[zapp]

We discussed the pros and cons of the Sigma 4.5/500 and the Pentax DA 560 at length. When discussions were hot, the DA 560 was more expensive than the Sigma - for the longest time the Pentax was $1000-2000 more than the Sigma. Currently the DA 560 is $1000 less than the Sigma. Pentax sells for $4000, Sigma for $5000. So, I am wondering whether this makes the 560 more tempting for anyone.
Whenever Pentax offers discounts, you can expect a new camera/lens. What is your opinion.

[KiloHotelphoto]

I purchased the DA560 back in November of 15 for $3400 on a cyber Monday sale. I had watched it for a year and finally thought it was a good price to buy. For me I was upgrading from the Sigma 150-500 so it was a huge improvement and while I had it I thought it was a good lens but with some flaws. I shows purple fringing a lot and the image quality wasn't as good as the DA*300 in my opinion.

In July of 17 I switched to Canon and Purchased the 600mm F4 IS II and then sold the DA560 for $2900. I felt that was a decent offer, I couldn't have rented the lens for that long for what I lost on it so it wasn't a big deal. After looking back on owning it and now having the Canon now the 560 is really disappointing. Its launch price was around $7000 and I feel bad for anyone who paid that much for it. $2500 I think would be a good price new for it, but honestly I couldn't recommend buying it.

Edit bought 560 in November of 2015

[biz-engineer]

$2500 I think would be a good price new for it

Yes, that should have been the price new. Now the value would be even less given what the Tamron/Sigma 150-600 can do.

Current tele glass

The tele glass of Pentax is the DFA150-450. Decently sharp up to 400mm, then sharpness drops between 400 an 450mm.

[KiloHotelphoto]

The Tamron and Sigma 150-600 on a Canon or Nikon would be a better combo than the 560.

[angerdan]

Whenever Pentax offers discounts, you can expect a new camera/lens.
What is your opinion.

What exactly do you want to know? There has never been a lens announced before it was on the roadmap.
The DA 560mm 5.6 has been on the roadmap from march 2009 until the start of sale in february 2013. Means four years waiting after put on the roadmap. I wouldn't expect more than already published by Ricoh.
So no new lens beides the ones with name on the roadmap for 2018.

Since the K-3 II is discontinued, there's at least one new APS-C camera to expect.
So looking in the Pentax News and Rumors - PentaxForums.com section, there are several threads for known and unknown topics.
K3ii replacement - PentaxForums.com
Ricoh Imaging at CP+ 2018 - PentaxForums.com
K-1 Mark II! - PentaxForums.com
Pentax K3ii officially discontinued - PentaxForums.com
Pentax K1 Mark II at CP+ March 2018 - PentaxForums.com

[aslyfox]

isn't the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW

Read more at: Pentax D FA Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

plus

HD Pentax-DA 1.4x AW AF Rear Converter

HD Pentax-DA 1.4x AW AF Rear Converter Reviews - DA Teleconverters - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

the true " long lens " for Pentax

you get what a F 5.6 - 8 lens

aperture stops - Bing

[angerdan]

isn't the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW plus HD Pentax-DA 1.4x AW AF Rear Converter the true " long lens " for Pentax
you get what a F 5.6 - 8 lens

D FA 210-630mm 6.3-8.0
Wouldn't be a good wildlife lens, way to slow aperture.
Better use one of these:

• DA* 60-250mm 4.0 + 1.4x TC
• Sigma 100-300mm 4.0 + 1.4x TC
• FA* 250-600mm 5.6
• FA* 300mm 2.8 + 2x TC
• Sigma 500mm 4.5

[aslyfox]

D FA 210-630mm 6.3-8.0
Wouldn't be a good wildlife lens, way to slow aperture.
Better use one of these:

• DA* 60-250mm 4.0 + 1.4x TC
• Sigma 100-300mm 4.0 + 1.4x TC
• FA* 250-600mm 5.6
• FA* 300mm 2.8 + 2x TC
• Sigma 500mm 4.5

I stand corrected

[zapp]

What exactly do you want to know? There has never been a lens announced before it was on the roadmap.
The DA 560mm 5.6 has been on the roadmap from march 2009 until the start of sale in february 2013. Means four years waiting after put on the roadmap. I wouldn't expect more than already published by Ricoh.
So no new lens beides the ones with name on the roadmap for 2018.

Since the K-3 II is discontinued, there's at least one new APS-C camera to expect.
So looking in the Pentax News and Rumors - PentaxForums.com section, there are several threads for known and unknown topics.
K3ii replacement - PentaxForums.com
Ricoh Imaging at CP+ 2018 - PentaxForums.com
K-1 Mark II! - PentaxForums.com
Pentax K3ii officially discontinued - PentaxForums.com
Pentax K1 Mark II at CP+ March 2018 - PentaxForums.com

What is the question... is the DA 560 worth $4000 or less. Why is a discontinued Sigma lens selling for more? Who bought the DA 560 after the price came down... and do you think it was worth it. A redesign of a 560 would not be announced, as it would kill sales of the current version. Was the 100 Macro WR actually on the roadmap before it was released? Were the DA HD lenses on the roadmap?

Pentax is allowed to replace a lens with or without roadmap. They have done so in the 70s, 80s, 90s, ... the FA* lenses you mention later were released in the 90s - not really modern perspective.

There is and there was no FF compatible 1.4x/2x TC from Pentax. Don't mention the 1.7x TC now.

[KiloHotelphoto]

I would be shocked if they are planning on releasing a replacement for the da560. I just don’t see much of a market for them for a high end lens for sports and wildlife. They have a poor reputation for auto focus and tracking so unless they have a huge improvement with whatever they release next month at CP+ they don’t have the bodies to compete with Canon and Nikon.

I think they are going to stick with the little lenses. Landscape, portrait, street and astro photography are Pentax strengths and what they will focus on most likely. Just from post on the forum a lot of people complain about the price and weight of the dfa 15-30 ad 70-200 they complain the K1 is to big and heavier than the K3, no way they will spend $11,000 for a 10lbs lens.

[angerdan]

Was the 100 Macro WR actually on the roadmap before it was released?
Were the DA HD lenses on the roadmap?

Yes, at least since 19.09.2006.
Of course they were, as i wrote before, the HD DA 560mm did. Others like the 1.4x TC, the HD DA 20-40mm and 16-85mm too.
Which current lens hasn't been on the roadmap before hitting the streets?

[zapp]

Yes, at least since 19.09.2006.
Of course they were, as i wrote before, the HD DA 560mm did. Others like the 1.4x TC, the HD DA 20-40mm and 16-85mm too.
Which current lens hasn't been on the roadmap before hitting the streets?

Show me the roadmap with the DA 100 WR and the HD DA 15, 21, 40, 70 before release. All these lenses replaced a previous DA lens and I have not seen them on a roadmap. So: 1. Pentax can release whatever they want, 2. they have done so before, 3. if you are replacing a lens, you don't tell the world in advance that the previous lens is becoming obsolete. Obviously Pentax is not in the position to replace a lot of lenses with new designs, as they are filling gaps.

---------- Post added 15-02-18 at 11:49 AM ----------

I would be shocked if they are planning on releasing a replacement for the da560. I just don’t see much of a market for them for a high end lens for sports and wildlife. They have a poor reputation for auto focus and tracking so unless they have a huge improvement with whatever they release next month at CP+ they don’t have the bodies to compete with Canon and Nikon.

I think they are going to stick with the little lenses. Landscape, portrait, street and astro photography are Pentax strengths and what they will focus on most likely. Just from post on the forum a lot of people complain about the price and weight of the dfa 15-30 ad 70-200 they complain the K1 is to big and heavier than the K3, no way they will spend $11,000 for a 10lbs lens.

A 5.6/560 is not a $11000 lens, Pentax' suggested retail price is less and the current price reflects the real value of their current design - a lot of air between 4k and 11k. What good is your longest tele photo lens when your top camera cannot make full use of it? There was a need for the DA 560 otherwise there would be no reason to release it in the first place. Design and performance are not convincing, so they are selling it for a fairly low price now. That would be a sad story. A positive story would be that the have soemthing else in mind.

How many more little lenses can Pentax make?

DFA 15-30 only requires large filters and there is no modern FF wide angle on the lineup, weight is well balanced. DFA* 70-200 is heavier than the competition, but still fine.

[angerdan]

Show me the roadmap with the DA 100 WR and the HD DA 15, 21, 40, 70 before release. All these lenses replaced a previous DA lens and I have not seen them on a roadmap. So:
1. Pentax can release whatever they want,
2. they have done so before,
3. if you are replacing a lens, you don't tell the world in advance that the previous lens is becoming obsolete. Obviously Pentax is not in the position to replace a lot of lenses with new designs, as they are filling gaps.

DFA 15-30 only requires large filters and there is no modern FF wide angle on the lineup, weight is well balanced. DFA* 70-200 is heavier than the competition, but still fine.

HD DA Limiteds aren't really new lenses, just the same lens design with better coating and different blades. Similar like the DA 100 WR.
There are open gaps and existing lens designs which could fill them. Even an 400mm 4.5 has been designed in 1987 by Jun Hirakawa.

The new D FA* large aperture wide angle single focus lens is already on the roadmap, could be presented in spring or autumn 2018.

[KiloHotelphoto]

They may be trying to get $4000 now for the lens but the launch price was $7000 I believe. It’s not worth $4000 and it was never worth $7000

How much did you pay for you copy?

[angerdan]

How much did you pay for you copy?

Around $3k.