Pentax buckles, gets bought by Hoya

We'd say "another one bites the dust," only that in the case of multi-billion dollar company takeovers, the metaphorical particulate is invariably of the gold form. Yeah, the latest mega-corp takeover is here, as Pentax has been taken over by Japanese company, Hoya. The deal was overshadowed by some rough internal wrangling in Pentax, involving calls from shareholders to reinstate an ex-President in favor of the takeover: the end result being that the current one, Takashi Watanuki, was forced to agree to the merger. We can't draw much from this deal at the moment, but as Hoya is involved in technology like medical imaging equipment, we'd expect a proportion of the impact to fall outside of our gadgetry remit. We've no fear that Pentax will be dropping out of the con / prosumer camera market just yet though, so for now just think of this as a business blip on your gadget radar.

[Via Photography Blog]

[matt @ May 27th 2007 9:21PM]

that is really weird, because my cameras (DSLR, digital point and shoot, and old k1000 film) are all pentax, and I use Hoya for my filters for my lenses. That just seems really weird to me. That is like a window tinting place taking over a car company.

[Kevin @ May 27th 2007 9:36PM]

There is more to Hoya than filters just like there is more to Pentax than just cameras. They both have a big presence in medical equipment and Hoya is a huge maker of optical glass.

[cgarison @ May 27th 2007 11:02PM]

Perhaps I will give more credit to Pentax now they are owned by Hoya. Personally, I am a Canon man owning an AE-1 and the 350D (Rebel XT). The same way that my friend is a Nikon guy who has never owned anything but a Nikon.

The only people that I know that are more brand loyal than Canon and Nikon people are the Pentax group. They swear by their cameras.

[Yem @ May 28th 2007 2:08AM]

That's probably true. As someone pointed recently concluded, in the face of overwhelming marketing from Canon and Nikon, people who choose a Pentax camera are probably looking for something unique - something special - and that tends to inspire fierce loyalty.

[*] http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=23376800

[Jason Brown @ May 28th 2007 3:09AM]

Back in the 80's and early 90's the k1000 was the most popular manual slr in schools. it was designed so the most rookie of photographers could learn the craft. Now, with digital slr the craft has slightly diminished in favor of a digital quality. Similar to die-hard lp fans switching to cds. I personally have not used a manual for years but have a k1000 ready for when I decide to get into it again. I will not be using a digital as 90% of taking pictures is in understanding how a manual camera works. It's certainly not a preference as digital is great to look at but not as fun to take. I do use a rebel xt at work and its the best beginner digital slr available for its price.

[Leoedin @ May 28th 2007 3:13AM]

Why is it that people try and tell themselves that you "Can't understand how pictures work" with digital. What's different? The sensor is a substitute for film, with slightly different characteristics and changable ISO. You still need to understand how light works, how the fstop effects the exposure etc. The fact that these cameras have an auto mode doesn't mean you have to use it, and using the cameras is "Not understanding light"

[Jason Brown @ May 28th 2007 6:18AM]

why are you asking me? I don't know why the majority of digital users have the auto on! If you think those 2 or 3 differences mean anything then you haven't done enough manual work which also includes developing. here's a question for you....why is it that people tell themselves that "they can understand how pictures work with digital"? digital cameras use some kind of drive to replace the film not a sensor. using the camera is "not understanding light"...what are you a Buddhist monk or something. try to explain yourself instead of being all philosophical with bad grammar.

Before you get all smart on me, remember I never said I didn't like digital. I said I would go back to the manual slr I already have. Instead of replying to me just say your 1 1/2 cents in the forum.

[Stylze @ May 28th 2007 3:15AM]

Well it's just a Japanese company buying a Japanese company. Probably doesn't make a bit of a difference.

[uncaringbear @ May 28th 2007 3:44AM]

I loved the old K1000, and I made heaps of horrible art student photos with it in high school and university. Using Nikon now, but I'll always have a soft spot for Pentax, and secretly cheer for them to succeed. I know Hoya is a lot more than filters, but their filters are pretty darn good. Hopefully, this is a good move for Pentax.

[Liam @ May 29th 2007 5:21AM]

Hoya filters are rad.

[obiwan @ May 28th 2007 5:05AM]

@ all of you. I have two K1000s, and I'm going off-topic: Going digital IS about becoming less of a photographer for most people (not everyone, so you serious folks calm down, it's just the internet). It happened to me, too. When I bought my first digital, I found it was easy to take a 1000 pictures, then just delete the bad ones. Over time, I've become less critical, and I don't delete many at all - they all fit on my HD, why delete?

Film is about choosing your subject carefully, thinking about how the photo will look and it is very much about patience. Try taking a film picture of a four year old, then put the camera away. A child will most likely insist on seeing the picture on the back of the camera. They only understand the immediacy of digital. Film teaches us to wait, and then to stop and linger over each returned print.
Go, Film!

Also, K1000's with Hoya filters = odd takeover, like Matt said.

[tekdroid @ May 28th 2007 10:21AM]

being bought by a company with expertise very much tied to photography can only be a good thing for Pentax and their customers, I would think.

As long as they don't do some horrid branding like Pentax-Hoya or Hoya-Pentax, I'm all for it :)