[CWyatt]

Samyang is still putting out new manual focus DSLR lenses - the 85 being the most popular current example, but there are other too, with other still that have been announced.

I stand even more corrected.

Surely anything that covers 12-60mm (if that is even possible) is going to be severely handicapped optically.

[Abbazz]

Samyang is still putting out new manual focus DSLR lenses - the 85 being the most popular current example, but there are other too, with other still that have been announced.

And don't forget Cosina/Voigtländer and Zeiss. I would say that it is likely that we will see many more manual focus lenses in the near future...

Cheers!

Abbazz

[Abbazz]

A 12-60/2.8 - you do realize that such a lens would probably weigh over 5 pounds?

Surely anything that covers 12-60mm (if that is even possible) is going to be severely handicapped optically.

Hey, maybe it's time to switch to the dark side of the force :

The resolution characteristic of the Olympus 12-60mm is very impressive. At large aperture settings the center performance is excellent throughout the range. The border and performance is generally very good.

The 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ED SWD is a surely a worthy representative matching the high expectations. It produces very sharp and contrasty images throughout the range. Vignetting, distortions and lateral chromatic aberrations (CAs) are all well controlled for a standard zoom lens.
Quoted from Olympus Zuiko Digital 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ED SWD Review / Test Report - Analysis

Cheers!

[CWyatt]

(equivalent to 24-120mm on full format (35mm) DSLRs)

So it's a quite wide to moderate tele lens, and f/4 on the tele end.

12mm on a Pentax DSLR is 18mm (35mm equivalent), with the associated difficulties in design/performance. A super-wide to standard or tele zoom produces a lot more difficulties. There is already the Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 (24-75mm equivalent).

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Last edited by CWyatt; 03-18-2010 at 06:31 PM.

[RioRico]

[I]The resolution characteristic of the Olympus 12-60mm is very impressive.

The Oly 12-60 is for 4:3 systems, not APS-C. The sensor is half-sized, the same as 110 film (remember the Pentax 110 SLR?) The image circle is much smaller -- APS-C frame diagonal is 30mm, 4:3 is under 22mm. It's a whole different ball game.

[Abbazz]

So it's a quite wide to moderate tele lens, and f/4 on the tele end.

12mm on a Pentax DSLR is 18mm (35mm equivalent), with the associated difficulties in design/performance. A super-wide to standard or tele zoom produces a lot more difficulties. There is already the Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 (24-75mm equivalent).

The Oly 12-60 is for 4:3 systems, not APS-C. The sensor is half-sized, the same as 110 film (remember the Pentax 110 SLR?) The image circle is much smaller -- APS-C frame diagonal is 30mm, 4:3 is under 22mm. It's a whole different ball game.

I was only joking about the Olympus 12-60! I am well aware that the Olympus 12-60 would not cover the APS-C format of a Pentax DSLR and I know very well the size of the 4/3rds sensor, since I own an Olympus E-P1. As for its sensor being "half-sized," it depends what you compare it to... A while back, when 6x9 was the regular "small size" negative, 24x36 was considered a miniature format not really suitable for any "serious" work...

Cheers!

Abbazz

[lesmore49]

I would like to see Pentax bring out the following lenses:

• 10-16 mm Wide Angle F 2.8...very similar, I know to the Tokina
• 400 mm or 500 mm F 5.6 lens..very similar to the Canon L 400 mm F 5.6
• 12 mm F 2.8 Prime wide angle...I don't think Pentax needs both a 14 mm and a 15 mm lens...drop one and replace with a 12 mm...as described

All of excellent quality and at a fair price for the consumer.

[clawhammer]

My dream lens is a fast da 35, with WR and SDM. a walkaround setup for (almost) any condition. My other (and probably more sought after) dream lens would be a wide WR prime, like the 12mm mentioned before. At that angle, I'd settle for an f/4 to keep the size down. And while I never really shoot portraiture, a da/fa * 85/1.4 would be money and on my want list, even though I'd never use it.

My dream lenses right now are a little outside those listed above. Those in the know will have a hint as to what direction I have been heading:

• Nikkor SW 65/4
• Caltar IIN 90/6.8 or Schneider Super-Symmar XL 110/5.6
• Fujinon CM-W 150/5.6 or Nikkor W 150/5.6

In all likelihood, the Caltar 90 is the starting point followed by the Nikkor 65.

I have the caltar, but unfortunately haven't had the time to really put it through it's paces. It seems to be a good lens, lots of room for movements, but it can be a little dark in the corners for focusing. As long as you've got a good loupe, you're in business. Which body do you have?

[Blue]

I was only joking about the Olympus 12-60! I am well aware that the Olympus 12-60 would not cover the APS-C format of a Pentax DSLR and I know very well the size of the 4/3rds sensor, since I own an Olympus E-P1. As for its sensor being "half-sized," it depends what you compare it to... A while back, when 6x9 was the regular "small size" negative, 24x36 was considered a miniature format not really suitable for any "serious" work...

Cheers!

Abbazz

Any 110 or 16mm format would be considered a miniature format in anyone's evaluation.

[RioRico]

As for its sensor being "half-sized," it depends what you compare it to...

APSC: 25.7mm x 16.1mm = 419mm^2
m4:3: 17.3mm x 13.0mm = 225mm^2
m4:3 / APS-C area = 0.54 ~= half-size

A while back, when 6x9 was the regular "small size" negative, 24x36 was considered a miniature format not really suitable for any "serious" work...

And this has changed?

[/me loads another roll of Efke IR 820 into /me's faithful KW Patent-Etui 6x9]
[/me transfers last roll of Velvia RPV120 to 620 spool for Kodak Monitor 6x9]
[/me stuffs 135 cart of Superia 100 into Brownie for hip sprocket-hole panos]
[/me eases off, loads 135 cart of FortePan 100 into ZX-M, hears motor sing]
[/me recalls that 6x9 was the standard "small size" before WWII, not since]
[/me thinks maybe a Holga would be easier than the Patent-Etui & Monitor]
[/me sighs, dreams of sniffing darkroom chemicals, long hours in darkness]
[/me resumes capturing & torturing images digitally, like any modern nerd]

ADDENDUM:

Any 110 or 16mm format would be considered a miniature format in anyone's evaluation.

110: 17mm x 13mm = 221mm^2 ~= m4:3
110 area / APS-C area = 0.53 ~= half-size

16: 10.26 x 7.49mm = 76.86mm^2 = teensy
s16: 12.52 x 7.41mm = 92.77mm^2 = weensy
u16: 11.66 x 7.49mm = 87.33mm^2 = meensy

[audiobomber]

Pentax NEEDS a longer lens than the 300mm. When will they fill that hole? Probably right after I give up and buy a Sigma.

[EsBee]

Surely anything that covers 12-60mm (if that is even possible)

My dream for that lens was indeed a direct result of the Olympus 12-60mm, albeit at f2.8 constant aperture.

[ajuett]

I'd like a DA 35-135mm f/4, no SDM. It's not really a dream lens, just a great walk around.

[Nick Siebers]

Here's my dream:

M 35/1.4

Hey, make it WR and let it do macro, and I might never take it off.

[rustynail925]

if 12-60mm f2.8 is impossible..
Maybe 16-50 f2.8 optically improve w/ no sdm and lowered price