[goldenarrow]

The difference between those two lenses is about $ 5000.

Something affordable from Pentax would be appreciated. The 560 is probably in the line-up to entice professionals. Currently use a 500mm manual-focus lens that is easy to use but only if the critters stay still for long enough to focus. But the quality is excellent with ED glass.

[repaap]

The difference between those two lenses is about $ 5000.

mmm. which lenses do you mean?

edit:
ps. I wish that DFA 560 would be cheaper too. but it isn't. and I hope for shorter and more cheaper long lens too.

[RonHendriks1966]

mmm. which lenses do you mean?

hi-lighted them:

400mm/f5.6 or 400mm/f4.0

[repaap]

hi-lighted them:

400mm/f5.6 or 400mm/f4.0

alright! I'd still like to see them. I could not afford 400/4 but it would be great to have one around.

[WPRESTO]

alright! I'd still like to see them. I could not afford 400/4 but it would be great to have one around.

Sadly, the 400 f5.6 is almost extinct. SFAIK, Canon has the only one still in production. Tokina made a 400 f5.6 that was a dream in terms of size, weight, focussing, but sadly fell short on IQ. My dream lens: Voigtlander 400 f5.6 EDIF macro APO Lanthar, even if it were manual focus. I wish there some critical reviews of the Kowa 500 f5.6 modular lens (can be made into a 350mm f4.0 or 850mm f9.6 with a different rear unit, somewhat like the super tele system that Leitz offered for its late film SLRs).

[GlassJunkie]

The FA is a great lens, the Siggy AF and Tokinas are ok but not stellar, You will need VERY High end filters to "clean them up" a bit. $2200-2500 or so. Or get a FA 300 f2.8 and the 2 Tamron PZ TCs. I use them, they work fine ~$3000 US when they surface...

[goubejp]

I have a FA*400f5.6 and it is a fine lens

[eurostar]

The 18-70 was originally marked as a * lens on the roadmap. Hoping for a higher end AW lens!

The lens originally marked as a *, is still occupino a space roughly locate from 15 to 85 mm. Very different from a 18-70. If the rumor of a 18-70 is true, I think it is referring to a new WR HD version of the 17-70 (that has no preview in the roadmap, like the HD WF 55-300 had not) and not to the new lens in roadmap, that while is not * anymore, is still half way between 10 and 20 at the wide side, and half way between 80 and 90 on the tele end.

[kosmoejtg]

I have the Sigma 150-500 and I am very satisfied with it, especially considering it can be had for $900. I took the picture below handheld using the IS on the lens.

My question is whether the K-3 is worth +$600 if they come out with the K-60? Interesting question since I have a new unopened K-3 from B&H sitting next to me as I write this.

[bobmaxja]

Sorry but the photo is not focus properly on the head but on the body

[totsmuyco]

All this talk about 400 mm f4 and 560 mm f5.6 really makes me wonder if Pentax (Ricoh) can give us something like Olympus has. The 4/3 has a 300 mm f2.8 which is equivalent to 600 mm in the 35 mm format. Maybe Pentax (Ricoh) can come up with a 400 mm or 560 mm with the same aperture. And it should be cheap! Just kidding, with such an aperture and focal length it will never be cheap. Just dreaming.

[Jonathan Mac]

Unfortunately, 38% is my cut-off point for taking totally unfounded internet rumours seriously.

[WPRESTO]

Remember the no-aperture, super simple 400mm f6.3 that was originally, I believe, sold in the US by Spiratone under it's own name? How about a 500 or 600mm f6.3 (or even f8.0) EDIF no-aperture, manual focussing tele in K-mount? Without AF or Auto aperture mechanics, might it sell for half the price of the 560mm f5.6? Would that be attractive to anyone? Question: do the executives @ Pentax/Ricoh listen to any user-owners when contemplating new equipment offerings, or are all decisions made within the walls of corporate headquarters? Basically, what I'd like is a refractor equivalent of the once-popular 500mm f8 mirror lenses.

[IchabodCrane]

All this talk about 400 mm f4 and 560 mm f5.6 really makes me wonder if Pentax (Ricoh) can give us something like Olympus has. The 4/3 has a 300 mm f2.8 which is equivalent to 600 mm in the 35 mm format. Maybe Pentax (Ricoh) can come up with a 400 mm or 560 mm with the same aperture. And it should be cheap! Just kidding, with such an aperture and focal length it will never be cheap. Just dreaming.

The bigger question is can Olympus make and release a telephoto prime in micro 4/3 mount? Currently, they have none.

[northcoastgreg]

The bigger question is can Olympus make and release a telephoto prime in micro 4/3 mount? Currently, they have none.

Olympus is planning to release a 300mm f4 lens next year.