[kevinschoenmakers]

The results are in! I would like to thank Adam for helping me with processing all the data (and bringing the survey to everyone's attention in the first place) and Dan (audiobomber) for cleaning up my English. In a little over a week we received no less than 1661 responses. All of the respondents combined own 5281 currently sold Pentax lenses (an average of 3.2 lenses per person), of which 2375 are primes (45%), and 2906 are zooms (55%).

As with every first generation photography product, this survey is far from perfect. However, we still have a good foundation upon which to make some reasonable conclusions, so let’s have a look…

Bodies

Body	Total Owners	%
K10D	559	34%
K20D	528	32%
K-7	389	23%
K-x	218	13%
K200D	175	11%
K100D	134	8%
* ist DS	116	7%
K100D Super	91	5%
* ist D	80	5%
K-m	50	3%
* ist DL	47	3%
No Digital Body	24	1%
* ist DS2	14	1%
K110D	12	1%
* ist DL2	7	0%

Over a third of you still own a K10D (or two, or three), which puts it right at the top of this list. However, of the 559 K10D owners, 224 also own a newer body (K20D, K-7 or K-x), so it isn't likely to be the most utilized camera. If we look at the K20D, number two on the list at 528, we see that only 71 people also own a more advanced body (this time only counting the K-7).

On the topic of K10D vs. K20D, there is one more curious fact to report. In the beginning of the survey, the K20D was ahead of the K10D, until we reached about a thousand respondents, and the K10D overtook its younger brother. This tells us one or two things. Possibly K10D owners frequent the internet less often, and/or, since this survey went online on a Friday, they were actually doing something other than sitting behind a computer all weekend.

We can conclude from these results that we did not get a "true" slice of all Pentax owners. Surely with the high sales it has been showing ever since its release, the K-x should be better represented. But, as one may expect, soccer moms and colorful Japanese schoolgirls aren’t very keen on filling out online surveys about camera lenses. Most entry-level bodies are probably underrepresented in this survey, as are probably the budget lenses such as the DA18-55 and DA50-200.

One last item: When we look at the camera listings, one thing seems odd. The enthusiast bodies (K10D, K20D and the K-7) are ranked from oldest to newest. However, the four most commonly owned entry-level bodies (K-x, K200D, K100D and * ist DS) are ranked from newest to oldest. Do owners of entry-level bodies lose interest in their hobby faster?


Lenses

Now, over to the bulk of the survey: Lenses. We’ll start with current lenses, and we’ll start with lens ownership.


Which lenses are owned the by the most people?

Lens	Total Ownership	%
DA 18-55mm	678	41%
FA 50mm	509	31%
DA* 50-135mm	294	18%
DA 55-300mm	266	16%
DA 50-200mm	263	16%
DA* 16-50mm	257	15%
DA 16-45mm	245	15%
DA 40mm Limited	240	14%
DA 18-55mm WR	232	14%
FA 77mm Limited	231	14%
DA 21mm Limited	197	12%
FA 31mm Limited	190	11%
DA 10-17mm Fisheye	185	11%
DA 12-24mm	181	11%
DA 35mm Macro Limited	171	10%
FA 43mm Limited	166	10%
DA 70mm Limited	164	10%
DA 18-250mm	124	7%
DA* 300mm	98	6%
DA 15mm Limited	96	6%
DFA 100mm Macro WR	82	5%
DA 14mm	70	4%
DA* 60-250mm	64	4%
DA 50-200mm WR	59	4%
DA 17-70mm	58	3%
DA* 200mm	57	3%
DFA 50mm Macro	52	3%
DA* 55mm	52	3%

Unsurprisingly, the DA18-55 tops this list. The FA50 is no surprise either. The DA*50-135, however, might not be so easily predicted. It’s not a cheap lens and suffers from SDM’s spotty reputation, but its high quality convinces people to buy it anyway. Then come a whole bunch of zooms, followed by the inexpensive, small, cheerful and optically impressive DA40.

We then stumble upon the DA18-55 WR. As it is the K-7 kitlens, it’s hardly surprising to see it relatively high on our list. However, this lens is interesting in another way. Together with the DA50-200 WR they are the only two affordable weather resistant lenses in the Pentax line-up. The question arises, how many people who do not own a K-7 bought these lenses? Well, quite a few. Out of the 232 people who own DA18-55 WR, 93 do not have a K-7 (40%). For the DA50-200 WR, the numbers are 40 out of 59 (68%). These numbers are quite substantial, especially when we consider their pedestrian optical quality in comparison to other Pentax lenses. Apparently there are quite a few people interested in cheaper-than-DA* weather resistant lenses. What's more, when we checked the numbers for people who own a WR resistant body but who do not own a WR or DA* lens, we discovered that full on 50% of all the respondents fall into this category (829 out of 1661). Certainly not everyone in this group will be interested in paying a premium for a WR lens, but I'm sure you will all understand what an untapped potential this is. We’ll come back to the topic of WR when we get to the future lenses.

At the bottom end of the chart, the DA*55 is showing a dismal performance. It is a fine piece of glass, and as we’ll see next this lens is wishlisted quite a lot. Must be the price, then.

Even though the DA17-70 gets good reviews, it scores significantly lower than all the other normal zooms when it comes to ownership. Apparently its characteristics do not make it more desirable than its competitors, although again, we will see it is wishlisted relatively often.
 

Which lens is wishlisted most often?

Lens	Wishlisted	%
FA 31mm Limited	691	42%
DFA 100mm Macro WR	661	40%
FA 77mm Limited	605	36%
DA* 300mm	544	33%
DA* 60-250mm	520	31%
DA 35mm Macro Limited	504	30%
FA 43mm Limited	491	30%
DA* 200mm	490	30%
DA* 50-135mm	484	29%
DA 12-24mm	444	27%
DA 15mm Limited	439	26%
DA* 16-50mm	411	25%
DA 70mm Limited	395	24%
DA* 55mm	388	23%
DA 21mm Limited	356	21%
DA 10-17mm Fisheye	342	21%
DA 40mm Limited	306	18%
DA 14mm	299	18%
FA 50mm	290	17%
DA 17-70mm	278	17%
DA 55-300mm	223	13%
DFA 50mm Macro	214	13%
DA 18-250mm	177	11%
DA 18-55mm WR	142	9%
DA 16-45mm	132	8%
DA 50-200mm WR	127	8%
DA 50-200mm	37	2%
DA 18-55mm	15	1%

One thing that is immediately apparent is that primes score way, way higher on this list than zooms. The FA31mm is widely regarded as a stellar lens, and it shows. Perhaps surprising is the popularity of the DFA100mm Macro WR. I’m not sure what to attribute this to. It could be WR, it could be the great build and optical quality. Actually, what’s not to like?

Long glass seems to be longed for (I actually wrote it like that by accident, honest!) quite a lot as well. All of the long DA* glass is high on this list, as well as Pentax’s longest zoom, the DA 55-300 (high in comparison to other zooms of similar quality).

The DFA 50mm Macro looks like a real dud here. Not only do very few people own it, relatively few people even want to. My guess is the competition from the DA35mm Macro Limited is doing this lens no favors.


Which lens is named as favorite most often? 

Lens	Favorite
FA 31mm Limited	55%
FA 77mm Limited	48%
DA* 50-135mm	43%
FA 43mm Limited	43%
DA 35mm Macro Limited	41%
DA* 55mm	40%*
DA* 300mm	37%*
DA* 60-250mm	34%*
DFA 100mm Macro WR	32%*
DA 40mm Limited	32%
DA 70mm Limited	30%
DA* 16-50mm	30%
DA* 200mm	25%
FA 50mm	25%
DA 17-70mm	22%*
DA 18-250mm	21%
DA 21mm Limited	20%
DA 15mm Limited	20%*
DA 16-45mm	19%
DA 12-24mm	16%
DA 55-300mm	15%
DA 14mm	11%*
DA 10-17mm Fisheye	10%
DFA 50mm Macro	10%*
DA 50-200mm WR	5%*
DA 50-200mm	5%
DA 18-55mm WR	3%
DA 18-55mm	3%

The numbers in the table represent the percentage of owners who named a particular lens as their favorite. The * next to the numbers mean the sample for this lens was less than 100 (IE: less than 100 people own this lens). Some people named no lens as their favorite (they either forgot or have another lens that is their favorite), and some people named multiple lenses (which is a flaw in the survey, but shouldn’t hurt the final outcome much).

What becomes apparent at once is that buying a Limited or a DA* means you’ll most likely enjoy it. The string of these lenses at the top of this survey is only broken by the DFA 100mm Macro WR, which Pentax might as well have called Limited, because it surely looks like one.

Pentax’s latest Limited, the DA15mm, ranks surprisingly low, as does the DA21mm, which did quite well in our ownership statistics. Perhaps wide-angle lenses in general are loved by few people. All lenses that fall in this category score relatively poorly.

Perhaps surprisingly, the DA*55 and DA17-70 both score quite high in this category (although the sample for both lenses is on the small side). Apparently most of us don’t know what we’re missing out on. I’m also a bit surprised the 18-250mm sits high on this list. Perhaps people who own this lens own relatively few other lenses, or maybe it’s just very good at what it does.

On the bottom of this chart we find all four of the kitlenses, as well as the DFA50mm Macro, which isn’t doing well in any category.


Which lenses are sold on most?

Lens	Sold on
DA 50-200mm	44%
DA 50-200mm WR	40%*
DFA 50mm Macro	38%*
DA 14mm	36%*
DA 16-45mm	34%
DA 17-70mm	34%*
DA 18-250mm	29%
DA 18-55mm	26%
DA* 60-250mm	26%*
DA 15mm Limited	25%
DA* 55mm	24%*
DA* 200mm	23%*
DA 18-55mm WR	22%
DA 40mm Limited	22%
DA 70mm Limited	22%
FA 43mm Limited	21%
DA 12-24mm	21%
DA 35mm Macro Limited	20%
DA 21mm Limited	20%
DFA 100mm Macro WR	19%
FA 50mm	18%
DA 10-17mm Fisheye	16%
DA* 300mm	16%
DA* 16-50mm	15%
DA* 50-135mm	14%
FA 31mm Limited	12%
DA 55-300mm	12%
FA 77mm Limited	10%

The above percentages are obtained by looking at how many of all current and former owners of a particular lens have sold or plan to sell this lens. One cannot draw hard conclusions from these numbers as to why they were sold, so make of them what you will. An * once again denotes that the sample for this lens was less than 100.

Some lenses, such as the DFA50mm Macro and the DA14mm, don't do too well in any category. And once more, they fair poorly. On the other end of the list, the 'usual suspects' FA31mm and FA77mm Limiteds are held on to dearly. The DA55-300mm does not end up on the marketplace often either.

This category used to be titled 'which lenses do not satisfy', and the calculations were slighty different. However, this drew some valid criticism and I decided to re-do this category so its conclusions were founded on solid numbers. If a survey such as this one will ever be held again, I hope the options given will more clearly represent satisfaction, because this is certainly a hot topic!


Which lenses need an upgrade?

Lens	Needs an Upgrade	%
DA* 16-50mm	269	16%
DA 17-70mm	164	10%
DA 12-24mm	162	10%
DA* 50-135mm	145	9%
DA 18-250mm	136	9%
DA 14mm	120	7%
DA 55-300mm	117	7%
DA 16-45mm	97	6%
FA 50mm	91	5%
DA* 60-250mm	90	5%
DA 21mm Limited	86	5%
DA 10-17mm Fisheye	81	5%
DA* 55mm	77	5%
DA* 300mm	74	4%
FA 31mm Limited	73	4%
DA 15mm Limited	71	4%
FA 43mm Limited	70	4%
DA 40mm Limited	69	4%
DA 50-200mm WR	69	4%
DA* 200mm	64	4%
DFA 50mm Macro	64	4%
DA 35mm Macro Limited	62	4%
DA 18-55mm WR	61	4%
FA 77mm Limited	61	4%
DA 70mm Limited	50	3%
DFA 100mm Macro WR	50	3%
DA 50-200mm	37	2%
DA 18-55mm	27	2%

Of all the people who took part in the survey, 16% said they would buy an upgraded DA* 16-50. The survey should have been clearer, but for this lens it’s safe to assume we’re talking about the SDM issues here. For most other lenses, sadly, the question arises: What should be updated? The DA17-70 has SDM, so that may be the problem. The DA12-24, however, poses a question. Perhaps people would like to see it with WR, or maybe something else. I’m sorry the survey wasn’t more specific in this regard. (However, looking at the future lenses part of the survey gives us a good clue for the DA12-24.)

The good news is most lenses apparently don’t need an update. The list quickly dips below 10%, at which level it is questionable whether an update would be profitable for Pentax. At the bottom end of the list are lenses people think are perfect in every way and lenses people apparently just don’t care about. I think by know you will know which lens falls into which category.
 

Which lens suffers most from older equivalent Pentax lenses?

Lens	Older Equivalent	%
FA 50mm	261	16%
DA* 55mm	187	11%
DA 18-55mm WR	148	9%
DFA 100mm Macro WR	132	8%
DFA 50mm Macro	108	7%
DA 18-55mm	91	5%
DA* 200mm	90	5%
DA 50-200mm WR	85	5%
DA* 300mm	75	5%
DA 35mm Macro Limited	70	4%
DA 70mm Limited	64	4%
DA 50-200mm	63	4%
DA 40mm Limited	59	4%
DA 21mm Limited	43	3%
FA 31mm Limited	40	2%
DA 16-45mm	36	2%
DA 55-300mm	36	2%
FA 43mm Limited	35	2%
DA 17-70mm	32	2%
DA* 50-135mm	32	2%
DA* 16-50mm	29	2%
FA 77mm Limited	29	2%
DA 15mm Limited	27	2%
DA* 60-250mm	23	1%
DA 14mm	17	1%
DA 12-24mm	12	1%
DA 10-17mm Fisheye	10	1%
DA 18-250mm	9	1%

I’m sure most (if not all) Pentaxians love that they can mount pretty much any Pentax lens on their modern body. But how much is this hurting sales of modern lenses?

The list has few (if any) surprises. Seeing as eBay is awash with old 50mm lenses, both the FA50 and DA*55 top the list. Cheap normal zooms, macro and telelenses also score relatively high. Wide-angle and mega-zooms score low, because they simply didn't exist until some years ago (old wide-angle lenses aren't very wide on APS-C).


For which lenses do people prefer a third-party equivalent?

Lens	Third-party Eqv.	%
DFA 100mm Macro WR	195	12%
DA 12-24mm	162	10%
DA 55-300mm	131	8%
DA 17-70mm	116	7%
DA 18-250mm	107	6%
DA* 16-50mm	92	6%
DA 50-200mm	76	5%
DA* 60-250mm	69	4%
DA 16-45mm	61	4%
DFA 50mm Macro	59	4%
DA 10-17mm Fisheye	57	3%
DA 50-200mm WR	51	3%
DA* 200mm	49	3%
DA* 300mm	44	3%
DA* 50-135mm	43	3%
FA 50mm	40	2%
DA* 55mm	39	2%
DA 21mm Limited	27	2%
FA 31mm Limited	25	2%
DA 18-55mm	24	1%
DA 15mm Limited	23	1%
DA 18-55mm WR	23	1%
DA 70mm Limited	23	1%
DA 35mm Macro Limited	22	1%
FA 77mm Limited	22	1%
DA 14mm	21	1%
DA 40mm Limited	15	1%
FA 43mm Limited	12	1%

Some Pentax lenses are relatively often foregone in favor of a Sigma or Tamron alternative. In the case of the DFA 100mm Macro, I think the highly regarded Tamron 90mm Macro is to blame. For the DA12-24 we should point our fingers at Sigma’s offerings and the cheap 70-300 zooms probably spoil it for the DA55-300.

All the Limiteds are at the bottom. Obviously, as we all know, because there simply ARE no equivalents.


Future Lenses
 

Lens	Very	Some	Not	Very+Some	%
DA 85mmf1.4	717	440	504	1157	70%
DA 11-16mmf2.8	590	497	574	1087	65%
DA 135mmf1.8/2.8	612	456	593	1068	64%
DA 400mmf4/5.6	619	398	643	1017	61%
DA 24mmf2	523	462	676	985	59%
DA 12-24mmf4 WR	423	495	743	918	55%
DA 28mmf2	427	402	832	829	50%
DA 35mmf2	402	420	839	822	49%
DA 17-70mmf4 WR	374	430	857	804	48%
DA 55-300mmf4-5.8 WR	427	373	861	800	48%
DA 50mmf1.7	376	400	885	776	47%
DAL 35mmf2	430	295	936	725	44%
DAL 50mmf1.7	410	257	994	667	40%
DA 10-17mmf3.5-4.5 WR	218	392	1051	610	37%
DA 100-300mmf4-5.6	263	333	1065	596	36%
DA 18-105mmf4-5.6	266	319	1076	585	35%

If we were to conclude one thing from this part of the survey, it is that photography enthusiasts like to muse over new lenses. Even the DA 100-300mmf4-5.6, which was a mistake, gets the support of 36% of you. This should have actually been a 100-400mm lens. I would suggest those 263 people who are eagerly awaiting this lens order a DA55-300mmf4-5.8 .

In any case these numbers will surely not represent the sales figures would these lenses actually become a reality. They do however give a good look at which gaps in the lens line-up Pentaxians think should most urgently be filled.
The gap that apparently has to be filled quickest is at 85mm. Over two-thirds of you want this lens, nearly half of you (43%) very much so.

The second lens is the long-expected-but-never-materialized Pentax variant of the Tokina 11-16f2.8. After that comes another missing link, the 135mm - which is equivalent to 200mm on a fullframe, a common lens in many bags. The next one, at 400mm, can, I think, best be understood as ‘any lens longer than 300mm’, for which there is considerable demand.

The gap I would personally like to see filled most of all is between the DA21mm and the FA31mm. The DA24 and DA28 options both scored above average. However, when we look at them both, 641 people were very interested in either a DA24, a DA28, or both. So that puts interest in ‘a lens between 21mm and 31mm’ quite high on the list.

Interest in the WR lenses is, considering that they are special versions, quite high. Over half of the people would like a WR version of the DA12-24 (although I wonder whether all these people would still be as interested once they see the price tag). The 55-300 WR and 17-70 WR also recieve the support of as-near-as-makes-no-difference half of you. Even the 10-17mm Fisheye is met with enthusiasm, considering that such a lens has a rather limited public.

Another gap is a faster normal for APS-C, at about 35mm. Nikon has a very successful plastic-fantastic lens at this focal length, whereas Pentax makes do with a relatively slow macro. Interest in either the DA 35mmf2 or the DAL35mmf2 combined is, again, quite high: 599 people said they are very interested in either or both of these lenses.

The 50mm segment is a tough one. For Pentax it is a crowded place. There are vast amounts of older 50s, the FA50mm (owned by 31% of respondents) and the DA*55mm. One would think Pentax has this focal range covered pretty well. However, Canon, Nikon and Sony all offer cheap, no frills AF 50mm lenses for about €/$100. I would argue Pentax needs a cheap lens in this category. The lack of such a lens is an reason not to buy a Pentax camera. With the big three, you can get a fast and cheap auto-focus lens, whereas for Pentax, you can’t. If Pentax had such a lens, it could potentially introduce many photographers on a budget (all those people who bought K-x’s, for example) to prime lenses, which is a Pentax cash crop. Demand for such a lens might not seem very high compared to some of the other options, but considering this is a focal length many people already own, demand is huge. Moreover, such a lens would be aimed at people who are underrepresented in this survey: people on a tight budget.

At the very bottom we find the DA100-300mm, the error we already discussed, and the 18-105mm. The latter gets little love, but it would be a lens aimed at people on a shoestring budget, who again, are underrepresented in this survey.


Recommendations for future surveys

For future reference, the following list of answers will probably produce better results:

• Yes, I own this lens; I'm satisfied with this lens/I would recommend it.
• Yes, I own this lens, but I'm not satisfied with this lens/I wouldn't recommend it.
• Yes, I own this lens; this is my favorite lens.
• No, I don't own this lens; I sold it because I didn't like it.
• No, I don't own this lens; I sold it for another reason.
• No, I don't own this lens; I do not plan to buy it because I own or would rather buy a third-party equivalent of this lens.
• No, I don't own this lens; I do not plan to buy it because I own or would rather buy an older Pentax equivalent of this lens.
• No, I don't own this lens; I do not plan to buy it because I don't like its focal length.
• No, I don't own this lens; I do not plan to buy it for another reason.
• No, I don't own this lens, but I will probably own this lens within a year.
• No, I don't own this lens, but it's on my wishlist.
• I don't know/care.

Whether a lens needs an update or not is probably best asked in a separate question, since people who select one of the above answers could also be of the opinion that a lens needs an update.

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Last edited by kevinschoenmakers; 06-02-2010 at 11:22 AM.

[Adam]

I've now published this Thanks go to Kevin for setting this up, and also to Java for making tallying of the results a breeze (and to myself for writing the program )!

What do you guys think of these results?

[jqsk]

Interesting indeed- thanks for doing this. I'm only surprised that the DA 35/2 did not score higher as a wanted lens.

[fearview]

its really fun knowing FA 50 among the top on the list..

[Light_Horseman]

I thought my lens desires were a bit off the norm but most feature high in the list. The update I wanted for the 12-24 was WR or an 11-16 2.8.

Great work guys and an interesting snapshot of the Pentax world.

[Itzik]

many thanks for a very interesting, well prepared survey.
I am one of the 30% quoting the 16-50/2.8 as their favourite.
I assume also that the high percentage of people who think this lens require an upgrade, has to do with SDM issues, rather than optical quality.
I am lucky to own an excellent copy. very pleased indeed.
Itzik

[rei_vilo]

Bonjour,

Very interesting surview Congratulations to the Pentax forums team

I realise I've checked each of my DA* lenses as preferred lens. Sorry Among the 3, the DA* 50-135 is the one I prefer.

Something I'd waiting for is the the DA 1.4X rear converter SDM Pentax announced in the lens roadmap in 2008 but disappeared after the Hoya takeover. A 1.4x rear converter perfectly suits such fast lenses as the DA*.

Best regards,

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Last edited by rei_vilo; 06-02-2010 at 02:16 AM. Reason: Added link to my DA* 50-135 user review

[Urkeldaedalus]

Cool survey. Just for fun, here are the top 5 Pentax cameras by percentage of active Flickr users:

1. Pentax K10D
2. Pentax K20D
3. Pentax K-x
4. Pentax K-7
5. Pentax K200d

Most photos posted last month by camera:

1. Pentax K10D
2. Pentax K-x (battling K10D for the lead)
3. Pentax K-7
4. Pentax K20D
5. Pentax K200D

Roughly equivalent to your numbers, with the K-x and K-7 obviously switching places. Maybe more soccer moms use Flickr.

One thing I thought was odd was that, according to this survey, a DA85 f/1.4 is the most wished for lens, but the DA*55 f/1.4 is one of the least owned lenses. Is the assumption that this DA85 f/1.4 would be inexpensive? Or do people really want a 135 f/1.4 film equivalent rather than the old 85 f/1.4 that the DA*55 provides? Interesting.

It's too bad the D-FA50 Macro is an ugly duckling without a reboot. Maybe it will get one out of the blue like the D-FA 100 WR

[kevinschoenmakers]

Interesting indeed- thanks for doing this. I'm only surprised that the DA 35/2 did not score higher as a wanted lens.

That's because the 35mm option was split in two. When you add both of them up it actually scored among the top.

[Euronitzan]

Is anybody, ranked high enough in Pentax's management, is going to relate to the results of this survey?
without it, this thorough and fine job of statistical analysis (made available to Pentax for free ) will be just another exercise in self entertainment for us Pentaxians which is a pity.

[jrvalverde]

I think there is a flaw in the way you interpret the impact of old lenses: you are assuming they impact negatively the sales of modern lenses.

I beg to disagree: old lenses may decrease sales of new ones in the hands of experts or fans who can use them proficiently. In most cases they are bought by new aficionados who got their DSLR and want the taste of a prime or a better lens without the price penalty. In a few cases they will discover the advantages in the results they get over the kit lens do not justify a buy, in another few they may decide to go all the route to learn to use them (out of romanticism or economy), but in a large number of cases they will see they get better pictures and will hate the inconvenience of not having automatic or AF modes, or WR or some other feature and will move on to a better lens.

So, actually, older lenses are helping sell newer lenses (and bodies lowering the entry cost), as people who would not try those optics due to high prices can get an enticing taste off older lenses and be motivated to save for the newer lens. Granted, they may delay buying the newer lens, but it is arguable that were it not for the old version they might never make the expense only to try if a new lens suits them.

[kevinschoenmakers]

Is anybody, ranked high enough in Pentax's management, is going to relate to the results of this survey?
without it, this thorough and fine job of statistical analysis (made available to Pentax for free ) will be just another exercise in self entertainment for us Pentaxians which is a pity.

I'll send them an e-mail about it, but I'm sure they would have taken note anyway

[writeb]

Awesome job! It's not a trivial task to run these numbers and provide analysis over them. Much appreciated, and I have a feeling this will be at least to some extent interesting if not useful to anyone listening at Pentax as well.

A few comments
The D FA 100mm (non WR) Macro was missing from the list. I was under the impression that this version (or the prior FA 100mm f/2.8 macro as well) was more ubiquitous than the WR version.

Regarding an apparent WR bias in kit lenses:

These numbers are quite substantial, especially when we consider their pedestrian optical quality in comparison to other Pentax lenses. Apparently there are quite a few people interested in cheaper-than-DA* weather resistant lenses.

Even though the DA17-70 gets good reviews, it scores significantly lower than all the other normal zooms when it comes to ownership. Apparently its characteristics do not make it more desirable than its competitors, although again, we will see it is wishlisted relatively often.

So, I wouldn't necessarily come to that conclusion. I interpreted this data as:
A) The kit lenses are very popular, *inexpensive* and more readily available to Pentax owners. These lenses were likely in stock at physical stores.
B) Further, these are an upgrade of the acceptable original kit lens formula, where despite "pedestrian" performance, were considered an upgrade of the prior variants.
C) It makes no sense to buy a WR lens if the body isn't WR, so I'm not sure this WR trend holds weight as much..

Re: DA 17-70
I always felt the DA 17-70 suffered from too many redundant available focal lengths. Further, its price wasn't that competitive. I couldn't see the value proposition for that particular lens, especially since it was clear DA* was the way to go if you wanted to brave SDM. Personally, I just couldn't see myself paying $500 USD for a kit lens focal length that didn't even get me under f/4.

Fingers crossed they're listening to the Future Lenses portion! Cheers and good job.

[uccemebug]

Nice work, guys! For a survey of this complexity it's certainly a high number of completions.

One quibble: was the *istDS (which I still haven't upgraded) really the entry-level camera at the time? When I bought it, it was that or the DL; nothing higher than the DS existed.

As for the DA21 Ltd, I can't say I'm surprised at its relative low grades in the survey. I prefer the look of the pics I get from my old SMC glass. Thanks to wording of the survey, I am now thinking of selling it.

Thanks for doing the survey, I hope Pentax appreciates it and is looking at the results.

[edit]
One more point about "colorful Japanese schoolgirls" using the K-x. I see the K-x in the hands of 20-something dudes here in Tokyo, not girls. While the use of DSLR's by women is much higher here in Japan than it is in Canada and Australia (as countries where I've lived), schoolgirls use camera phones. I saw a white K-x in Shibuya just two hours ago in the hands, as usual, of twenty-something male hipster.

[kevinschoenmakers]

Nice work, guys! For a survey of this complexity it's certainly a high number of completions.

One quibble: was the *istDS (which I still haven't upgraded) really the entry-level camera at the time? When I bought it, it was that or the DL; nothing higher than the DS existed.

I'm not too sure on this, but I think at one point it was the cheapest Pentax DSLR available, below the *ist D.