NEW Pentax Lens Roadmap 2012/2013

DSims · 02-02-2012, 05:16 PM

Originally posted by jeztastic

and the Ltd zoom being... The SMC-A 24-50mm f4. You heard it here first...

I don't think it will be the A(or F)24-50/4, although that's a fantastic lens overall. f/4 just won't fly as a Ltd, I think.

Chex · 02-02-2012, 05:17 PM

Great to see the road map, and with far more than 3 lenses that were sort-of predicted! So now, we'll have to see how many of these DA's are going to be FF capable, VERY surprised with the 550mm announcement! I'm guessing/hoping the 50 is a f1.7 as well, even the old M 50 1.7 is a great performer. I think between all of today's announcements the biggest let down is the lack of weather sealing on the K-01.. it could have been a great viable option for many who want K-5's IQ and better video controls... but many want/need the WR of that K-5, it's just great piece of mind when your out shooting in the elements.

lightbulb · 02-02-2012, 05:22 PM

More wr screw drive for the low end ones and wr DC for the mid to high priced ones. Kill the sdm! There you go Pentax, to infinity and beyond!

lightbulb · 02-02-2012, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by Chex

Great to see the road map, and with far more than 3 lenses that were sort-of predicted! So now, we'll have to see how many of these DA's are going to be FF capable, VERY surprised with the 550mm announcement! I'm guessing/hoping the 50 is a f1.7 as well, even the old M 50 1.7 is a great performer. I think between all of today's announcements the biggest let down is the lack of weather sealing on the K-01.. it could have been a great viable option for many who want K-5's IQ and better video controls... but many want/need the WR of that K-5, it's just great piece of mind when your out shooting in the elements.

If mirrorless is what the market wants, they could consider a EVF k5 version to have the wr and good video function. It makes more sense than a K-01 given the almost same bulkiness.

**Jetfin** · 02-02-2012, 05:53 PM

Relieved and glad to see the Ricoh-Pentax commitment to the K-mount - thanks. I hope some of the DA lenses are WR and that the DC motor is used instead of SDM. The focal lengths look great, especially the short and walk-around zooms.

LFLee · 02-02-2012, 06:26 PM

Looking forward to the DA*16-85 (or 20-80 some say), and the teleconverter!

The zoom limited lens is also interesting... will be the first limited zoom.

abacus07 · 02-02-2012, 06:27 PM

The one disagreement that I have with everyone's analysis is the DA limited zoom. It won't be f2.8 imo. the standard theme of the DA ltds is compact size with comparably slower apertures. For a zoom I'm guessing that it will be f4. Possibly a rework of the FA20-35f4 zoom.

I think there will be a few potential surprises in this roadmap. For instance I don't think they would put FA lenses on the roadmap tipping their hat on a FF camera until they announce a FF camera. 3 of the 4 zooms in 2013 (and the 550 telephoto) rather suspiciously fill some of the big FF gaps in the current Pentax lineup.

DSims · 02-02-2012, 06:37 PM

This seems to go well with the comments I made about FF yesterday:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/173496-k-01-so-who-off...ml#post1803019

I don't think they'll call anything new on the publicly-released roadmap a DFA or FA right now, since no FF camera is announced. But a FF does seem to be something Pentax has been talking about recently, if you read between the lines.

The * zoom in 2013 clearly looks like a 28 (or 24) to 70 (or 80) f/2.8 lens. Traditionally, this focal length only makes sense on a FF camera. In other words, they are essentially "bringing back the FA*28-70," which I said was the only essential lens missing if a FF camera is to come out. Since it's in 2013, this indicates that a FF camera likely wouldn't be released until toward the end of the year, at the earliest. But it also strongly suggests that they are bringing one out. This time frame (late 2012 or 1H 2013) also fits within the time typically needed to develop a new camera, if measured from the time of the Ricoh acquisition. I think they could get away with a ~24-70/2.8 * trailing the camera by a few months, but they would likely announce it around the same time.

(True, I did say the FA*80-200 also needs to come back, and it does, but they could get away without it for a while, considering the DA*200/2.8 prime and the DA*60-250/4 work on FF. But they do need a ~70-200/2.8, eventually (I just didn't want to say they could put it off yesterday, because it's a poor idea). Sony has an outstanding lens in this category, as do Canon and Nikon.)

Hopefully the DA Wide Zoom is the Tokina 16-28/2.8, or something similar they are developing. This is the third of the three lenses I said they need for the FF.

The DA Telephoto at 550mm fixes the glaring absence of lenses over 300mm right now. It will be curious to see whether it becomes a * lens before release. Perhaps they have some new naming conventions in mind.

The DA Zoom Ltd is the most intriguing. I would expect it to be FF, most likely. This may almost make up for the lack of any current FF lenses below 31mm, even though it's not a prime. It looks like about a 24-35 or 24-38. Remember, Sony Zeiss and Nikon have shown us some outstanding wide zooms lately (Zeiss 16-35/2.8; Nikon 14-24/2.8 and 17-35/2.8). Once again, 24mm sounds like something destined for FF.

The DA 50 almost certainly replaces the FA 50/1.4, since it's the only non-Ltd FA left - I can see it going at either f/1.4 or f/1.7 to f/1.8. A 50/1.2 might be a better use of engineering resources (since the DA*55 and FA50 can keep going), but I expect a FF capable lens similar to the DA35/2.4 (another positive sign - why else make a new 50, if not partly for FF?). But I'd still love an AF version of my K50/1.2 instead.

Anyhow, who's to say a DA lens can't be FF? That's just the way it was in the past. I won't be surprised if something in the naming changes on at least one lens, whether adding a * or Ltd, or changing a name to D FA, or perhaps a new variant of the DA name.

DSims · 02-02-2012, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by abacus07

The one disagreement that I have with everyone's analysis is the DA limited zoom. It won't be f2.8 imo. the standard theme of the DA ltds is compact size with comparably slower apertures. For a zoom I'm guessing that it will be f4. Possibly a rework of the FA20-35f4 zoom.

I think there will be a few potential surprises in this roadmap. For instance I don't think they would put FA lenses on the roadmap tipping their hat on a FF camera until they announce a FF camera. 3 of the 4 zooms in 2013 (and the 550 telephoto) rather suspiciously fill some of the big FF gaps in the current Pentax lineup.

I agree with your FF observations. And interesting idea about the FA20-35/4 - it's certainly a worthy lens. I sold mine when I got an FA20 (a somewhat tough decision), but the FA20-35 was a lens I really liked.

LFLee · 02-02-2012, 07:30 PM

Here are some picture of several lenses on the K-01:
K-01 Roadmap - Pentax SLR

lightbulb · 02-02-2012, 07:32 PM

I look forward to the 15-85, here's hoping for a good IQ with WR DC motor and weigh less than 400 gram. That would be the perfect lens to go with K5 for millions of anglers, kayakers and boaters.

JinDesu · 02-02-2012, 07:32 PM

Every short prime looks pretty at home on the K-01

Alizarine · 02-02-2012, 07:37 PM

probably a DA*16-80 or 85..

but what I'm excited about is a new 50 - hopefully, if it ain't FF capable then it should be priced somewhat near the cheaper 50's of Canikon (there's the DA*55 for high-end, anyway)

and what's that? a DA18-210 or something? perhaps a replacement to the discontinued 18-250..

DSims · 02-02-2012, 07:38 PM

Wow, I just realized a few more things! The DA 50 is due this year, meaning it could well be available as a bundled lens with a FF camera, as Pentax likes to offer a prime bundle most of the time.

And they also chose a single focal length of long prime to develop, as I was thinking.

Furthermore, the DA High Magnification Zoom Lens might be like the Nikon 24-120/4, as I was thinking they should do (but didn't mention) yesterday. Canon also has their 24-105/4, and these are very useful lenses. I sure hope it is - in my mind this is a key lens for both Canon and Nikon. However, it may just be a slower zoom, as I was thinking at first. I hope it's not. A constant aperture lens would be so much better. And they already have the DA18-135, plus slower third-party glass (such as Tamron) has been available in FF for a long time. But no one else (that I know of) offers this excellent zoom range in an f/4 lens, except Canon and Nikon.

Also, the 1.4x AF TC is a great idea. I wasn't satisfied with the Tamron 1.4x AF TC, and I think it's out of production anyway. So far I've opted for the old Pentax A 1.4x glass instead. And let's be honest - even if many of us don't use our TC often, we'll go out and buy one, because we think we need it in our kit!

Boy, hasn't it been a LOOOOONG time since Pentax released a lens roadmap? Many of us were getting worried during the Hoya years.

Docrwm · 02-02-2012, 07:40 PM

Originally posted by Transit

I agree.
I wonder if all those DAs off into the future are the death knell of FF though.
Pete

What makes you think that the DAs would be incompatible with a FF camera? As I understand it from folks that have experimented - many of the current lineup that Pentax-Hoya claimed would not work on FF cameras in fact do so nicely. As another poster pointed out - perhaps its just a way to get a broader range covered with lenses that can do FF prior to the release of a FF and THEN rebrand the identical lenses as DFA. Even the current DA40 pancake has supposedly been used with a FF.

02-02-2012, 06:37 PM	#143
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	This seems to go well with the comments I made about FF yesterday: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/173496-k-01-so-who-off...ml#post1803019 I don't think they'll call anything new on the publicly-released roadmap a DFA or FA right now, since no FF camera is announced. But a FF does seem to be something Pentax has been talking about recently, if you read between the lines. The * zoom in 2013 clearly looks like a 28 (or 24) to 70 (or 80) f/2.8 lens. Traditionally, this focal length only makes sense on a FF camera. In other words, they are essentially "bringing back the FA28-70," which I said was the only essential lens missing if a FF camera is to come out. Since it's in 2013, this indicates that a FF camera likely wouldn't be released until toward the end of the year, at the earliest. But it also strongly suggests that they are* bringing one out. This time frame (late 2012 or 1H 2013) also fits within the time typically needed to develop a new camera, if measured from the time of the Ricoh acquisition. I think they could get away with a ~24-70/2.8 * trailing the camera by a few months, but they would likely announce it around the same time. (True, I did say the FA80-200 also needs to come back, and it does, but they could get away without it for a while, considering the DA200/2.8 prime and the DA60-250/4 work on FF. But they do need a ~70-200/2.8, eventually (I just didn't want to say they could put it off yesterday, because it's a poor idea). Sony has an outstanding lens in this category, as do Canon and Nikon.) Hopefully the DA Wide Zoom is the Tokina 16-28/2.8, or something similar they are developing. This is the third of the three lenses I said they need for the FF. The DA Telephoto at 550mm fixes the glaring absence of lenses over 300mm right now. It will be curious to see whether it becomes a lens before release. Perhaps they have some new naming conventions in mind. The DA Zoom Ltd is the most intriguing. I would expect it to be FF, most likely. This may almost make up for the lack of any current FF lenses below 31mm, even though it's not a prime. It looks like about a 24-35 or 24-38. Remember, Sony Zeiss and Nikon have shown us some outstanding wide zooms lately (Zeiss 16-35/2.8; Nikon 14-24/2.8 and 17-35/2.8). Once again, 24mm sounds like something destined for FF. The DA 50 almost certainly replaces the FA 50/1.4, since it's the only non-Ltd FA left - I can see it going at either f/1.4 or f/1.7 to f/1.8. A 50/1.2 might be a better use of engineering resources (since the DA55 and FA50 can keep going), but I expect a FF capable lens similar to the DA35/2.4 (another positive sign - why else make a new 50, if not partly for FF?). But I'd still love an AF version of my K50/1.2 instead. Anyhow, who's to say a DA lens can't be FF? That's just the way it was in the past. I won't be surprised if something in the naming changes on at least one lens, whether adding a or Ltd, or changing a name to D FA, or perhaps a new variant of the DA name. Last edited by DSims; 02-02-2012 at 07:05 PM.

02-02-2012, 07:38 PM	#149
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Wow, I just realized a few more things! The DA 50 is due this year, meaning it could well be available as a bundled lens with a FF camera, as Pentax likes to offer a prime bundle most of the time. And they also chose a single focal length of long prime to develop, as I was thinking. Furthermore, the DA High Magnification Zoom Lens might be like the Nikon 24-120/4, as I was thinking they should do (but didn't mention) yesterday. Canon also has their 24-105/4, and these are very useful lenses. I sure hope it is - in my mind this is a key lens for both Canon and Nikon. However, it may just be a slower zoom, as I was thinking at first. I hope it's not. A constant aperture lens would be so much better. And they already have the DA18-135, plus slower third-party glass (such as Tamron) has been available in FF for a long time. But no one else (that I know of) offers this excellent zoom range in an f/4 lens, except Canon and Nikon. Also, the 1.4x AF TC is a great idea. I wasn't satisfied with the Tamron 1.4x AF TC, and I think it's out of production anyway. So far I've opted for the old Pentax A 1.4x glass instead. And let's be honest - even if many of us don't use our TC often, we'll go out and buy one, because we think we need it in our kit! Boy, hasn't it been a LOOOOONG time since Pentax released a lens roadmap? Many of us were getting worried during the Hoya years. Last edited by DSims; 02-02-2012 at 07:47 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Samsung NX lens roadmap for 2012: five new lenses, NX20 and NX1	ogl	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	55	12-20-2013 08:44 PM
New Jersey set to host F1 race in 2013 !	jogiba	General Talk	4	10-27-2011 06:37 AM
New Pentax Lens Roadmap	agkchang	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	16	04-27-2009 04:05 PM
New Pentax Lens Roadmap!	Tbear	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	47	02-08-2008 05:29 PM
Question regarding Pentax Lens Roadmap	MSM	Pentax News and Rumors	34	12-29-2007 06:16 AM

02-02-2012, 05:16 PM	#136
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by jeztastic and the Ltd zoom being... The SMC-A 24-50mm f4. You heard it here first... I don't think it will be the A(or F)24-50/4, although that's a fantastic lens overall. f/4 just won't fly as a Ltd, I think.

02-02-2012, 05:17 PM	#137
Chex Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The 'Stoke, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,678	Great to see the road map, and with far more than 3 lenses that were sort-of predicted! So now, we'll have to see how many of these DA's are going to be FF capable, VERY surprised with the 550mm announcement! I'm guessing/hoping the 50 is a f1.7 as well, even the old M 50 1.7 is a great performer. I think between all of today's announcements the biggest let down is the lack of weather sealing on the K-01.. it could have been a great viable option for many who want K-5's IQ and better video controls... but many want/need the WR of that K-5, it's just great piece of mind when your out shooting in the elements.

02-02-2012, 05:22 PM	#138
lightbulb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 691	More wr screw drive for the low end ones and wr DC for the mid to high priced ones. Kill the sdm! There you go Pentax, to infinity and beyond!

02-02-2012, 05:27 PM	#139
lightbulb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 691	Originally posted by Chex Great to see the road map, and with far more than 3 lenses that were sort-of predicted! So now, we'll have to see how many of these DA's are going to be FF capable, VERY surprised with the 550mm announcement! I'm guessing/hoping the 50 is a f1.7 as well, even the old M 50 1.7 is a great performer. I think between all of today's announcements the biggest let down is the lack of weather sealing on the K-01.. it could have been a great viable option for many who want K-5's IQ and better video controls... but many want/need the WR of that K-5, it's just great piece of mind when your out shooting in the elements. If mirrorless is what the market wants, they could consider a EVF k5 version to have the wr and good video function. It makes more sense than a K-01 given the almost same bulkiness.

02-02-2012, 05:53 PM	#140
Jetfin Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 23	Relieved and glad to see the Ricoh-Pentax commitment to the K-mount - thanks. I hope some of the DA lenses are WR and that the DC motor is used instead of SDM. The focal lengths look great, especially the short and walk-around zooms.

02-02-2012, 06:26 PM	#141
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	Looking forward to the DA*16-85 (or 20-80 some say), and the teleconverter! The zoom limited lens is also interesting... will be the first limited zoom.

02-02-2012, 06:27 PM	#142
abacus07 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Taiwan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,075	The one disagreement that I have with everyone's analysis is the DA limited zoom. It won't be f2.8 imo. the standard theme of the DA ltds is compact size with comparably slower apertures. For a zoom I'm guessing that it will be f4. Possibly a rework of the FA20-35f4 zoom. I think there will be a few potential surprises in this roadmap. For instance I don't think they would put FA lenses on the roadmap tipping their hat on a FF camera until they announce a FF camera. 3 of the 4 zooms in 2013 (and the 550 telephoto) rather suspiciously fill some of the big FF gaps in the current Pentax lineup.

02-02-2012, 06:42 PM	#144
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by abacus07 The one disagreement that I have with everyone's analysis is the DA limited zoom. It won't be f2.8 imo. the standard theme of the DA ltds is compact size with comparably slower apertures. For a zoom I'm guessing that it will be f4. Possibly a rework of the FA20-35f4 zoom. I think there will be a few potential surprises in this roadmap. For instance I don't think they would put FA lenses on the roadmap tipping their hat on a FF camera until they announce a FF camera. 3 of the 4 zooms in 2013 (and the 550 telephoto) rather suspiciously fill some of the big FF gaps in the current Pentax lineup. I agree with your FF observations. And interesting idea about the FA20-35/4 - it's certainly a worthy lens. I sold mine when I got an FA20 (a somewhat tough decision), but the FA20-35 was a lens I really liked.

02-02-2012, 07:30 PM	#145
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	Here are some picture of several lenses on the K-01: K-01 Roadmap - Pentax SLR

02-02-2012, 07:32 PM	#146
lightbulb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 691	I look forward to the 15-85, here's hoping for a good IQ with WR DC motor and weigh less than 400 gram. That would be the perfect lens to go with K5 for millions of anglers, kayakers and boaters.

02-02-2012, 07:32 PM	#147
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Every short prime looks pretty at home on the K-01

02-02-2012, 07:37 PM	#148
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	probably a DA16-80 or 85.. but what I'm excited about is a new 50 - hopefully, if it ain't FF capable then it should be priced somewhat near the cheaper 50's of Canikon (there's the DA55 for high-end, anyway) and what's that? a DA18-210 or something? perhaps a replacement to the discontinued 18-250..

02-02-2012, 07:40 PM	#150
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Transit I agree. I wonder if all those DAs off into the future are the death knell of FF though. Pete What makes you think that the DAs would be incompatible with a FF camera? As I understand it from folks that have experimented - many of the current lineup that Pentax-Hoya claimed would not work on FF cameras in fact do so nicely. As another poster pointed out - perhaps its just a way to get a broader range covered with lenses that can do FF prior to the release of a FF and THEN rebrand the identical lenses as DFA. Even the current DA40 pancake has supposedly been used with a FF.