[Andi Lo]

Ouch, $1k... Will be a long while before I can buy this lens.

[zany225]

Really wanna see what is f number at 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 35mm and 40mm of the 18-55mm WR lens.
Could anyone try these, please?
Want to compare how is this zoom limited faster than the WR kit.

I'm pretty sure the IQ of this limited is better. But I'm not sure if the ratio between IQ difference to price difference is great enough to convince me to buy it.

The DA 18-55 WR covers this same range (and more!), is also a slow variable-aperture lens, and is also weather resistant, compact, and lightweight.

Clearly the extra $800 is for the DC motor.

[bossa]

Pentax still doesn't have any native rectilinear super-wide DA LTD lenses. The 15mm is not as good as the Sigm 8-16, which costs a similar amount, so It's hard to go past that Sigma. But if the new DA limited zoom is as good as expected it will be a pretty decent addition, depending on the price of course - Ricoh might be as greedy as Hoya for all we know.

As others have suggested though, the combined price of the 21mm, 31mm and 40mm would be probably substantially more than this single 20-40mm lens, but if they want $1500 for it then the Sigma 18-35 becomes a real option, regardless of the size of the thing.

PS: I've just seen the price for this lens (US$1,000). An interesting choice for those in the market but who don't have any lenses already inhabiting that zone.

[D1N0]

Really wanna see what is f number at 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 35mm and 40mm of the 18-55mm WR lens.
Could anyone try these, please?
Want to compare how is this zoom limited faster than the WR kit.

I'm pretty sure the IQ of this limited is better. But I'm not sure if the ratio between IQ difference to price difference is great enough to convince me to buy it.

about a a stop darker

[RBellavance]

For what the lens appears to offer
(and we'll know more when we see image samples),
the price seems fair.

How much is a DA 21 + DA 40 Ltd pair?

And these two are not WR.

[Kunzite]

All right, the kit lens is about a stop darker - and how much worse optically? How about its construction? Are those worthless?

I would rather pay for high quality, than accept mediocrity. Even at this price, I have a hard time resisting (assuming it would be optically top notch, of course) - and I try to resist only because I have other plans.
The zoom ring itself is worth a few hundred $$$ (retro done right!)

[starbase218]

Pentax still doesn't have any native rectilinear super-wide DA LTD lenses. The 15mm is not as good as the Sigma 8-16, which costs a similar amount, so It's hard to go past that Sigma.

Well, they have the 12-24. It's not a limited, but it's a very good lens optically, although not nearly as wide as the Sigma. (but then, what is?)

But if the new DA limited zoom is as good as expected it will be a pretty decent addition, depending on the price of course - Ricoh might be as greedy as Hoya for all we know.

Unfortunately it seems to be priced at $1000... I think that's pretty expensive for what it is. The 18-35 is cheaper. Sure, that's a bigger lens with more and bigger elements. But apart from that, where's the logic in paying more money for something that contains smaller and less elements? Ok, 3rd party lenses are always cheaper, but I think this is stretching it a bit.

[c.a.m]

As an alternative to buying and carrying the 21, 35 and 40 I'd say the price is pretty good.

That's what I was thinking. In Canada, the HD 21 and 35 macro together run about CAD 1350, while the HD 21, DA 35/2.4 and HD 40 together are about the same price.

- Craig

[bossa]

Well, they have the 12-24. It's not a limited, but it's a very good lens optically, although not nearly as wide as the Sigma. (but then, what is?)



Unfortunately it seems to be priced at $1000... I think that's pretty expensive for what it is. The 18-35 is cheaper. Sure, that's a bigger lens with more and bigger elements. But apart from that, where's the logic in paying more money for something that contains smaller and less elements? Ok, 3rd party lenses are always cheaper, but I think this is stretching it a bit.

Yes I saw the price a few minutes ago. It depends on your use really (and the optical quality) as to which lens you want. It will take some doing to go past the Sigma 18-35 though.

One lens trades weight for fast optical speed and the other trades speed for smaller size. They are going in opposite directions but I can imagine some people owning both.

[filoxophy]

Are any preproduction lenses out there? Not seeing any hands-on reports, or even press releases posted around the net. Am I looking in the wrong places, or is it too early still?

Edit: Okay. Seeing the press release out there now...

[starbase218]

The DA 18-55 WR covers this same range (and more!), is also a slow variable-aperture lens, and is also weather resistant, compact, and lightweight.

Clearly the extra $800 is for the DC motor.

Yes, it must have jewels inside it, just like automatic watches.

[D1N0]

There are better lenses than de kit lens, 17-70 (Sigma/Pentax) 17-50(Tamron).(and cheaper than this one) This one is about the size of the kit lens and a bit heavier, but also brighter and probably sharper and much better built. $1000 won't last long anyway. It'll probably be around 800 in a few month's and 700 euro's.

[zany225]

It seems that metal hood is screw-in type. Or maybe the bayonet type but bayonet is inside and locates with the filter thread.

[starbase218]

I dont know if i agree with you. It well sell to certain Pentaxians (already a real small group), that don't mind paying $1,000 for a slow-ish lens with an odd focal length (an even smaller group).

Im not saying it's not a cool, pretty lens...but its a niche of a niche type lens.

My thoughts exactly. It was already a niche lens, but the pricing just makes it carve out another niche inside that.

It is bigger than the 18-55 WR.
It is heavier than the 18-55 WR.
It is not much faster than the 18-55 WR.
It is not more weather-resistant than the 18-55 WR.
It has a smaller zoom range than the 18-55 WR.

Image quality will be better than the 18-55 WR. But 1000 USD... for the build and image quality???

Honestly, I don't understand it. The lens had some appeal, even to me... but that has evaporated at this price. I think Pentax just lost it. I hope they sell none of them, which makes them realize they can't pull this kind of thing off, and then just start making good lenses at reasonable prices. That's all I really want. Or is that such a strange thought?

[D1N0]

My thoughts exactly. It was already a niche lens, but the pricing just makes it carve out another niche inside that.

It is bigger than the 18-55 WR.
It is heavier than the 18-55 WR.
It is not much faster than the 18-55 WR.
It is not more weather-resistant than the 18-55 WR.
It has a smaller zoom range than the 18-55 WR.

Image quality will be better than the 18-55 WR. But 1000 USD... for the build and image quality???

Honestly, I don't understand it. The lens had some appeal, even to me... but that has evaporated at this price. I think Pentax just lost it. I hope they sell none of them, which makes them realize they can't pull this kind of thing off, and then just start making good lenses at reasonable prices. That's all I really want. Or is that such a strange thought?

Oh but they will sell, because iq will be on par with the primes, which can't be said for the 18-55 wr.