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Is Ricoh finally giving up on Pentax DSLRs and leaving the camera business?

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In a recent article on Japanese outlet Newswitch, Ricoh CFO Shun Kawaguchi says that the company is looking to essentially dump some of its business in order to be able to focus its time and money on more lucrative areas of the company. There was no explicit mention of Pentax, Ricoh’s own branded cameras or the Theta series of 360° cameras, although logically, they might be some of the first up for the chopping block – and probably in that order.

Pentax’s defiance of market trends and its steadfast refusal to enter the mirrorless market could be its downfall. Who could’ve seen that one coming, huh? Pentax proclaimed in 2019 that users would start switching from mirrorless back to DSLRs within 1-2 years. Well, it’s 2022, and that hasn’t happened. In 2020, they reaffirmed their commitment to DSLRs. And just last month, they released the entirely underwhelming Pentax KF – which is basically just a K-70 with a flippy-out LCD.

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Panasonic confirms shifting away from compacts and low end cameras towards mirrorless video cameras

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It’s probably not much of a surprise, really, but as Newswitch reports, Panasonic Entertainment and Communication president, Akira Toyoshima, has stated in a press conference that Panasonic is essentially done dealing with lower-end and compact cameras. They’re not giving up on cameras completely, however, saying that they are going to be focusing on, amongst other things, “video mirrorless cameras”.

This essentially confirms the August rumour that Panasonic was planning to dump low-end gear – an idea that seemed to be backed up last month by the discontinuation of the Lumix LX100 Mark II. Getting rid of the compact point and shoots and cameras primarily designed for shooting photography rather than video. The move definitely makes a lot of sense in a world of smartphones – and all the other camera manufacturers have done it.

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How to get stuff done as a photographer and be the most efficient possible

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I feel seen. I mean, really, this video from Scott Chouciño could be aimed directly at me, embarrassingly. I’ve often wondered if I have undiagnosed ADHD, sometimes getting anything done and focusing on the task at hand is such a struggle. I am incredulous at how other people seem to be three times as effective at working and getting stuff done as I am.

But no matter how much a label would be useful to use as an excuse for myself (I’m not saying such a label is an excuse but in my own case it would be), I really do just have to accept that frittering my work day getting sucked down YouTube rabbit holes is less neurological and more of a lack of discipline. In this achingly honest video, Scott tells us how he sets boundaries around his work day, even to the extent that he has banned his girlfriend from visiting the studio.

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Ricoh Europe is killing off and replacing its EU website – existing accounts will not be transferred

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Ricoh has reportedly sent out an email to customers informing them that they’re shutting down their EU website at Ricoh-Imaging.eu on September 5th. It seems that the singular all-encompassing website is to be replaced by a number of brand-specific websites. This will allow them to target each specific demographic rather than having a single catch-all website for all their customers across all sectors.

According to the email sent out by Pentax, they “are currently creating new exciting websites for you. Our new websites will be brand oriented and will therefore have greater value for you. The first website will be opening soon” but some users fear that this may be Ricoh’s plan to split off Pentax to make it easier to sell off. Whatever the ultimate goal, existing Ricoh customers (in all markets) need to pay attention.

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Bloom’s invoicing tool for photographers is completely free…sort of

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Sometimes the actual running of your photography business can get a bit much. We all want to be taking photographs, and yet find ourselves spending most of our time on the more boring tasks like invoicing clients and actually making sure we get paid. That’s where having a streamlined system in place can save you both a lot of time and a lot of stress.

Customer Relation Management (CRM) tool Bloom has just stepped up to help photographers by offering a completely free to use invoicing tool. It has unlimited use, and you don’t even need an account to use it. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it is, sort of, if you’re not based in the USA.

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Want to start your own photography business? Don’t forget these things

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They say the best time to start a business was 10 years ago. But guess when the second-best time to start a business is? That’s right, it’s today! Seriously, there isn’t a ‘best time’ to start a business, you just have to make the decision and do it. That being said, however, there are some things you need to consider and put into place before jumping in.

In this video, Julia Trotti walks us through her top three essential things that you need to start a successful photography business.

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How to build your visual identity as a photographer

The visual identity of a photographer is no different than that of any other company. Although you may have spent years creating a photographic style that is uniquely your own, your images are only part of the elements that compose your photographer branding.[Read More…]

Five psychology-based sales techniques to up your photography business game

It’s not a secret that business owners use psychologic tricks to boost their sales. Whether you’re selling a product, a service, or just an idea, it’s good to have a few of these tricks up your sleeve for a better success. In this video, Nick Kolenda teaches you five sales techniques that will help you sell your service and raise your photography business to a new level.

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Ricoh announces major restructuring – is Pentax about to be reborn or are they just dying?

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This announcement applies to Ricoh Japan only. For a statement from Ricoh USA, see the bottom of this post.

Ricoh, more specifically its Pentax brand of cameras, seem to have been particularly stuck in the past over the last few years. As every other single surviving camera manufacturer has made the transition to mirrorless, Pentax is still clinging onto its DSLRs. But is Pentax, as well as sister brand GR and parent brand Ricoh in more trouble than we thought?

A new press release from the company seems to suggest that they are struggling somewhat, but that they plan to do something about it, starting on April 1st. They’ve announced a major restructure of the company, stopping the mass-production of cameras and switching to a “workshop like” manufacturing process to strengthen the bond with its customers as well as promoting new Pentax and GR products in the coming future.

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