Originally posted by Ben_Edict Zeiss has stopped K-mount lens productions months ago, probably because demand was too low.
The question is, why woulkd a photographer with a full-frame body opt for the poorly FA-J zooms? I cannot see any reason. Also, if I buy a pro-spec camera body, I want to look for the accompanying lenses from the body manufacturer, not from Sigma. I may buy some Sigma lenses, but I would still expect Pentax to deliver the basic set.
So, you have to think about the applications of a ff-FDSRL. For landcsape photography the existing line-up is viable - but then there is the 645D, which is aimed exactly at this clientele and is quite affordable (compared to some other MF digitals). So, for fashion, sports, studio set-ups many lenses are missing, no perspective correction lenses (shift, shift-tilt), no long glass, no fast long glass and very limited wide-angle choices.
I cannot see Pentax going into that direction. Perhaps that might change under the Ricoh umbrella.
Ben
#1: Zeiss is a Niche market. Furthermore, if it wasn't for Zeiss having the AF line of lenses for the Alpha system, their sales would not even show up on the radar . . . oh wait, they don't anyway.
The only other major manufacturers with mf lenses is Nikon with about 8 NIkkor including the 35/1.4. These can be bought from BH and Adorama. Then there are some by Cosina/Voightlander. I have felt that Pentax should maintain an assembly line for specialty products and run small batches of some items. manual focus lenses is one of those items i.e. the best of the best such as the A 15mm, K 18, K28/2, A 50/1.2, A* 85/1.4, A* 135/1.8., A* 200/2.8 and A* 200/4 macro. Put in A contacts on the K's and add Ghostless Coatings & SP. Those and a few other specialty items would keep the Specialty Assembly line going. It would be done in a sustainability fashion rather than with a goal of selling to everyone on the planet. However, selling them in different mounts might not be a bad idea.
#2: No one gives a flip about the FAJ lenses, well almost no one.
#3: The 645D is in a different ball game at $9-10K for the body. Plus the senor is somewhere between 24x36 and 645. I think many people with medium format don't have as many lenses as they did with 135 or digital 35. Pentax has been adding lenses to the 645D, but slowly which was in part due to them only releasing what was in the works and under the direction of Hoya who seems to have been in a holding pattern. We will see how that changes under Ricoh.
#4: Hassy has been sold recently so that should help level the playing field during the transition.