Pentax 28-105 3.2-4.5 SMCP-FA comeback?

fevbusch · 06-08-2007, 04:55 AM

Has there been any feedback from Pentax as to whether the 28-105 3.2 is coming back. It is still listed by various sellers as "out of stock".
i'm also concerned that they might do the same thing with the DA 50-200, god forbid, beause I still have'nt bought mine due to financial constraints. Why all the mystery.
As devoted Pentax fans shouldn't we respected enough to be told what's going on?
Freddy

Jonas B · 06-08-2007, 05:00 AM

Originally posted by fevbusch

Has there been any feedback from Pentax as to whether the 28-105 3.2 is coming back. It is still listed by various sellers as "out of stock".
i'm also concerned that they might do the same thing with the DA 50-200, god forbid, beause I still have'nt bought mine due to financial constraints. Why all the mystery.
As devoted Pentax fans shouldn't we respected enough to be told what's going on?
Freddy

No. (But frankly, thatlens isn't very good anyway.)
Noone knows. Just corporate tradition I think.
Obviously not. But then, every time they tell us something things get delaued or doesn't show up. Where is the DA*55/1.4 and the DA35/x for example (and how fast will the later be?)?

fevbusch · 06-08-2007, 08:29 AM

Thanks, Jonas. I'm probably better off with the DA 50-200 anyway. Don't you think so. I'm getting a quality lens that is very versatile and has adequate zoom for my needs. Would appreciate your opinion on this. Thanks and regards, Freddy

AndrewG NY · 06-08-2007, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by Jonas B

No. (But frankly, thatlens isn't very good anyway.)

I had always heard that the FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5 was pretty good, one of the best standard zooms that Pentax had released for film. I don't know whether or not Jonas B. has better information. The focal length range is rather unattractive for digital bodies however, so I doubt we'll be seeing it (or the also nice and somewhat more useful for D-SLR FA24-90 f/3.5-4.5) again.

The DA50-200 f/4-5.6 is a current lens and is the only telephoto zoom offered by Pentax right now. I'd say the likelihood of it being retired soon is just about zero.

cwaters · 06-08-2007, 08:56 AM

Originally posted by fevbusch

As devoted Pentax fans shouldn't we respected enough to be told what's going on?
Freddy

A devoted Pentax fan would know by now that Pentax is where it is because they offer great product catalogues and never actually produce any of the items they say they make. They also don't think they need to tell you anything at all about what they're doing, when, why, or how.
Funny thing is, they're probably right seeing as how we're still buying what little they will produce.

By the way, I have both of those lenses and find applications for each. I do like the 28-105 and feel like it's pretty good. I'm no pixle-peeper though and have no brick wall testing to back up my opinion.

CW
not really disgruntled.

AndrewG NY · 06-08-2007, 09:04 AM

Further thoughts on the usefulness of the FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5...I guess it depends what you want. The FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5 is faster and possibly better than the kit lens throughout the overlap in their range, 28-55. I would hazard a guess that the 28-105 is comparable to the DA 50-200 in the 50-105 range with the 28-105 being slightly better at the short end of the range (say 50-75mm) and the DA50-200 being better at the 90-105 end.

So if the 28-105 will help you avoid swapping lenses and produce good images for you, enjoy it. Some people like having overlap in their zoom lineup. Obviously it doesn't have the reach of the 50-200 and is rather narrow in field of view to replace the kit lens at the wide angle side. The 28-105 f/3.2-4.5 has eight aperture blades and may offer better bokeh...though it also uses larger filters and lacks the quick-shift focus mechanism.

fevbusch · 06-08-2007, 11:48 AM

Hey guys, thanks so much for all the detailed comments.
I'm pretty sure I'll go for the DA 50-200 lens because of the really good glass, reputation and nice small size. It will even get good results for some closeup
shots as I have seen from so many sharp and colorful photos on this forum.
So, I'll have an adequate zoom and my wonderful Sigma 50mm 2.8 EX macro for
my macro shots and even for family type shots because the Sigma works so well in
marginal light. When I have those two lenses I maybe will have satisfied my "lens lust". Andrew, thanks for reassuring me about the probable longevity of the 50-200.
I'll buy it before this Christmas anyway so won't have to worry. What you said
just makes sense. Regards to all, Freddy

Jonas B · 06-08-2007, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by AndrewG NY

I had always heard that the FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5 was pretty good, one of the best standard zooms that Pentax had released for film. I don't know whether or not Jonas B. has better information. The focal length range is rather unattractive for digital bodies however, so I doubt we'll be seeing it (or the also nice and somewhat more useful for D-SLR FA24-90 f/3.5-4.5) again.

The DA50-200 f/4-5.6 is a current lens and is the only telephoto zoom offered by Pentax right now. I'd say the likelihood of it being retired soon is just about zero.

I don't know if I have "better" information. What I have is first hand experience from the FA28-105. It is not the best lens for anything in my experience; it is not very sharp (but quite alright, don't get me wrong), not very fast (but decent), not very good build (but ok). It does lack from Quickshift as allready pointed out and there are several reports about focusing problems with the DS. I also had thse focusing problems which showed up as "don't lock focus". This was puzzling a couple years ago as many had good experience from the lens in the film days. Now it is a bit long at the short end and not a very good performer at the long end.

For bokeh - the DA50-200 has relatively good bokeh as we have seen in many pictures here. I guess it isn't stellar at the end long but that is a problem it shares with most zooms. The important thing is that it is good, functions flawlessly and is a lot more conveniant as it has QS.

For me it would be a no-brainer to choose the DA50-200.

Overlap - yes, many likes this. I guess I would do tha to provided that I used any zooms at all. Now that I use primes only I'm used to switch lens so I'm not the right person to say anything about this.

my 2 cents,

ccallana · 06-08-2007, 01:53 PM

I think basically the 17-70 is the replacement for the 28-105. Pentax seems to be filling their line-up with lenses replacing the 35mm equivs...

28-80 -->18-55
28-105 --> 17-70
70-300 --> 50-200
28-70/2.8 --> 16-50/2.8
80-200/2.8 --> 50-135/2.8

etc, etc. I would expect this to continue for the most part. Although I do seem to remember a 55-300 on the roadmap. I would love to see something like a 150-400 (sigma has something like this I think) -

06-08-2007, 04:55 AM	#1
fevbusch Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,064	Pentax 28-105 3.2-4.5 SMCP-FA comeback? Has there been any feedback from Pentax as to whether the 28-105 3.2 is coming back. It is still listed by various sellers as "out of stock". i'm also concerned that they might do the same thing with the DA 50-200, god forbid, beause I still have'nt bought mine due to financial constraints. Why all the mystery. As devoted Pentax fans shouldn't we respected enough to be told what's going on? Freddy

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06-08-2007, 05:00 AM	#2
Jonas B Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 810	Originally posted by fevbusch Has there been any feedback from Pentax as to whether the 28-105 3.2 is coming back. It is still listed by various sellers as "out of stock". i'm also concerned that they might do the same thing with the DA 50-200, god forbid, beause I still have'nt bought mine due to financial constraints. Why all the mystery. As devoted Pentax fans shouldn't we respected enough to be told what's going on? Freddy No. (But frankly, thatlens isn't very good anyway.) Noone knows. Just corporate tradition I think. Obviously not. But then, every time they tell us something things get delaued or doesn't show up. Where is the DA*55/1.4 and the DA35/x for example (and how fast will the later be?)?

06-08-2007, 08:29 AM	#3
fevbusch Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,064 Original Poster	Thanks, Jonas. I'm probably better off with the DA 50-200 anyway. Don't you think so. I'm getting a quality lens that is very versatile and has adequate zoom for my needs. Would appreciate your opinion on this. Thanks and regards, Freddy

06-08-2007, 08:53 AM	#4
AndrewG NY Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chappaqua, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 688	Originally posted by Jonas B No. (But frankly, thatlens isn't very good anyway.) I had always heard that the FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5 was pretty good, one of the best standard zooms that Pentax had released for film. I don't know whether or not Jonas B. has better information. The focal length range is rather unattractive for digital bodies however, so I doubt we'll be seeing it (or the also nice and somewhat more useful for D-SLR FA24-90 f/3.5-4.5) again. The DA50-200 f/4-5.6 is a current lens and is the only telephoto zoom offered by Pentax right now. I'd say the likelihood of it being retired soon is just about zero.

06-08-2007, 08:56 AM	#5
cwaters Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 31	Originally posted by fevbusch As devoted Pentax fans shouldn't we respected enough to be told what's going on? Freddy A devoted Pentax fan would know by now that Pentax is where it is because they offer great product catalogues and never actually produce any of the items they say they make. They also don't think they need to tell you anything at all about what they're doing, when, why, or how. Funny thing is, they're probably right seeing as how we're still buying what little they will produce. By the way, I have both of those lenses and find applications for each. I do like the 28-105 and feel like it's pretty good. I'm no pixle-peeper though and have no brick wall testing to back up my opinion. CW not really disgruntled.

06-08-2007, 09:04 AM	#6
AndrewG NY Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chappaqua, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 688	Further thoughts on the usefulness of the FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5...I guess it depends what you want. The FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5 is faster and possibly better than the kit lens throughout the overlap in their range, 28-55. I would hazard a guess that the 28-105 is comparable to the DA 50-200 in the 50-105 range with the 28-105 being slightly better at the short end of the range (say 50-75mm) and the DA50-200 being better at the 90-105 end. So if the 28-105 will help you avoid swapping lenses and produce good images for you, enjoy it. Some people like having overlap in their zoom lineup. Obviously it doesn't have the reach of the 50-200 and is rather narrow in field of view to replace the kit lens at the wide angle side. The 28-105 f/3.2-4.5 has eight aperture blades and may offer better bokeh...though it also uses larger filters and lacks the quick-shift focus mechanism.

06-08-2007, 11:48 AM	#7
fevbusch Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,064 Original Poster	Hey guys, thanks so much for all the detailed comments. I'm pretty sure I'll go for the DA 50-200 lens because of the really good glass, reputation and nice small size. It will even get good results for some closeup shots as I have seen from so many sharp and colorful photos on this forum. So, I'll have an adequate zoom and my wonderful Sigma 50mm 2.8 EX macro for my macro shots and even for family type shots because the Sigma works so well in marginal light. When I have those two lenses I maybe will have satisfied my "lens lust". Andrew, thanks for reassuring me about the probable longevity of the 50-200. I'll buy it before this Christmas anyway so won't have to worry. What you said just makes sense. Regards to all, Freddy

06-08-2007, 11:49 AM	#8
Jonas B Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 810	Originally posted by AndrewG NY I had always heard that the FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5 was pretty good, one of the best standard zooms that Pentax had released for film. I don't know whether or not Jonas B. has better information. The focal length range is rather unattractive for digital bodies however, so I doubt we'll be seeing it (or the also nice and somewhat more useful for D-SLR FA24-90 f/3.5-4.5) again. The DA50-200 f/4-5.6 is a current lens and is the only telephoto zoom offered by Pentax right now. I'd say the likelihood of it being retired soon is just about zero. I don't know if I have "better" information. What I have is first hand experience from the FA28-105. It is not the best lens for anything in my experience; it is not very sharp (but quite alright, don't get me wrong), not very fast (but decent), not very good build (but ok). It does lack from Quickshift as allready pointed out and there are several reports about focusing problems with the DS. I also had thse focusing problems which showed up as "don't lock focus". This was puzzling a couple years ago as many had good experience from the lens in the film days. Now it is a bit long at the short end and not a very good performer at the long end. For bokeh - the DA50-200 has relatively good bokeh as we have seen in many pictures here. I guess it isn't stellar at the end long but that is a problem it shares with most zooms. The important thing is that it is good, functions flawlessly and is a lot more conveniant as it has QS. For me it would be a no-brainer to choose the DA50-200. Overlap - yes, many likes this. I guess I would do tha to provided that I used any zooms at all. Now that I use primes only I'm used to switch lens so I'm not the right person to say anything about this. my 2 cents,

06-08-2007, 01:53 PM	#9
ccallana Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Folsom, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 321	I think basically the 17-70 is the replacement for the 28-105. Pentax seems to be filling their line-up with lenses replacing the 35mm equivs... 28-80 -->18-55 28-105 --> 17-70 70-300 --> 50-200 28-70/2.8 --> 16-50/2.8 80-200/2.8 --> 50-135/2.8 etc, etc. I would expect this to continue for the most part. Although I do seem to remember a 55-300 on the roadmap. I would love to see something like a 150-400 (sigma has something like this I think) -