[WideOpen]

IMO, 28mm makes for a beautiful FOV on APS-C (roughly the FOV of 43mm on film). I would use my M 28mm f/3.5 as a normal prime but for its relatively slow speed, manual metering, and lack of autofocus. I think a DA 28mm f/2.4 would be just perfect, and likely come in at around 180 grams.

We already have the DA35mm, FA31mm, DA 21mm. Does the future hold a revamped DFA* 24mm and DA 28mm? I hope so!

[Rees]

The 35mm certainly sounds interesting and I wonder if pentax will introduce more cheap prime lenses. These could fit in very nicely with a EVIL camera.

Pentax has enough problems already with its lens line-up, it does not need more cheap, nasty lenses, it needs quality primes, with much longer focal lengths

I am not too keen on cheap lenses at the moment. Why can't we let Sig/Tam handle those?? I don't get it. For the same price range, you will be better off with old Takumar primes in similar focal lengths. Year, it has no AF, but who really needs autofocusing anyway???

[Rees]

I will most likely find a way to buy both of them. The 18-125mm lens is something that I've been wanting Pentax to make for a long time. I hate having two lenses on my K-x when I only need one in that range.

With all the problems Sigma is having with such short to long zooms, I do hope Pentax has the sense to stay away from such lenses

[Aristophanes]

Pentax has enough problems already with its lens line-up, it does not need more cheap, nasty lenses, it needs quality primes, with much longer focal lengths

Problems? Pentax publicly stated its Limited series DA primes was complete. No more to come.

Pentax's problem is it staked its revenues are higher-end lenses but watched the competition split their larger internal economies between plastic mount and pro quality stuff.

So Pentax loses sales if it does not keep up, but lose revenues if it does. So whatever is coming out now is going to be low cost, low risk, DAL. They meant it when they said Ltd is done. Time to move on.

[Asahiflex]

I prefer DA30/2.4 than 35/2.4

Moreover: I already have a 35/2.4 in my bag in the form of the Carl Zeiss Jena 35mm f/2.4 Flektogon, which is already a winner in the IQ department.

[ghelary]

Problems? Pentax publicly stated its Limited series DA primes was complete. No more to come.

Pentax's problem is it staked its revenues are higher-end lenses but watched the competition split their larger internal economies between plastic mount and pro quality stuff.

So Pentax loses sales if it does not keep up, but lose revenues if it does. So whatever is coming out now is going to be low cost, low risk, DAL. They meant it when they said Ltd is done. Time to move on.

Not sure about this one.

The DA ltd lineup is made of pancakes ranging from 15mm to 70mm.
DA15mm/f4
DA21mm/f3.2
DA35mm/f2.8
DA40mm/f2.8
DA70mm/f2.4

To me this look pretty much complete apart between 40 and 70 maybe, but then fro someone who needs the focal length FA43/1.9, FA50/1.4 and DA*55/1.4 are all extremely valuable alternatives.

On the high end of lenses, Pentax can produce more DA* primes, bigger, faster and with weather-sealing compared to their ltd siblings.

DA*18/2.8
DA*35/1.4
DA*85/1.4

Can complete nicely the high end lineup.

But, sure, as much as I love the Kx, the lack of cheap 24 (eq 40) 35 (eq 50) or 50 (eq 85) gives a hard time advising to invest in the Pentax system for a serious beginner on a budget.

I believe at the moment, there is a gap between the snapshot maker who want "prettier" pictures than their compact (with a K-x + 18-55) and the "serious" user who is willing to invest 1000€/$ for a setup with decent creativity potential (K-x + 35ltd or DA21ltd)

The later are really fantastic combos and great teacher for someone willing to learn seriously but a 35/2 at 200€/$ would just be more relevant for this population (before they drool on the DAltd lineup ...)

[shadmanaj]

Not sure about this one.

The DA ltd lineup is made of pancakes ranging from 15mm to 70mm.
DA15mm/f4
DA21mm/f3.2
DA35mm/f2.8
DA40mm/f2.8
DA70mm/f2.4

To me this look pretty much complete apart between 40 and 70 maybe, but then fro someone who needs the focal length FA43/1.9, FA50/1.4 and DA*55/1.4 are all extremely valuable alternatives.

On the high end of lenses, Pentax can produce more DA* primes, bigger, faster and with weather-sealing compared to their ltd siblings.

DA*18/2.8
DA*35/1.4
DA*85/1.4

Can complete nicely the high end lineup.

But, sure, as much as I love the Kx, the lack of cheap 24 (eq 40) 35 (eq 50) or 50 (eq 85) gives a hard time advising to invest in the Pentax system for a serious beginner on a budget.

I believe at the moment, there is a gap between the snapshot maker who want "prettier" pictures than their compact (with a K-x + 18-55) and the "serious" user who is willing to invest 1000€/$ for a setup with decent creativity potential (K-x + 35ltd or DA21ltd)

The later are really fantastic combos and great teacher for someone willing to learn seriously but a 35/2 at 200€/$ would just be more relevant for this population (before they drool on the DAltd lineup ...)

I couldn't agree more with your post. A LOT of people shooting with point-and-shoots upgraded to the K-x. The K-r is coming up, and if it performs as well as the K-x, Pentax will have a significant increase in its user base. Of these photographers, most are beginners. We can safely assume most chose Pentax bodies because of the price, or more bang for the buck. When you see you need $450 for a prime for cool ''bokeh'' or shallow Dof (as seen on flickr explore), you automatically choose a T2i body and a 50mm 1.8. These photographers don't need glass equal to or better than the L-class or Nikkor. They just need two, or at most three primes, which need to be near $200.
28mm. And or 35mm. Maybe as DA-L. There should obviously be more * and LTD lenses, but I can't see why Pentax shouldn't produce two DA-L primes. Even if 65% of K-x and K-r users (assuming it's not popular at all with the enthusiast and pro K-5, K-7 and K20d), Pentax would surely get a good profit, and more importantly, more users joining. This is all in my opinion though. Pentax is a company; its employees have families. It'll do whatever it deems will be profitable, and not release new cheap lenses or * and LTD lenses just because we said so.

[gaddigad]

The DA35/2.4 would be a cheap APS-C lens so everyone can afford.
The DA18-135/3.5-5.6WR would be the new kit lens for the K-5 camera.

Wait for the announcement in 3 days ...

I like that very much, if true.

[Pablom]

just a general question regarding the DAL debate: do Nikon/Canon/Sony/Oly have cheap primes with plastic mounts?
because that would be a real turn off for me (doesn't mean I won't buy it...)

[thibs]

Canon 50/1.8 is plastic, as is the Canon 18-55.
Nikon 35/1.8 is metal though.

[ewalk]

just a general question regarding the DAL debate: do Nikon/Canon/Sony/Oly have cheap primes with plastic mounts?
because that would be a real turn off for me (doesn't mean I won't buy it...)

The Sony APS-C trio (35mm, 50mm, 85mm) are plastic mount only.

They named that series the "Easy Choice" - although given their price, it's pretty fitting. And tempting.

[Aristophanes]

Not sure about this one.

The DA ltd lineup is made of pancakes ranging from 15mm to 70mm.
DA15mm/f4
DA21mm/f3.2
DA35mm/f2.8
DA40mm/f2.8
DA70mm/f2.4

To me this look pretty much complete apart between 40 and 70 maybe, but then fro someone who needs the focal length FA43/1.9, FA50/1.4 and DA*55/1.4 are all extremely valuable alternatives.

On the high end of lenses, Pentax can produce more DA* primes, bigger, faster and with weather-sealing compared to their ltd siblings.

DA*18/2.8
DA*35/1.4
DA*85/1.4

Can complete nicely the high end lineup.

But, sure, as much as I love the Kx, the lack of cheap 24 (eq 40) 35 (eq 50) or 50 (eq 85) gives a hard time advising to invest in the Pentax system for a serious beginner on a budget.

I believe at the moment, there is a gap between the snapshot maker who want "prettier" pictures than their compact (with a K-x + 18-55) and the "serious" user who is willing to invest 1000€/$ for a setup with decent creativity potential (K-x + 35ltd or DA21ltd)

The later are really fantastic combos and great teacher for someone willing to learn seriously but a 35/2 at 200€/$ would just be more relevant for this population (before they drool on the DAltd lineup ...)

You want DA*'s AND cheap primes? The Pentax market is not really big enough for those expect at *maybe* 2 FL's in the "normal" range, and even then they are robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Their 85 is the 77, and their 35 is the DA 35/2.8 Macro, 31/1.8 Ltd, or the DAL 30-35/2.1-4 we see on the pre-order price lists. You can forget the cheap 24. That's an FF FL and was never really cheap in 35mm days. Nikon's is a $400 lens at 2.8. Pentax has the pancake 21/3.2. What you gain in size and FOV you lose in aperture. Pentax made their choice and it has sold well enough to justify that path. An 18/2.8 would be a $700 lens. Add DA* and you're pushing $1,000. The 21 is close enough a a very good price. The market for $700-$1,000 product is extremely small for a company needing market share.

Weather sealing adds considerable costs to a lens and the market is actually moving away from that trend, towards cheaper glass. WR will be zoom material save for a 1-2 choice prime lengths and macros. I expect 1-2 DAL primes (30-35/2.4 and 50/2) and a new kit zoom, 18-125 or 135/3.5-5.6, plus 1-2 645D lenses.

[stanleyk]

The Sony APS-C trio (35mm, 50mm, 85mm) are plastic mount only.

They named that series the "Easy Choice" - although given their price, it's pretty fitting. And tempting.

Yes, those look very tempting + the new A55. All you would need is the Sigma 10-20mm and you'd be set. Given what I've read about the A55, it looks like that's a better option than a new Pentax body. That said I don't need anything longer than 85mm so I'm probably an exception.

[RolloR]

honestly, i don't see anything wrong with plastic.

they're lighter and cheaper.

As for "tougher," try dropping your metal lens. It will be rendered useless just like when you drop a plastic lens."

the optics are almost always glass anyway.