Pentax and Samsung

I've been thinking about the now defunct DSLR partnership between Pentax and Samsung.

With hindsight are there any conclusions to be drawn ? Was there a synergy effect, or did one brand benefit more than the other ?

Regards,

/Ian

Samsung's sensors were not good enough and Pentax's mount didn't have enough market share.

Samsung probably gave up on K-Mount when they looked at m4/3s and wanted to beat it with their own system.

NX still have below average sensors.

Samsung got the K mount for its NX range. It already had decent. budget point and shoot cameras. Samsungs ability to provide decent customer and product service for a limited line was laid bare.

Pentax were probably shown how to make economies of scale and not sure if the Samsung influence helped in the choice of sensor for the GX10/k10 and GX20/k20 but on their own Pentax picked a mediocre one for the K-7.

I'd imagine Samsung manufacturing helped increase profits for Pentax.

think samsung found it dificult in the dslr market. the sensor was fine for its time bearing in mind we are talking about 3 year old tech, where tech can be made obsolete overnight...

Samsung doesn't use the K mount on it's NX cameras. It developed a proprietary mount. The register distance on the NX is a lot shorter than the register distance of the K mount.

I think it was probably a difficult partnership - Samsung seem very much a "trendsetter" when it comes to technology where Pentax appear much more cautious.

Simon

I think it was a relatively inexpensive way for Samsung to test the water in the SLR market. Based on its experience, it has now chosen a different sector. Presumably Pentax got some benefits in terms of lower prices from supliers for its bought in components.

You saying after having the K mount on the GX10 etc they went off and designed a new bayonet mount system from scratch?

Yep, that is what they did.

Using their own lens mount will I think be the downfall of Samsungs Compact System Cameras. I think they should have gone joined the micro 4/3 club. As good as the cameras with their larger sensor may be, many will remember Samsungs short forey into the dSLR market so may think why should this be any different. At least using a "standardised" lens mount would mean what you buy now would hopefully still be supported in years to come. Should Canon & Nikon decide to join the CSC club I think this would further hamper Samsungs hope of success. Strength in numbers..!