Lens road map updated.

ogl · 02-07-2013, 10:54 PM

The right name of thread LENS ROADMAP IS NOT UPDATED

ogl · 02-07-2013, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by feishui

Interesting
The new roadmap doesn't have the 16-45mm F/4

discontinued 2 year ago

DA14 is already discontinued too. No delivery to Europe.

gazonk · 02-08-2013, 01:43 AM

Originally posted by ogl

discontinued 2 year ago

It's a bit of a pity, it's a very nice lens, I love its rendering. OTOH, the wobbly barrel construction is not so good, it sometimes (but not always!) gives me shots at 16-18mm where the lens is obviously decentered. Since I use it mostly for the wide end, I'd save myself for a lot of weight and wobbliness with the DA15. But now that FF is within reach, my LBA for the APS-C-only lenses has faded somewhat... I keep thinking that when I want to replace my K-5 in 2-3 (or 3-4, probably) years, the most tempting alternative will be a 30-40mp FF camera which is barely larger than the K-5

**Digitalis** · 02-10-2013, 07:41 PM

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

The cheap kit zoom lens is way more complex than the FA* 600/4.

The kit zoom doesn't have require the use of large diameter 150mm lens elements, the bigger the lens elements are the more they cost. The glass blanks they are made from have to be absolutely flawless, they also have to be ground into shape and polished by machines that can handle such large pieces of glass - which costs even more money because the bigger a piece of glass is the longer it takes to shape it. However reducing the complexity of the lens design should help offset the costs of production so again, the costs of making the components can't really be that high.

goubejp · 02-11-2013, 04:53 AM

Agreed; for the FA*600 the complexity is not in the optical design but in the way to produce these huge optical elements flawless

**Digitalis** · 02-11-2013, 06:47 AM

Originally posted by goubejp

complexity is not in the optical design but in the way to produce these huge optical elements flawless

I seem to recall Leica throwing out whole batches of blanks that were destined to become lenses used in the production of the noctilux because the chemicals used to make them weren't pure enough, Lecia has to make the glass for the noctilux in platinum lined crucibles because of its extremely high lanthanum content caused the melting point to be significantly higher than ordinary glass. The filter maker Lee reject 4 out of 10 big stopper filters because of the glazing doesn't have the correct uniformity. Working with glass isn't as simple as a majority of consumers seem to think.

goubejp · 02-11-2013, 08:52 AM

Not to speak about fluorite lenses that are grown specifically for some lenses; the process takes months to get the correct fluorite cristal size...

Blue · 02-12-2013, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by ogl

The right name of thread LENS ROADMAP IS NOT UPDATED

This thread was started Sep 2012.

ogl · 02-13-2013, 10:07 PM

Originally posted by Blue

This thread was started Sep 2012.

The roadmap of September, 23 was as before

Blue · 02-14-2013, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by ogl

The roadmap of September, 23 was as before

You expected a 5 month old thread to have magically updated itself?

My point was, the comment was 5 months late. However, some of the lenses such as the DA 14, FA 35 etc. are still available in some markets including Japan.

Jonathan Mac · 02-14-2013, 01:58 PM

With the removal of the DA14 and the 16-45, Pentax are looking very thin at the wide end.

Anvh · 02-14-2013, 07:02 PM

DA14 is indeed a shame but the 16-45 is actually replaced by the 17-70, too bad of the higher price tag...

ogl · 02-15-2013, 12:45 AM

Originally posted by Blue

You expected a 5 month old thread to have magically updated itself?

My point was, the comment was 5 months late. However, some of the lenses such as the DA 14, FA 35 etc. are still available in some markets including Japan.

DA14 is not available. Tried to order in two shops - the official answer from Pentax Europe - "The lens is discontinued"

gazonk · 02-15-2013, 01:40 AM

Originally posted by Anvh

DA14 is indeed a shame but the 16-45 is actually replaced by the 17-70, too bad of the higher price tag...

Isn't the DA 12-24 a better lens than the 14 anyway? (And the DA15 too, but in a different way)

(My first item on my lens wish list is something more than the 16-45 on the wide end, it's hard to decide)

axl · 02-15-2013, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by gazonk

Isn't the DA 12-24 a better lens than the 14 anyway? (And the DA15 too, but in a different way)

(My first item on my lens wish list is something more than the 16-45 on the wide end, it's hard to decide)

Not if you need or want fast lens (f2.8 or faster in my understanding of fast). By getting rid of DA14 the fastest prime wider than 31ltd is 21ltd at f3.2 which rather pitiful. And the only other option is DA*16-50, which according to many reports isn't exactly stellar at wide end wide open...

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02-07-2013, 10:54 PM	#106
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	The right name of thread LENS ROADMAP IS NOT UPDATED

02-07-2013, 10:55 PM	#107
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	Originally posted by feishui Interesting The new roadmap doesn't have the 16-45mm F/4 discontinued 2 year ago DA14 is already discontinued too. No delivery to Europe.

02-08-2013, 01:43 AM	#108
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	Originally posted by ogl discontinued 2 year ago It's a bit of a pity, it's a very nice lens, I love its rendering. OTOH, the wobbly barrel construction is not so good, it sometimes (but not always!) gives me shots at 16-18mm where the lens is obviously decentered. Since I use it mostly for the wide end, I'd save myself for a lot of weight and wobbliness with the DA15. But now that FF is within reach, my LBA for the APS-C-only lenses has faded somewhat... I keep thinking that when I want to replace my K-5 in 2-3 (or 3-4, probably) years, the most tempting alternative will be a 30-40mp FF camera which is barely larger than the K-5

02-10-2013, 07:41 PM	#109
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by Pål Jensen The cheap kit zoom lens is way more complex than the FA* 600/4. The kit zoom doesn't have require the use of large diameter 150mm lens elements, the bigger the lens elements are the more they cost. The glass blanks they are made from have to be absolutely flawless, they also have to be ground into shape and polished by machines that can handle such large pieces of glass - which costs even more money because the bigger a piece of glass is the longer it takes to shape it. However reducing the complexity of the lens design should help offset the costs of production so again, the costs of making the components can't really be that high.

02-11-2013, 04:53 AM	#110
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	Agreed; for the FA*600 the complexity is not in the optical design but in the way to produce these huge optical elements flawless

02-11-2013, 06:47 AM	#111
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by goubejp complexity is not in the optical design but in the way to produce these huge optical elements flawless I seem to recall Leica throwing out whole batches of blanks that were destined to become lenses used in the production of the noctilux because the chemicals used to make them weren't pure enough, Lecia has to make the glass for the noctilux in platinum lined crucibles because of its extremely high lanthanum content caused the melting point to be significantly higher than ordinary glass. The filter maker Lee reject 4 out of 10 big stopper filters because of the glazing doesn't have the correct uniformity. Working with glass isn't as simple as a majority of consumers seem to think.

02-11-2013, 08:52 AM	#112
goubejp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France Photos: Albums Posts: 804	Not to speak about fluorite lenses that are grown specifically for some lenses; the process takes months to get the correct fluorite cristal size...

02-12-2013, 09:53 AM	#113
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by ogl The right name of thread LENS ROADMAP IS NOT UPDATED This thread was started Sep 2012.

02-13-2013, 10:07 PM	#114
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	Originally posted by Blue This thread was started Sep 2012. The roadmap of September, 23 was as before

02-14-2013, 01:00 PM	#115
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by ogl The roadmap of September, 23 was as before You expected a 5 month old thread to have magically updated itself? My point was, the comment was 5 months late. However, some of the lenses such as the DA 14, FA 35 etc. are still available in some markets including Japan.

02-14-2013, 01:58 PM	#116
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,894	With the removal of the DA14 and the 16-45, Pentax are looking very thin at the wide end.

02-14-2013, 07:02 PM	#117
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	DA14 is indeed a shame but the 16-45 is actually replaced by the 17-70, too bad of the higher price tag...

02-15-2013, 12:45 AM	#118
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	Originally posted by Blue You expected a 5 month old thread to have magically updated itself? My point was, the comment was 5 months late. However, some of the lenses such as the DA 14, FA 35 etc. are still available in some markets including Japan. DA14 is not available. Tried to order in two shops - the official answer from Pentax Europe - "The lens is discontinued"

02-15-2013, 01:40 AM	#119
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	Originally posted by Anvh DA14 is indeed a shame but the 16-45 is actually replaced by the 17-70, too bad of the higher price tag... Isn't the DA 12-24 a better lens than the 14 anyway? (And the DA15 too, but in a different way) (My first item on my lens wish list is something more than the 16-45 on the wide end, it's hard to decide)

02-15-2013, 12:24 PM	#120
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by gazonk Isn't the DA 12-24 a better lens than the 14 anyway? (And the DA15 too, but in a different way) (My first item on my lens wish list is something more than the 16-45 on the wide end, it's hard to decide) Not if you need or want fast lens (f2.8 or faster in my understanding of fast). By getting rid of DA14 the fastest prime wider than 31ltd is 21ltd at f3.2 which rather pitiful. And the only other option is DA*16-50, which according to many reports isn't exactly stellar at wide end wide open...