Originally posted by lytrytyr
I don't think of it as bold or new,
just a DA replacement for the aging FA 20-35
that they recently pulled from their home market.
Fair enough comment - but, it misses the point I was trying to make....
When I referred to a "bold move", it was to "release a limited lens that *directly* competes with other limited lenses, at least one of which is recognized as being beyond outstanding".
For example, if owning the 21mm Ltd, the 31mm Ltd, and a 40/43Ltd, one presumably would be unlikely to acquire the 20-40 Ltd - whereas one might be getting a 60mm Ltd, for example, as it would complement the other line-up.
Pentax either believes that the market is big enough, that there are distinct populations to which to sell both the 20-40 AND the range of Limited primes, or that the 20-40 simply brings something that'll make even those owning a 21Ltd, 31Ltd and 40/43Ltd want to acquire one.
For the latter, personally, I am not sure that WR and "zoom" are enough "something" to merit an acquisition when already having invested in a Ltd kit. Thus, the 20-40 Ltd zoom - to me - appears to be Pentax betting on attracting a new crowd of users with little or no prior investment in "premium lenses"
That, to me, is a bold move.
And this, regardless of from which (if any) existing design this lens has been evolved.