01.03.24 - PENTAX Film camera project

PENTAX Film Camera Project shifts to the next stage in the development of a new film camera

Since the announcement of the PENTAX Film Camera Project, there has been a lot of excitement around this plan.
The interest has not only spanned all ages but also many interest groups, from amateur to professional photographers.

We are pleased to inform you today about the current status of the PENTAX Film Camera Project.

The following information was published on 01.03.24:

TOKYO, March 1, 2024  — RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD: While digital cameras are the mainstream of photography today, the PENTAX Film Camera Project is designed to challenge the development of a new film camera, responding to the growing popularity lately of film photography among younger photographers. The project has been in the research stage, during which time we tried to overcome a broad range of difficult and complicated issues. These included the procurement of the parts needed for film cameras; rediscovering the skills and technologies unique to film camera production; and the status of film manufacturing, stocking and distribution and the availability and infrastructure of film development facilities, both in Japan and overseas. After this stage, we decided that all requirements had been met for the actual development of a new film camera.

During the research stage, we received many valuable pieces of advice and suggestions from film camera enthusiasts around the world. We will try our best to develop a film camera that will satisfy their expectations. Development is now underway, and we expect to make an official announcement in the near future.

Overview of the new film camera currently in development:

- Product name: to be announced

- Launch schedule: projected for the summer of 2024

- Price: to be announced

- Features:

• 35mm-format compact film camera
• Designed for vertical-position shooting, using a half-size format in which two images are captured in a single frame of the film
• Hand-wound film-advance mechanism using a winding lever and a rewinding crank
• Manually set zone-focus system

*Note: the product information above is subject to change without notice.

Complete Press release please find with this link ...

From the very beginning, TKO (Takeo Suzuki) from Product Planning / Design has been reporting on the project in YouTube videos.
With this information, the third video with new interesting details has been released.

 For more details please visit also the PENTAX Film Camera Project web site ...

History 

19.10.23 – Official statement film camera project

“We found information on several websites regarding our film camera development. This included two compact film cameras for Spring 2024 as mentioned by a colleague working for Ricoh Imaging Europe. This is not our official remark, nor is it based on any fixed information. We are indeed challenging the development of a compact film camera; however, we have not yet decided whether or when we will launch such a product.”<

20.12.22 - PENTAX brand launches a film camera project focused on developing new film-based products along with camera fans

RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. is pleased to announce a new project involving the research and development of new PENTAX-brand film camera products.
There has been a rebirth in interest in film cameras recently; we want to use the film camera skills and technolo-gies developed over the years by Ricoh Imaging/PENTAX (the PENTAX Division of RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.) and provide camera enthusiasts around the world with new film camera products.

We will be developing and launching new products and providing aftercare services so that experienced film camera users and younger photographers who want to try these cameras for the first time can fully enjoy the experience of film photography.

Activities of the film camera project

1. Development of new film camera products
   Ricoh Imaging/PENTAX will begin research into developing new PENTAX-brand film camera products. We will bring together both veteran and younger engineers to take advantage of the film camera expertise and technologies created and retained by Ricoh Imaging/PENTAX while also incorporating the latest technologies and concepts.
   
   
2. Working together with camera enthusiasts
   With digital cameras now the mainstream of photography, it can be challenging to procure the parts needed for film cameras, so this project`s success will involve other manufacturers.
   More importantly, Ricoh Imaging/PENTAX is counting on the support of film camera aficionados, photographers, and creators, so we plan to promote the project through various online and offline events and social media while listening to comments and suggestions from film camera users about product development.
   We are also planning a way to communicate effectively about the project’s development to users worldwide and to work closely with them.  

Project background: Why develop film cameras now?

1. The growing popularity of film cameras
   Film photography has been growing in popularity, especially among younger generations. Search for “film camera” on the Internet, and there are countless images of creators and celebrities using film cameras. Many young photographers also enjoy taking photos with film cameras, developing the film, and then uploading images in digitalized form to social media sites without making final prints.
   
   In an online questionnaire that Ricoh Imaging/PENTAX conducted with some 3,000 users in Japan, approximately 20 percent of camera users owned film cameras, not including disposable or instant cameras.
   At the same time, few manufacturers today build and sell new film cameras. Some of film camera users expressed concerns about the aftercare service for used film cameras. Ricoh Imaging is prioritizing supporting film camera fans so they can enjoy film photography without worries, from film camera development, production, and sales to aftercare.
   
   
2. The pleasure of an intricate, time-consuming process
   There has been tremendous advancement in modern cameras in recent years. Smartphones dramatically changed photographic culture: anyone can now capture beautiful pictures easily, anywhere, at any time. Camera users feel, however, that in today’s overly convenient society, some enjoyable activities demand time and effort because Ricoh Imaging/PENTAX believes that time and effort signify individuality, creativity, and personal preference. Because activities involving time and effort are indeed a human experience, our goal is to provide PENTAX camera products that involve intricate, time-consuming, satisfying actions.
   Related videos link： https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/brand/pentax/index.html

Message from Noboru Akahane, President and CEO of RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.

In January 2022, we declared the rebirth of Ricoh Imaging. We affirmed that, starting with Japan, we would more carefully listen to the voices of our users through stronger digital online communications with users by submitting our products to crowdfunding websites and founding a PENTAX clubhouse. All of this was done with the goal of developing and marketing new products that can fully satisfy user needs.
We have taken on exciting new challenges, some of which push beyond the boundaries of conventional wisdom. We also are selling new prod-ucts which were only made possible by our unique technologies and craftsmanship, such as the worldwide marketing of special-edition, limited-quantity models.

One of the new challenges we have taken on is the development of PENTAX-brand film cameras. We feel this will provide camera fans with a joy of photography totally different from what they experience in the digital format. I want to stress that this announcement does not mean we will release new film cameras. Instead, it’s an ongoing project based on the assumption that, as long as photographers remain obsessed with the ambiance of light and environment, there will also be some who will want to use film cameras as their tool of choice in capturing unique images. But we also know how difficult it will be to restart the production of film camer-as long after production was terminated. In fact, we’re only at the starting line right now. We will make even greater efforts to be able to hear the genuine voices of film camera fans through various events and digital communications while also providing as many updates on the project’s development as we can. We welcome your support and critical thoughts as part of this co-creation project. It’s a great pleasure to have you join us and work together with us on the challenges of this new film camera project.

More Information about the project, please find on the Japanese RICOH IMAGING Website ... (link)