Are the FA series dead?

dedmozaj · 06-19-2010, 02:19 AM

Are the FA series dead? Will Pentax ever release lenses with aperture rings again?

D

A

L

E

N

S

E

S

M

A

K

E

M

E

S

I

C

K

glasbak · 06-19-2010, 02:53 AM

Originally posted by dedmozaj

D

A

L

E

N

S

E

S

M

A

K

E

M

E

S

I

C

K

Then, I hope for you, that you have a health insurance.

wlachan · 06-19-2010, 02:54 AM

I think the short answer is yes, FA is dead except the LIMITED because there are sufficient demand. Like the old Minolta, Pentax cameras & lenses were moving from one series to another (K-M-A-F-FA-DA). Canon & Nikon have no such distinction. There is little chance aperture ring would be made again, no practical reason to anyway.

glasbak · 06-19-2010, 03:07 AM

Originally posted by wlachan

There is little chance aperture ring would be made again, no practical reason to anyway.

In the very limited pentax camera system we have now, without any macro (bellows etc) stuff, you can do without, but I won't buy DA lenses, if I can have a similar lens with aperture ring.

Aperture is a parameter of the lens, just like focus and focal length.
The most logical place to control these is on the lens.
And on my LX, these DA lenses are very useless.

dedmozaj · 06-19-2010, 03:22 AM

The limiteds are too few. I hope I will never get to keep a DA lens for longer than 5 days

. What if someone gives one to me and I won't be able to sell it?

Also, I sure hope Pentax will cut that plastic business out in the next few years. Otherwise I would advise this forum to offers a better selection of sickened expressions, I feel very limited by that green face.

And one more thing, adding aperture ring to all lenses just for the sake of LX users is enough of a practical reason for me. The brand name still stands on this camera.

dedmozaj · 06-19-2010, 03:36 AM

Originally posted by wlachan

There is little chance aperture ring would be made again, no practical reason to anyway.

Yes. They also need to remove that focusing ring and the zoom ring as well. Those point and shoot cameras are far ahead in their innovative practical thinking.

dedmozaj · 06-19-2010, 03:38 AM

dedmozaj · 06-19-2010, 03:39 AM

Originally posted by glasbak

Then, I hope for you, that you have a health insurance.

I have health insurance.

axl · 06-19-2010, 06:49 AM

I'm not sure what exactly is your case here my friend.
I don't like plastic lenses neither so I give you that but AFAIK Pentax are trying to move forward so I don't see point of making lenses compatible with old age camera, however good it was/is. Besides there is countless numbers of pre DA lenses which you can choose from... we should be happy we can use old lenses on new bodies

Adam · 06-19-2010, 07:42 AM

All the digital mounts are crippled, and I'm sure Pentax won't go back on this decision unless they release a really expensive FF body.

FA lenses will live forever, but I'm sure their production days are limited. It seems that accessories for these lenses are still available new, however.

lpfonseca · 06-19-2010, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by dedmozaj

And one more thing, adding aperture ring to all lenses just for the sake of LX users is enough of a practical reason for me.

I doubt that Hoya as any interest in keeping LX users happy since LX is an old discontinued model.

All recent cameras are able to control aperture so there's no need for an aperture ring to had to the cost of prodution.

Regards,

Luis

Blue · 06-19-2010, 09:07 AM

Currently the FA ltds are in production and the FA 50mm f1.4. It appears that the future trend will be more like a D FA style for full frame requiring the aperture to be set from the body as well as FF use should one be released.

However, who knows how long the ltd lenses will stay in production. It could be 1 year or 10. Its also possible with a few special assembly lines that Pentax could do special runs like they did with the A 50mm f1.2.

kxr4trids · 06-19-2010, 10:20 AM

My canon EF lenses from 12 years ago didn't have aperture rings.

On the other hand, the body had that lovely canon command dial.

(yea yea, should have sprung for the K7 instead of the KX)

Laurentiu Cristofor · 06-20-2010, 09:59 PM

Originally posted by kxr4trids

My canon EF lenses from 12 years ago didn't have aperture rings.

Because Canon shed that ring with the FD mount when they figured out that autofocus thingie.

**pentaxus** · 06-20-2010, 10:22 PM

The FA series is mostly dead because it costs more money to make a lens with a diaphragm ring. Most consumer don't even know what f-stop means. They only know price for features. Pentax makes plastic barrel lenses like everyone else to keep costs competitive. A few years ago Nikon lost significant market share because they insisted on making camera bodies that were made out of metal. Canon made cameras with more features for the money and sold more cameras. If anything, Pentax has been the last to cheapen its products.

06-19-2010, 02:19 AM	#1
dedmozaj Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 37	Are the FA series dead? Are the FA series dead? Will Pentax ever release lenses with aperture rings again? DALENSESMAKEMESICK

06-19-2010, 02:53 AM	#2
glasbak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Netherlands Posts: 369	Originally posted by dedmozaj DALENSESMAKEMESICK Then, I hope for you, that you have a health insurance.

06-19-2010, 03:22 AM	#5
dedmozaj Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 37 Original Poster	The limiteds are too few. I hope I will never get to keep a DA lens for longer than 5 days . What if someone gives one to me and I won't be able to sell it? Also, I sure hope Pentax will cut that plastic business out in the next few years. Otherwise I would advise this forum to offers a better selection of sickened expressions, I feel very limited by that green face. And one more thing, adding aperture ring to all lenses just for the sake of LX users is enough of a practical reason for me. The brand name still stands on this camera. Last edited by dedmozaj; 06-19-2010 at 03:37 AM.

06-20-2010, 10:22 PM	#15
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,313	not much choice The FA series is mostly dead because it costs more money to make a lens with a diaphragm ring. Most consumer don't even know what f-stop means. They only know price for features. Pentax makes plastic barrel lenses like everyone else to keep costs competitive. A few years ago Nikon lost significant market share because they insisted on making camera bodies that were made out of metal. Canon made cameras with more features for the money and sold more cameras. If anything, Pentax has been the last to cheapen its products.

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06-19-2010, 02:54 AM	#3
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	I think the short answer is yes, FA is dead except the LIMITED because there are sufficient demand. Like the old Minolta, Pentax cameras & lenses were moving from one series to another (K-M-A-F-FA-DA). Canon & Nikon have no such distinction. There is little chance aperture ring would be made again, no practical reason to anyway.

06-19-2010, 03:07 AM	#4
glasbak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Netherlands Posts: 369	Originally posted by wlachan There is little chance aperture ring would be made again, no practical reason to anyway. In the very limited pentax camera system we have now, without any macro (bellows etc) stuff, you can do without, but I won't buy DA lenses, if I can have a similar lens with aperture ring. Aperture is a parameter of the lens, just like focus and focal length. The most logical place to control these is on the lens. And on my LX, these DA lenses are very useless.

06-19-2010, 03:36 AM	#6
dedmozaj Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 37 Original Poster	Originally posted by wlachan There is little chance aperture ring would be made again, no practical reason to anyway. Yes. They also need to remove that focusing ring and the zoom ring as well. Those point and shoot cameras are far ahead in their innovative practical thinking.

06-19-2010, 03:38 AM	#7
dedmozaj Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 37 Original Poster

06-19-2010, 03:39 AM	#8
dedmozaj Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 37 Original Poster	Originally posted by glasbak Then, I hope for you, that you have a health insurance. I have health insurance.

06-19-2010, 06:49 AM	#9
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I'm not sure what exactly is your case here my friend. I don't like plastic lenses neither so I give you that but AFAIK Pentax are trying to move forward so I don't see point of making lenses compatible with old age camera, however good it was/is. Besides there is countless numbers of pre DA lenses which you can choose from... we should be happy we can use old lenses on new bodies

06-19-2010, 07:42 AM	#10
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	All the digital mounts are crippled, and I'm sure Pentax won't go back on this decision unless they release a really expensive FF body. FA lenses will live forever, but I'm sure their production days are limited. It seems that accessories for these lenses are still available new, however.

06-19-2010, 07:52 AM	#11
lpfonseca Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lisbon Posts: 143	Originally posted by dedmozaj And one more thing, adding aperture ring to all lenses just for the sake of LX users is enough of a practical reason for me. I doubt that Hoya as any interest in keeping LX users happy since LX is an old discontinued model. All recent cameras are able to control aperture so there's no need for an aperture ring to had to the cost of prodution. Regards, Luis

06-19-2010, 09:07 AM	#12
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Currently the FA ltds are in production and the FA 50mm f1.4. It appears that the future trend will be more like a D FA style for full frame requiring the aperture to be set from the body as well as FF use should one be released. However, who knows how long the ltd lenses will stay in production. It could be 1 year or 10. Its also possible with a few special assembly lines that Pentax could do special runs like they did with the A 50mm f1.2.

06-19-2010, 10:20 AM	#13
kxr4trids Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: VA Photos: Albums Posts: 227	My canon EF lenses from 12 years ago didn't have aperture rings. On the other hand, the body had that lovely canon command dial. (yea yea, should have sprung for the K7 instead of the KX)

06-20-2010, 09:59 PM	#14
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	Originally posted by kxr4trids My canon EF lenses from 12 years ago didn't have aperture rings. Because Canon shed that ring with the FD mount when they figured out that autofocus thingie.