Multiple comments have been made since yesterday regarding the new D FA 70-210/4.0 and its cousin in the Tamron product line. Words like "clone", "rebadge", and "over-priced rehash" have been tossed around along with suggestions that the Tamron product is the same except for labels. Below is the essence of a comment I made on another thread, that I thought might stand on its own for general consideration...enjoy
The D FA 70-210/4.0 is not a clone or rebadge. It differs obviously in multiple respects from the similar Tamron offerings for Nikon and Canon (neither identical to the other). The short list runs like this:
- Two anomalous dispersion elements (if present on the Tamron product, they are not called out despite being available on other Tamron offerings)
- Quick Shift (may or may not be Tamron's full-time manual focus override)*
- Focus Limiter (+)
- HD, SP coatings (+)
- SDM (may or may not be Tamron USD)**
- WR (may or may not be Tamron MR)***
- No VC
- No Tamron Tap-in Console support
- No Tamron 6-year warranty
- No matched 1.4x and 2.0x TCs
- Lighter (40g)
- Pentax-sourced electronics
- Pentax standards for mount
- Does not require purchase of a Canon or Nikon body (+)
Some might suggest that the $299 difference in price ($1100 USD vs $799 USD) might justify purchase of a used Nikon D810 or Canon 5D Mark IV (roughly equivalent to a K-1); or a used Canon 80D (had trouble finding a Nikon model equivalent to the K-70) to mate with a Tamron. Good luck.
I expect that within 6 months time, MSRP will be at or below $799 USD.
Steve
(...Hey Ricoh/Pentax! How about that six-year warranty!?...)
* Stated behavior is somewhat different than classic Pentax Quick Shift as describe in the D FA 70-210/4.0 promotional materials.
** There has been conjecture with the D FA 24-70/2.8 and D FA 15-30/2.8 that the "SDM" motor those lenses was actually the USD ring motor from the Tamron line. Ricoh simply states that it is a different design that the original, unreliable, SDM ring motors used in certain DA* lenses.
*** The seven WR seals in the D FA 70-120/4.0 are at the same locations (duh) as the MR (moisture resistant) seals in the Tamron product. Whether they are the same material and/or specification as the MR seals is not known. To the best of my knowledge, there is no reason to assume any decrease in performance or durability than the seals in other Pentax WR lenses.
Last edited by stevebrot; 01-24-2020 at 07:52 PM.
Reason: Clarifications