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08-03-2016, 08:19 AM   #1
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Wouldn't it be nice to see a new DFA* 250-600 DC WR?

If Ricoh ever dusted off the FA* 250-600 and updated it wouldn't that make a nice addition to the lineup? Imagine it with a DC AF motor, modern coatings, and WR. I wonder how difficult that would be.

08-03-2016, 08:25 AM   #2
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You would be ok paying $10,000+ for this lens? Because I can't imagine the demand being more than 6 or 7 a year. And that may be on the high side.
08-03-2016, 08:31 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by VoiceOfReason Quote
Wouldn't it be nice to see a new DFA* 250-600 DC WR?
Yes it would be nice. Not something I would likely be able to afford based on my photography though. I had the chance at a 250-600 last year and passed. I had enough cash but when I considered the weight and how often I would use it I decided it was not worth it, to me.

But as a build to order lens, yes they might sell enough even at $10k or more to justify having it in the line.

I think they have a lot of other things to do for the foreseeable future though. Maybe some day.
08-03-2016, 09:32 AM   #4
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If a rental company snapped a few up, no doubt their queue for special events would be impressive. I can barely dream of the 150-450 but as a rental option it would amaze (though insurance might be half the fee!).

08-03-2016, 09:36 AM   #5
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I simply want a nice zoom to get me to 600+ and I would think they could update that lens and do it at a lower cost. If they were able to do it and sell them for 3-5k they probably couldn't keep up with demand. It's a big gap in the lineup to me.
08-03-2016, 10:04 AM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by VoiceOfReason Quote
I simply want a nice zoom to get me to 600+ and I would think they could update that lens and do it at a lower cost. If they were able to do it and sell them for 3-5k they probably couldn't keep up with demand. It's a big gap in the lineup to me.
With the 560 f5.6 in the lineup, and apparently not all that popular at 4k, I'm just not sure that lens would have a market. A DFA* 250-600 is a birder/wildlife lens and there aren't a whole lot of people clambering for a Pentax body if they are pro wildlife/bird shooters. Pentax AF just isn't there.

Now if the K1iis or whatever comes out with 99 3d AF points and 27 at f2.8, 28MP and 8 fps (@ what 4k-ish?), then maybe you could see where they would be going. Though I think you would first see a remake of the F/FA* 600 f4 and a 300 f2.8. if THOSE lenses and a body with the aforementioned specs come out, then yeah, maybe a 10k rework of 250-600 is in the near future.

For now, I think Pentax sees themselves as a niche landscape/portrait/fashion demographic. Those kind of shots don't need a 250-600.
08-03-2016, 10:07 AM   #7
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We new constant aperture f/4 zooms and medium teles before specialty extreme zooms.

And the basic prime set WR, DCand HD.

08-03-2016, 10:27 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by nomadkng Quote
With the 560 f5.6 in the lineup, and apparently not all that popular at 4k, I'm just not sure that lens would have a market. A DFA* 250-600 is a birder/wildlife lens and there aren't a whole lot of people clambering for a Pentax body if they are pro wildlife/bird shooters. Pentax AF just isn't there.

Now if the K1iis or whatever comes out with 99 3d AF points and 27 at f2.8, 28MP and 8 fps (@ what 4k-ish?), then maybe you could see where they would be going. Though I think you would first see a remake of the F/FA* 600 f4 and a 300 f2.8. if THOSE lenses and a body with the aforementioned specs come out, then yeah, maybe a 10k rework of 250-600 is in the near future.

For now, I think Pentax sees themselves as a niche landscape/portrait/fashion demographic. Those kind of shots don't need a 250-600.
I see it different. I am not really interested in long primes unless I get an extreme deal on one. The 560 simply doesn't do it for me at all.
08-03-2016, 12:02 PM - 1 Like   #9
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Sigma produce two 150-600 lenses (the Contemporary and the Sport) and sell them for far less than the money being talked about here. One or both of those appearing in KAF4 form is a more likely scenario than Pentax producing a ?-600 zoom.
08-03-2016, 12:17 PM   #10
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Neither is DFA* 250-600 DC WR material though; one is a consumer lens and the other, a somewhat less consumer lens

But - for those interested - I do hope Sigma would release at least one of them in K-mount. Perhaps the cheaper Contemporary.
08-03-2016, 01:04 PM   #11
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On Sony / Minolta A-mount I have the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di USD which is optically superb (confirmed by LensTip who said it compares favourably with Canon's 100-400L whilst offering greater focal length range) and - although not weather-sealed - is at least moisture resistant. Bought new from a main dealer here in the UK, it cost me less than £700 (current best price is around £740)... That lens, with a K-mount, would be just what the OP is looking for, I think. If it was available in K-mount, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
08-03-2016, 01:06 PM - 1 Like   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Paul the Sunman Quote
Sigma produce two 150-600 lenses (the Contemporary and the Sport) and sell them for far less than the money being talked about here. One or both of those appearing in KAF4 form is a more likely scenario than Pentax producing a ?-600 zoom.
They aren't constant F5.6 lenses. They are F5-6.3 consumer grade lenses. I don't see them making one in KAF4, and mechanical aperture has never been an issue in Nikon F-mount for Sigma.

The fact is, if you need a consumer grade lens longer than 450mm, you should looking at a Canikon. There simply isn't enough of a market for third parties to make one in K-mount, and Pentax already has the D FA 150-450.

Nikon has the 200-500 F5.6 at $1400 too...but a 500/5.6 is a lot less glass than 600/5.6.
08-03-2016, 01:17 PM   #13
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It's worth reading this field test of the Tamron 150-600 vs the Canon 600 /4, from someone who now owns both. Whilst clearly stating the advantages of the bigger, more costly glass, the closing comment is:

"I’m really struggling to justify the added weight and expense of the Canon 600mm. I’ll probably shoot them side-by-side for a while and see if I can convince myself to keep the Canon."
08-03-2016, 02:52 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by boriscleto Quote
They aren't constant F5.6 lenses. They are F5-6.3 consumer grade lenses. I don't see them making one in KAF4, and mechanical aperture has never been an issue in Nikon F-mount for Sigma.

The fact is, if you need a consumer grade lens longer than 450mm, you should looking at a Canikon. There simply isn't enough of a market for third parties to make one in K-mount, and Pentax already has the D FA 150-450.

Nikon has the 200-500 F5.6 at $1400 too...but a 500/5.6 is a lot less glass than 600/5.6.
I'm sure there are a lot of Pentax users that have added a Nikon or Canon body just for those long Tamron and Sigma zooms.
08-03-2016, 03:50 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by BigMackCam Quote
Bought new from a main dealer here in the UK, it cost me less than £700 (current best price is around £740)... That lens, with a K-mount, would be just what the OP is looking for, I think. If it was available in K-mount, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
It is a nice lens. Good on APS-C, even better on FF.

But if a Pentax re-badge of the Tamron were to ever come out, it would have WR, HD coating, and probably cost about the same as the Nikon 200-500. Still be a good buy though.
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