DA17-70/4 SDM at china

Geekybiker · 03-27-2008, 10:32 AM

I wish they would release it over here already! I wonder how it will be priced relative to the sigma 17-70 once it hits the states?

Torphoto · 03-27-2008, 10:53 AM

Let us just hope it performs and doesn't have the qc problems the 16-50 has

davemdsn · 03-27-2008, 12:50 PM

I am very interested in this lens. I tried the DA*16-50, more than one actually, and was not impressed. Every one I tested had BF issues on my K10. It did seem to have more contrast, but when shooting RAW that is not a big issue. As a whole I did feel it was marginally better than my 16-45 (when it managed to focus, that is), just not to the tune of double the price. Although a different range, my Tamron 28-75 is a better lens than the 16-50.

clawhammer · 03-27-2008, 05:44 PM

I just talked with my local pentax rep and he said that he had no info on when it'll be available in the US

maybe that's a good thing- gives me more time to save up for one.

thibs · 03-30-2008, 01:50 AM

I would be very surprised the 17-70 would be sealed, at least as sealed as the current DA* are. Sealing should translate in changes in the exterior look of the barrel and the 17-70 is clearly exactly that 16-45 but bigger.

It may be somewhat sealed but no way sealed like DA*.

anomaly · 03-30-2008, 05:54 AM

If it could rate higher than my Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 I would probably sell the tamron and get the pentax.

janneman · 03-30-2008, 06:19 AM

Originally posted by thibs

I would be very surprised the 17-70 would be sealed, at least as sealed as the current DA* are. Sealing should translate in changes in the exterior look of the barrel and the 17-70 is clearly exactly that 16-45 but bigger.

It may be somewhat sealed but no way sealed like DA*.

Maybe same as K200D which does not look "as sealed as"K20D....
But who knows what lies beneath. Maybe the solid look on the DA* lenses is just estethics and the "rough look" is merely outside show, together with the gold band. Lenses and barrels are already very precisely engineered. In fact, unles you have lenses with big gaps (like the powerzoombutton on the FA* series) I think most lenses are pretty sealed by themselves, and the biggest gap is the mount....

Anyways, I'd like it sealed because besides the DA* lenses, I think cameras like K29D and K200D also need a more walk-around-ish zoomlens. The split at 50mm means one may have to change a lot, and I guess you do not want to do that in pouring rain or snowstorm.

Also, K200D is the smallest and cheapest sealed dslr out there. Combined with the AA-gobbling properties make that a nice travellingcam but only if you can uses a smaller kit than the DA* series.

thibs · 03-30-2008, 07:42 AM

Janneman beleive me I fully agree with you even if I relly do not think there will be any sealing. It is very desirable though.

But then lots of people are moaning and crying because the DA* are vailable in Tokina brand and cheaper and beleive the sealing is only good thing if it is free *OMG¨* ... Yeah I know, stupid but hey world is full of it...

janneman · 03-30-2008, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by thibs

Janneman beleive me I fully agree with you even if I relly do not think there will be any sealing. It is very desirable though.

But then lots of people are moaning and crying because the DA* are vailable in Tokina brand and cheaper and beleive the sealing is only good thing if it is free *OMG¨* ... Yeah I know, stupid but hey world is full of it...

I have seen this argument in another forum and I have responded.
If you look at the BH pricelist the difference is now about usd 70.00...
I'd say that is okay for sealing and it would be cheaper as for a 17-70 they ca use expoeriences with the 16-50 so no new R&D, or at least not a extensive needed.

But what else does the DA* offer??? Guess what, it has a screw besides SDM. I do not have the Tokina lens in my posession but the Tokina site says it won't AF on bodies like the Nikon D40. and why??? The D40 is strictly for in-lens focus mechanism, there is no screw. Therefore I think the Tokina lacks the Nikon and probably Canon version of SDM... That may explain part of the difference as well.
So, the diference is created by both sealing AND SDM and somehow I think the SDM may be responsible for more of the difference.

However, there are also a third and fourth factor:
The gold band and the *..... I think we were willing to pay a premium price for a *-designation. I would not be surprised at all if it turned out the the band and the * were the biggets contributions to the higher price tag

OniFactor · 03-30-2008, 01:59 PM

the tokina version isn't available in pentax mount, is it?

janneman · 03-30-2008, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by OniFactor

the tokina version isn't available in pentax mount, is it?

Nope, that is why I had to compare with Canon and Nikon models

*Pentax* · 03-31-2008, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by anomaly

If it could rate higher than my Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 I would probably sell the tamron and get the pentax.

It would be difficult to compare as 17-70/4 is wider but slower.

Torphoto · 03-31-2008, 08:13 PM

SO far so good for the DA 17-70! now please tell pentax to hurry up and get some stateside!

I also hope the QC problems the 16-50 was having will not appear in the 17-70!

thibs · 04-01-2008, 12:14 AM

Originally posted by *Pentax*

It would be difficult to compare as 17-70/4 is wider but slower.

But comparing it to the Sigma will be easy

gnaztee · 04-01-2008, 09:03 AM

I sent a question about weathersealing on the 17-70 to Pentax through the general comment/question avenue on the Pentax USA website. This is the meat of the response I got:

"That information really has not been released. I suspect that any SDM lenses will be watersealed though, because of the electronics inside them."

Maybe there's still hope?

Todd

03-30-2008, 01:24 PM	#69
janneman Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 908	*Not fair to compare DA and Tokina** Originally posted by thibs Janneman beleive me I fully agree with you even if I relly do not think there will be any sealing. It is very desirable though. But then lots of people are moaning and crying because the DA* are vailable in Tokina brand and cheaper and beleive the sealing is only good thing if it is free OMG¨ ... Yeah I know, stupid but hey world is full of it... I have seen this argument in another forum and I have responded. If you look at the BH pricelist the difference is now about usd 70.00... I'd say that is okay for sealing and it would be cheaper as for a 17-70 they ca use expoeriences with the 16-50 so no new R&D, or at least not a extensive needed. But what else does the DA* offer??? Guess what, it has a screw besides SDM. I do not have the Tokina lens in my posession but the Tokina site says it won't AF on bodies like the Nikon D40. and why??? The D40 is strictly for in-lens focus mechanism, there is no screw. Therefore I think the Tokina lacks the Nikon and probably Canon version of SDM... That may explain part of the difference as well. So, the diference is created by both sealing AND SDM and somehow I think the SDM may be responsible for more of the difference. However, there are also a third and fourth factor: The gold band and the ..... I think we were willing to pay a premium price for a -designation. I would not be surprised at all if it turned out the the band and the * were the biggets contributions to the higher price tag

04-01-2008, 09:03 AM	#75
gnaztee Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 772	Word from Pentax Tech Support I sent a question about weathersealing on the 17-70 to Pentax through the general comment/question avenue on the Pentax USA website. This is the meat of the response I got: "That information really has not been released. I suspect that any SDM lenses will be watersealed though, because of the electronics inside them." Maybe there's still hope? Todd

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03-27-2008, 10:32 AM	#61
Geekybiker Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 337	I wish they would release it over here already! I wonder how it will be priced relative to the sigma 17-70 once it hits the states?

03-27-2008, 10:53 AM	#62
Torphoto Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Trinidad W.I. Photos: Gallery Posts: 612	Let us just hope it performs and doesn't have the qc problems the 16-50 has

03-27-2008, 12:50 PM	#63
davemdsn Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Boise, Idaho Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,413	I am very interested in this lens. I tried the DA*16-50, more than one actually, and was not impressed. Every one I tested had BF issues on my K10. It did seem to have more contrast, but when shooting RAW that is not a big issue. As a whole I did feel it was marginally better than my 16-45 (when it managed to focus, that is), just not to the tune of double the price. Although a different range, my Tamron 28-75 is a better lens than the 16-50.

03-27-2008, 05:44 PM	#64
clawhammer Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Logan, Utah Photos: Gallery Posts: 971	I just talked with my local pentax rep and he said that he had no info on when it'll be available in the US maybe that's a good thing- gives me more time to save up for one.

03-30-2008, 01:50 AM	#65
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	I would be very surprised the 17-70 would be sealed, at least as sealed as the current DA* are. Sealing should translate in changes in the exterior look of the barrel and the 17-70 is clearly exactly that 16-45 but bigger. It may be somewhat sealed but no way sealed like DA*.

03-30-2008, 05:54 AM	#66
anomaly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Barbados Photos: Gallery Posts: 264	If it could rate higher than my Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 I would probably sell the tamron and get the pentax.

03-30-2008, 06:19 AM	#67
janneman Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 908	Originally posted by thibs I would be very surprised the 17-70 would be sealed, at least as sealed as the current DA* are. Sealing should translate in changes in the exterior look of the barrel and the 17-70 is clearly exactly that 16-45 but bigger. It may be somewhat sealed but no way sealed like DA. Maybe same as K200D which does not look "as sealed as"K20D.... But who knows what lies beneath. Maybe the solid look on the DA lenses is just estethics and the "rough look" is merely outside show, together with the gold band. Lenses and barrels are already very precisely engineered. In fact, unles you have lenses with big gaps (like the powerzoombutton on the FA* series) I think most lenses are pretty sealed by themselves, and the biggest gap is the mount.... Anyways, I'd like it sealed because besides the DA* lenses, I think cameras like K29D and K200D also need a more walk-around-ish zoomlens. The split at 50mm means one may have to change a lot, and I guess you do not want to do that in pouring rain or snowstorm. Also, K200D is the smallest and cheapest sealed dslr out there. Combined with the AA-gobbling properties make that a nice travellingcam but only if you can uses a smaller kit than the DA* series.

03-30-2008, 07:42 AM	#68
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Janneman beleive me I fully agree with you even if I relly do not think there will be any sealing. It is very desirable though. But then lots of people are moaning and crying because the DA* are vailable in Tokina brand and cheaper and beleive the sealing is only good thing if it is free OMG¨ ... Yeah I know, stupid but hey world is full of it...

03-30-2008, 01:59 PM	#70
OniFactor Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Binghamton, NY, USA Posts: 643	the tokina version isn't available in pentax mount, is it?

03-30-2008, 02:43 PM	#71
janneman Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 908	Originally posted by OniFactor the tokina version isn't available in pentax mount, is it? Nope, that is why I had to compare with Canon and Nikon models

03-31-2008, 02:49 PM	#72
Pentax Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 7	Originally posted by anomaly If it could rate higher than my Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 I would probably sell the tamron and get the pentax. It would be difficult to compare as 17-70/4 is wider but slower.

03-31-2008, 08:13 PM	#73
Torphoto Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Trinidad W.I. Photos: Gallery Posts: 612	SO far so good for the DA 17-70! now please tell pentax to hurry up and get some stateside! I also hope the QC problems the 16-50 was having will not appear in the 17-70!

04-01-2008, 12:14 AM	#74
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by Pentax It would be difficult to compare as 17-70/4 is wider but slower. But comparing it to the Sigma will be easy