Pentax makes DSLR profit

Nice to see. Though some of the cost-cutting might have resulted in the
QC issues with the highly-regarded (for high ISO work) KX body.

amateur photographer:

Sales of Pentax DSLRs rose substantially in the three months to 31 March,
helping Pentax turn an operating loss of a year ago into a 1,331million
yen profit.

'In the digital camera area, the number of single-lens reflex cameras
sold sharply increased from the previous year, and overall sales rose
despite fierce price competition with other companies,' states Pentax's
owner, Hoya, in a financial statement.

'As a result, sales for the quarter in this segment stood at 25,920
million yen.'

Hoya adds: 'As for operating income and loss, the effects of cost
cutting, achieved via reorganisation during the previous year, produced
an operating profit of 1,331million yen, showing a significant
improvement in profitability compared to a huge operating loss for the
same quarter one year ago.'

The Pentax business segment also includes interchangeable lenses and
products such as endoscopes.

The news comes as Pentax prepares to launch its 645D medium-format
digital camera onto the Japanese market and soon after the firm's UK
office promised an 'exciting year' ahead.