Originally posted by monochrome They would not produce
a Development Story featuring the lens design team if they outsourced the lens design work. They even say they developed the SDM ring motor.
For an antagonist to say “
We Developed” is merely semantics - that Tokna did the actual work but Pentax can legally claim the work since they own the patent - is beyond an unreasonable argument. To me such an accusation is tantamount to claiming Ricoh is outright boldly and arrogantly lying on the product page for the DFA*50/1.4 (and now also on the DFA85/1.4 page).
I agree, and I think afterPentax was just stating that a patent can be owned under circumstances that don't establish that they developed it. I don't get the impression anyone here is actually actively questioning the facts, and I think some people are over reacting.
The fact that patent ownership isn't itself sufficient to show design expertise is the root of the detractors arguments.
This is despite the clear indication that this isn't the case with this lens. I don't see anyone here saying the lens wasn't designed by Pentax.
To be honest I don't know what will convince some people. The moon landing hoax crowd is a great example of the lengths people will go to rationalize their beliefs. The landing happened, the proof is overwhelming, but there are those unable to believe that twist and distort every tiny thing to deny it.
Finally, what does it actually matter? If you like the lens, buy it. Who cares if it was designed secretly by Martian immigrants on Venus for the Plutonian empire's plan to discredit Pentax...