[kcmadr]

Just to find out what kind of impact Pentax' pricing of the DA★60-250mm has on people's decision to get one or not.


Also to kind of guage people's response to the price increases.


I will also vote, and my vote is to still get it, but be grumpy about the pricing of it.

Bear in mind I can get the following lenses for LESS $ than C$1784...
1. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
2. Sigma 100-300mm f4 EX DG HSM
3. Nikkor AF VR 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED

[Tom S.]

It's hard to vote since the only prices I've seen are speculation and possible MSRP. Until 'real world' pricing becomes known, which means after the lens is readily available and retailers have had a chance to determine 'street price', I'll withhold my opinion.

[dadipentak]

Weather-sealing is an important consideration but, even if the Pentax sold at $1K USD, I'd need to be convinced that it would be a worthwhile replacement for my Sigma 70-200mm.

[ftpaddict]

Weather-sealing is an important consideration but, even if the Pentax sold at $1K USD, I'd need to be convinced that it would be a worthwhile replacement for my Sigma 70-200mm.

I doubt it's worth it. The Sigma is already a good performer. And faster.

[asdf]

I chose not to wait and got DA* 300. I didn't add an old MF telephoto lens to my kit, because of the CA issues with these older telephotos.

[Digitalis]

I really could not care less about this lens,bring out more long fast primes Pentax!

[ivoire]

Got tired of waiting and bought Tamron 70-200. Nice lens and cash to boot.

[palmor]

At 1st it was on my list to possible replace my old Sigma 70-200, I needed a SDM in that range and didn't think the 1 stop difference would matter. However, after shooting more I realized that I really did need that extra stop (indoor dog agility) so it came off my list.

John

[augustmoon]

Sigma 100-300 is a terrific lens, and is very very sharp. I doubt that the Pentax will be any sharper. The Sigma has longer reach, which is important factor for getting a super tele zoom in the first place, and they are both F4, and the Sigma is tons cheaper. The Sigma FL matches up more closely with the 50-135 if you wanted to have better coverage. In the States you can pick up a 50-135 and the 100-300 for just around the price of the 60-250. I just don;t understand the Focal Length of the 60-250, and it being an F4, when Pentax already released the 50-135 at 2.8. Seems like they would go with a 100-whatever or something at 2.8 or something cheaper.

[dadipentak]

I get the feeling it'll start to show up on eBay in 7 years, "L@@K! Pentax DA*60-250mm f4 -- RARE!!"

[woodworm]

When I first bought my K10D 12 months ago I knew I would want a reasonably fast, long zoom lens. At that time people recommended either waiting for this lens as it was imminent (ha!) or going for the Sigma 100-300mm.

I received my Sigma last month (just before all the price increases) and I find it hard to believe the Pentax will be any better than this. If it had been available and it had been the same price of the Sigma I believe I would have still gone for the Sigma because, for me that has a more useful range.

I appreciate some people want weather sealing or SDM, but neither of these things were important to me.

Doesn't matter anyway as the Pentax is still not available and I'm already having fun with my Sigma!

[kcmadr]

It's hard to vote since the only prices I've seen are speculation and possible MSRP. Until 'real world' pricing becomes known, which means after the lens is readily available and retailers have had a chance to determine 'street price', I'll withhold my opinion.

The C$1784 is the price given to me on Monday by the store I placed my order at. This would qualify as Street Pricing.

But reading the posts and doing some research, that Sigma 100-300mm F4 is beginning to look so damn good!!!

I really really wanted to stay with Pentax only lenses (the VL is an obvious exception), but they're just making it so bloody hard.

[mutedphotos]

I've been wanting the Sigma 100-300 for years now, and while I'd love to have the weather sealing of the DA*, it would have to be significantly cheaper to draw my attention away from the Sigma (you will be mine! oh yes, one day you will be mine!)

[thePiRaTE!!]

Sigma 100-300 is a terrific lens, and is very very sharp. I doubt that the Pentax will be any sharper. The Sigma has longer reach, which is important factor for getting a super tele zoom in the first place, and they are both F4, and the Sigma is tons cheaper. The Sigma FL matches up more closely with the 50-135 if you wanted to have better coverage. In the States you can pick up a 50-135 and the 100-300 for just around the price of the 60-250. I just don;t understand the Focal Length of the 60-250, and it being an F4, when Pentax already released the 50-135 at 2.8. Seems like they would go with a 100-whatever or something at 2.8 or something cheaper.

Hi Brian. The primary reasons I can see for Pentax to maintain the f4 aperture would be to continue with compact sizing and to manage price. The range seems to simply try and edge past the classic 70-200 margins of general zoom, but this is all curiously comprimised with the pricing being near or at that of f2.8 zooms from other makers.

Generally speaking, I'd say for weather seal alone as a distinguishing advantage, paying this premium is a lot to ask at its spec considering the competition (further, it may or may not work on a future FF body and will probably follow suit with modern Pentax releases being manufactured off-shore in the Vietnam plant leaving QC suspect). I had considered one myself in past as a high quality, general telephoto option as my need for this focal range is varied and sporadic, yet where quality is still expected.

Value for money was a Pentax forte and one of the reasons I started there, but that is drying up instantly. To illustrate (as many before me), I was able to purchase Sonys just released 70-400/4-5.6G flagship zoom for 1650CAD. The classic 70-200/2.8G is available for the same price. They also offer a lighter 70-300/4.5-5.6G for 800CAD. Note these are all Sony 'G' lenses, equivalent to the DA*, robust, solid performers - yet guaranteed full frame and made in Japan.

Obviously Pentax need to charge more as everyone does to make ends meet in the current market, but they seem to be swimming a little close to the mouths of larger fish at this price point.

[Reportage]

to make it short....pentax pricing is getting nuttier for what they are offering against the competition. They dont understand that the consumer are getting more fickle and system changes are as common as handphone upgrades nowadays.