Originally posted by zapp Pentax' lens lineup is quite simple. Make lenses that sell well with cameras and do not spend any money on fancy stuff. Do not duplicate focal lengths. In short: keep it simple.
The DA 560 is a completely pointless design. The lens is cheaply designed as really long tele lens, much longer than any competitors lens. A major manufacturer would first introduce a 2.8/300 and 2x TC. The 560 only makes sense to show that Pentax has a really long lens in their line up. You don't need to sell a 2x TC and most important there is no competition for the DA*300. How desperate must one be to buy a 5.6/560 as stand alone large aperture tele lens?
New coatings for DA limited lenses are OK, but no change to the basic design. The DA limited zoom was also not exciting... there was no news in Pentax land with regard to quality lenses recently.
Buying lenses used on eBay is also insane. Asked prices for 15 year old lenses are more than for new lenses from the competition - a current Sigma lens costs less than most used FA* lenses on eBay only Pentax forum review will tell you that the FA* is the better choice. Add some more money and you get even better quality new from the competition that also sells serious cameras.
Pentax will know about all this, but appears not to have the resources to develop and produce new/additional lenses. In case a new DA* flops this could become a desaster for the brand. At the same time I can only buy more DA* lenses in case you offer new DA* lenses that make sense. There are some focal length lenses that I miss and can find in other lineups. I really like what I have from Pentax, but it is too simple to outgrow the Pentax system.
So far there was no sign from Pentax regarding the future. A full frame camera would bind all resources for new lenses to cover full format. If you stick to APS-C next to medium format, an interesting new lens here and there would be appreciated. Otherwise you will soon find my used Pentax lenses on eBay.
I'll be watching... what have you got?
Quote: The DA 560 is a completely pointless design. The lens is cheaply designed as really long tele lens, much longer than any competitors lens. A major manufacturer would first introduce a 2.8/300 and 2x TC. The 560 only makes sense to show that Pentax has a really long lens in their line up. You don't need to sell a 2x TC and most important there is no competition for the DA*300. How desperate must one be to buy a 5.6/560 as stand alone large aperture tele lens?
New coatings for DA limited lenses are OK, but no change to the basic design. The DA limited zoom was also not exciting... there was no news in Pentax land with regard to quality lenses recently.
There are a number of people who post pictures taken with this lens in the 300 plus forum, So far I haven't heard except for a few whiners on the forum who don't actually own the lens. I thought it was a pointless lens, until I looked up the price of the the Nikon 600 ƒ4 the guy next to me was shooting with in Niagara Falls lat winter, then I thought, "that 560 is a pretty good deal." I guess it just depends on how limited your knowledge of Pentax shooters is. At this point, I'd buy that 560 for APS-c on my Pentax before I'd by that Nikon 600. And the pictures from it are as good as any of the images posted on the forum.
But in all fairness, I've made as many disparaging comments about the lens as anyone, but that's probably because it's so far out of my price range. Long glass costs a lot of money...there's no getting around it. If I could afford the 560, I'd buy it.... along with a 645z and at least 5 lenses, an FA*250-600, a DA*50-135, etc. etc.
So, what exactly is wrong with the 560 again?
You can tell me, but I'm not sure I'll be listening.
Check out the images here...
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/130-lens-sample-photo-archive/267580-hd-p...5-6-ed-aw.html