new roadmap

dankoBanana · 08-28-2013, 03:27 AM

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/lens/images/K_Mount_Lens.pdf

minor differences. DA* zoom has become a DA zoom and the HD Limiteds and the FA limiteds have been added to the list
I guess this is a good thing, they are standing by the decision to produce 4 new zooms and a TC

Franc · 08-28-2013, 03:47 AM

i wish they would hurry up the TC

Caat · 08-28-2013, 03:48 AM

I'm a bit disappointed by the 'downgrading' of the zoom to a straight DA lens. I was hoping to be able to replace my 16-50 with it. Nice to see the limited zoom is still there - I assume this will be HD.

The telezoom and the 1.4x convertor have been on the list for so long now that them still being on there isn't exactly a sign that Ricoh are sticking by them.

Out of those lenses I would think on the DA zoom and the ltd zoom most likely to get announced alongside a new body in September. Although this doesn't make it a dead cert by any stretch.

Apapukas · 08-28-2013, 03:52 AM

All the new DA Ltd and silver FA's look great, but...

Four new DA zoom lens... Isn't DA lower grade then DA* lens in Pentax lens hierarchy?

tclausen · 08-28-2013, 04:07 AM

Originally posted by Apapukas

All the new DA Ltd and silver FA's look great, but...

Four new DA zoom lens... Isn't DA lower grade then DA* lens in Pentax lens hierarchy?

Yup. It is.

Except when followed by the word "Limited" (which means "metal construction, as high optical quality and as high build quality as the DA*, highly compact, no SDM, no WR").

Although the AL/J/ED/DC/WR and other lens-related alphabet soup is confusing and doesn't really indicate a clear "hierarchy"

Ishpuini · 08-28-2013, 04:11 AM

Originally posted by Apapukas

All the new DA Ltd and silver FA's look great, but...

Four new DA zoom lens... Isn't DA lower grade then DA* lens in Pentax lens hierarchy?

Well, considering the most expensive lens in the entire line-up is not a DA* but a DA, i.e. the DA560/5.6, I wouldn't exclude a worthy DA* grade DA*16-50/2.8 replacement with DA designation...

Wim

Fogel70 · 08-28-2013, 04:14 AM

Originally posted by Apapukas

All the new DA Ltd and silver FA's look great, but...

Four new DA zoom lens... Isn't DA lower grade then DA* lens in Pentax lens hierarchy?

Not necessarily, HD DA 560/5.6 AW is a high grade lens, and maybe Pentax will switch using DA AW on future lenses instead of DA*?

gazonk · 08-28-2013, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by Ishpuini

Well, considering the most expensive lens in the entire line-up is not a DA* but a DA, i.e. the DA560/5.6, I wouldn't exclude a worthy DA* grade DA*16-50/2.8 replacement with DA designation...

Wim

After all the SDM problems it wouldn't surprise me if they started using something else than DA* for the top lenses.

Apapukas · 08-28-2013, 04:17 AM

Originally posted by tclausen

Yup. It is.

Except when followed by the word "Limited" (which means "metal construction, as high optical quality and as high build quality as the DA*, highly compact, no SDM, no WR").

Although the AL/J/ED/DC/WR and other lens-related alphabet soup is confusing and doesn't really indicate a clear "hierarchy"

Yes, but there is only one Limited DA zoom coming up.. And it looks pretty much in the same focal range as the new sigma 18-35.. I have high expectations for this lens.

Also, isn't all DA lens for APSC cameras?

Asahiflex · 08-28-2013, 04:27 AM

I would not be too surprised if they eventually will get completely rid of the * (star) designation. In today's information age, using wildcards in names is not that smart

Mistral75 · 08-28-2013, 04:31 AM

Originally posted by dankoBanana

(...) the FA Limiteds have been added to the list
(...)

The FA Limited lenses have been on the roadmap since a long time. They were on the early 2012 roadmap, on the one shown at Photokina, on the one shown at CES, etc.

tclausen · 08-28-2013, 04:32 AM

Originally posted by Ishpuini

Well, considering the most expensive lens in the entire line-up is not a DA* but a DA, i.e. the DA560/5.6, I wouldn't exclude a worthy DA* grade DA*16-50/2.8 replacement with DA designation...

Wim

Oh, rats, I'd forgotten about the DA 560 - which introduces also "AW" to the alphabet soup....will the madness ever end?

I like order and system - Pentax lens lineup really isn't quite.

FA Limited: "excellent quality, metal build, fast primes, cover 135"
DA Limited: "excellent quality, metal build, compact primes, at the expense of speed, cover APS-C"

So far, that's rather clear (although I'd love to see a few more FA Limited come out, being addicted to "fast primes")....but besides that...

DA*: would be nice if that meant sealed, SDM, excellent optical quality, pro mechanical quality, f/2.8 and cover 135 (i.e., "the professional & photojournalist series")....the SDM problems, the 60-250/4 and 300/4 and such kinda-sorta breaks that logic, as does the existence of the 560 as a non-DA* break that - that's a lens that is aimed at "professionals" only.

DA: would be nice if that was the consumer-range of DA*, i.e., no SDM, less sealed, perhaps less sturdy construction, perhaps less fast (etc)....but the 10-17 FE kinda break that, the DA17-50 and DA18-270 are SDM, and the DA560 *really* breaks that and the 14/2.8 sorta-kinda breaks that (too expensive, fast, to be usually considered a "consumer lens", I'd wager).

Then, there's D-FA, which ipso facto means "macro lenses" in the lineup (but that wasn't the original intent of that designation, IIRC), the 100/2.8 of which is somewhere between DA (lack of SDM), DA* (WR, excellent optical quality) and FA Limited (metal construction)....

Pentax really couldn't have made their lens lineup any /less/ readable and clear - I find that somewhat unfortunate, especially for "new" entrants to the system.

tclausen · 08-28-2013, 04:35 AM

Originally posted by Apapukas

Yes, but there is only one Limited DA zoom coming up.. And it looks pretty much in the same focal range as the new sigma 18-35.. I have high expectations for this lens.

Also, isn't all DA lens for APSC cameras?

Yes. The DA Limited zoom is an outlier also. I'm sure that it'll be a wonderful lens, but given that a zoom almost always is an optical compromise and a more voluminous construction, it's a little contradictory to have it appear as a "DA Limited" (which, to me, means "compact and uncompromized optical quality")

tclausen · 08-28-2013, 04:35 AM

Originally posted by Asahiflex

I would not be too surprised if they eventually will get completely rid of the * (star) designation. In today's information age, using wildcards in names is not that smart

Oh, if that was the only problem in Pentax' lens lineup and naming scheme

jiimaa · 08-28-2013, 04:43 AM - **1 Like**

How bad can it get for a single lens, HD Pentax-D FA* L WR Macro Limited AW 18-35mm F1.8-2.0 ED AL [IF] SDM XS? My god, I'd buy that for the name alone. On a second thought they ruined it with the plastic mount.

08-28-2013, 03:27 AM	#1
dankoBanana Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 533	new roadmap http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/lens/images/K_Mount_Lens.pdf minor differences. DA* zoom has become a DA zoom and the HD Limiteds and the FA limiteds have been added to the list I guess this is a good thing, they are standing by the decision to produce 4 new zooms and a TC

08-28-2013, 04:07 AM	#5
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	new roadmap Originally posted by Apapukas All the new DA Ltd and silver FA's look great, but... Four new DA zoom lens... Isn't DA lower grade then DA* lens in Pentax lens hierarchy? Yup. It is. Except when followed by the word "Limited" (which means "metal construction, as high optical quality and as high build quality as the DA*, highly compact, no SDM, no WR"). Although the AL/J/ED/DC/WR and other lens-related alphabet soup is confusing and doesn't really indicate a clear "hierarchy"

08-28-2013, 04:35 AM	#14
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	new roadmap Originally posted by Asahiflex I would not be too surprised if they eventually will get completely rid of the * (star) designation. In today's information age, using wildcards in names is not that smart Oh, if that was the only problem in Pentax' lens lineup and naming scheme

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08-28-2013, 03:47 AM	#2
Franc Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Hoevelaken Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,212	i wish they would hurry up the TC

08-28-2013, 03:48 AM	#3
Caat Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Photos: Albums Posts: 927	I'm a bit disappointed by the 'downgrading' of the zoom to a straight DA lens. I was hoping to be able to replace my 16-50 with it. Nice to see the limited zoom is still there - I assume this will be HD. The telezoom and the 1.4x convertor have been on the list for so long now that them still being on there isn't exactly a sign that Ricoh are sticking by them. Out of those lenses I would think on the DA zoom and the ltd zoom most likely to get announced alongside a new body in September. Although this doesn't make it a dead cert by any stretch.

08-28-2013, 03:52 AM	#4
Apapukas Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lietuva, Vilnius Posts: 627	All the new DA Ltd and silver FA's look great, but... Four new DA zoom lens... Isn't DA lower grade then DA* lens in Pentax lens hierarchy?

08-28-2013, 04:11 AM	#6
Ishpuini Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,727	Originally posted by Apapukas All the new DA Ltd and silver FA's look great, but... Four new DA zoom lens... Isn't DA lower grade then DA* lens in Pentax lens hierarchy? Well, considering the most expensive lens in the entire line-up is not a DA* but a DA, i.e. the DA560/5.6, I wouldn't exclude a worthy DA* grade DA*16-50/2.8 replacement with DA designation... Wim

08-28-2013, 04:14 AM	#7
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Originally posted by Apapukas All the new DA Ltd and silver FA's look great, but... Four new DA zoom lens... Isn't DA lower grade then DA* lens in Pentax lens hierarchy? Not necessarily, HD DA 560/5.6 AW is a high grade lens, and maybe Pentax will switch using DA AW on future lenses instead of DA*?

08-28-2013, 04:15 AM	#8
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	Originally posted by Ishpuini Well, considering the most expensive lens in the entire line-up is not a DA* but a DA, i.e. the DA560/5.6, I wouldn't exclude a worthy DA* grade DA16-50/2.8 replacement with DA designation... Wim After all the SDM problems it wouldn't surprise me if they started using something else than DA for the top lenses.

08-28-2013, 04:17 AM	#9
Apapukas Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lietuva, Vilnius Posts: 627	Originally posted by tclausen Yup. It is. Except when followed by the word "Limited" (which means "metal construction, as high optical quality and as high build quality as the DA*, highly compact, no SDM, no WR"). Although the AL/J/ED/DC/WR and other lens-related alphabet soup is confusing and doesn't really indicate a clear "hierarchy" Yes, but there is only one Limited DA zoom coming up.. And it looks pretty much in the same focal range as the new sigma 18-35.. I have high expectations for this lens. Also, isn't all DA lens for APSC cameras?

08-28-2013, 04:27 AM	#10
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	I would not be too surprised if they eventually will get completely rid of the * (star) designation. In today's information age, using wildcards in names is not that smart

08-28-2013, 04:31 AM	#11
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	Originally posted by dankoBanana (...) the FA Limiteds have been added to the list (...) The FA Limited lenses have been on the roadmap since a long time. They were on the early 2012 roadmap, on the one shown at Photokina, on the one shown at CES, etc.

08-28-2013, 04:32 AM	#12
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	Originally posted by Ishpuini Well, considering the most expensive lens in the entire line-up is not a DA* but a DA, i.e. the DA560/5.6, I wouldn't exclude a worthy DA* grade DA16-50/2.8 replacement with DA designation... Wim Oh, rats, I'd forgotten about the DA 560 - which introduces also "AW" to the alphabet soup....will the madness ever end? I like order and system - Pentax lens lineup really isn't quite. FA Limited: "excellent quality, metal build, fast primes, cover 135" DA Limited: "excellent quality, metal build, compact primes, at the expense of speed, cover APS-C" So far, that's rather clear (although I'd love to see a few more FA Limited come out, being addicted to "fast primes")....but besides that... DA: would be nice if that meant sealed, SDM, excellent optical quality, pro mechanical quality, f/2.8 and cover 135 (i.e., "the professional & photojournalist series")....the SDM problems, the 60-250/4 and 300/4 and such kinda-sorta breaks that logic, as does the existence of the 560 as a non-DA* break that - that's a lens that is aimed at "professionals" only. DA: would be nice if that was the consumer-range of DA, i.e., no SDM, less sealed, perhaps less sturdy construction, perhaps less fast (etc)....but the 10-17 FE kinda break that, the DA17-50 and DA18-270 are SDM, and the DA560 really* breaks that and the 14/2.8 sorta-kinda breaks that (too expensive, fast, to be usually considered a "consumer lens", I'd wager). Then, there's D-FA, which ipso facto means "macro lenses" in the lineup (but that wasn't the original intent of that designation, IIRC), the 100/2.8 of which is somewhere between DA (lack of SDM), DA* (WR, excellent optical quality) and FA Limited (metal construction).... Pentax really couldn't have made their lens lineup any /less/ readable and clear - I find that somewhat unfortunate, especially for "new" entrants to the system.

08-28-2013, 04:35 AM	#13
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	Originally posted by Apapukas Yes, but there is only one Limited DA zoom coming up.. And it looks pretty much in the same focal range as the new sigma 18-35.. I have high expectations for this lens. Also, isn't all DA lens for APSC cameras? Yes. The DA Limited zoom is an outlier also. I'm sure that it'll be a wonderful lens, but given that a zoom almost always is an optical compromise and a more voluminous construction, it's a little contradictory to have it appear as a "DA Limited" (which, to me, means "compact and uncompromized optical quality")

08-28-2013, 04:43 AM - 1 Like	#15
jiimaa Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 84	How bad can it get for a single lens, HD Pentax-D FA* L WR Macro Limited AW 18-35mm F1.8-2.0 ED AL [IF] SDM XS? My god, I'd buy that for the name alone. On a second thought they ruined it with the plastic mount.