Official Pentax page for DA* 55 & DA* 60-250

[cateto]

Two new smc PENTAX-DA* (DA Star) lenses - High-performance, top-quality telephoto zoom and medium-telephoto models designed exclusively for PENTAX digital SLR cameras

[ftpaddict]

Buy me one of each!

[vinzer]

I'll wait on the pricing for the 55. That interests me the most.

[Douglas_of_Sweden]

But look at that huge sun-shade on the DA*55/1.4, it is straight of from the FA*85/1.4, same shape, just black instead of white! Not likely to be a coincident. Even if they were in practice aiming at the same image angle, they didn't have to give it the same shape (note that the scales of the photos are probably not identical, only close). To me it is clear were the inspiration to the DA*55/1.4 comes from, even though DOF etc will not be exactly the same.



Ohh, I wan't this one, but I've already got the K55/2.0, FA50/1.4 and A50/1.7, how to motivate this one? Hope someone will post pictures made with this lens soon!

[Red]

Originally Posted by vinzer

I'll wait on the pricing for the 55. That interests me the most.

The 55mm will be $799
The 60-250 will be $1499


Pentax DSLRs

[k100d]

Originally Posted by Red

The 55mm will be $799
The 60-250 will be $1499


Pentax DSLRs

holy shit ...

edit: let me elaborate. the 70-200 IS f4 can be found around $1000 USD. that is totally not competitive, although the price will probably eventually drop to $1000. nikon's new 50mm 1.4 G will come out at $439. not sealed but still wow

[pghwarrior23]

The DA* 60-250mm looks nice and I like the fact that it is weather sealed, but am I the only one that isn't excited about this lens because it is an f/4? I have a Sigma 100-300mm f/4 that I am about to sell because it is not fast enough and I just don't use it enough. Why not make this a f/2.8 and give us some fast glass that goes nicely with some of the other DA* lenses. Add the teleconverter to it and now it is an even slower f/5.6

[Talisker]

Originally Posted by pghwarrior23

The DA* 60-250mm looks nice and I like the fact that it is weather sealed, but am I the only one that isn't excited about this lens because it is an f/4? I have a Sigma 100-300mm f/4 that I am about to sell because it is not fast enough and I just don't use it enough. Why not make this a f/2.8 and give us some fast glass that goes nicely with some of the other DA* lenses. Add the teleconverter to it and now it is an even slower f/5.6

Think how big the Sigma is already (I've got one as well - superb lens, use it for weghtlifting practice). Imagine how big it would be a stop faster. Think how much more it would cost. Apply that argument to the 60-250mm. There are already complaints about the price as it is...

The 60-250mm is the equivalent (in fov terms) of the classic 100-400mm f4 from the 35mm world, as the 50-135mm is the equivalent of the 70-210 f2.8, a classic pairing.

[ghelary]

I'll still buy the 60-250, and for once it have a justification : sailing pictures.
- I already own a 50-200 and I felt the need for a longer lens while shooting at sea.
- Weather sealing is definitively a must for more intense weathers.
- I need a faster lens because of using a polarizing filter will filter the light by 1 stop or so. Exposure shall be very fast (1/500s is strickly a minimum at 150mm for example)

- But aperture of 4 is fine since having 2.8 would have lead to a heavy lens, photo on a boat are always hand held.

And since next sailing saison will start for me in April, I'm that in a hurry to spend money on it

[janneman]

Originally Posted by k100d

holy shit ...

edit: let me elaborate. the 70-200 IS f4 can be found around $1000 USD. that is totally not competitive, although the price will probably eventually drop to $1000.

And the DA starts at 60mm and ends at 250mm... that might accont for some bucks as well. If you compare it with the 70-200 which is listed at BH for usd 1100 I'd be surprisd if you could get it foe less than usd 1250,00

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by janneman

And the DA starts at 60mm and ends at 250mm... that might accont for some bucks as well. If you compare it with the 70-200 which is listed at BH for usd 1100 I'd be surprisd if you could get it foe less than usd 1250,00

it's a 90-375mm f=4 (100-400). Different beast altogether.

Cheers,
Cameron

[vinzer]

Originally Posted by Red

The 55mm will be $799
The 60-250 will be $1499


Pentax DSLRs

Thanks for the price quotes.

I see a 16-50 in the nearer future for me at the price the 55mm would sell for.

[Matt Miller]

I'm anxious to see how the 55 will compare to my favorite lens, the Nokton 58mm. I'd love to have the same or better image quality in a weather sealed lens that will auto focus. Saving my pennies now.

[Matt Miller]

Anyone know how close the 55 will focus?

[gnaztee]

Specs say 1.5 feet