[mikemike]

This should make things interesting, soon enough Pentaxians will be able to choose from two manufacturers with fast AF Primes that have silent focusing motors. Maybe Ricoh will decide to make it 3 to compete on their own mount.

[Kameraten]

Beside digital imaging, AF is the one really big advancement in SLR technology in the last 30 years. So to me, going back to MF has always seemed a little bit odd, especially when the cameras of today don't have the manual focusing aids of yesteryear.

[mikemike]

I think that some of the appeal for MF is with video and DSLR usage for cinema, especially when AF in video was unavailable and unreliable. That is changing and will no longer be the case 2-3 years from now. But having a lens built for MF for video would give you more flexibility to smoothly focus in an artistic way better than an AF lens with really short throw would.

[SyncGuy]

So 3 lenses, all of which have a MSRP of over $1000, and only one available for Pentax.

Hmm.... I think it's stated on the announcement:
"All lenses will be released in Nikon and Canon mounts first, and will be available in Sigma, Pentax and Sony mounts shortly thereafter."

Boom!

Sigma 10-20 WR, pretty much an answer to Pentax own DA12-24 for years..

Sigma 120-300/2.8, ok.. A bit more costly than Pentax own 60-250 but at least there is an option for those who wishes to go faster, f/2.8..

Sigma 150/2.8 Macro WR, this looks appealing but at least it should be an alternative to the legendary Pentax 200/2.8 macro..

I'm pretty sure IF pentax were to come up with similar stuffs, looking at how they priced the new DA20-40 Ltd, it would DEFINITELY be more than $1000 too.. LoL!

[boriscleto]

Hmm.... I think it's stated on the announcement:
"All lenses will be released in Nikon and Canon mounts first, and will be available in Sigma, Pentax and Sony mounts shortly thereafter."

Boom!

Sigma 10-20 WR, pretty much an answer to Pentax own DA12-24 for years..

Sigma 120-300/2.8, ok.. A bit more costly than Pentax own 60-250 but at least there is an option for those who wishes to go faster, f/2.8..

Sigma 150/2.8 Macro WR, this looks appealing but at least it should be an alternative to the legendary Pentax 200/2.8 macro..

I'm pretty sure IF pentax were to come up with similar stuffs, looking at how they priced the new DA20-40 Ltd, it would DEFINITELY be more than $1000 too.. LoL!

Only the 10-20 ever came out in Pentax mount, and it's been several years since the announcement. The 120-300 is more than a little bit more costly than the 60-250, like $2000 more. The kind of price you would expect of a F/2.8 DA* lens in that range. Pentax does have a lens in that range on the roadmap, but it is going to be a variable aperture DA. The 150 has also never been released for Pentax mount, and Sigma has said there are no plans to release either of them for Pentax.

[Tanzer]

I suppose the focus throw will be shortened, and "loosened", when AF is introduced. That will make them autofocus faster, but could come at the cost of the smooth mechanical feel that currently makes them so appealing for manual users. A feel/throw like the FA Ltd series would be good, but that's got be expensive, so I doubt it will come out that way.

[Na Horuk]

I suppose the focus throw will be shortened, and "loosened", when AF is introduced.

Ah, I completely forgot to think about this. This would be too bad. Its one of the biggest downsides I see to the Pentax DA lenses - no distance scales, very short focus thrown, no infinity marking

[D1N0]

Samyang making AF lenses doesn't automatically mean they will stop making MF.

[ElJamoquio]

I'm happy.

[oxidized]

The other issue is how well are these lens going to AF. For instance on their long lens the company doesnt even bother getting the infinity focus properly. I had to manually adjust my 8mm and my friends 14mm so that they wouldnt go past infinity. AF is great in theory as long it actually focuses accurately. I just hope they do a good job with it.

[mikemike]

Sigma makes lenses with great optical quality and from what I understand, Samyang does too, but why do they have to be sooooo damn big and sooooo damn heavy?

[ElJamoquio]

The other issue is how well are these lens going to AF. For instance on their long lens the company doesnt even bother getting the infinity focus properly. I had to manually adjust my 8mm and my friends 14mm so that they wouldnt go past infinity. AF is great in theory as long it actually focuses accurately. I just hope they do a good job with it.

I'm OK with a lens going slightly past infinity. Guarantees that I can get infinity right.

I haven't run into the problem, but theoretically expansion/contraction due to temperature fluctuation mean that you never 'always' get infinity at a hard stop.

YMMV.

[jezza323]

Pretty much all lenses should go slightly past infinity, even my Pentax and Sigma lenses go slightly past

[Clavius]

I'm peeved that they're no longer releasing the 50mm f/1.2! At least this might mean that the demand for their lenses might wane a bit on evilbay. Really want a 16mm f/2 if I can find one for the right price.

Wait what? They cancelled the 1.2?!? Why? Do you have any sources?

[D1N0]

Wait what? They cancelled the 1.2?!? Why? Do you have any sources?

Scared of the Sigma? Samyang kills the 50mm f/1.2 Original rumor is from photorumors