HD is the new replacement for SMC

LamyTax · 09-11-2012, 05:36 AM

Originally posted by Docrwm

Yes, that analysis makes sense. They are continuing to release SMC lenses as evidenced by their DA560 just announced.
HD Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW DC Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

And the 645 lens appears to have HD
HD Pentax-D FA 645 90mm F2.8 ED AW SR Macro Reviews - 645 Telephoto Primes - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Funny thing, in reading the DA560 page here in the Lens Review section I found the following statement:
"This lens features Pentax HD coating, the next generation of multi-coating (supersedes SMC coating)."

But the photo advertizement released by Pentax clearly says SMC???

It's a budget lens, afterall.

Docrwm · 09-11-2012, 05:49 AM

Originally posted by LamyTax

It's a budget lens, afterall.

- now there is some disagreement about what coatings the DA560 has on it. The official specs say HD but the ads clearly have SMC. Which is it? Given the price, we may never know.

LamyTax · 09-11-2012, 05:55 AM

Originally posted by Docrwm

- now there is some disagreement about what coatings the DA560 has on it. The official specs say HD but the ads clearly have SMC. Which is it? Given the price, we may never know.

Nah, it's a typo, they're off by the order of a magnitude.
"ED" was meant to be "plastic", "HD" is "SMC" and the price is actually 799$.
Such a lens might actually sell if you think about it.

orablue · 09-11-2012, 08:05 AM

1. i agree. i think "HD" is a cheap way to make the lens sound expensive. the graph compares HD performance to conventional coating, not even SMC!

2. remember that SMC is a 7-layer coating applied to most surfaces. i guess Pentax has found a cheaper coating technology. maybe the star and limited lenses will retain the SMC designation

3. it will be interesting to see if these 2 HD lenses produce images that retain the traditional Pentax SMC look (if there really is such a thing)

Kunzite · 09-11-2012, 08:35 AM

I think "HD" is just an excuse to put that red strip on the lens

Docrwm · 09-11-2012, 09:32 AM

Originally posted by Kunzite

I think "HD" is just an excuse to put that red strip on the lens

White with Red stripe, how innovative and novel.......

Kunzite · 09-11-2012, 09:33 AM

It's a different shade of red, though...

Docrwm · 09-11-2012, 09:35 AM

Originally posted by Kunzite

It's a different shade of red, though...

Well, that makes all the difference.

Kunzite · 09-11-2012, 09:40 AM

No, really. The clean white and burgundy strip are so much better than the dirty white and mundane red of other manufacturers.

I can imagine what the few Pentaxians who would actually buy it could say to their Canon fellows carrying some L telephoto:
- "That's not a lens. THIS is a lens!"
- "Oh, nice lens, you should wash it".

**Clinton** · 09-11-2012, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by orablue

1. i agree. i think "HD" is a cheap way to make the lens sound expensive. the graph compares HD performance to conventional coating, not even SMC!

2. remember that SMC is a 7-layer coating applied to most surfaces. i guess Pentax has found a cheaper coating technology. maybe the star and limited lenses will retain the SMC designation

3. it will be interesting to see if these 2 HD lenses produce images that retain the traditional Pentax SMC look (if there really is such a thing)

Oh yawn. So much debate over so little.

hongzhibin1987 · 09-12-2012, 11:22 AM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Bah, HD, just because marketing thought that would appeal to people more.. I liked the name SMC better because it was unique to Pentax. Everything has HD in its name nowadays, especially low quality products..

Bah, you are hell right. even my handhold video cam has giant HD on it.

**7samurai** · 09-12-2012, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by hongzhibin1987

Bah, you are hell right. even my handhold video cam has giant HD on it.

I think my last soda had the words "HD" on the side.

Blue · 09-13-2012, 10:36 AM

It is interesting that they kept smc on the new super zoom, at least as per PentaxImaging.

smc PENTAX DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM

PENTAX - smc PENTAX DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM

Docrwm · 09-13-2012, 12:04 PM

Originally posted by Blue

It is interesting that they kept smc on the new super zoom, at least as per PentaxImaging.

smc PENTAX DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM

PENTAX - smc PENTAX DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM

And the DA560 seems to have SMC in the ads but some say the lens is marked HD. Just chaos IMHO.

**jhaji** · 09-13-2012, 02:54 PM

Dont care for HD - it's been overused. SMC sounds better. Maybe SMC II? Or H-SMC?

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09-11-2012, 05:36 AM	#61
LamyTax Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 376	Originally posted by Docrwm Yes, that analysis makes sense. They are continuing to release SMC lenses as evidenced by their DA560 just announced. HD Pentax-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW DC Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database And the 645 lens appears to have HD HD Pentax-D FA 645 90mm F2.8 ED AW SR Macro Reviews - 645 Telephoto Primes - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Funny thing, in reading the DA560 page here in the Lens Review section I found the following statement: "This lens features Pentax HD coating, the next generation of multi-coating (supersedes SMC coating)." But the photo advertizement released by Pentax clearly says SMC??? It's a budget lens, afterall.

09-11-2012, 05:49 AM	#62
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	Originally posted by LamyTax It's a budget lens, afterall. - now there is some disagreement about what coatings the DA560 has on it. The official specs say HD but the ads clearly have SMC. Which is it? Given the price, we may never know.

09-11-2012, 05:55 AM	#63
LamyTax Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 376	Originally posted by Docrwm - now there is some disagreement about what coatings the DA560 has on it. The official specs say HD but the ads clearly have SMC. Which is it? Given the price, we may never know. Nah, it's a typo, they're off by the order of a magnitude. "ED" was meant to be "plastic", "HD" is "SMC" and the price is actually 799$. Such a lens might actually sell if you think about it.

09-11-2012, 08:05 AM	#64
orablue Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1	1. i agree. i think "HD" is a cheap way to make the lens sound expensive. the graph compares HD performance to conventional coating, not even SMC! 2. remember that SMC is a 7-layer coating applied to most surfaces. i guess Pentax has found a cheaper coating technology. maybe the star and limited lenses will retain the SMC designation 3. it will be interesting to see if these 2 HD lenses produce images that retain the traditional Pentax SMC look (if there really is such a thing)

09-11-2012, 08:35 AM	#65
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	I think "HD" is just an excuse to put that red strip on the lens

09-11-2012, 09:32 AM	#66
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kunzite I think "HD" is just an excuse to put that red strip on the lens White with Red stripe, how innovative and novel.......

09-11-2012, 09:33 AM	#67
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	It's a different shade of red, though...

09-11-2012, 09:35 AM	#68
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kunzite It's a different shade of red, though... Well, that makes all the difference.

09-11-2012, 09:40 AM	#69
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	No, really. The clean white and burgundy strip are so much better than the dirty white and mundane red of other manufacturers. I can imagine what the few Pentaxians who would actually buy it could say to their Canon fellows carrying some L telephoto: - "That's not a lens. THIS is a lens!" - "Oh, nice lens, you should wash it".

09-11-2012, 06:19 PM	#70
Clinton Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,910	Originally posted by orablue 1. i agree. i think "HD" is a cheap way to make the lens sound expensive. the graph compares HD performance to conventional coating, not even SMC! 2. remember that SMC is a 7-layer coating applied to most surfaces. i guess Pentax has found a cheaper coating technology. maybe the star and limited lenses will retain the SMC designation 3. it will be interesting to see if these 2 HD lenses produce images that retain the traditional Pentax SMC look (if there really is such a thing) Oh yawn. So much debate over so little.

09-12-2012, 11:22 AM	#71
hongzhibin1987 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 464	Originally posted by Na Horuk Bah, HD, just because marketing thought that would appeal to people more.. I liked the name SMC better because it was unique to Pentax. Everything has HD in its name nowadays, especially low quality products.. Bah, you are hell right. even my handhold video cam has giant HD on it.

09-12-2012, 01:17 PM	#72
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	Originally posted by hongzhibin1987 Bah, you are hell right. even my handhold video cam has giant HD on it. I think my last soda had the words "HD" on the side.

09-13-2012, 10:36 AM	#73
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	It is interesting that they kept smc on the new super zoom, at least as per PentaxImaging. smc PENTAX DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM PENTAX - smc PENTAX DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM

09-13-2012, 12:04 PM	#74
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	Originally posted by Blue It is interesting that they kept smc on the new super zoom, at least as per PentaxImaging. smc PENTAX DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM PENTAX - smc PENTAX DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM And the DA560 seems to have SMC in the ads but some say the lens is marked HD. Just chaos IMHO.

09-13-2012, 02:54 PM	#75
jhaji Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,141	Dont care for HD - it's been overused. SMC sounds better. Maybe SMC II? Or H-SMC?