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Pentax to Withdraw Products from European Market
News has reached us that Pentax are set to withdraw a number of its products from the European market, as new EU legislation regarding the use of lead solder in camera circuit boards is about to come into force (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2004 (RoHS Regulations)). Pentax is the second company to pull product due to this legislation - the Hasselblad Xpan has already been withdrawn from market. The full list includes the Pentax 645N II and 67II medium format cameras, some lenses and a number of digital compact cameras (the majority of which have already been discontinued due to product life cycles).
John Dickins, the Marketing Manager of Pentax UK, has issued the following statement.
“In light of impending EU legislation (RoHS) governing materials used in the manufacturing of consumer technology and IT products, Pentax will be discontinuing the production and European sales of a number of products, including its film based medium format cameras, some film and digital compact cameras, as well as a number of lenses and accessories.
Pentax is currently revaluating its European product portfolio in light of this legislation and information on future product introductions will be made in due course once assessments have been made into market demand. The company would like to make clear, however, that the decision to discontinue these products has been made in order to fully comply with this European directive - which comes into affect in July this year and which has implications for number of consumer electronic companies retailing within the EU.
Pentax would like to take this opportunity to reassure consumers that while it embarks upon the withdrawal of the products in question, the commercial role out of new digital SLR and medium format cameras, as unveiled at PMA earlier this year, will continue unabated. The remainder of this year will also see a number of exciting new product introduction across the company’s portfolio - all of which will be in tune with the demands of Pentax’s community of users.
Pentax would also like to stress in the strongest terms possible that current users are in no way in danger from existing models already in use - rather, this is a strategic move by the EU to move production away from the extensive use of materials that could be dangerous if found in large quantities, particularly in respect to their ultimate disposal, not in day-to-day usage. The Pentax products affected by this legislation do not pose any threat whatsoever to users but the company fully understands the decision to take a strict line on build materials in order to provide comprehensive safeguards for the enviroment moving forward.”
Canon IXUS 240 HS Review
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Review
Nikon D800 Review
Samsung DV300F Review
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Review
Nikon Coolpix P510
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Fujifilm X-Pro1
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V
#1 guy villeneuve
how far can you go....they might as well outlaw cars. cameras do not go to garbage especially the ones they nailed...i hope other countries will be smarter.
5:04 pm - Tuesday, March 28, 2006
#2 Jason
I can understand Pentax's reaction but given that Europe is becoming (if not already) the largest digital camera market, isn't this a "cutting off the nose to spite the face" move?
6:09 pm - Tuesday, March 28, 2006
#3 nick in japan
It is refreshing to see a lead being taken for the ultimate safety concerns in reguards to lead. All camera and accessory makers should step-up and declare their uses of lead, I have alot of respect for those who do. I would even go to the extent of saying that these safety-minded companies should be given our applause, and, favor when decisions are made for purchases we make.
12:42 am - Wednesday, March 29, 2006
#4 Dan Mitchell
Ridiculous - when I was young, 60 years back, our whole house had lead water and gas piping - and 63 years later I'm still around. If you got frightened about every potential hazard you would not get out of bed in the morning.
Dan
1:38 pm - Friday, March 31, 2006
#5 Roger
I assume all the church and cathedral lead roofs in EU will replaced with plastic?
2:41 pm - Friday, March 31, 2006
#6 JR
Hello Dan!
Nice comment about hazards and fright.
But how does that pan out when applied to a situation where when you are faced with a train, car or other large moving object coming towards you and possibly hitting you, do you attempt to jump out of the way, or just lie down and accept the inevitable as your fate? Hmmm?
JR
2:45 pm - Friday, March 31, 2006
#7 Dan Mitchell
There is a philosophy that asserts that one's fate is indeed pre-destined from birth.
"To everything there is a season ---- " ; so if you cheat fate in one direction fate will get you elsewhere. However I would indeed avoid a direct confrontation with heavy moving objects like cars and trains.
My point was that we seem to becoming a society that is afraid of even extremely remote possibilities. Here is the best quote I can find on living ---
*****************
'Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.'
3:34 pm - Friday, March 31, 2006
#8 nick in japan
It's called common sense, Dan! Better count your kid's toes!
10:51 pm - Friday, March 31, 2006
#9 max meier
the simple problem in europe is, most of the people have no real problem anymore, so they have to invent or blow them up. On top of it the european commission and the european parliament must have something to do, they produce one nonsense after the other, everyday, they are getting paid for !!
have a look for 2 other nice places where I can see more smiling faces everyday than in whole europe in one year, at
http://www.thailandsouthern.com
http://www.allmyanmar.com
3:59 am - Saturday, April 1, 2006
#10 Rob
I think being afraid of extremely remote possibilities has nothing to do with the European Union's decision. Rather, it's a common sense and a sense of responsibility toward future generations.
Cameras and lenses may contain extremely minute quantities of poisonous lead, in comparison to other products, but it is much easier to avoid polluting by regulating production of cameras than, let's say, cars.
You got to start somewhere - why not with cameras? Even camera manufacturers seem to understand that...
9:17 pm - Saturday, April 1, 2006
#11 nick in japan
Rob, the world is full of folks that don't care about the future, only the "Right-Now". A while back there was a big article about the hormone disrupters that are released when hot water touches the styrofoam of a cup of noodles, did it affect sales, I don'r think so! ONE article, and the hazards faded into the sunset, politics and ignorance, very sad!
My 10 year old, Little Joe, reads contents listing as we shop, lottsa stuff is really saturated with cancer-causing stuff, I owe it to him to educate him, maybe the best gift I could ever leave him.
Off Topic, I know, but, the whole point of the original article was about disposal of hazardous waste and a company stepping up and using their common sense, even if sales fall, cheer the leaders of health movements...What is MORE important?
Thanks Rob!!
12:30 am - Sunday, April 2, 2006
#12 Rob
I am well aware of the fact that greed is much more prevalent in this world than a worry about the kind of mess that we are leaving for future generations to deal with. What's more, most consumers either have no idea or simply don't care about that. Nevertheless, it is a government's duty to protect those fools, even against their own ignorance.
4:04 am - Sunday, April 2, 2006
#13 Asher
The EU stuff aside, the Pentax decision is purely economical one. To move away from lead in the circuit board requires fundamental rethinking - higher temperature, longer time in the oven. If not carefully evaluated, the camera (or other medical devices, which is why they are exempted) may die on you as the components after going through a more stressful environment have uncertain reliability. Pentax is doing the right thing, no point re-engineering the stuff that no longer sell enough in volume to justify the cost of doing so. I am sure for new products the cost of engineering the system to meet RoHS will be done. Pentax will be around.
6:15 am - Friday, April 7, 2006
#14 Chris
Perhaps I'm missing a point there, but TV sets contain lead solder. Are these all being redesigned for manufacture with lead-free solder, and if not, will their production cease? And what about cars and trucks - they all contain lead batteries, don't they? Now there's an idea - ban all cars and trucks because of the lead!
1:43 pm - Monday, April 10, 2006
#15 nick in japan
Cameras and small items that find their way to landfills and dumps that have water run-off is the health concern, I think. Cars, TVs and large batteries are usually disposed of in a very strict, controlled manner. There are many folks in rural areas that have had their water supplies compromised due to the water tables being invaded by contaminated seepages. Lottsa folks will toss an old camera as if it was a rotten apple, until it gets recycled properly,Pentax, and others, have showed their concern with action.
We all need to help the cause, and recycle properly!
9:23 pm - Monday, April 10, 2006
#16 Chris
The EU directive on lead issue came to prominence a little while ago in regard to church pipe organs. How many of these are tossed into landfill sites?
11:17 pm - Monday, April 10, 2006