[sft]

I've been told, quite specifically, that the 60-250 is "next" on the DA* releases. The 200 & 300 will also follow very shortly afterwards. The 60-250 was put first as it was deemed the "most next wanted". It has definitely not been shelved, nor any others on the roadmap (apart from the 645D + lens, which is "on hold" at this time). I was told to realistically expect the first deliveries in January 2008 although December 07 is the target date (I put in the years for the cynics!).

The delays have been purely down to stabilising the supply and manufacturig issues in making the first two DA*'s, especially the 16-50, the engineering team has been fully occupied with resolving these issues and shortage of engineers (throughout the industry) is a major factor here, in fact, the addition of the 18-250 was a recent (post Hoya) initiative to get a quality travel zoom on the stocks without affecting the program and it looks as though it's been generally well accepted as there was in no way, any other route open. It should be noted that the Pentax pricing is currently similar to the Tamron which should further please the critical. I shall be getting one as my general purpose P&S travel lens, it will replace my FA 28-105/3.2-4.5 with the added bonus of more reach at either end.

I hope that there will be further OEM projects, such as TC's and other specialised and/or desireable lenses to further expand the range. I have already made some suggestions along these lines ("Pentax" chipped TC's from Kenko and an SDM version of the 200-500 and 180mm macro from Tamron).

As a footnote, new bodies will always be a factor in the overall strategy as they are the vehicle for further lens sales and cannot be put off or delayed. They are the main deciding factor for most peoples initial decision to buy into the brand.

You will be very pleased with what Pentax are doing body wise with the next models. Even if you don't get one yourself, even Pentax realise that many find their existing body(s) fits their needs, but it will show that they have been, and still are, listening.

Cheers Richard for the excellent info. I am very glad that the DA*60-250 will be coming in the next few months then. Can't wait to get it - as you may or may not know I also got the DA*16-50 but it went to Pentax USA as it has major focusing issues and some other minor issues. The 60-250 is the real lens I wanted anyways as I am good on the WA end with the DA21 & FA31 and I find I hardly ever need any more WA coverage than the DA21 anyways. Still the 16-50 will make a great main travel lens to replace the primes (DA21, FA31, FA50) when I get it back from Pentax US.

As for the 18-250 I have no problem with it - I won't be getting one but I can see the appeal of it - it's too bad they didn't add quick shift though - that's a bit of a bummer IMO and it will be the only DA lens without it but I guess it would require more effort by Pentax other than just the cosmetic changes they made to the Tamron and frankly if it would mean resources going to waste on it compared to the DA*'s then I am glad they have their priorities straight

As for the new body - sounds interesting! I guess it should be coming out Spring 08 or so then, I don't need a new body but hey maybe if there really is a very compelling reason to upgrade then you never know. I certainly won't get one at launch but maybe in about a years time or by 2009 I might, so then my K10 will be 2 or 2.5 years old and then I can keep the K10 as my trusty backup.

Thanks again for the info on the DA* - my lens collection will just about be complete when I get my hands on that lens Maybe a DA70 or FA77 in the future but that would just be pure LBA

Cheers!
Sinan

[ZaphodB]

Boy, your glass is just not half empty, it's almost all gone!

I don't see this at all from my viewpoint, nor do those who have a little more information than most others.

Richard your recent posts on this are most encouraging... you even mention actual lenses and actual dates as opposed to "at some point in the future something really cool is definitely coming"

So thanks for offering us a refill... but perhaps you can understand why some of us have empty glasses. Those of you "who have a little more information than most others" are very lucky... as most of us have no information, none, zero, nada... I can accept that to some extent maybe Pentax did not want to raise false expectations about release dates after the wait for the DA* lenses... but personally when I see Pentax get taken over by another company, I hope to see some kind of confirmation that the latter are serious about keeping the camera division alive and putting some money into it; not a couple of press releases which can be interpreted in several completely different ways, followed by total silence

Anyway, I'm rather more reassured by your posts than many of the vague, usually unfulfilled predictions we are used to on Pentax forums... hopefully we will see you proved right, and hopefully Pentax and Hoya decide in future to release a little information occasionally so we don't have to wait to hear it from you few who are sworn to secrecy on pain of death

[regken]

Boy, your glass is just not half empty, it's almost all gone!

I don't see this at all from my viewpoint, nor do those who have a little more information than most others.

Cheer up and pour yourself a new drink, there is enough in the bottle!

I'm not pessimistic about the survival of the Pentax brand at all, just pragmatic about the time frame of new developments and who will own it in the future. The introduction of OEM products is something I brought up a long time ago. It is something that should have been started last year but think the old Pentax mentality prevented it. Your prediction of new cameras and lenses available in the spring is not that far from my July/August dates.

The rumor about a $100 rebate on the K100D starting 10/18/07 makes me think my timetable may be a little long. That size rebate would signal Hoya is willing to let Pentax retain their position as the best bang for the buck system in the market. It might kill the K100D if there is no rebate on it and that is not a bad move. A K100D super coupled with the 18-250 lens as an entry level unit for people stepping up from a digicam would be a big seller. A street price after rebate of less than $750 would be a big, big winner. Even dpreveiw couldn't ignore a bargain like that.

As you said both the K100 and K10D both have a strong market position with prospective Pentax buyers and will probably have a life cycle of at least another year and a half so there is no rush to have the new cameras out other than for perception of Pentax being a full line.

So our main difference is you say we will see evidence of new products by early spring and I think it will be mid to late summer.

Regards,

Ken

[pentaxographer]

Maybe I do and then maybe I don't?

I agree that if not a Sony, it's intriguing as to what will be used.

Kodak have just started doing CMOS sensors, the KAC-05011, News Release, they may be a possible supplier,

You know now that you say Kodak thinking more of Next Generation sensor technology: Press Release what do you think?

[thibs]

Maybe I do and then maybe I don't?

I agree that if not a Sony, it's intriguing as to what will be used.

Kodak have just started doing CMOS sensors, the KAC-05011, News Release, they may be a possible supplier, Cypress have withdrawn their earlier APS-C CMOS sensor, currently they only have a FF 14MP CMOS sensor. Dalsa's only current CMOS is a VGA sensor. All the other sensors are CCD.

Samsung is an unknown possible source, but to date they have only ever produced small (and noisy) CMOS sensors, but they have made manufacturing licencing agreements with Sony in the past.

There is of course the possibility that the sensor used in the D2X may be available now that Nikon are dropping it in favour of the 12MP Sony FF sensor used in the D3.

Maybe Pentax have done a deal? Who knows?

Actually, I really have no idea. But what if it's true that it's not the Sony? That really does pose a very interesting question.

Come on folks, dig deep and keep up the speculation!

Mmm OK for Kodak but they just came with a 5Mpix sensor (see your link). So producing just 6 months later a 12-16Mpix sensor? Would be cool but...

Samsung is.. well I don't buy that for a second.
That said, I think some Pentax directors said months (years?) ago they were looking into producing their own sensor.
They defenitely do not have the manufacturing capability but IF Pentax came with a sensor, Samsung might be able to fab it for them and get a number of them as well as payment.

Fuji might also beit but I somehow doubt it. Of course Sony is probably it.

I'd still prefer to be surprised

[wll]

Boy, your glass is just not half empty, it's almost all gone!

I don't see this at all from my viewpoint, nor do those who have a little more information than most others.

Cheer up and pour yourself a new drink, there is enough in the bottle!

Richard, thank you for your imput, it gives me hope.

January is not that far away, and by the delay in Pentax body offerings it tells me that they will have some very innovative products in the future that just take more time to produce (engineering wise).

wll

Mmm OK for Kodak but they just came with a 5Mpix sensor (see your link). So producing just 6 months later a 12-16Mpix sensor? Would be cool but...

Samsung is.. well I don't buy that for a second.
That said, I think some Pentax directors said months (years?) ago they were looking into producing their own sensor.
They defenitely do not have the manufacturing capability but IF Pentax came with a sensor, Samsung might be able to fab it for them and get a number of them as well as payment.

Fuji might also beit but I somehow doubt it. Of course Sony is probably it.

I'd still prefer to be surprised

Foveon perhaps?

I think that it was in the last PMA that they were showing sensors with very promising specs... Problem is that I dont remember know where did I read that.

[thibs]

Maybe but they'd better have nice specs on paper, 'cos otherwise I don't see people buying a DSLR with less Mpix than the previous one (silly but that's how it goes).

So the K10D replacement (or upper market) HAS to have 12Mpix+. If those Foveon do not offer that. I don't see market acceptance, and Pentax knows this very well.

[blende8]

Foveon was a rumour from this year's PMA.
Several people reported this in newsgroups.
Don't know the source though.

[thibs]

Foveon was a rumour from this year's PMA.
Several people reported this in newsgroups.
Don't know the source though.

But do they really have the needed sensor?

I can only see the 14Mpix sensor but that one is a 1.7x sensor. I don't see Pentax going for a smaller sensor. And even then, that 14Mpis really only is a 4.67Mpix x 3. Let's see users reaction...

However the fact that this sensor is 5fps and can be programmed to act as a 3CCD video sensor (30fps) might be useful

[Mats]

You will be very pleased with what Pentax are doing body wise with the next models. Even if you don't get one yourself, even Pentax realise that many find their existing body(s) fits their needs, but it will show that they have been, and still are, listening.

Interesting and encouraging, the fact that you say they are listening makes me believe in:
* TTL Flash
* Better lowlight AF performance
* More FPS (4-5 fps is ok for me)
* Faster AF
* Good High ISO performance

If it is a camera above the K10D priced somewhere between a700 and Nikon D300 (1300-1600 USD) I think the smartest move would be to make a preannouncement much like the OLY E-3. At that price point it would not cannibalize that much from the K10D but would show that Pentax is alive and kicking.
/Mats

[and]

I just hope their next body will be at a higher level than the k10D. The k10d is superb as it is, at its low pricepoint and its not an old model either, I dont see the point in upgrading it already 1 year after the release. I hope they will follow what they said in that old interview, that a higher end model will be introduced. A Pentax k1d with built in vertical grip, 100% vf and lots of goodies at around 1700-2000 USD. I would love to see what kinda stuff they would put in that model, given the much higher price over the k10d.

I think they should expand their body lineup rather than just upgrading the existing ones

[time-snaps]

I just hope their next body will be at a higher level than the k10D. The k10d is superb as it is, at its low pricepoint and its not an old model either, I dont see the point in upgrading it already 1 year after the release. I hope they will follow what they said in that old interview, that a higher end model will be introduced. A Pentax k1d with built in vertical grip, 100% vf and lots of goodies at around 1700-2000 USD. I would love to see what kinda stuff they would put in that model, given the much higher price over the k10d.

I think they should expand their body lineup rather than just upgrading the existing ones

I like to second that! Totally agree...

[Duplo]

I like to second that! Totally agree...

Add in a larger sensor... but even without I totally agree too.

[mutley]

I hope they will follow what they said in that old interview, that a higher end model will be introduced. I would love to see what kinda stuff they would put in that model, given the much higher price over the k10d.

I think they should expand their body lineup rather than just upgrading the existing ones

Except for firmware updates for the current K10D improving, making more efficient quicker acting algorithms, and adding whatever functionality is possible with current hardware based on whatever Pentax R&D has learned in all these months of K10D production, designing new models, and customer requests.

"It does a body good."