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02-11-2015, 01:44 PM - 1 Like   #16
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For me the biggest shock was the weight, not the price. That thing is a serious junk of metal to carry around. I was expecting over $2,000 but hoping for maybe $2,200 so the price is high but not far from what I expected at launch. I think $1,999 would be a lot more interesting.

In order to buy I need to know:
  • Is the image quality at the long end excellent, really best in class considering the price
  • Is the focusing quick and sure
  • Is the new AF motor going to be more reliable than SDM
  • Does it work with the HD 1.4x RC
  • How does it balance, both hand held and on tripod / monopod. That's a chunk of weight especially if not balanced right
  • Since it is not a 'star' lens, how does it fit into the lens road map, is this just an over priced consumer lens or what
At this point it is wait and see, but at that price it is no longer a "sure why not?" purchase. It needs to deliver on a lot of fronts to justify that price point. Lots of other toys being released that also need to be considered as well. If I go FF with the new body and 24-70ish then the 150-450 is going to have to wait a year or so.

02-11-2015, 01:48 PM   #17
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QuoteOriginally posted by Adam Quote
As in the FF? For all D-FA lens we plan on testing on both APS-C and FF. We also use current-gen camera for our reviews: the K-3 for higher-end lenses and the K-S2 for consumer lenses.
Sounds good !
Keep some time to test quickly test it on our "lowly" K5's as well !! I'll donate $5.00 for the extra work

JP
02-11-2015, 01:50 PM - 1 Like   #18
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I currently have no (working) lenses over 200mm, and I was eagerly awaiting this lens since I first saw it on the roadmap.

I was hoping it would be under $2000 like Tamron/Sigma, while fearing it would be more like the new Canon 100-400mm L II ($2200), and generally expecting (and budgeting for) it to be around $2000. But nope, it was even worse than I had feared at $2500.

$2500 is simply not feasible for me for at least the next several months, which is a damn shame because I was all ready to preorder this lens and have it ready for an air show in late March, and the lunar eclipse on April 4th.
02-11-2015, 01:57 PM   #19
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Everyone who wanted full frame got what they wanted. And now every lens Ricoh releases in the foreseeable future is going to be a premium lens carrying a premium price. I wonder if Ricoh can overcome the reputation of Pentax being the cheapskate brand.

02-11-2015, 02:00 PM   #20
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QuoteOriginally posted by jatrax Quote
For me the biggest shock was the weight, not the price. That thing is a serious junk of metal to carry around. I was expecting over $2,000 but hoping for maybe $2,200 so the price is high but not far from what I expected at launch. I think $1,999 would be a lot more interesting.

In order to buy I need to know:
[LIST][*]Is the new AF motor going to be more reliable than SDM
When was the last time you heard of a SDM problem with any lens other than a 17-70, 16-50 or 50-135?
02-11-2015, 02:03 PM   #21
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Got a Sigma 150-500 that is very nice for $769 BNIB so, No not planning on this any time soon.
02-11-2015, 02:03 PM - 1 Like   #22
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QuoteOriginally posted by Adam Quote
Pentax users have been asking for a zoom longer than 300mm for quite a while, and there was no zoom in the Pentax lineup stretching beyond 300mm until the recent debut of the D-FA 150-450mm.

With a sticker price of $2699/£1999, though, this lens isn't cheap. While FF-compatible and feature-rich, it's actually more pricey than Canon and Nikon alternatives, not to mention third-party lenses such as the Sigma 150-500mm.

If you're among the users who were eyeballing this lens back when it was roadmapped, are you still planning on picking it up, or is there something about it that's turning you away from it?

If it would have been a 150-600 f/4-5.6 with these features at this price I'd have preordered. Since I have the Sigma 150-500 I can't see getting it at that price. I don't see using some of the features it has so other than the WR I don't see it as enough of an upgrade to what I have already even at half the price.

02-11-2015, 02:15 PM - 1 Like   #23
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I think the valid comparisons are the Bigmas (50/150-500) and their $1500 target. I would like to see more than just a 1/2 stop of light gain for my extra 1k. When you also consider the DA*300 plus an HD TC is about $1500, this lens seems about $750 over priced.
02-11-2015, 02:17 PM   #24
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QuoteOriginally posted by jatrax Quote
  • Is the image quality at the long end excellent, really best in class considering the price
  • Is the focusing quick and sure
  • Is the new AF motor going to be more reliable than SDM
  • Does it work with the HD 1.4x RC
  • How does it balance, both hand held and on tripod / monopod. That's a chunk of weight especially if not balanced right
  • Since it is not a 'star' lens, how does it fit into the lens road map, is this just an over priced consumer lens or what
The lack of DA* designation was quite unexpected given the price.

The list above is very much in line with my thinking. I'm not yet in the market for ff so I'm just a backseat driver on this one...
02-11-2015, 02:21 PM - 2 Likes   #25
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It's on my drool list. I ONLY USE PENTAX GLASS which makes things a bit less optional for me. I have in the past used third party lenses, and have always replaced them with Pentax branded lenses for various reasons. I don't even consider any lens whose rings turn in the wrong direction. Too darned confusing for an old fart like me. I've always been pretty satisfied with Pentax, but then I never even considered buying an FA-J lens ...
02-11-2015, 02:24 PM   #26
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just a quote from the newly released Sigma 150-600 price information:

"Sigma Corporation of America, a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider of some of the world's most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, has announced pricing and availability of its 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens. The lens will become available in Canon and Nikon mounts in March for the street price of $1089."

So yes, Pentax is Pentax, but this lens - although the Sigma does not exist (yet) in a K-mout - is overpriced (at least until we see some samples)...

(but, damn... Pentax is desirable..)
02-11-2015, 02:24 PM   #27
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QuoteOriginally posted by Franc Quote
i'll wait for that before deciding. Price is not the compelling factor. IQ should be better then the da*300 + tc
Agreed.

With that short zoom, that huge price commands prime-like IQ.

If it manages that, it will sweeten the sour taste of the short zoom amplitude in a long price.

Hope real life test results are better than the 3 pics already shown, which were not very good.

Any chance for a test with K-5 series?
02-11-2015, 02:29 PM   #28
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Quite fancy one...but the price was a little more than I expected. I've got decisions to make as I've got a 60-250 already but also quite fancy both lenses and selling the 60-250. I'm not totally sure of the UK price as dealers seem to have it at £1999 but it was originally at £1799 on the Ricoh UK site but has now gone up to the same price. £1500 each and I'd get the pair withouth too much of a wait but I'd need to think carefully here and see how good they actually are. I've also got a 1.4x tele as well and access to a DA* 300 if I need one as someone at work has one....Partly it also depends on how loud the Tamron 70-200 f2.8 is as well.
02-11-2015, 02:29 PM - 1 Like   #29
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I'm more interested in the question of why would Ricoh price the lens hundreds of dollars higher than Canikon equivalents at launch?
02-11-2015, 02:30 PM   #30
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I think we'll see the excellent Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S available in K-mount soon, now that Pentax has announced an FF body. It is currently under US$2k. It weighs 2.86kg, which exceeds the D FA 150-450 (2kg or 2.325kg with hood and tripod mount), but it does reach 600mm! That comparison does make the Pentax look way overpriced.
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