HD Pentax 55-300mm WR Officially Announced

gazonk · 10-09-2013, 06:08 AM

Originally posted by bdery

The 18-55 as it is focuses decently fast and accurately, so it's not a performance issue, more of a market positioning (giving a feeling of being a serious company).

And avoiding "noisy autofocus" comments in reviews!

2her0ck · 10-09-2013, 06:16 AM

I for one don't really care about it not using SDM.

For me whats important is the WR and HD coating I am getting for such a cheap price! Even the 18-135mm WR is more expensive then it just because it has SDM.

I think this lens will be a hell of a lot popular than most of the other WR lenses because of its better IQ and longer reach (Not forgetting its price)!

Traditional · 10-09-2013, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by Alizarine

Tamron's rings are also gold.. like in their 17-50 f/2.8 (the 70-200 f2.8 has a blue one, though)

the metallic red looks good anyway. Canon's got the deep red (but plain) one. Though yeah, how about pearl white?

Another humble suggestion, is light copper metallic that isn't very similar to gold or so, but a color which nature is genuine and unmistakably copper.

Mistral75 · 10-09-2013, 08:18 AM

Strawberry blonde?

**monochrome** · 10-09-2013, 08:52 AM

In six months or a year few of us will notice the change. We'll just associate that particular red hue with HD coatings.

thibs · 10-09-2013, 09:41 AM

Originally posted by 2her0ck

I think this lens will be a hell of a lot popular than most of the other WR lenses because of its better IQ and longer reach (Not forgetting its price)!

And AFAICT, is an "almost FF" lens

bdery · 10-09-2013, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by mee

I wish this was a DAL style lens for much less price (maybe $250-300 retail).

and they would have added the DC motor to this lens for around it's current preorder price.

There is already a DA-L 55-300. It's quite cheap. It's not WR, however. Creating a WR version and selling it for less than the regular (previous) version makes little sense.

GregL65 · 10-14-2013, 11:57 AM

It will be great to have this lens in WR. I see one in my future!

**Hawki** · 10-14-2013, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Because there is no motor in that lens. It is screw drive, using the motor in the camera. Adding an in-lens motor would require a complete re-design. Not saying that would not be a good thing but refreshing the 55-300 with WR and HD allowed them to push it out the door in a reasonable time frame.

I know many people want Ricoh to wave the magic wand and create new lenses, new flash system, FF camera and beat all competitors but I don't think Ricoh has a magic wand. What they do have is dogged persistence to make things right. Think of Tortise and Hare story..... Ricoh will get there, I have every confidence, but on their time frame not ours. One tiny improvement at a time....

Couldn't agree more jatrax ... there are quite a few products in the current line that could benefit from updates or out and out replacements and I'm sure it's in the cards to do so. Right now, Ricoh needs to make impact wherever they can, and, as quickly as they can. This is a prime example of a very good optical design that truly can benefit from new coatings and seals.
Big projects like the flash system and brand new lens designs take time, money and innovation. I for one am excited to see what they have up their sleeves next.

treebeard · 10-14-2013, 05:04 PM

Originally posted by JinDesu

I'm getting this next year with the k-3. Partly because I don't think I can afford the k-3 with a DA*60-250, and partly because my Tamron 70-200 is heavy enough.

I personally would never sell a Tamron 70-200 2.8 for that lens unless I just did not the speed of the Tamron. For the price nothing beats the Tamron 70-200!

mee · 10-14-2013, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by bdery

There is already a DA-L 55-300. It's quite cheap. It's not WR, however. Creating a WR version and selling it for less than the regular (previous) version makes little sense.

Yes, that is how I got my prices.. The DAL 55-300 costs 250 USD right now. Adding seals and charging 50 more makes sense to me. Or just discontinuing the non-sealed version and selling a new sealed version for 250 and then marketing a lineup of quality weather resistant bodies and entry level lenses for less than anyone else makes sense to me.

Besides they already have an 18-55 DA WR, 18-55 DAL and the 18-55 DAL WR... so they seem to know how to make it happen.

Vylen · 10-15-2013, 03:00 AM

Making a WR version of the DA-L as opposed to the DA isn't so much of a great idea given that the DA-L one doesn't have quick-shift; one of the more useful features on DA lenses.

thibs · 10-15-2013, 04:26 AM

Nor do they have any hood.

bdery · 10-15-2013, 05:54 AM

Originally posted by mee

Adding seals and charging 50 more makes sense to me

It might make sense to you, but apparently not to Pentax. Nor to any other company, otherwise Nikon, Canon, etc would all add WR to all their lenses, if it was all that easy!

You assume it's an easy matter. But I encourage you to think about the engineering work required, then the testing (drops, vibrations, shocks, general performance, thermal and humidity testing, etc), eventual iterations, repeats, then put in place the new manufacturing line, with production tests to certify the lens complies with the company's requirements.

It,s a bit more complicated (and expensive) than just "adding seals".

**monochrome** · 10-15-2013, 05:59 AM

Originally posted by mee

and then marketing a lineup of quality weather resistant bodies and entry level lenses for less than anyone else makes sense to me.

Apparently that strategy didn't work very well for Hoya.

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10-09-2013, 06:08 AM	#31
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	Originally posted by bdery The 18-55 as it is focuses decently fast and accurately, so it's not a performance issue, more of a market positioning (giving a feeling of being a serious company). And avoiding "noisy autofocus" comments in reviews!

10-09-2013, 06:16 AM	#32
2her0ck Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Oamaru Photos: Albums Posts: 49	I for one don't really care about it not using SDM. For me whats important is the WR and HD coating I am getting for such a cheap price! Even the 18-135mm WR is more expensive then it just because it has SDM. I think this lens will be a hell of a lot popular than most of the other WR lenses because of its better IQ and longer reach (Not forgetting its price)!

10-09-2013, 08:13 AM	#33
Traditional Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 57	Originally posted by Alizarine Tamron's rings are also gold.. like in their 17-50 f/2.8 (the 70-200 f2.8 has a blue one, though) the metallic red looks good anyway. Canon's got the deep red (but plain) one. Though yeah, how about pearl white? Another humble suggestion, is light copper metallic that isn't very similar to gold or so, but a color which nature is genuine and unmistakably copper.

10-09-2013, 08:18 AM	#34
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	Strawberry blonde?

10-09-2013, 08:52 AM	#35
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	In six months or a year few of us will notice the change. We'll just associate that particular red hue with HD coatings.

10-09-2013, 09:41 AM	#36
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by 2her0ck I think this lens will be a hell of a lot popular than most of the other WR lenses because of its better IQ and longer reach (Not forgetting its price)! And AFAICT, is an "almost FF" lens

10-09-2013, 10:30 AM	#37
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by mee I wish this was a DAL style lens for much less price (maybe $250-300 retail). and they would have added the DC motor to this lens for around it's current preorder price. There is already a DA-L 55-300. It's quite cheap. It's not WR, however. Creating a WR version and selling it for less than the regular (previous) version makes little sense.

10-14-2013, 11:57 AM	#38
GregL65 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 63	It will be great to have this lens in WR. I see one in my future!

10-14-2013, 05:01 PM	#39
Hawki Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North Face of Mount Shasta Photos: Albums Posts: 120	Originally posted by jatrax Because there is no motor in that lens. It is screw drive, using the motor in the camera. Adding an in-lens motor would require a complete re-design. Not saying that would not be a good thing but refreshing the 55-300 with WR and HD allowed them to push it out the door in a reasonable time frame. I know many people want Ricoh to wave the magic wand and create new lenses, new flash system, FF camera and beat all competitors but I don't think Ricoh has a magic wand. What they do have is dogged persistence to make things right. Think of Tortise and Hare story..... Ricoh will get there, I have every confidence, but on their time frame not ours. One tiny improvement at a time.... Couldn't agree more jatrax ... there are quite a few products in the current line that could benefit from updates or out and out replacements and I'm sure it's in the cards to do so. Right now, Ricoh needs to make impact wherever they can, and, as quickly as they can. This is a prime example of a very good optical design that truly can benefit from new coatings and seals. Big projects like the flash system and brand new lens designs take time, money and innovation. I for one am excited to see what they have up their sleeves next.

10-14-2013, 05:04 PM	#40
treebeard Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Windham, NH Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 793	Originally posted by JinDesu I'm getting this next year with the k-3. Partly because I don't think I can afford the k-3 with a DA*60-250, and partly because my Tamron 70-200 is heavy enough. I personally would never sell a Tamron 70-200 2.8 for that lens unless I just did not the speed of the Tamron. For the price nothing beats the Tamron 70-200!

10-14-2013, 05:28 PM	#41
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Originally posted by bdery There is already a DA-L 55-300. It's quite cheap. It's not WR, however. Creating a WR version and selling it for less than the regular (previous) version makes little sense. Yes, that is how I got my prices.. The DAL 55-300 costs 250 USD right now. Adding seals and charging 50 more makes sense to me. Or just discontinuing the non-sealed version and selling a new sealed version for 250 and then marketing a lineup of quality weather resistant bodies and entry level lenses for less than anyone else makes sense to me. Besides they already have an 18-55 DA WR, 18-55 DAL and the 18-55 DAL WR... so they seem to know how to make it happen.

10-15-2013, 03:00 AM	#42
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	Making a WR version of the DA-L as opposed to the DA isn't so much of a great idea given that the DA-L one doesn't have quick-shift; one of the more useful features on DA lenses.

10-15-2013, 04:26 AM	#43
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Nor do they have any hood.

10-15-2013, 05:54 AM	#44
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by mee Adding seals and charging 50 more makes sense to me It might make sense to you, but apparently not to Pentax. Nor to any other company, otherwise Nikon, Canon, etc would all add WR to all their lenses, if it was all that easy! You assume it's an easy matter. But I encourage you to think about the engineering work required, then the testing (drops, vibrations, shocks, general performance, thermal and humidity testing, etc), eventual iterations, repeats, then put in place the new manufacturing line, with production tests to certify the lens complies with the company's requirements. It,s a bit more complicated (and expensive) than just "adding seals".

10-15-2013, 05:59 AM	#45
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by mee and then marketing a lineup of quality weather resistant bodies and entry level lenses for less than anyone else makes sense to me. Apparently that strategy didn't work very well for Hoya.