The Pentax DA* 11-18mm F2.8

D1N0 · 11-03-2017, 05:57 AM - **1 Like**

Since the news thread is now closed. Let's discuss the specifications of this lens here.

Pics:

A large mystery switch and something to hide near the mount on the rear cap????

Looks like it does have an aperture lever to make K-5 II and earlier shooters happy:

The hood seems to have a removable bayonet:

Close up front element:

Via pentaxrumors.com

Last edited by D1N0; 11-03-2017 at 06:16 AM.

photoptimist · 11-03-2017, 06:16 AM

My guess is that the mystery switch is to control whether the lens uses the mechanical lever vs. KAF4 electronic aperture system.

**Ash** · 11-03-2017, 06:18 AM

This is just encouraging lens buying addiction

Not sure what that covered up switch would be, since it would be a quickshift lens anyway.

D1N0 · 11-03-2017, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by photoptimist

My guess is that the mystery switch is to control whether the lens uses the mechanical lever vs. KAF4 electronic aperture system.

Could be if a physical switch has to be made inside the lens. A complicated solution to placate older camera shooters. Easier to just update the K-5's and the K-30 firmware.

photoptimist · 11-03-2017, 07:00 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

Could be if a physical switch has to be made inside the lens. A complicated solution to placate older camera shooters. Easier to just update the K-5's and the K-30 firmware.

Maybe. Firmware can't solve everything. It's not clear that the K-5 or K-30 have the required electronics hardware to drive an electronic aperture mechanism.

More wilder and wilder guesses:

2. leaf shutter option

3. flip-in ND filter for long-exposures

4. switch between rectilinear & fisheye projection

**ffking** · 11-03-2017, 07:03 AM

red, green and gold.... hmmm...

normhead · 11-03-2017, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by ffking

red, green and gold.... hmmm...

It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas.

pathdoc · 11-03-2017, 07:41 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by photoptimist

More wilder and wilder guesses:

We're getting into National Inquirer levels of guessing here.

I suspect any Pentax DSLR lens has as much chance of having a leaf shutter as Elvis does of romancing Hitler on his secret farside moonbase (and whether you take Elvis or Hitler as the owner of the moonbase is up to you).

---------- Post added 03-11-17 at 12:12 ----------

Originally posted by D1N0

Looks like it does have an aperture lever to make K-5 II and earlier shooters happy:

Oh dear God, my LBA. STOP IT.

**mikesbike** · 11-03-2017, 08:43 AM

Looks like a fine addition to the lens lineup. It appears to be quite compact, and a viable alternative to the DFA 15-30mm on a FF body. Should be very good for night shots. I could change in favor of getting one if the need for f/2.8 should surface, but since I already have it, so far I am very happy with my DA 12-24mm f/4 model, even though it is without WR and has the old screw-drive AF, which operates very well. But yes, the new lens does have appeal!

SSGGeezer · 11-03-2017, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by normhead

Originally posted by ffking Quote red, green and gold.... hmmm... It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas.

Good one Norm!

Originally posted by pathdoc

Oh dear God, my LBA. STOP IT.

So true! I really have no "need" for this when it comes out but want it? Oh yes indeed.

danielblues · 11-03-2017, 09:30 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by photoptimist

Maybe. Firmware can't solve everything. It's not clear that the K-5 or K-30 have the required electronics hardware to drive an electronic aperture mechanism.

It's just the firmware Running K-50 firmware on K-30 - PentaxForums.com

Best,

Fcsnt54 · 11-03-2017, 11:28 AM

Im going to have a horribly wild idea for whats under that tape. maybe its a apsc/full frame switch.

Ketsuppi11 · 11-03-2017, 11:31 AM

Hi, how would you estimate it's size to be? Roughly same size as DA* 16-50mm but 82mm filter size?

D1N0 · 11-03-2017, 11:36 AM

Originally posted by photoptimist

It's not clear that the K-5 or K-30 have the required electronics hardware to drive an electronic aperture mechanism.

More likely lack of space. They would have to sacrifice other functions like digital filters (I wouldn't care).

**monochrome** · 11-03-2017, 11:37 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Fcsnt54

Im going to have a horribly wild idea for whats under that tape. maybe its a apsc/full frame switch.

it is a Bluetooth Pairing button for use as a smartphone lens.

11-03-2017, 05:57 AM - 1 Like	#1
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	*The Pentax DA 11-18mm F2.8** Since the news thread is now closed. Let's discuss the specifications of this lens here. Pics: A large mystery switch and something to hide near the mount on the rear cap???? Looks like it does have an aperture lever to make K-5 II and earlier shooters happy: The hood seems to have a removable bayonet: Close up front element: Via pentaxrumors.com Last edited by D1N0; 11-03-2017 at 06:16 AM.

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11-03-2017, 06:16 AM	#2
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,123	My guess is that the mystery switch is to control whether the lens uses the mechanical lever vs. KAF4 electronic aperture system.

11-03-2017, 06:18 AM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	This is just encouraging lens buying addiction Not sure what that covered up switch would be, since it would be a quickshift lens anyway.

11-03-2017, 06:42 AM	#4
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802 Original Poster	Originally posted by photoptimist My guess is that the mystery switch is to control whether the lens uses the mechanical lever vs. KAF4 electronic aperture system. Could be if a physical switch has to be made inside the lens. A complicated solution to placate older camera shooters. Easier to just update the K-5's and the K-30 firmware.

11-03-2017, 07:00 AM	#5
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,123	Originally posted by D1N0 Could be if a physical switch has to be made inside the lens. A complicated solution to placate older camera shooters. Easier to just update the K-5's and the K-30 firmware. Maybe. Firmware can't solve everything. It's not clear that the K-5 or K-30 have the required electronics hardware to drive an electronic aperture mechanism. More wilder and wilder guesses: 2. leaf shutter option 3. flip-in ND filter for long-exposures 4. switch between rectilinear & fisheye projection

11-03-2017, 07:03 AM	#6
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,038	red, green and gold.... hmmm...

11-03-2017, 07:06 AM	#7
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by ffking red, green and gold.... hmmm... It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas.

11-03-2017, 07:41 AM - 1 Like	#8
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by photoptimist More wilder and wilder guesses: We're getting into National Inquirer levels of guessing here. I suspect any Pentax DSLR lens has as much chance of having a leaf shutter as Elvis does of romancing Hitler on his secret farside moonbase (and whether you take Elvis or Hitler as the owner of the moonbase is up to you). ---------- Post added 03-11-17 at 12:12 ---------- Originally posted by D1N0 Looks like it does have an aperture lever to make K-5 II and earlier shooters happy: Oh dear God, my LBA. STOP IT.

11-03-2017, 08:43 AM	#9
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	Looks like a fine addition to the lens lineup. It appears to be quite compact, and a viable alternative to the DFA 15-30mm on a FF body. Should be very good for night shots. I could change in favor of getting one if the need for f/2.8 should surface, but since I already have it, so far I am very happy with my DA 12-24mm f/4 model, even though it is without WR and has the old screw-drive AF, which operates very well. But yes, the new lens does have appeal!

11-03-2017, 08:59 AM	#10
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Originally posted by normhead Originally posted by ffking Quote red, green and gold.... hmmm... It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas. Good one Norm! Originally posted by pathdoc Oh dear God, my LBA. STOP IT. So true! I really have no "need" for this when it comes out but want it? Oh yes indeed.

11-03-2017, 09:30 AM - 1 Like	#11
danielblues Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Cascais, Portugal Posts: 173	Originally posted by photoptimist Maybe. Firmware can't solve everything. It's not clear that the K-5 or K-30 have the required electronics hardware to drive an electronic aperture mechanism. It's just the firmware Running K-50 firmware on K-30 - PentaxForums.com Best,

11-03-2017, 11:28 AM	#12
Fcsnt54 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: California Posts: 621	Im going to have a horribly wild idea for whats under that tape. maybe its a apsc/full frame switch.

11-03-2017, 11:31 AM	#13
Ketsuppi11 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Photos: Albums Posts: 217	Hi, how would you estimate it's size to be? Roughly same size as DA* 16-50mm but 82mm filter size?

11-03-2017, 11:36 AM	#14
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802 Original Poster	Originally posted by photoptimist It's not clear that the K-5 or K-30 have the required electronics hardware to drive an electronic aperture mechanism. More likely lack of space. They would have to sacrifice other functions like digital filters (I wouldn't care).

11-03-2017, 11:37 AM - 1 Like	#15
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Fcsnt54 Im going to have a horribly wild idea for whats under that tape. maybe its a apsc/full frame switch. it is a Bluetooth Pairing button for use as a smartphone lens.