smc Pentax DA 17-70mm f/4 Announced in the US

*Ole* · 06-03-2008, 06:25 PM

Pentax today announced the smc PENTAX-DA 17-70mm f/4 AL [IF] SDM Lens.

The autofocus function of this lens is SDM only, so autofocus is compatible with the K20D, K200D, K100D Super and K10D (with Ver. 1.30 or later firmware installed) and later PENTAX DSLR camera bodies. When mounted on other camera bodies, the focus mode is automatically switched to manual.

Read the entire press release here:

Pentax Imaging - Pentax Press Release

JMS · 06-04-2008, 05:31 AM

That's interesting- it's marked as a KAF3 mount lens.

Gooshin · 06-04-2008, 05:51 AM

there was a thread about this that started yesterday..........

MJB DIGITAL · 06-04-2008, 11:43 PM

so this means it has no screw drive, right?

an interesting step for pentax. without that part, they can keep the price down i bet....

f4 is slow for me in case of emergency at a wedding but maybe it would be an outdoor park lens...hmmmmm i have a lot of park pictures to do.

i wonder how much it is....guess i have some research to do if it is announced 8)

ghost · 06-05-2008, 02:35 PM

I would never buy this lens per say, but are they really saving that much money by not including a screw drive? I thought Pentax was all about backwards compatibility. guess not. (I know you can still use manual focus but it would be nice to have the option of auto focusing on a brand new lens)

Arpe · 06-05-2008, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by ghost

I would never buy this lens per say, but are they really saving that much money by not including a screw drive? I thought Pentax was all about backwards compatibility. guess not. (I know you can still use manual focus but it would be nice to have the option of auto focusing on a brand new lens)

OLDER cameras using NEWER lenses is FORWARDS compatibility. The newer bodies can still use the older lenses with the screw focus.

offertonhatter · 06-06-2008, 10:15 AM

This looks like the perfect walkaround lens for me, in many ways better than my Sigma 24-70mm F2.8, So its one stop slower but it goes wider, and will be faster AF wise.

So, when will this lens be on sale in Europe, especially the UK?

Might just have to get one.

*m8o* · 06-07-2008, 09:55 AM

my take on it? Pentax, enough w/the f/4 lenses... If they were at least to be free of CAs wide or near wide open (unlike my 12-24 f/4; I sent one back thinking there was a problem w/it... there wasn't). Fingers crossed for this lens I guess. I'm so happy my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 was my 1st purchase. Shame it couldn't have a Pentax name on it (and I don't mean just rebranded).

KungPOW · 06-08-2008, 11:31 PM

I think it will be the new kit lens for the up and coming K2000D. I expect that Pentax will cut costs with the new entry level body by dropping the focus motor.

*creampuff* · 06-09-2008, 02:06 AM

How can it possibly be bundled as a kit lens? The kit lens is mass produced and definitely costs less the US$100 and serves as an entry-level optic. IMO, the DA17-70 will never be sold at that price point nor is it intended to be sold as, or a replacement for the kit lens.

*Syb* · 06-09-2008, 08:43 AM

This is just too slow... what are Pentax thinking?

''Hey, did you notice we have a much faster camera now? With Iso up to 6400?''
''Yeah, we should take some profit out of that''

''Hey, what about reducing the speed of our lenses?''
''Sounds like a good idea to me''

''But in order to be able to present something new, there has to be a new feature.''
''Well, we could drop screw drive?''

''Yeah, good idea. And then we sell this lense as very dedicated to K10d and newer.''

And so it happened...

applejax · 06-09-2008, 10:34 AM

I debated which thread to post this in (can mods combine the two threads on this topic?) but since there is more talk of the SDM-only potential on this thread, I'll speculate in here.

It appears that the SDM-converter on the lens roadmap has been forgotten. While we don't know what this will be, perhaps it is possible that it will allow the use of SDM-only lenses on non-SDM bodies?

If so, I would see this as an excellent strategic move for Pentax. It would allow them to drop the inferior screw drive for (certain) future lenses and bodies, while still allowing a solution for those who need the backwards compatibilty.

--applejax

AVANT · 06-11-2008, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Syb

This is just too slow... what are Pentax thinking?

''Hey, did you notice we have a much faster camera now? With Iso up to 6400?''
''Yeah, we should take some profit out of that''

''Hey, what about reducing the speed of our lenses?''
''Sounds like a good idea to me''

''But in order to be able to present something new, there has to be a new feature.''
''Well, we could drop screw drive?''

''Yeah, good idea. And then we sell this lense as very dedicated to K10d and newer.''

And so it happened...

Same can be said about creating DA lens...

Cost is key in all business models. Think about how many camera bodies in circulation that would really be missing out on this lens? It's mainly the ist and K100,K110 guys. Now think how many of these people would go out and purchase a 17-70 if it had a screw mount? I would say not enough to justify charging everyone more for the lens.

And is F4 really too slow for a general lens? Yes, I'd prefer a max aperture of F/2.8, but is a F/4 unbearable? Not really, especially when you on the wide end.

I'm just happy to see Pentax releasing more lenses.

Hannican · 06-11-2008, 02:10 PM

Have there been any indications at all on the pricing?

barbosas · 06-11-2008, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by Hannican

Have there been any indications at all on the pricing?

MSRP is 600$, street price should be around 450$, that's my unofficial guess.