[ElJamoquio]

So the lens roadmap (thanks Pentax!) shows what might be a 550mm Lens being released in 2012! I for one am happy, I was actually trying to buy a Sigma 500mm but will certainly just make do for a bit until it's released.

So far we only 'know' that they're calling it a DA (like the 300mm is a 'DA', hopefully?) and they put the dot in between 500mm and 600mm. No max aperture, no weight, no dimensions, no price, no nothing.

Time for some speculation!

[wlachan]

Won't be f4 which will be too expensive for most Pentaxians. f5.6 will be a torture to use. Maybe f4.5? God bless I have no use of such long FL anyway.

[RonHendriks1966]

I'm guessing something like f5.0-f5.6. Slower is not good working together with the 1.4x TC and faster would be to expensive.

[ElJamoquio]

I was able to try out the 500/4.5 for a short time, unfortunately not 'for real' but just a tryout. Loved that combination, not too god-awfully heavy, seemed to focus quite well, not ridiculously big, not impossible to handhold.

[falconeye]

DFA* 550mm F5.4 ED (IF)
MSRP $2999
Weight 2200 g
AF works with 1.4x TC
Speculation, numbers based on model as published in my blog.

[rvannatta]

I'm guessing something like f5.0-f5.6. Slower is not good working together with the 1.4x TC and faster would be to expensive.

I"m sort of thinking that they started with by looking at what an 600/f5.6 would require, and then decided to trade some focal length for some speed. At least I hope so. as an owner of a A*600/5.6 I will be trying really hard to find an excuse to buy this lens, but it will be hard
if its just a crippled version of the A* that I have.

[jpzk]

So the lens roadmap (thanks Pentax!) shows what might be a 550mm Lens being released in 2012! I for one am happy, I was actually trying to buy a Sigma 500mm but will certainly just make do for a bit until it's released.

So far we only 'know' that they're calling it a DA (like the 300mm is a 'DA', hopefully?) and they put the dot in between 500mm and 600mm. No max aperture, no weight, no dimensions, no price, no nothing.

Time for some speculation!

I speculate that the 550mm/5.6 will not be here before 2013, according to some posts in those threads:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/173775-new-pen...12-2013-a.html

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/173797-new-lens-roadmap.html

I too have been looking into Sigma ... very expensive for the 500/4.5 and into the extremely rare/expensive Pentax FA*250-600, so I am hoping that my speculating becomes reality before 2014.

Cheers.

JP

[jpzk]

DFA* 550mm F5.4 ED (IF)
MSRP $2999
Weight 2200 g
AF works with 1.4x TC
Speculation, numbers based on model as published in my blog.

Falk ... why f5.4 vs. 5.6 ??
and ... do you see this as a non-SDM (I hope so) ?

JP

[m8o]

This is the modrum Pentax we're talking about, isn't it? ... the company that doesn't t even offer a 300mm f/2.8 but rather f/4 only?

Not only due to that but also that the camera bodies perform so well at high ISO today, I am highly skeptical the 550mm will come faster than f/5.6. I wouldn't be surprised if it's slower like f/6.3.

I sure hope I'm wrong.

[ElJamoquio]

DFA* 550mm F5.4 ED (IF)
MSRP $2999
Weight 2200 g
AF works with 1.4x TC
Speculation, numbers based on model as published in my blog.

I did a similar correlation before knowing that yours existed, I should take a look at what it would spit out for 550 4.5/5/5.6. I assume you typo'd the 5.4?

[falconeye]

I"m sort of thinking that they started with by looking at what an 600/f5.6 would require, and then decided to trade some focal length for some speed. At least I hope so. as an owner of a A*600/5.6 I will be trying really hard to find an excuse to buy this lens, but it will be hard
if its just a crippled version of the A* that I have.

A slower lens isn't a crippled one.

IMHO, fast lenses like 300/2.8 or 600/4 are a thing of the past. Not because they are expensive (they are). But because modern bodies with their ISO capabilities and SR simply don't need it to a degree that the burden to carry and handle them is justified. Sport events from a predetermined position using a tripod may reain the only exception. But those arevTV events with good light, so ...

Assuming the lens is tack sharp fully open, I consider F5.6 (or F5.4 if an AF TC requires it) to be the new sweet spot.

[rvannatta]

DFA* 550mm F5.4 ED (IF)
MSRP $2999
Weight 2200 g
AF works with 1.4x TC
Speculation, numbers based on model as published in my blog.

I can live with those specs..... I'll take one

[ElJamoquio]

A slower lens isn't a crippled one.

IMHO, fast lenses like 300/2.8 or 600/4 are a thing of the past. Not because they are expensive (they are).

I agree with you. And to derail this thread further, I compared the Sigma 300 f/2.8 to the Pentax 300 f/4 when I was buying the Pentax... and the pentax blew away the Sigma when they were both at f4.

Generally the DOF is too small, for me, on a 300 f/4. I'd much rather spend the extra $1500 and 700 grams I saved on a new body with better ISO.

[ElJamoquio]

This is the modrum Pentax we're talking about, isn't it? ... the company that doesn't t even offer a 300mm f/2.8 but rather f/4 only?

Not only due to that but also that the camera bodies perform so well at high ISO today, I am highly skeptical the 550mm will come faster than f/5.6. I wouldn't be surprised if it's slower like f/6.3.

I sure hope I'm wrong.

I think 6.3 would be a mistake, the autofocus might suffer a bit. If it *is* a 6.3, though, the IQ would be better than the Bigma, presumably, and the cost should be rather low.

[jpzk]

Falk ... why f5.4 vs. 5.6 ??
and ... do you see this as a non-SDM (I hope so) ?

JP

Anyone dares guessing if this is going to be non-SDM; and what about the f5.4 ... what's that about if using a TC vs. the aperture difference of f0.2?

JP