Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
01-31-2019, 02:40 PM - 1 Like   #16
Digitiser of Film
Loyal Site Supporter
BigMackCam's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North East of England
Posts: 20,571
QuoteOriginally posted by Andrea K Quote
To be more specific, I own the FA 35. It's a nice lens with only pros. I also applaude the revamped lenses trend but no WR and 6 blades not rounded is very anachronistic. I'm happy if many will buy this lens and if with lens the lineup is more complete but I will not do the switch.
I doubt the lens is aimed at existing FA35/2 owners. Whilst the upgrades are undoubtedly worthwhile, they're not enough to warrant switching. But for those who don't own the older modeal and are looking for a reasonably fast lens at this focal length, whether for full frame or (in my case) APS-C, it's a very sensibly priced option with a reputable heritage...

01-31-2019, 02:49 PM   #17
Pentaxian
Paul the Sunman's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Melbourne
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,836
Both new lenses are on the official Ricoh K-mount charts now:

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/lens/images/K_Mount_Lens.pdf
01-31-2019, 03:13 PM - 4 Likes   #18
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
pschlute's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Surrey, UK
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 8,113
QuoteOriginally posted by Andrea K Quote
I also applaude the revamped lenses trend but no WR and 6 blades not rounded is very anachronistic
I disagree with you here. Pentax can either produce:

1 a brand new 35mm with different blades and weather sealing and electronic aperture and focus motor (which is in the pipeline).

2. Nothing at present

3. A revamp of an old model with updated coatings at a low price.

What they cannot do is produce a "revamp" of the 35mm f2 and add features like weather sealing aperture blade changes. This would be a new model, requiring total redesign. The development team would say "get in the queue", and the management team would say "we need to sell that for $1000 +"
01-31-2019, 03:47 PM - 1 Like   #19
Digitiser of Film
Loyal Site Supporter
BigMackCam's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North East of England
Posts: 20,571
QuoteOriginally posted by pschlute Quote
The development team would say "get in the queue", and the management team would say "we need to sell that for $1000 +"
I think that's the key point here. We can have a US$399 lens with new coatings and new clothes now, or we can wait many months (years?) more and have an $800 - $1000+ lens with improved structural and mechanical features on top of that. I'm sure there'd be willing buyers for both options, but the the HD FA35/2 offers a nice value-for-money option...

01-31-2019, 03:58 PM   #20
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: May 2016
Location: East Coast
Posts: 2,903
Quite pleased to see this lens. January isn't over, and we've got two nice new additions to the lineup. I can't shell out another grand for a lens at this point in time, but I could put this on the short list, and the new coatings and ergonomics give it appeal that the older version doesn't. I understand the desires for modern glass added to the lineup, and I guess I'm confident enough that these new lenses will come to be happy seeing this now. I do also think it helps move Pentax to being more competitive (whatever that means) with the other "big" makers when people survey the range of lenses available. People do complain about not having enough choices, and this helps that in a very classic and useful focal length.
01-31-2019, 04:21 PM - 1 Like   #21
Pentaxian




Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tirana
Posts: 780
I am also pleased to see this lens revamped, I own the original version and I love it, its good to see pentax bringing it in a new era. Of course they could ad wr and more iris blades and quick shift and even a dc motor, but the size wouldn't be the same, and I think its size is a big part of its character. I like the tiny touches they have made.
There's one thing I don't like though, the shrinked logo on the hood. The big bold pentax logo/writing has always caught my attention as a bold statement prom pentax "this is us, we dont bs!", but apparently the people at Ricoh have other visual orientations.
01-31-2019, 04:34 PM - 1 Like   #22
Veteran Member
bwDraco's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: New York
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,071
If they're going down this route, the old FA 50mm f/1.4 ought to be refreshed as well. The D FA* 50mm is too expensive and too large/heavy for many, and a cheaper alternative would be a good idea. The optical performance of that lens is very good overall, though certainly not at the level the new 50 delivers. Doing the same they did here—updating the coatings and modernizing the exterior design, while keeping the lens mechanically and optically identical otherwise, down to the screwdrive AF, should be enough to get them to sell more of the classic 50 without cannibalizing sales of their new pro-grade prime lens.

Draco

01-31-2019, 04:54 PM   #23
Digitiser of Film
Loyal Site Supporter
BigMackCam's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North East of England
Posts: 20,571
QuoteOriginally posted by bwDraco Quote
If they're going down this route, the old FA 50mm f/1.4 ought to be refreshed as well. The D FA* 50mm is too expensive and too large/heavy for many, and a cheaper alternative would be a good idea. The optical performance of that lens is very good overall, though certainly not at the level the new 50 delivers. Doing the same they did here—updating the coatings and modernizing the exterior design, while keeping the lens mechanically and optically identical otherwise, down to the screwdrive AF, should be enough to get them to sell more of the classic 50 without cannibalizing sales of their new pro-grade prime lens.

Draco
Given the update to the FA35/2, I'd be surprised if that didn't happen. I think it might sell quite well, too. I probably wouldn't buy it myself, as I already own the FA50/1.4... But if I didn't, I might strongly consider an updated version...

Last edited by BigMackCam; 01-31-2019 at 05:21 PM.
01-31-2019, 05:20 PM - 1 Like   #24
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
twilhelm's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Florida
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,369
QuoteOriginally posted by bwDraco Quote
If they're going down this route, the old FA 50mm f/1.4 ought to be refreshed as well. The D FA* 50mm is too expensive and too large/heavy for many, and a cheaper alternative would be a good idea. The optical performance of that lens is very good overall, though certainly not at the level the new 50 delivers. Doing the same they did here—updating the coatings and modernizing the exterior design, while keeping the lens mechanically and optically identical otherwise, down to the screwdrive AF, should be enough to get them to sell more of the classic 50 without cannibalizing sales of their new pro-grade prime lens.

Draco
I think it would be a great idea also. But more importantly, by looking at the existing lens line-up and road map, a revamp of one of the 20ish FA lenses is really needed. In the current line-up, the FA31 is the widest prime lens.
01-31-2019, 05:29 PM   #25
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 167
QuoteOriginally posted by DeadJohn Quote
The 35/2 refresh might not have distracted developers. I suspect Ricoh had some idle manufacturing resources waiting for a bigger project (many of the roadmapped lenses seem to be behind schedule), and this 35/2 fills the gap.

Personally, I would have preferred an FA 20 refresh first, since we can still buy new copies of the original FA 35, yet the FA 20 has been out of stock for a long time.
Agreed on the FA20. I'd buy that one immediately upon release!
01-31-2019, 06:11 PM   #26
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: May 2016
Location: East Coast
Posts: 2,903
Another vote for a redone FA20.
01-31-2019, 06:18 PM   #27
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
stevebrot's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Vancouver (USA)
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 42,007
QuoteOriginally posted by clickclick Quote
Another vote for a redone FA20.
Here! Here!


Steve
01-31-2019, 06:28 PM   #28
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
Otis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis Fan
Loyal Site Supporter
clackers's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Melbourne
Photos: Albums
Posts: 16,394
QuoteOriginally posted by bwDraco Quote
If they're going down this route, the old FA 50mm f/1.4 ought to be refreshed as well. The D FA* 50mm is too expensive and too large/heavy for many, and a cheaper alternative would be a good idea. The optical performance of that lens is very good overall, though certainly not at the level the new 50 delivers. Doing the same they did here—updating the coatings and modernizing the exterior design, while keeping the lens mechanically and optically identical otherwise, down to the screwdrive AF, should be enough to get them to sell more of the classic 50 without cannibalizing sales of their new pro-grade prime lens.

Draco
I think this could happen when the warehouses run out of the FA50.

I agree with Monochrome, I think that's how this FA35 with new coatings has come about.

They ran out, it was agreed a new production run would go ahead, but with different coatings.

Very similar to the K-1. Looks like the K-1 is no longer made, they're all K-1 II (with coprocessor added in).
01-31-2019, 09:06 PM - 1 Like   #29
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 602
As I have mentioned in other threads... It is relatively fast and not too big... I am awaiting for the D FA * wide angle but for the next few years this will be great. My pre-order is in and I can’t wait to try it on my K1 II.
02-01-2019, 04:56 AM   #30
Pentaxian
Andrea K's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Rome, Italy
Posts: 822
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
Here! Here!


Steve
Me! Me!
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
k-mount, lenses, pentax lens, slr lens, wr
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
11-18 and revamped 35mm F2 on january 31? D1N0 Pentax News and Rumors 1044 10-14-2019 11:55 PM
Pets and our little life/Is rounded with a sleep CreationBear Post Your Photos! 10 08-13-2016 02:57 PM
Nature Mellow Yellow Revamped eaglem Post Your Photos! 2 02-16-2011 09:18 PM
Landscape Yep, fall color, water... yep. flippedgazelle Post Your Photos! 13 10-30-2009 11:53 PM
Revamped building JFMichaud Post Your Photos! 5 01-24-2009 11:57 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:52 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top