New Q/K lenses to be unveiled next week?

Philoslothical · 04-21-2012, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by JinDesu

Because people like different things. I personally don't mind big lenses, but after seeing the 40mm XS and the pictures it produce, I actually really want one.

And i single hand wield a k-x and a Tamron 70-200.

Fair enough. To each their own. Personally, the XS looks like a huge pain to MF. I have big hands, and no desire to fiddle with something like that. If someone is only relying on AF, I can kinda see it, maybe.

I just don't think that miniaturization of lenses is worth introducing incompatibility between cameras. Especially when the camera they're miniaturizing them for looks like an oversized Lego brick. If it were thin like a NEX, I can see someone wanting it to be pocketable with a lens. It's not pocketable anyway, it's a mirrorless DSLR without much of a grip in form factor, so why bother?

MrPetkus · 04-21-2012, 06:05 PM

Looks like a new 21/3.2...

Medium FormatPro · 04-21-2012, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by Philoslothical

Fair enough. To each their own. Personally, the XS looks like a huge pain to MF. I have big hands, and no desire to fiddle with something like that. If someone is only relying on AF, I can kinda see it, maybe.

I originally had this concern as well, but guess what... My hands are a bit large cnsidering I'm only about 200 pounds or so; my hands got that way from trying to rock climb for many years. Think of it this way; if one can do an aperature ring than one can quite easily do the Pentax 40mm F2.8 XS manual focus thing. Plus the focus ring is actually a bit further out than where the aperature ring normally would be - even though there isn't an aperature ring on the XS.

And I got a pair of mittens (of all things - whom am i to look a gift horse in the mouth) over the holidays recently; and guess what - could still manual focus with them - easily.

This was a major consideration for me. IF it would not have worked well I would have sold off the lens by now; because i actually prefer to manual focus whenever practically possible. Also, as I've pointed out in my other thread posting - there is a downside to the XS; the incredibly small front filter - just 27mm. So if someone wants to offload their entire 27mm filter line just let me know

DaveHolmes · 04-21-2012, 07:26 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by MrPetkus

Looks like a new 21/3.2...

I agree... I just wonder why?

I really don't understand the logic behind the 'XS' line of lenses... K-01 is K-mount and as such can use the current DA, DA* and DA-Ltd lenses that are already in production... Surely they should be pushing the lenses that are in production on K-01 users...
The 40mmXS is smaller than the 40mmLtd but why? The Ltd is already (really) small... What's the point?
Now Pentax just sell less 40mm-Ltd's as it's in competition with itself selling the XS-version...
If it is a 15mmXS then they'll be selling less 15mm-Ltds shortly... Why? I don't get it...

The pentax community doesn't appear to be complaining about the lenses that are currently in production... We love them right? We don't need replacements of perfectly good glass...
What we have been asking for is an expansion in the line-up... More lenses of different focal lengths that are preferably fast (and cheap in some cases)

So what is the game plan here?

Are they trying to move away from the ability to manually focus?

Is the DA Ltd line surreptitiously being phased out and replaced?

Philoslothical · 04-21-2012, 07:56 PM

If I were paranoid, I'd say they're trying to get away from normal DSLRs. Eagerly awaiting an announcement of replacements for K-r and K-5 to quash that idea.

Smeggypants · 04-21-2012, 08:57 PM

Originally posted by DaveHolmes

I agree... I just wonder why?

I really don't understand the logic behind the 'XS' line of lenses... K-01 is K-mount and as such can use the current DA, DA* and DA-Ltd lenses that are already in production... Surely they should be pushing the lenses that are in production on K-01 users...
The 40mmXS is smaller than the 40mmLtd but why? The Ltd is already (really) small... What's the point?
Now Pentax just sell less 40mm-Ltd's as it's in competition with itself selling the XS-version...
If it is a 15mmXS then they'll be selling less 15mm-Ltds shortly... Why? I don't get it...

The pentax community doesn't appear to be complaining about the lenses that are currently in production... We love them right? We don't need replacements of perfectly good glass...
What we have been asking for is an expansion in the line-up... More lenses of different focal lengths that are preferably fast (and cheap in some cases)

So what is the game plan here?

Are they trying to move away from the ability to manually focus?

Is the DA Ltd line surreptitiously being phased out and replaced?

I agree.

lets have some longer zooms and some faster regular lenses. Make a modern f/1.2 or even an f/1.0 - For example a 30mm/1.2 or 30mm/1.0 would be amazing

Medium FormatPro · 04-21-2012, 10:17 PM

Originally posted by Smeggypants

I agree.

lets have some longer zooms and some faster regular lenses. Make a modern f/1.2 or even an f/1.0 - For example a 30mm/1.2 or 30mm/1.0 would be amazing

Eerrr; not too sure about that.

I have the Leica 50mm f0.95 (which has been somewhat labeled as the fastest lens in the world - I assume they mean retail - but it's still nt quite accurate even upon that condition); which I managed to get for just over 9k; now it's closer to 11k. Assuming that anyone could do it for less than half of that - I'm still not all that sure it would sell all too well.

The closest itmes are presently a fixed focal Sigma or a manual focus Zeiss. Trying to compare a variation of this to both of these... A fixed Pentax prime with that aperature would retail for perhaps 4k and have a front filter of either 82 or 86mm

Wishing I could somehow access any sales numbers on the higher aperature lens', but a bit of a company trade secret.

I'd still purchase it though; whether it was a Pentax or a third party brand.

Cannikin · 04-21-2012, 10:47 PM

Originally posted by Adam

I saw someone else post this link:

Google Translate

Makes me wonder if next week we'll see the official announcement of the next two Q lenses (04 & o5) as well as something new for the K-mount...like that funky-looking lens for the K-01!

I see nothing in that invitation regarding any new lenses. This is just letting people try out the cameras for a few hours, and they will provide the lenses to go with them.

Q 04 and 05 lenses have been on sale for a long time now: Amazon 04 and 05.

parsons · 04-22-2012, 03:29 AM

Originally posted by Cannikin

I see nothing in that invitation regarding any new lenses. This is just letting people try out the cameras for a few hours, and they will provide the lenses to go with them.

Q 04 and 05 lenses have been on sale for a long time now: Amazon 04 and 05.

eeerrrrmmm.... good point.
il give adam a long slow clap for that one.

Na Horuk · 04-22-2012, 03:29 AM

Hm, some interesting posts here. I do like thin lenses because you can have quite a few with you and they seem to still deliver high IQ. There is one concern I share, though, and that is focusing. DA lenses are hard to focus manually as is, and with a thin ring that becomes even harder. I also don't like the lack of aperture rings and DoF scales, but I guess that has been gone for a while now (and might be confusing on crop sensors?).. The problem with lenses that are meant mostly for AF is that Pentax AF isn't always that great and the focus points are clustered in the middle. Adding more focus points might not help much, though, as that just makes it harder to select individual ones quickly.

The other problem is fast glass. Pentax makes great primes, but few of them can really be used for low light photography. The tele lenses are quite fast, but the normal to wide ones aren't, with very few exceptions, and even these probably won't be in production for long. I think Pentax just thinks "hey, they have massively high ISO, they don't need fast lenses!" but come on, high ISO is noisy and we might also want more control over DoF.

JerryLime · 04-22-2012, 03:37 AM

Guess...
DA28XS (Mirror-less ONLY)
I am sure the photo Adam posted is not DA21.

mecrox · 04-22-2012, 03:58 AM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

[snip] ... The other problem is fast glass. Pentax makes great primes, but few of them can really be used for low light photography. The tele lenses are quite fast, but the normal to wide ones aren't, with very few exceptions, and even these probably won't be in production for long. I think Pentax just thinks "hey, they have massively high ISO, they don't need fast lenses!" but come on, high ISO is noisy and we might also want more control over DoF.

Huh? With the exception of the DA 15mm (imho) all my limiteds can be used well fully open, although at f3.2 the DA 21mm is sharp only in the centre rather like a Sigma 30mm f1.4. Even so, that still leaves 35mm, 40mm, 70mm and 100mm (DFA macro) at f2.8 (f2.4 in the case of the 70mm). Given the DOF issues with open apertures I really don't see what the problem is. The limiteds strike me as fast enough by today's standards and only look slow if you either believe in advertising or, of course, have specialist needs. The second case is fair enough but my impression is that the limiteds were designed as a quality set of portable, go-anywhere, do just about anything primes rather than for specific situations like low-light photography. For that one, I have my old smc-A 50mm f1.4, still a killer lens even today. Alternatively there are the faster but fast-priced FA Limiteds. Primes that deliver pin-sharp quality from below f2 on up are always going to be rare and expensive and possibly pretty darn large (Sigma 50mm f1.4, anyone). Plenty of marques claim theirs deliver the quality, but I'm not sure all that many really do in practice and it probably means they come with a price tag which means only a fairly small number of folks will buy them (the Nikon premium primes, Zeiss, etc.).

Na Horuk · 04-22-2012, 04:07 AM

Originally posted by mecrox

Huh? With the exception of the DA 15mm (imho) all my limiteds can be used well fully open,

That is true, but f2.8 or f2.4 is quite dark compared to f1.7 or f1.4. I dont know, but I wouldn't consider a normally bright city at night to be a specialist use. And yes, I know there are exceptions, but they are mostly old glass or pretty rare lenses. Third party lenses are a good example here, because they make this type of lenses and they sell well (like the Sigma 1.4 you mentioned).

MrZeroPing · 04-22-2012, 05:02 AM

I think I might be the original poster of that link.
It is indeed just an event to try out the cameras for us locals in Tokyo. However, they are lending out the K-01 so I'm betting that they will be loaning out the new super thin 40mm they are releasing with the K-01. I'm going to be trying that out for sure. Want me to ask anything and see if I can get a scoop?

Medium FormatPro · 04-22-2012, 07:04 AM

I'm not sure if i'm recalling this one correctly, but...

Is Mr Zero Ping stating as being from the same general location in Japan; as the city along the Tamagawa River - also a bit of an operational place for the Japan Aerospace Explorations "Agency"? If in fact it is the same place; I was once there in the 80's

04-21-2012, 10:47 PM	#23
Cannikin Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SW Washington Posts: 833	Originally posted by Adam I saw someone else post this link: Google Translate Makes me wonder if next week we'll see the official announcement of the next two Q lenses (04 & o5) as well as something new for the K-mount...like that funky-looking lens for the K-01! I see nothing in that invitation regarding any new lenses. This is just letting people try out the cameras for a few hours, and they will provide the lenses to go with them. Q 04 and 05 lenses have been on sale for a long time now: Amazon 04 and 05. Last edited by Cannikin; 04-21-2012 at 10:53 PM.

04-22-2012, 03:58 AM	#27
mecrox Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,375	Originally posted by Na Horuk [snip] ... The other problem is fast glass. Pentax makes great primes, but few of them can really be used for low light photography. The tele lenses are quite fast, but the normal to wide ones aren't, with very few exceptions, and even these probably won't be in production for long. I think Pentax just thinks "hey, they have massively high ISO, they don't need fast lenses!" but come on, high ISO is noisy and we might also want more control over DoF. Huh? With the exception of the DA 15mm (imho) all my limiteds can be used well fully open, although at f3.2 the DA 21mm is sharp only in the centre rather like a Sigma 30mm f1.4. Even so, that still leaves 35mm, 40mm, 70mm and 100mm (DFA macro) at f2.8 (f2.4 in the case of the 70mm). Given the DOF issues with open apertures I really don't see what the problem is. The limiteds strike me as fast enough by today's standards and only look slow if you either believe in advertising or, of course, have specialist needs. The second case is fair enough but my impression is that the limiteds were designed as a quality set of portable, go-anywhere, do just about anything primes rather than for specific situations like low-light photography. For that one, I have my old smc-A 50mm f1.4, still a killer lens even today. Alternatively there are the faster but fast-priced FA Limiteds. Primes that deliver pin-sharp quality from below f2 on up are always going to be rare and expensive and possibly pretty darn large (Sigma 50mm f1.4, anyone). Plenty of marques claim theirs deliver the quality, but I'm not sure all that many really do in practice and it probably means they come with a price tag which means only a fairly small number of folks will buy them (the Nikon premium primes, Zeiss, etc.). Last edited by mecrox; 04-22-2012 at 04:06 AM.

04-22-2012, 04:07 AM	#28
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by mecrox Huh? With the exception of the DA 15mm (imho) all my limiteds can be used well fully open, That is true, but f2.8 or f2.4 is quite dark compared to f1.7 or f1.4. I dont know, but I wouldn't consider a normally bright city at night to be a specialist use. And yes, I know there are exceptions, but they are mostly old glass or pretty rare lenses. Third party lenses are a good example here, because they make this type of lenses and they sell well (like the Sigma 1.4 you mentioned). Last edited by Na Horuk; 04-22-2012 at 10:54 AM.

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04-21-2012, 06:02 PM	#16
Philoslothical Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,889	Originally posted by JinDesu Because people like different things. I personally don't mind big lenses, but after seeing the 40mm XS and the pictures it produce, I actually really want one. And i single hand wield a k-x and a Tamron 70-200. Fair enough. To each their own. Personally, the XS looks like a huge pain to MF. I have big hands, and no desire to fiddle with something like that. If someone is only relying on AF, I can kinda see it, maybe. I just don't think that miniaturization of lenses is worth introducing incompatibility between cameras. Especially when the camera they're miniaturizing them for looks like an oversized Lego brick. If it were thin like a NEX, I can see someone wanting it to be pocketable with a lens. It's not pocketable anyway, it's a mirrorless DSLR without much of a grip in form factor, so why bother?

04-21-2012, 06:05 PM	#17
MrPetkus Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 387	Looks like a new 21/3.2...

04-21-2012, 07:24 PM	#18
Medium FormatPro Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Charleston & Pittsburgh Photos: Albums Posts: 1,668	Originally posted by Philoslothical Fair enough. To each their own. Personally, the XS looks like a huge pain to MF. I have big hands, and no desire to fiddle with something like that. If someone is only relying on AF, I can kinda see it, maybe. I originally had this concern as well, but guess what... My hands are a bit large cnsidering I'm only about 200 pounds or so; my hands got that way from trying to rock climb for many years. Think of it this way; if one can do an aperature ring than one can quite easily do the Pentax 40mm F2.8 XS manual focus thing. Plus the focus ring is actually a bit further out than where the aperature ring normally would be - even though there isn't an aperature ring on the XS. And I got a pair of mittens (of all things - whom am i to look a gift horse in the mouth) over the holidays recently; and guess what - could still manual focus with them - easily. This was a major consideration for me. IF it would not have worked well I would have sold off the lens by now; because i actually prefer to manual focus whenever practically possible. Also, as I've pointed out in my other thread posting - there is a downside to the XS; the incredibly small front filter - just 27mm. So if someone wants to offload their entire 27mm filter line just let me know

04-21-2012, 07:26 PM - 2 Likes	#19
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	Originally posted by MrPetkus Looks like a new 21/3.2... I agree... I just wonder why? I really don't understand the logic behind the 'XS' line of lenses... K-01 is K-mount and as such can use the current DA, DA* and DA-Ltd lenses that are already in production... Surely they should be pushing the lenses that are in production on K-01 users... The 40mmXS is smaller than the 40mmLtd but why? The Ltd is already (really) small... What's the point? Now Pentax just sell less 40mm-Ltd's as it's in competition with itself selling the XS-version... If it is a 15mmXS then they'll be selling less 15mm-Ltds shortly... Why? I don't get it... The pentax community doesn't appear to be complaining about the lenses that are currently in production... We love them right? We don't need replacements of perfectly good glass... What we have been asking for is an expansion in the line-up... More lenses of different focal lengths that are preferably fast (and cheap in some cases) So what is the game plan here? Are they trying to move away from the ability to manually focus? Is the DA Ltd line surreptitiously being phased out and replaced?

04-21-2012, 07:56 PM	#20
Philoslothical Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,889	If I were paranoid, I'd say they're trying to get away from normal DSLRs. Eagerly awaiting an announcement of replacements for K-r and K-5 to quash that idea.

04-21-2012, 08:57 PM	#21
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	Originally posted by DaveHolmes I agree... I just wonder why? I really don't understand the logic behind the 'XS' line of lenses... K-01 is K-mount and as such can use the current DA, DA* and DA-Ltd lenses that are already in production... Surely they should be pushing the lenses that are in production on K-01 users... The 40mmXS is smaller than the 40mmLtd but why? The Ltd is already (really) small... What's the point? Now Pentax just sell less 40mm-Ltd's as it's in competition with itself selling the XS-version... If it is a 15mmXS then they'll be selling less 15mm-Ltds shortly... Why? I don't get it... The pentax community doesn't appear to be complaining about the lenses that are currently in production... We love them right? We don't need replacements of perfectly good glass... What we have been asking for is an expansion in the line-up... More lenses of different focal lengths that are preferably fast (and cheap in some cases) So what is the game plan here? Are they trying to move away from the ability to manually focus? Is the DA Ltd line surreptitiously being phased out and replaced? I agree. lets have some longer zooms and some faster regular lenses. Make a modern f/1.2 or even an f/1.0 - For example a 30mm/1.2 or 30mm/1.0 would be amazing

04-21-2012, 10:17 PM	#22
Medium FormatPro Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Charleston & Pittsburgh Photos: Albums Posts: 1,668	Originally posted by Smeggypants I agree. lets have some longer zooms and some faster regular lenses. Make a modern f/1.2 or even an f/1.0 - For example a 30mm/1.2 or 30mm/1.0 would be amazing Eerrr; not too sure about that. I have the Leica 50mm f0.95 (which has been somewhat labeled as the fastest lens in the world - I assume they mean retail - but it's still nt quite accurate even upon that condition); which I managed to get for just over 9k; now it's closer to 11k. Assuming that anyone could do it for less than half of that - I'm still not all that sure it would sell all too well. The closest itmes are presently a fixed focal Sigma or a manual focus Zeiss. Trying to compare a variation of this to both of these... A fixed Pentax prime with that aperature would retail for perhaps 4k and have a front filter of either 82 or 86mm Wishing I could somehow access any sales numbers on the higher aperature lens', but a bit of a company trade secret. I'd still purchase it though; whether it was a Pentax or a third party brand.

04-22-2012, 03:29 AM	#24
parsons Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 389	Originally posted by Cannikin I see nothing in that invitation regarding any new lenses. This is just letting people try out the cameras for a few hours, and they will provide the lenses to go with them. Q 04 and 05 lenses have been on sale for a long time now: Amazon 04 and 05. eeerrrrmmm.... good point. il give adam a long slow clap for that one.

04-22-2012, 03:29 AM	#25
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Hm, some interesting posts here. I do like thin lenses because you can have quite a few with you and they seem to still deliver high IQ. There is one concern I share, though, and that is focusing. DA lenses are hard to focus manually as is, and with a thin ring that becomes even harder. I also don't like the lack of aperture rings and DoF scales, but I guess that has been gone for a while now (and might be confusing on crop sensors?).. The problem with lenses that are meant mostly for AF is that Pentax AF isn't always that great and the focus points are clustered in the middle. Adding more focus points might not help much, though, as that just makes it harder to select individual ones quickly. The other problem is fast glass. Pentax makes great primes, but few of them can really be used for low light photography. The tele lenses are quite fast, but the normal to wide ones aren't, with very few exceptions, and even these probably won't be in production for long. I think Pentax just thinks "hey, they have massively high ISO, they don't need fast lenses!" but come on, high ISO is noisy and we might also want more control over DoF.

04-22-2012, 03:37 AM	#26
JerryLime Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: PA Posts: 43	Guess... DA28XS (Mirror-less ONLY) I am sure the photo Adam posted is not DA21.

04-22-2012, 05:02 AM	#29
MrZeroPing New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tokyo, Choufu Shi Posts: 15	I think I might be the original poster of that link. It is indeed just an event to try out the cameras for us locals in Tokyo. However, they are lending out the K-01 so I'm betting that they will be loaning out the new super thin 40mm they are releasing with the K-01. I'm going to be trying that out for sure. Want me to ask anything and see if I can get a scoop?

04-22-2012, 07:04 AM	#30
Medium FormatPro Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Charleston & Pittsburgh Photos: Albums Posts: 1,668	I'm not sure if i'm recalling this one correctly, but... Is Mr Zero Ping stating as being from the same general location in Japan; as the city along the Tamagawa River - also a bit of an operational place for the Japan Aerospace Explorations "Agency"? If in fact it is the same place; I was once there in the 80's