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01-31-2013, 09:52 AM   #16
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QuoteOriginally posted by Saxplayer1004 Quote
All I've read and witnessed, albeit only on Nikons, is that the overall quality of the Tokina 11-16 was significant better than the 16-50 and the 50-135. The 16-50 was the worst of the bunch, plagued with softness etc, but the 11-16 put the Canikon equivalents in their place for less than half the price. Again, just saying that from what I've read and since my cousin had all 3 at one point, ended up selling the longer 2 recently in favor of Nikkor lenses, but the 11-16 stayed and it is a truly fantastic lens.

The overlap in focal length doesn't necessarily matter if they are in different lens classes though. To have a full on 2.8 line from UWA to telephoto for professionals etc is great, then to have a full F4 line for those who don't want to shell out for the 2.8's either in $ or in size/weight, then it isn't overlap, it is merely an alternative line of lenses. If you look at Nikkors lineup, you can see it. 14-24, 24-70, 70-200 all 2.8's, then the 200-400 f4. Then the option with the 16-35/4 if you don't want the extra weight and bulk of the 2.8, the 24-85 2.8/4 and the 70-200/4 for the same reason. Sure it's overlap, but when the constant 2.8's are twice the size and weight, it is all about having the right option for the right occasion.
That's a plus for being on top...you have the capacity to make multiple versions of the same focal length. Unfortunately i dont think Pentax has the capability to do that. So Pentax has to be a lot more judicious how they use their resources.

But looking at it from a consumer point of view, yes, it would be awesome to have the option of going full pro with a f2.8 zoom vs being a lil cheaper and getting a f4.

01-31-2013, 10:26 PM   #17
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QuoteOriginally posted by cali92rs Quote
That's a plus for being on top...you have the capacity to make multiple versions of the same focal length. Unfortunately i dont think Pentax has the capability to do that. So Pentax has to be a lot more judicious how they use their resources.
For some lenses they somehow do - the 50mm's to be exact. The FA 50 1.4 is still in production, along with the DFA 50 2.8 Macro, and the new DA 50 f1.8. Same FL, but not aperture
02-01-2013, 05:54 AM   #18
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I understand that having a line of f/4's wouldn't be ideal but since I do work in marketing and new product design, as well as being a professional musician, the "step-up" concept is flaunted by retailers to get consumers to buy things that they don't need. In musical instruments you see the "step-up" which retailers try to get you to buy, when in reality they don't hold their value anywhere close to the professional models, and they don't remove enough features to justify the price. Nikons standard zoom line is a good case of this where their 17-35/2.8 is about $300 more expensive than their 16-35/4. Sure you get the extra mm on the f4, but for most people that are trying to upgrade the kit lens, the f4 isn't going to show enough of a price difference to warrant purchasing, when they can spend the extra $300 and get the 2.8 which will shoe immense improvement over the kit lens. What this doesn't apply to is their 70-200's where the 2.8 is almost twice the price of the f4. Then you can justify having overlap. Their DX line only has the 17-55 in a 2.8 though, no f4 options except for the 12-24.

The hard part with CaNikon, is most of their lenses are FX, and only the cheap consumer zooms with the exception of that 17-55 are DX-only.

As far as the capacity, think of how few optics are in those 50's compared to wide angles which have to have a baby-telephoto reversed in the backside on top of all of the big glass up front, and the same for the actual telephotos which have a bunch. The DA* 55mm and 200mm hav 9 elements, with the filter at 58mm and 77, so that front piece isn't all that big for the 55. In comparison, the 16-50 has 15 elements, and the filter is 77mm so the front element group is significantly larger. That takes a whole lot more effort to make than a normal prime. The 50-135 has 18 elements, so for the same space of making 1 of the telephoto zooms, you have the capacity to make 2 primes. This is all nominal, and it's not direct 2:1, but the point is to fill out a prime line is easy in terms of production, but to get a whole slew of zooms is quite hard on a production floor. They could do better though, they do have the capability to produce a full line of 2.8 zooms, they just haven't gotten around to it yet... Needed to build their market share back up. Although their pricing scheme is still screwed up
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