Just made a walk with my dog and came to my sences. I didn't make a single picture of a building this year and that is why there is no
tilt/shift lens on this list. Shame on me, because there are people who woult want such a lens!
Originally posted by Ash Interesting concept Ron, but I think you're mixing APS-C and FF focal lengths together, and adding in an FA ltd that doesn't seem feasible when there already is a decent DA ltd lineup.
DA L lenses might be expanded on by another lens or two, but by then beginners would be wanting a DA ltd, so I don't see much in adding DA Ls.
A 200mm macro sounds like something Pentax could implement, but sounds like it would follow the FA* formula and become a DA*.
An 85mm DA* lens seems unlikely as the 55 became the new 85 for APS-C, unless FF is coming in, but then it would be a DFA (or DFA*?). Same with the 28-70 and 135; but the 300/2.8 is another issue. If Pentax are willing to invest in its development, it would surely attract some wildlife and sports putners - they'd have to follow up with a 400 and 500mm prime, perhaps also with a modern 250-600...
A 135-270 sounds like it's not going to offer much more than what the 60-250 already does. Perhaps more range at the long end may be warranted for this DA* zoom...
Also don't know what to think about the DA 135-400 - doesn't sound like a consumer zoom with a consumer price tag...
Ambitious list, but interesting...
Ash you are very good in seeing things. I did make a mix of different things, putting apples and pears together. But there is a little plan behind it to make it more plausible.
If you are a step-up photographer, coming from P&S or just new into dslr then you probably start with a K-r and maybe the 18-55 kitlens. For those newcomers (or people who just don't want to spend a fortune on their hobby) there is the DA-L lens range. At the time just the new 35mm/f2.4 wich is a real bang for the buck lens. I think it would be great to offer a larger range off lenses to those Pentax photographers that I would catagorise as hobby/family camera users. That's why there is as you also notice a market for a few extra lenses.
Then there is the Full Frame mission. When new lenses are designed, what about the compatability with Full Frame sensor. I think you are right that 28-70 and 85 should be DFA* to work with FF (see below). Mainly for FF the FA Ltd range is the lens line-up, that's why the new lenses. The FF camera is for people who are using it either proffessionally or are amateurs with deep pockets. Such a camera with the FA Ltd lensrange and the DFA* lenses make a good team, from 20mm to 500mm (or 700mm with TC) and will cost a fortune!
For APS-C I thought off mainly having a full system. Used on either now K-5 or K-r or future camera in that segment. Don't spoil glass designed for FF on a small sensor, but make the lenses small and off good quality (so making DA*28-70 and DA*85mm would be possible). Giving a pro-grade DA* lens line and below that the Ltd. series and for step-up the cheap DA-L. There are some lenses that are the same, like DFA*80-200 and DA*135-270, so make a choice there. The DA*135-270/f2.8 is an APS-C version of Sigma's 120-300mm/f2.8 with narrower reach and smaller circle for APS-C making this lens much smaller then the Sigma version and completing the DA*zoom lenses (covering from 16-to270mm in f2.8 or expanding it to 378mm/f4 with a 1.4x TC).
The DA135-400 is a different lens. Not to cheap, but not to expensive. Who is it for? I think it is for soccermoms and hockeydads who are beside a sportsfield every weekend and want a good but not to expensive super long zoom.
Originally posted by Kim C The lenses I would like to see are not on the list!
Thay's part of the problem. Everyone has different ideas and so you end up with a catch all that doesn't please that many.
For me then, I would like some of the "holes" in the prime range plugged. After all it has been where Pentax has been the strongest.
Kim
Wich one's would you like to see?
Last edited by RonHendriks1966; 06-04-2011 at 05:44 AM.