DA* 400mm F4 coming!

[Zebooka]

OK guys, it's time to wake up!
D-FA 100/2.8 Macro WR is great lens, but here is another...

SMC Pentax DA* 400/4.0 SDM [IF] ED (tentative name)

As previously - posted by Pentar official (Pentax exclusive distributor for SNG (post USSR) countries (Russia, Ukraine etc.))

Lets discuss it. Who wants it? I really want, but the cost... I would rather buy a used car

[WerTicus]

ill take one

[thibs]

Mmm DA*.. why no D-FA* then...

[ogl]

It seems to me it's DA*300/4

[AlexanderMayorov]

You can check High Resolution Photo

http://ultraxs.com/image-2574_4B211E0D.jpg

[Ron Boggs]

Funny marketing photo attempt--wet camera and lens, but dry table and background rocks and model including his hat. Nice enough weather to sit outside drinking a cup of coffee, but trying to imply the camera got "squalled".

Couldn't see any sign of 400mm in blow up of higher res shot including when zoomed. Front element seems awefully tiny for a 400 f. 4 and the barrel length is awefully short for 400mm. Tripod collar isn't as substantial as is typical in the industry for 400mm class either. Certainly could be a mythical 400/4, but my senses tell me it ain't so. Whew, that may save me $4000 or $5000 this year.

Wait a minute...the lens seems way too tiny to be a 400/4...must be the Pentax Pancake 400/4

[ogl]

I see the construction a bit different. It seems to me now - it's DA*300, 500 or 600...:

[Ron Boggs]

On further examination, that tiny little tripod collar placed back at the aft end of the lens wouldn't provide very acceptable balance for a 400/4 either. If it isn't the already existing 300/4 then the only other possibly option is this is a new 400/5.6. Front element could well be big enough for a 5.6 lens. Tiny collars aren't unusual on consumer-level 400/5.6 lenses either. Yep, either it's the "old" 300 or a new 400/5.6. More of a consumer lens than a pro lens if true. Price on a 400/5.6 would be lots closer to the original prices Pentax often seeks to hit on introductions--DSLR's, 200/2.8 and 300/4 all tended to hit the market around $1200 U.S. which is about where a 400/5.6 would price out--give or take a couple hundred. So if it's a new product, I'm betting it's a 400/5.6 that will be introduced around the $1200 U.S. price point.

Bad news for all of us hoping for a "real" big gun. I had hoped the announced discontinuation of the FA*600/4 was actually a foreshadowing of a new DA* version of that lens. The F* and FA* versions of the 600 have very few spots needing weather sealing. It would be an easy DA* conversion with just a few gaskets and seals plus the DA* finish. Oh well, won't hold my breath either way.

[ogl]

Wait a minute...the lens seems way too tiny to be a 400/4...must be the Pentax Pancake 400/4

The lenght is appox. 190 mm.

The old FA* 400/5.6 ED was 199 mm.

[Ron Boggs]

Way too short to be a 500 or 600. Even a 500/5.6 or 500/8 would be nearly twice the length and would need the tripod collar placed farther forward on the lens to achieve even close to a balance. Nope, no way it's a 500+

[Fototim]

Take a look at the coffy cup. Very distorted.
I think this tells us something about the image.

[Ron Boggs]

Yep, I think we've nailed it Ogl. It's a 400/5.6. At least that will save me some cash as I have no need for a slow telephoto in my stable of tele's.

[and]

hehehe that pic looks very manipulated. looks like he originally had a smaller lens in his hand and you can still see part of the front element of the original lens as its angle was different. you can see it below the maniupulated one.

[Ron Boggs]

I think that's just normal wide angle lens corner distortion on the coffee cup. Must not have shot the image with a K7 with lens correction?

[thibs]

hehehe that pic looks very manipulated. looks like he originally had a smaller lens in his hand and you can still see part of the front element of the original lens as its angle was different. you can see it below the maniupulated one.

Yep, nice catch Andreas.