Originally posted by goubejp Well I proposed myself to make such images forPentax France - I'm using a FA*600f4 usually. Guess what ? They didn't answer me. The most fun : for the Pentax lens brochure, to illustrate this 560, they have but an image of an european bee catcher.
see
http://s2.media.ricoh-imaging.fr/media/1d4e72b257e16baa270f111123baf28b/K_Mount_Lens.pdf
See p 24 image fram Thibaud Epeche
After a sort research, I discovered that this was shot with the DA*300. So even in their official brochure they are not capable of finding good images shot with this lens. Poor marketing...
That's poor marketing. It likely gives people the impression that Pentax/Ricoh themselves don't really take this lens seriously, or at least do not take selling this lens seriously. Still, the ones most convinced that the lens is not worth its current list price are not the target group of photographers for a high class super tele lens anyway. The ones that áre in the target group, but let the preconception that this lens cánnot be worth its list price keep them from buying it, are simply depriving themselves of thé high end digital designed and portable super tele lens for the Pentax system, that beats older lenses at resolution, contrast and clarity. I am glad myself that I decided to get it and use it myself to establish whether the lens is worth its money.
But that all the more makes me want to see Pentax succeed in the segment of birding and wildlife. They have got the benefit of Sony sensors over Canon, and the weight benefit over Nikon. And still the price benefit over both, even at the current price. If they can get tracking up to par, then there will really only be the autofocus speed that is trailing, accuracy is superb already. Not many would want to put a 2x tc on a 560mm lens, and the DA560 woeks absolutely great with the HD 1.4tc, also AF wise, so the F5.6 max. aperture is hardly a concern.
I feel the lens deserves better than sitting on the shelves unsold. So let's see whether the retail price really get's a cut.....
Chris