[Conqueror]

35mm prime with WR

There's plenty of zooms that can cover 35mm with WR in this system.

However with the existence of [mainly DA*] WR capable primes at 55,100,200,300 ... Something around 35mm would be very nice!


Your thoughts/speculation/hopes ...

[boriscleto]

It would be nice, but Ricoh probably won't do anything like it any time soon.

[Sandy Hancock]

Maybe if the FA limiteds get the WR/quickshift upgrade....

[WideOpen]

How about a re-tooling of the M 28/2 as a DA*? I've always wanted this.

[DSims]

WR 24mm first; then maybe 28 or 35.

There is the DA20-40, but I don't consider the IQ up to that of a prime, or even as good as it should be for a 20-40mm zoom.

[ogl]

It would be better to produce wide-angle prime.

[wullemaha]

Your thoughts/speculation/hopes ...

YES PLEASE!
Or just make the 31 Limited WR ....

*sigh*
Dreaming is still allowed

[Digitalis]

Maybe if the FA limiteds get the WR/quickshift upgrade

If Ricoh does this you can bet they will remove the Aperture ring and the focusing distance DOF scale. And only offer them in black and have them equipped with either DC or SDM focusing.

[Jonathan Mac]

A DA* 35mm f/1.4 is long overdue.

[filoxophy]

D(F)A* 24/35/55/85...yum!

[lithedreamer]

They might as well go all out and make a DFA* 35mm WR Macro with focus limiter.

[bdery]

You can use the DA20-40 Wr limited for the time being.

Upgrading the FA limiteds to include WR would be fantastic. Actually upgrading the DA limiteds would have made more sense, but seeing as they were already upgraded recently with HD coating, I don't see Ricoh releasing a second upgrade.

[Conqueror]

A DA* 35mm f/1.4 is long overdue.

Yes this seems like an obvious one

but seeing as they were already upgraded recently with HD coating, I don't see Ricoh releasing a second upgrade.

Indeed

[Doundounba]

I agree that this would be nice, but is very unlikely. 24mm would be my first choice, but given that the DA21 was recently updated with HD coatings, that just seems astronomically improbable. It could also be an update of the FA 35mm F/2. Give it WR and DC and all of a sudden there is ample reason to pick it up over the Plastic Fantastic (DA 35mm F/2.4)... But then it might start to compete with the FA31.

[filoxophy]

The current problem with the Pentax lens lineup is not just the (few, in my mind) holes left to fill, it's the proliferation of appellations with inconsistent meaning.

I've thought (and maybe said) this before, but I'd love to see Pentax have 3 lens lines--DA (or DFA, as warranted), the * series, and the Limiteds...and the DA L, if you must. (They basically DO have this, of course, to varying degrees of completeness and consistency.)

DA/DFA

• Weather resistant (WR)
• Quick Shift
• SDM/DC optional for this class
• Distance scale
• Variable or constant aperture zooms OK
• Hood included, no pouch

DA L

• No WR
• No QS
• No distance scale
• No hood
• No pouch
• Plastic mount

* Series

• All Weather (AW), tank-like construction
• Fast aperture if prime, constant/fast if zoom
• Quick Shift
• SDM/DC required
• Distance/DOF scale
• Highest quality of optics, sharp and meant for pro use (whatever that means to you)
• Hood/pouch included

Limited Series

• All metal construction
• Compact size, modest aperture
• High quality optics, but room for character, pixie dust, starbursts, etc etc
• Distance/DOF scale
• Hood/pouch included

The shift from SMC to HD, terrible as it is from a branding perspective, is underway. (Why oh why did they throw away 40+ years of a distinctive moniker for a throwaway generic meaningless one?! Call it SMC+ or something, sheesh...) I see all lenses ultimately getting the HD treatment when they are due for a refresh. This may take some years to make its way through the line.

Within this rubric, the DA 35mm, 50mm, and 40mm XS would be reclassified as DA Ls, as the 35mm is often erroneously labeled by some anyway. DA L zooms, lacking WR, would only be bundled with non-WR bodies, eg K-S1. The only DA L I would add is a 24/28mm f/2.8 for, say, $250-300ish...and maybe an 85/2.8 too.

I would like to see the DA 14/2.8 and DA 12-24/4 updated into * caliber lenses. They're almost there, anyway, IMHO. Or do that new wide zoom that's on the roadmap as a *, and keep the DA 12-24 and lower its price commensurate with a standard DA lens.

* primes would be 14/25/35/55/85, at f/1.4 for the last three.

Limiteds are pretty well rounded out, IMHO.

If you made it this far, thanks for indulging me. How would you change or add lenses? I know this is just dreaming for a company of Pentax's marketshare right now, but they do seem to just improve and add constantly so far under Ricoh's aegis.