[knoxploration]

Nope, those are the same prices they've had for the better part of a year (at least).

To be fair, they *are* reasonably significantly discounted, as compared to prices of their Canon and Nikon-mount equivalents, from the same seller.

I still wouldn't call them good value, however.

[DogLover]

To be fair, they *are* reasonably significantly discounted, as compared to prices of their Canon and Nikon-mount equivalents, from the same seller.

I still wouldn't call them good value, however.

Yes, they are cheaper than the other mounts, but this seller has been this way for a long time. I've bought two from them. There have been no further recent discounts (yet).

[Urkeldaedalus]

I think this is more due to the poor economy than because of anything Pentax has done. When people stop buying things from you, the next step is to cut costs and consolidate your most promising customer bases, which in this case is Nikon and Canon. On this note, Cosina just announced recently that they are going to start releasing lenses for the very popular 4/3 cameras.

This is why if Pentax goes EVIL they should consider going the 4/3 alliance route if possible rather than going at it on their own. This would automatically mean more market options for Pentax users.

[andi]

This is why if Pentax goes EVIL they should consider going the 4/3 alliance route if possible rather than going at it on their own. This would automatically mean more market options for Pentax users.

I don't agree, if Pentax make a "mirror-less" camera, it has to accept K-mount
primes. The whole point would be to match great Limited prime lenses
with a small camera. If not, it makes no sense at all.
K-r is pretty small already, I would pick it up before anything new requiring
new lenses.

S@cks about Zeiss, but it's been known here for a while now.
Does anybody know any ZK seller offering a discount outside of California?

[Zav]

I don't agree, if Pentax make a "mirror-less" camera, it has to accept K-mount
primes. The whole point would be to match great Limited prime lenses
with a small camera.

I don't think so. If they make an evil camera, they need to make dedicated lenses.
An adapter would kill the appeal of the EVIL camera.
The Minolta 20mm is not bigger that a FA 50. Voigtlander 20...well it's a pancake lens.

[DogLover]

I tend to agree with andi here. If an upcoming mirror-less camera from Pentax does not accept our wonderful limited lenses, then that takes away about 80% of the appeal, IMO. Pentax says they want to make "unique" products. A K-mount, a decent VF, and built-in SR to me spell success in this market. Sorry to take this further off-topic.

[Dan]

Yes, they are cheaper than the other mounts, but this seller has been this way for a long time. I've bought two from them. There have been no further recent discounts (yet).

Have you tried the "make an offer" button lately?

I am about to test just how low they will go...

Dan

[DogLover]

No, but I would certainly be interested if they are in a mood to deal.

[Kenn100D]

we'll I Just bought ZK 50mm Planar last year. This is a keeper now.

[woodworm]

Who cares? Pentax primes are better anyway and it's not like they were value for money.

[Blue]

Zeiss is releasing a Sony AF 24/2 T* lens for both ff and aps-c bodies.

I own a 85!1.4 ZK and love it! And it's not for sale.
I asked the fellow at the Leica Boutique in Montreal where I bought the lens and this is what he told me:

Thank you for the note and the enthusiastic review of the Zeiss optics.
Unfortunately it is true that Zeiss is discontinuing the Pentax mount for the SLR lenses. A sign of the time I presume.
In stock I still have the following lenses in the ZK mount:

18, 21, 28, 35, 50 F1,4 and 50 F2 Makro

Cheers,

P.S.: I believe this also applies for Voigtlander lenses but maybe I am mistaken. Can someone confirm this?

JP

PM sent

[Rory]

No, but I would certainly be interested if they are in a mood to deal.

I tried. They have auto decline on.

[DogLover]

Oh, well. Their prices are still pretty good relative to other retailers.

[Class A]

They too probably got sick and tired of waiting for FF.

That doesn't make sense. Their lenses work on APS-C as well and wouldn't be much cheaper if they didn't cover an FF image circle. Other third-party manufacturers sell a lot of FF lenses to APS-C customers.

They probably didn't sell that many for K-mount. There are less customers compared to Canikon to start with and Pentax shooters often are price concious, i.e., are not likely to pay the price for such exclusive glass. Then there are the Ltds., of course.

Zeiss should have an "Adaptall" system. It would reduce the cost of making the glass available for several mounts and it would allow owners to move their Zeiss glass between systems. Given that they don't AF anyhow, the adapter shouldn't be that complicated (and might contain the chip required for some cameras to enable metering).