Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
01-06-2012, 06:06 PM   #1
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Clinton's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,902
My gosh our glass is cheap

I just took a stroll through the Nikon gear on Amazon, just to get a picture of what their glass costs compared to Pentax glass. Obviously, our similar glass will be used glass, for the time being.

Nikon: 600/4? $10,000
Pentax: 600/4? ~$6500
Nikon: 400/2.8? $9000
Pentax 400/2.8? ~$3500
Nikon 250-600? Yeah doesn't exist.
Pentax 250-600? ~$8000
Nikon 300/2.8? $5900
Pentax 300/2.8? ~$3600
Nikon 200/4 micro? $1600
Pentax 200/4 macro? ~$4000 (ouch)
Nikon 85/1.4? $2000
Pentax 85/1.4? ~$1400
Nikon 70-200/2.8? $2400
Pentax 80-200/2.8? ~$1300

01-06-2012, 06:18 PM   #2
Veteran Member
Docrwm's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Somewhere in the Southern US
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,285
But theirs has such ....well it's.....err.....but it's Nikon!
01-06-2012, 06:21 PM   #3
Veteran Member
dgaies's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Maryland / Washington DC
Posts: 3,917
QuoteOriginally posted by Clinton Quote
I just took a stroll through the Nikon gear on Amazon, just to get a picture of what their glass costs compared to Pentax glass. Obviously, our similar glass will be used glass, for the time being.

Nikon: 600/4? $10,000
Pentax: 600/4? ~$6500
Nikon: 400/2.8? $9000
Pentax 400/2.8? ~$3500
Nikon 250-600? Yeah doesn't exist.
Pentax 250-600? ~$8000
Nikon 300/2.8? $5900
Pentax 300/2.8? ~$3600
Nikon 200/4 micro? $1600
Pentax 200/4 macro? ~$4000 (ouch)
Nikon 85/1.4? $2000
Pentax 85/1.4? ~$1400
Nikon 70-200/2.8? $2400
Pentax 80-200/2.8? ~$1300
Comparing the 85/1.4 lenses, a more fair comparison might be to the screw driven 85/1.4D of the same vintage as opposed to the much newer 85/1.4G with the built in AF-S motor.

Nikon 85/1.4G $1700 new, $1400-1500 used
Nikon 85/1.4D $800-900 used
Pentax FA*85/1.4 $1200-1400 used


Comparing the 70-200/2.8 options, again I would argue that the 70-200/2.8 VRI is the closer comparison to the 80-200/2.8, and they are about the same price used. Then don't forget the VRI has a silent and fast built in motor and VR.

Nikon 70-200/2.8 VRII $2400 new, $1800-2000 used
Nikon 70-200/2.8 VR1 $1300-1500 used
Pentax FA*80-200/2.8 $1400-1600 used
01-06-2012, 06:23 PM   #4
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
LaurenOE's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs!
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,690
Some of those Pentax lenses are not available anymore. I wish I could buy new, but can't.
I'm dying for a 80-200 2.8, but will probably buy the Tamron or Sigma.

01-06-2012, 07:23 PM   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
jatrax's Avatar

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington Cascades
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,991
QuoteOriginally posted by Clinton Quote
will be used glass, for the time being.
Here's hoping that changes!!
01-06-2012, 09:14 PM   #6
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
maxfield_photo's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 1,216
Well "cheap" is of course a relative term. I didn't do a lot of lens buying back in the film era, I inherited most of my gear, and I only made the transition to digital three and a half years ago. I've never spent more than $800 on a lens, and at the time I made the switch, I never thought I'd even do that. But you know what really scares me? I'm starting to think that $3500 for an FA* 300 f2.8 seems pretty reasonable.

Clinton, YOU'RE NOT HELPING!
01-06-2012, 09:32 PM   #7
Emperor and Senpai
Loyal Site Supporter
VoiceOfReason's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Mishawaka IN area
Photos: Albums
Posts: 6,124
250-600.... I need to win the friggin' lottery already!

01-06-2012, 09:55 PM   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Boston, PRofMA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,026
QuoteOriginally posted by dgaies Quote
Comparing the 85/1.4 lenses, a more fair comparison might be to the screw driven 85/1.4D of the same vintage as opposed to the much newer 85/1.4G with the built in AF-S motor.
Comparing the 70-200/2.8 options, again I would argue that the 70-200/2.8 VRI is the closer comparison to the 80-200/2.8, and they are about the same price used. Then don't forget the VRI has a silent and fast built in motor and VR.
I'd agree w/ this.
IMHO, the latest Nikon lenses are far better than the Pentax ones in the OP's list. They're ridiculously sharp wide open (I've seen the originals from a friend's Nikon D700 and they really are nearly macro sharp) and across the frame (as in FF)...Nikon released them in preparation for their higher MP FF sensors. The Pentax lenses are older film style sharpness (i.e., sharp in the middle) and we're taking advantage of that on APS-C because we're only using the center area.
01-06-2012, 10:26 PM   #9
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
monochrome's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Working From Home
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 26,276
QuoteOriginally posted by kenyee Quote
I'd agree w/ this.
IMHO, the latest Nikon lenses are far better than the Pentax ones in the OP's list. They're ridiculously sharp wide open (I've seen the originals from a friend's Nikon D700 and they really are nearly macro sharp) and across the frame (as in FF)...Nikon released them in preparation for their higher MP FF sensors. The Pentax lenses are older film style sharpness (i.e., sharp in the middle) and we're taking advantage of that on APS-C because we're only using the center area.
This is why

a) Pentax is "fully committed" to APSc
b) We are unliekly to see a FF Pentax

which is really sad considering Pentax has really been an optics company, not a body company.
01-06-2012, 10:49 PM   #10
Veteran Member
littledrawe's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Red Rock
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,514
I just wish it was accessible. I don't have the money for it but its hard to save some and then sit on it until the lens you want comes around. Inevitably something is going to come up and there goes my money before my lens has come around for sale.
01-07-2012, 02:33 AM   #11
Pentaxian




Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,379
QuoteOriginally posted by Clinton Quote
I just took a stroll through the Nikon gear on Amazon, just to get a picture of what their glass costs compared to Pentax glass. Obviously, our similar glass will be used glass, for the time being.

Nikon: 600/4? $10,000
Pentax: 600/4? ~$6500
Nikon: 400/2.8? $9000
Pentax 400/2.8? ~$3500
Nikon 250-600? Yeah doesn't exist.
Pentax 250-600? ~$8000
Nikon 300/2.8? $5900
Pentax 300/2.8? ~$3600
Nikon 200/4 micro? $1600
Pentax 200/4 macro? ~$4000 (ouch)
Nikon 85/1.4? $2000
Pentax 85/1.4? ~$1400
Nikon 70-200/2.8? $2400
Pentax 80-200/2.8? ~$1300
What is your point, comparing used glass not existing in the current Pentax line up with new glass from Nikon.
What does cost mean, talking about quality as well as current day optics. All Nikon lenses are AF-S (I think).
Some Pentax lenses could do with an update in features and quality and I would not mind an increase in price.

And where did you see a 2.8/400 for $3500??? I want one.
01-07-2012, 03:06 AM   #12
Senior Member




Join Date: May 2009
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 132
I'll add another one for you, in GBP this time:

Nikon f1.8 medium tele prime £320
Pentax f1.8 medium tele prime £750

Oh wait...
01-07-2012, 04:30 AM   #13
Veteran Member
frank's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Singapore
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,202
Out glass is cheap, but most of those listed here are out of production already ...
01-07-2012, 05:06 AM   #14
Veteran Member




Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: md-usa
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,580
When I went with canon, I got a new 400mm f5.6L and a 40d refurb for the price of a USED pentax 400mm f5.6 with no warranty (or service back up). Just my 2 cents
01-07-2012, 09:08 AM   #15
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Clinton's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,902
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by zapp Quote
And where did you see a 2.8/400 for $3500??? I want one.
Keh sold one a couple months ago for $2800 I believe.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
glass, k-mount, nikon, pentax, pentax lens, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Great glass on the cheap pdxbmw Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 4 07-15-2009 09:42 PM
Cheap Wine Glass - With Wine Sailor Post Your Photos! 15 01-18-2009 07:19 AM
=Gosh, is it me, or= jgredline Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras 67 10-28-2008 09:43 PM
Cheap manual lens on cheap extension tube with cheap flash! Also cats. pasipasi Post Your Photos! 12 08-28-2008 04:43 PM
K10 shots with cheap glass shots vievetrick Pentax DSLR Discussion 10 12-05-2006 05:23 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:59 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top