[gazonk]

Note also that Pentax decided they have no market anymore in the $3000+ lens business. An assessment I am increasingly agreeing with.

I wonder how large the market for the new $13K Sony 500mm f/4 is...

[eddie1960]

I wonder how large the market for the new $13K Sony 500mm f/4 is...

it's build to order so it doesn't have to be large since there will be no stocks tying up inventory dollars. if it was a mass produced lens it would be 6-7 grand less but i assume Sony analyzed it and decided they couldn't support the volume to make it a mass produced piece. If they sell more than a couple of dozen the first year i will be surprised. for the price you can get a D800 and a 500 f4 as well as a 24-702.8 and 70-200 2.8. If there was a compelling camera that superseded the D800 or even the D4 then it may have a chance

[jpzk]

I'm sure I can see the photographer's hand protruding from the bear's mouth ... even in death not willing to give up his beloved camera & tripod !

That pic is so great !!

Maybe the bear needed a tooth pick !

JP

[jpzk]

Are you in the same thread?

We are talking about a modified scope design and similiarly specced Pentax scopes use 3-4 elements (1 ED) and are just under $2000. It has much fewer lens elements than the more expensive ~10+ element designs with a 100mm front lens.

Anything above $2790 will be disappointing and anything below $1990 will be a positive surprise. My personal guess is around $2500 because of the focus motor, aperture, and possible additional rear lens group working as a field flattener.

Note also that Pentax decided they have no market anymore in the $3000+ lens business. An assessment I am increasingly agreeing with.

Falk:

This is an interesting post, especially as it relates to the way this lens "will be" constructed.
I hadn't paid much attention to your previous posts about that, sorry, and now it is picking my brains.

Would you think that such a build would produce some IQ "issues" if we were to compare it to the (quote) more expensive lenses using a lot more elements?

Curious about this modified scope design would actually render in image quality.

Cheers.

JP

[Greyser]

Would you think that such a build would produce some IQ "issues" if we were to compare it to the (quote) more expensive lenses using a lot more elements?

Most of the old tele Takumars were designed this way. That’s why they are so long some times. However, the sharpness was great. And there should be less aberrations due to fewer glass elements used. With addition of modern SMC coating the 560/5.6 might be a gem. The only problem what I envision so far is the length of the lens, if it is not collapsible.

[Anvh]

We are talking about a modified scope design and similiarly specced Pentax scopes use 3-4 elements (1 ED) and are just under $2000. It has much fewer lens elements than the more expensive ~10+ element designs with a 100mm front lens.

Anything above $2790 will be disappointing and anything below $1990 will be a positive surprise. My personal guess is around $2500 because of the focus motor, aperture, and possible additional rear lens group working as a field flattener.

This a lens that would come close to the design of the Pentax 560mm
::: Samyang Optics co., ltd. - We bring you Safety :::

Price for the Samyang 500mm f/8 new... around the $99 (yes it's a two figure number, i didn't miss a 9 )
The Pentax lens will be slightly longer and will have bigger and better elements and coating, also the features and the build quality will be up a notch but i doubt the price will hit above $1500, hell i think it won't even reach $1000 to be honest.

here are some sample photos and talk about the samyang.
http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=26451

[eddie1960]

This a lens that would come close to the design of the Pentax 560mm
::: Samyang Optics co., ltd. - We bring you Safety :::

Price for the Samyang 500mm f/8 new... around the $99 (yes it's a two figure number, i didn't miss a 9 )
The Pentax lens will be slightly longer and will have bigger and better elements and coating, also the features and the build quality will be up a notch but i doubt the price will hit above $1500, hell i think it won't even reach $1000 to be honest.

here are some sample photos and talk about the samyang.
Samyang 500mm f/8 ED Preset - now with examples :)

I think Falk is probably closer as he based his cost on a current Pentax scope that is similar.
but if it is under a grand it will sell bloody boatloads if it's any good at all.

[Anvh]

Most of the old tele Takumars were designed this way. That’s why they are so long some times. However, the sharpness was great. And there should be less aberrations due to fewer glass elements used. With addition of modern SMC coating the 560/5.6 might be a gem. The only problem what I envision so far is the length of the lens, if it is not collapsible.

Looked one up.
K 500/4.5

SMC Pentax 500mm F4.5 Reviews - K Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

[Anvh]

I think Falk is probably closer as he based his cost on a current Pentax scope that is similar.
but if it is under a grand it will sell bloody boatloads if it's any good at all.

I don't see why the pentax lens would be 15 times more expensive as the samyang lens, if you can then let me know.

[eddie1960]

I would bet on 2 grand myself. even at that price it would be market competitive. Certainly versus the samyang the lenses elements will be superior as will the coatings. making it AF adds a level of complexity. and if it is collapsible that will add as well. And the extra stop means much bigger elements as well. it looked like it would have atleast basic weather sealing as well (and I can't imagine it not getting proper WR treatment given the target market)
I think the latest samyang products (8/14/35/85) have been a big jump forward in quality from this design (and look how much more they cost versus the old simple design on the 500)
If Samyang redesigned using the quality level the newer lenses have and targeted f 5.6 i have no doubt it would be well over a grand as well
apples to oranges at this point

[Anvh]

Eddie we don't know the f-number yet

If it's true it's base on a telescop then most likely it will be the Pentax 100 SDUF
That's a 400mm f/4 , the lens will probably have 1.4 tc/field flattener build in and so you get 560mm f/5.6



Aperture - 100mm
Focal length - 400mm
Focal ratio - 1:4.0
Diameter of fully illuminated field - 88mm - corrected flat field - airy disk < 20um
Optical Layout - 4-lens SMC-coated apochromatic refractor with integrated field flattening lens for 6x4.5cm film format
Tube diameter - 115mm
Weight - 4.0kgs
Tube length - 492mm

price... $3,000

the telescope was for 6x4.5cm film format so they should be able to cut some corners hopefully IF this the base design off course...

[ElJamoquio]

I thought we 'knew' that the f-stop would be 5.6. I believe Pentax has said that's their plan.

[eliallan]

That Samyang is a mirror lens, which means it has almost nothing in common with the upcoming Pentax. It is easy to make that mistake in the context of the Pentax coming from telescope design, but I can assure you even if the Pentax is disappointing it will be way better than that Samyang, and it will cost a bare minimum of $1500. I don't think Pentax would dare put a mirror in their lenses, even if it is possible to make a great mirror lens they have such a terrible reputation that I don't think it would be marketable.

[Anvh]

That Samyang is a mirror lens

Did you even looked before saying that?
This the lens i linked to, if you open the PDF on their page you see the elements it's a 4-4 formula.

http://www.syopt.co.kr/eng/product/manual_zoom_500preset.asp

This their 500mm f/8 mirror but different lens


And Pentax have made mirror lenses.
http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/lenses/primes/extreme-tele/K1000f11.html
http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/lenses/primes/extreme-tele/K2000f13.5.html
http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/lenses/primes/extreme-tele/M2000f13.5.html
http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/lenses/zooms/long/K400-600f8-12.html

[Anvh]

I thought we 'knew' that the f-stop would be 5.6. I believe Pentax has said that's their plan.

Could be, i didn't read every page here.