A12 Zoom on the horizon?

[Ksnow]

Has there been any hint from Ricoh whether or not they intend to release the long-rumoured A 12 24-72mm (or thereabouts) zoom? If there is one thing Ricoh is slack in it is their very slow release of new A 12 camera units. The competition is running away with the market. C'mon Ricoh. Don't leave us by the wayside!

 

[Remko]

Hoping for it as well. But from what I hear the Leica M-mount module will be first this autumn.

Maybe the Pentax folks can share some lens designs to speed up the developments?

Remko

 

[Wiener]

I'm getting a little disappointed about the lack of haste (and information) on the GXR lens road map. Sometimes I imagine my GXR wearing out the day after I purchase the long-awaited zoom...
The Pentax connection hopefully will speed things up...or act as a distraction... :?
Andy

 

[waloszek]

There was a post at dpreview that the APS-C zoom has been postponed until next year (or never-never land...). I am somewhat disappointed. Will have to take a look at the upcoming NEX-7...
Gerd

 

[becauseitsnice]

since ricoh own pentax now, i think they got some tricks up their sleeves. it's just matter of time.

 

[Wiener]

since ricoh own pentax now, i think they got some tricks up their sleeves. it's just matter of time.

I certainly hope so ...system cameras without a reasonable choice of lenses makes it very much a 'fan-only' purchase...and now they are producing 'professional quality' lenses they are in the market to tempt people to indulge them by buying into this system for professional reasons. To then not produce the promised goods is really only damaging rather than promoting the Ricoh brand?
The 'M-mount' sadly does nothing for me as I do not have a shelf full of the appropriate hardware...to buy the (not yet produced, tried or tested) mount AND an appropriate lens makes little commercial sense for me, especially as mentioned on this forum, only the longer lenses make sense if you already have the existing A12's in your camera bag. I really do think if they cannot get another couple of A12 lenses onto the market in the next 12 months, and some reliable information on the timing of further lenses to come, then the GXR may end up as one of those interesting esoteric 'almost rans' in camera history...
I see people begining to lose faith already, and off-loading their GXR kits...frankly I am not surprise! At the rate they (Ricoh) are going, they be offering as big a choice of bodies as you will of decent lenses (if the gossip about a new body are true). This, if looked at from the outside, is not the best use of R&D resource or budget I would say? Perhaps they need to have more faith in themselves and the system, and commit a larger budget to accelerating the GXR programme...I guess the biggest fear is that the system will just be quietly shelved before it develops to a size that many people will feel comfortable buying into...
Hm...
:cry:
OK, I must have woken in a pessimistic mood today!
Andy

 

[spb_ch]

Andy, life is too short to be pessimistic! I think the system is too good to be shelved. I hope so I just bought into it, not being a fan of zooms. I prefer fixed lenses.