[janneman]

Being worth about $40-50, some might call the K-x L version kit lens a glorified lens cap, or, worthless - which is why they give them away.

Regarding the K-7/18-55mm combo, shouldn't you be referencing the WR version and not the DAII? The WR 18-55mm is worth more than $120 (new anyway, that is about the going used rate - just checked, BH has the WR version for $150)..

Could not make out which was WR and which one just II

[rparmar]

Direct Current?
District of Columbia?

Finally Pentax released the official news about the lens. Check their website. It's true with the DC-motor (DC = Direct Current)!

Win for me.

[lithos]

DC motor? What the hell else is a camera lens meant to use? Three phase?

This is quite possibly one of the most disappointing lenses I can think of at the moment.

[illdefined]

if anyone sees a picture of this lens fully extended, please post.

[robjmitchell]

Lets hope this baby is reasonably good. At $530 this lens is a steal.

[audiobomber]

The 18-135 is interesting to me if and only if it performs on a higher plane than the 18-55 WR and DA 18-250 in their common range. The quiet motor and WR are interesting, but features won't turn the key, I want better IQ. My 18-250 is as good as my 18-55 II. If the 18-135 is clearly better, I'll likely get one. Too bad the Tokina 16.5-135 is such a dog. That would have been a nice range to dress up with WR and a motor.

I was really hoping for a 55-300mm WR.

[paene]

Fully extended on the K-r: �yƒtƒHƒgƒLƒi�zƒyƒ“ƒ^ƒbƒNƒX�A7ƒRƒ}/•b‚̃fƒWƒ^ƒ‹ˆêŠáƒŒƒtƒJƒ�ƒ‰�uK-5�v‚ð”*•\ - ƒfƒWƒJƒ�Watch

More images here: �yƒtƒHƒgƒLƒi�zƒyƒ“ƒ^ƒbƒNƒX�A7ƒRƒ}/•b‚̃fƒWƒ^ƒ‹ˆêŠáƒŒƒtƒJƒ�ƒ‰�uK-5�v‚ð”*•\ - ƒfƒWƒJƒ�Watch

Concerned about the loss of distance scale on these new lenses. Otherwise looks like a solid all-rounder (pending feedback about image quality/characteristics). Size compares favorably w.r.t. canikon variants.

[illdefined]

fully extended on the k-r: �yƒtƒhƒgƒlƒi�zƒyƒ“ƒ^ƒbƒnƒx�a7ƒrƒ}/•b‚ìƒfƒwƒ^ƒ‹ˆêŠáƒŒƒtƒjƒ�ƒ‰�uk-5�v‚ð”*•\ - ƒfƒwƒjƒ�watch

more images here: �yƒtƒhƒgƒlƒi�zƒyƒ“ƒ^ƒbƒnƒx�a7ƒrƒ}/•b‚ìƒfƒwƒ^ƒ‹ˆêŠáƒŒƒtƒjƒ�ƒ‰�uk-5�v‚ð”*•\ - ƒfƒwƒjƒ�watch

concerned about the loss of distance scale on these new lenses. Otherwise looks like a solid all-rounder (pending feedback about image quality/characteristics). Size compares favorably w.r.t. Canikon variants.

thank you

[Rory]

DC motor? What the hell else is a camera lens meant to use? Three phase?

This is quite possibly one of the most disappointing lenses I can think of at the moment.

They're simply trying to avoid the stigma of the SDM abbreviation. But I agree, stupid name.

[macTak]

Very strange marketing with the new motor. This should really be an excllent focusing system like many have demanded for some time now, but you'd hardly know it from the material. DC doesn't really mean much (Direct Current motor does not exactly sound awesome, like Silent Wave Motor), and worse the cheaper Canon AF motor is also called DC motor, which could lead to confusion. This was a good chance to call it something like MD (magnetic drive) that would sound impressive as well. And trumpet it more, "a lens with a revoltuionary new patented focusing motor that alows silent, instant, and accurate autfocus with advanced magnetic field technology, while allowing full-time manual control". But instead the DC acronym is just stuck into the name and the press release mentions SDM; you'd never know it was something new and different, let alone what the benefits are

[macTak]

They're simply trying to avoid the stigma of the SDM abbreviation. But I agree, stupid name.

And yet, the press release mentions it under the header "Extra-smooth SDM autofocus operation"

[jake14mw]

There are many strange things with this. I like the idea of creating this lens, I think it can be a popular focal length. I am also not a fan of the ugly font large text, it looks cheap. To release your newest focusing motor technology on a lens like this though, is a head scratcher. If it truly is an advance in performance, you would think they would say more about it. It makes me think that performance wise it's not anything better than the SDM we know, maybe just more reliable.

[blende8]

A zoom ring six time as large as the focussing ring and the rings in the wrong order.
Not to speak of the price in Europe.
No, thanks.

[raz]

You are judging only by the looks blende8 ?
What if the autofocus is very fast and is also the lens is very sharp ? Still "no, thanks " ?

I'm against "all arounds" myself, but if it's as sharp as 16-45 and the focus is very fast, then I'm sold.

[blende8]

The main point would be that the rings are in the wrong order.
This is a no-go for me.

But: Never say never ...