whatever name is put on it in the future. Let's just hope that the Pentax design philosophy survives too.

G

I don't think a petition about something that has not been decided by someone who has not yet bought anything is really the way to go just now.

Frankly, I doubt that such a petition would have any real affect anyway. Decisions will be made on a business basis.

Dear Benjikan,

I believe the word you are looking for is "cojones" not "kahunas". "Kahuna" was the Hawaiian title for a priest, expert, teacher, and/or adviser. I know, I'm a git.

EP