Pentax SMC DA* 60-250mm f/4 ED IF SDM Available at Adorama

Tbear · 12-22-2008, 08:13 AM

$1399.95 (US) with free shipping

*ivoire* · 12-22-2008, 09:22 AM

Ouch... i had an interest until i saw the price. hope this is not the future pricing scheme for new lenses

*Tom S.* · 12-22-2008, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by ivoire

Ouch... i had an interest until i saw the price. hope this is not the future pricing scheme for new lenses

Don't worry. it should drop down to $1,389.95 in no time.

jsherman999 · 12-22-2008, 09:40 AM

It would be really great if dpreview and photozone would do some early reviews of this lens - if it's exceptional, it could be worth that price, if not, not.

*ivoire* · 12-22-2008, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by jsherman999

It would be really great if dpreview and photozone would do some early reviews of this lens - if it's exceptional, it could be worth that price, if not, not.

I agree that excellent optics are worth the $s. If it does turn out to be that way and drops to around the DA*200mm price it will get another look. I've been waffling on the 50-135mm, 200mm and T & S 70-200mm's. Was waiting for this lens as a tie-breaker as i rarely need the 2.8 for my shooting style.

Torphoto · 12-22-2008, 10:12 AM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

and I just ordered a 50-135, it arrives hopefully xmas eve. Now I'm going to have to get the 60-250 if it performs well to :-(

They sure do know how to enable users LBA!!!

so now who's going to rush out and get us some test shots, we want full rez raw converted jpgs from a K20D!

jsherman999 · 12-22-2008, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Torphoto

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

and I just ordered a 50-135, it arrives hopefully xmas eve. Now I'm going to have to get the 60-250 if it performs well to :-(

They sure do know how to enable users LBA!!!

so now who's going to rush out and get us some test shots, we want full rez raw converted jpgs from a K20D!

The local store had a Pentax rep in with a copy of the 60-250 a couple weeks ago. I think I'll casually ask them to 1) let me know when the next time he'll be appearing, 2) if they can ask him to bring the 60-250, and 3) let me know when that will be. If all the stars align, I may be able to test it out on a K20D sometime in the next couple weeks.

.

*dugrant153* · 12-22-2008, 11:01 AM

for that price I bought my K100D body, the DA*16-50 and the DA*50-135. haha!

Looks like an excellent all around-er though. Having the reach to 250mm would be nice

I too would like to see the reviews before we determine if it's an overpriced good or a heck of a bargain.

The DA* lenses I bought, by the way, started at $1,000 CDN and $1,100 CDN a piece. A few months down the road, I bought them respectively at about 75% of that.

**Peter Zack** · 12-22-2008, 11:09 AM

They have a little typo in the listing "Pentax SMCP-DA* 60-250mm f.0 ED (IF) SDM"

Yeah that would be some lens at f0. But if this turns out to be a winner, It might be my first DA*(don't ask about a certain wide zoom DA*). My FA*300mm is exceptional and this could be a great weatherproof lens to add to the kit.

21750 Pentax SMCP-DA* 60-250mm f.0 ED (IF) SDM Auto Focus Telephoto Zoom Lens

soccerjoe5 · 12-22-2008, 12:10 PM

I can't wait for the reviews to come up. I wonder how the extending barrel will affect zooming, as I love telephoto zooms that don't extend. They're a lot smoother and ones that extend feel "slower". I hope this one extends smoothly.

If it's awesome in optics I'll save up for this and have the combo of the Panny LX3 (24-60mm) and the K20 + 60-250

Alfisti · 12-22-2008, 12:31 PM

It's just such a nothing length for my shooting. It's going to be massive, heavy and expensive but it is too short for wildlife and too long for landscapes. I dunno, for $1,300 you can get the 300/4 and the 1.7 teleconverter for long shooting or both the 17-50 (tammy) and 50-135 to cover portraits.

*ivoire* · 12-22-2008, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Alfisti

It's just such a nothing length for my shooting. It's going to be massive, heavy and expensive but it is too short for wildlife and too long for landscapes. I dunno, for $1,300 you can get the 300/4 and the 1.7 teleconverter for long shooting or both the 17-50 (tammy) and 50-135 to cover portraits.

Thanks for the reminder. The 50-135 keeps surfacing due to is performance size/weight and cost. I'm not a fan of tc's, even tho i own a kenko, and am not sure 135 will be long enuff. decisions, decisions.... but you are making me take another look at the 50-135.

Alfisti · 12-22-2008, 02:17 PM

Depends what you're shooting, for portraits the 50-135 is a great weddign lens. Now from 135 to 300 is useful but only if it is light and portable, you can't "tote" the 60-250, it's too big. So now you're taking this big honking lens out for specialised shooting but what does it specialise in exactly? 300mm is the bare minimum for wildlife and it's hardly a specialist landscape lens or macro lens or whatever.

I suppose Canon makes a fair living off their outstand 70-200 f/4 so what the hell do i know?

*nostatic* · 12-22-2008, 02:51 PM

the 50-135* is a great lens for a couple of reasons. First off, it is fast and sharp, and second, it is manageable to carry and shoot handheld. The 60-250* might qualify on the first point (though it isn't as fast) but it certainly doesn't sound like a walkaround lens.

Ben_Edict · 12-22-2008, 03:01 PM

I had the opportunity to handle the 60-250 at Photokina. It is big and somewhat heavy compared to many APS-C optimised lenses - but not worse so, than a 70-200/2.8, may be even a bit smaller. I would buy this lens immediately, had I not bought the Bigma and having the 70-200/2.8 already in my collection.

250mm is sure too short for wildlife, but the difference to 300mm is not really decisive. I think Pentax is still in need of regularily available longer lenses. If a 400/2.8 is not attractive for Pentax, because most Pentax-photogs won't buy it, at the to be expected price tag, than perhaps a 400/4 would be a good compromise for all sides...

Ben