Ricoh just bought the Pentax camera division from Hoya, and it could spell trouble for Nikon and Canon.
Ricoh has been nearly invisible in the US the last few years, but was first to market with a sophisticated pocket camera that bested the compacts from Nikon and Sony. Using a CMOS sensor, the CX-1 shot stills in low light and video. Most Canon and Nikon compacts still use the older CCD sensors, which work poorly in low and mixed light.
Pentax has a historically respected brand name in the US, has a full line of both DSLR’s and compacts; the latter, though still using CCD, have unique market leadership in the outdoor waterproof niche.
The mashup could spell trouble for Nikon and Canon, already affected by earthquake-related delays and Sony rolling out CMOS point-and-shoots every few months lately.
Side note: Pentax, once a follow-the-Nikon-leader minor brand, was the best Japanese camera GI’s could buy in PX’s in the Vietnam era. Vast numbers came to the US and found their way into the hands of art students and young photojournalists who could not afford Nikons. Good will still exists in those film-era shooters.
Press release: http://www.hoya.co.jp/english/news/latest/d0h4dj0000001fv8-att/d0h4dj0000001fwi.pdf
