[Edgar_in_Indy]

No new lenses, no updated lenses, no new original lens designs, no new Pentax value, and Pentax will end up being a rubbish camera brand. If a user choses a Sigma lens because it makes more sense, they why buying a Pentax camera at all, when there are more choices of those same Sigma lenses available for Nikon for example?

Not to mention the fact that Tamron has abandoned Pentax.

To be honest, the main thing that keeps me with Pentax is the in-body shake reduction. I feel that Canon and Nikon are cheating their customers by not offering sensor stabilization, instead forcing them into bigger, heavier, more expensive lenses that are more complex and will have more points of failure down the road, and sometimes sacrifice image quality versus the non-stabilized version. If you look at my signature, all of my lenses are Sigma, except for the venerable Tamron 28-75mm. And none of them are stabilized, which is how I like it.

But if Canon or Nikon ever blinks, and does start to offer sensor stabilization, then I would have to give them a good look.

I've considered Sony, since they have in-body stabilization, but I'm not a fan of the SLT cameras. I do a lot of low-light/available light photography, and from what I can tell the translucent mirror in the Sony SLT's costs you about a stop of image noise. But if Sony ever starts to build proper DSLRs again, or if they improve their SLT technology, then I may decide to jump ship. I hate to say it since I love my Pentax DSLR's, but Pentax hasn't convinced me that this is where I want to be long-term.

[dadipentak]

I just got another standard "we haven't yet received the merchandise from our supplier." email from B&H. They wisely avoid speculation.

[FabioPirovano]

Is that the definitive lens?I guess no...any tests around ?

[rawr]

A few Pentax users in Japan are starting to post images on Photoble, using the Sigma 18-35 on a K-3 and K-5IIs (and even mounted on a Q). Looking good.

Photoble Uploader for PENTAX

[JPT]

These are with a K-5IIs, but they show a range of aperture settings.

????????SIGMA 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM -Art- [???????] ??? ??Review - ??????????by????????

[VoiceOfReason]

I can't wait to get the shipping notice from Adorama on this.

[Frater]

the size...
hmm. Just looking on the yaotomi.co.jp picture where the 18-35 is mounted on the K-5IIs. It actually appears larger than I thought before!


Some (including me) will have to upgrade our cute tiny camera bags (I couldn't get away any longer with my smallest Lowepro slingshot, but will need to upgrade the medium Version or look elsewhere). Probably not the end of the world though. For THIS lens I would be willing to take this penalty (provided everything else is allright, esp. autofocus precision).

And, after all, using the 18-35 gives us Pentaxians a distinct pro look no seriously, I think this is a very good-looking lens, as typical for Sigma Arts I've seen so far (their primes on FF bodies).

And after all, the 18-35 is probably still shorter (and lighter) (and cheaper) than stacking three equivalent 1.8-or-faster prime lenses (18,24,35mm) on top of each other in our bags . Weight? the 18-35 weighs 270g per focal length (not counting the infinitely many ones in between these three "classical"). 270g wouldn't be bad at all for a f1.8 wide angle prime, would it? Same is true for the price, isn't it?

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Last edited by Frater; 06-23-2014 at 07:14 AM.

[DennisH]

True, unless you have the 15, 21, and 35 Limiteds. Then it's just cheaper (and more convenient).

[mikemike]

It is slightly more girthy and little bit heavier than the DA*50-135 and slightly shorter.

[Uluru]

If it had an array of Pentax coatings on it, it might have been desirable.
And if it had Pentax weather sealing of some kind too, it would have been phenomenal.
But as it is now, it is just a top-class Sigma lens, which in Pentax terms of possibilities is only moderately good.

---------- Post added 06-24-2014 at 08:51 AM ----------

But if Canon or Nikon ever blinks, and does start to offer sensor stabilization, then I would have to give them a good look... I hate to say it since I love my Pentax DSLR's, but Pentax hasn't convinced me that this is where I want to be long-term.

I try to distinguish what is Pentax, and what is management of Pentax by others. It does not mean I love Ricoh's management, and that I love the sad fact that no one in the current management of Ricoh Imaging ever worked for Pentax.

So far Ricoh has not convinced me they know what they are doing. But as long as Pentax mindset is preserved within the engineering team, and exciting lenses exist, I will support Pentax and its designs.

[VoiceOfReason]

Has anyone received a shipping notice on it yet?

[FabioPirovano]

If i....But as long as Pentax mindset is preserved within the engineering team, and exciting lenses exist, I will support Pentax and its designs.

Semi Off Topic: I agree I don't know why abandoned the OUTSTANDIG ergonomics and the aesthetic of K30 for the flat k50 or k500.. too bad

[Edgar_in_Indy]

Semi Off Topic: I agree I don't know why abandoned the OUTSTANDIG ergonomics and the aesthetic of K30 for the flat k50 or k500.. too bad

I also wondered the same. I love how the K-30 looks, but the K-50 does nothing for me. But then again, I've heard some people complain about the styling of the K-30...that it was too "edgy", or something along those lines.

I used to own a white K-x, which I also though looked very cool, and I was similarly appalled when I saw what they did to the styling of the K-r.

[rawr]

I also wondered the same.

I think it had something to do with the 'overhang' of the front pentaprism/inbuilt flash over the lens mount, which apparently caused some issues in mounting certain lenses (like the new SamYang tilt-shift) on the K-30. There was much discussion about it on PF at the time the SamYang was released.

[lytrytyr]

I love how the K-30 looks, but the K-50 does nothing for me.

I don't care how the box looks.
It's the images it makes that matter.
And the K-50 does a great job at that.