Samyang stepping into AF

dansamy · 02-12-2014, 02:10 PM

Originally posted by eurostar

Why Nikon and Canon costumers buy Nikkors and Canons when they can buy much more Tamrons and Sigmas than us Pentaxians? By this kind of reasoning, every camera maker should have stopped selling lenses many decades ago...

Everything has trade offs. And each customer has to choose what's important to them. There will always be some customers (not costumers) who choose OEM for all their accessories & lenses. Having the ability to choose from another manufacturer gives you more choice, not less. Tamron & Sigma both only choose to produce certain lenses in K mount.

ma-ledezma · 02-12-2014, 02:11 PM

Great, competition for Tamron and Sigma. I hope they release the 85mm 1.4 soon.

dansamy · 02-12-2014, 02:14 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

If you want an AW lens you have to buy a Pentax. Tamron & Sigma don't make any sealed lenses.

Not everyone needs AW lenses. Some people only need one or two WR lenses.

northcoastgreg · 02-12-2014, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by Corto-PA

And IF they end up doing AF lenses for Pentax, I hope with good quiet reliable motors instead of noisy screwdrives.

The noisy screwdrives would be less expensive and more reliable. Aren't the Nikon versions of some Samyang lenses already a little more expensive (i.e., to make the lenses work better with Nikon DSLRs)? If so, screwdrives for Pentax versions (and maybe Sony Alpha mount) might be less expensive than all other mounts. In any case, AF will increase the cost of these lenses. Will Samyang still offer MF versions for those who don't wish to pay the AF tax?

dansamy · 02-12-2014, 02:23 PM

I wouldn't mind the screw drive noise on some lenses. And for some things where you want whisper quiet, that's when you pony up & pay for it.

Woolcott · 02-12-2014, 02:27 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by dansamy

I wouldn't mind the screw drive noise on some lenses. And for some things where you want whisper quiet, that's when you pony up & pay for it.

Or just shoot manual focus!

Na Horuk · 02-12-2014, 03:05 PM

Hm, but the thing with screwdrive is, that they can't make it a universal system for all their lenses/mounts. They would have to do more than just change the mount, right? But if they add AF motors, then its easier to make essentially the same lens, but only adding power connection to the mount. And I assume that, since this is an Asian company, they might have found a good, cheap supply of motors. A modular approach makes sense, but I am just speculating.

**Rondec** · 02-12-2014, 03:06 PM

Sounds good.

I am fine with screw driven lenses, as I think, are most folks who shoot Pentax. Screw drive is the "sound of reliability." I believe (righlty or wrongly) that my FA 77, which is about four years old -- is much more likely to be functioning in 10 years, than the best in lens motor driven lens -- at least without factory servicing.

jezza323 · 02-12-2014, 04:18 PM

If i were making lenses in the manner they do (same lens, many mounts) I would go for inbuilt motors, as its just the mount/contacts & some internal electronics which need to change then

Woolcott · 02-12-2014, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by Rondec

Sounds good.

I am fine with screw driven lenses, as I think, are most folks who shoot Pentax. Screw drive is the "sound of reliability." I believe (righlty or wrongly) that my FA 77, which is about four years old -- is much more likely to be functioning in 10 years, than the best in lens motor driven lens -- at least without factory servicing.

Screw drive was a bit of a shock to my ears, coming from m4/3 and Fuji X - does have a reassuringly mechanical feel to it though.

**filoxophy** · 02-12-2014, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by thibs

So, will they go reverse engineering way or the license way?

Pardon my ignorance, but do any of the OEMs license their lens AF/communication protocols? I thought it was all reverse engineered...

dansamy · 02-12-2014, 05:44 PM

Originally posted by filoxophy

Pardon my ignorance, but do any of the OEMs license their lens AF/communication protocols? I thought it was all reverse engineered...

I think in some instances, the third party buys a license. I think in those instances, you'll notice the lens is only a little less expensive than an equivalent OEM.

Alizarine · 02-12-2014, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by Rondec

I am fine with screw driven lenses, as I think, are most folks who shoot Pentax. Screw drive is the "sound of reliability." I believe (righlty or wrongly) that my FA 77, which is about four years old -- is much more likely to be functioning in 10 years, than the best in lens motor driven lens -- at least without factory servicing.

Personally I am fine with ol' reliable screwdrive. The AF accuracy in newer Pentax cameras make the AF hunt less and less, so less noise in general too. But "creating something functioning as day 1 in 10 years" isn't the common motto of many manufacturing firms these days.

but in any case, Samyang going AF will be wonderful. +$100 or so to the final price, I guess, depending on the lens. I just hope adding those motors won't affect IQ anytime.

klkitchens · 02-12-2014, 09:20 PM

Originally posted by D1N0

Breaking: Samyang to start producing autofocus (AF) lenses | Photo Rumors

Sofar Samyang has always made K-mount versions AFAIK.

Ooooh... nice. Love the quality of their lenses. AF is icing on the cake!

thibs · 02-12-2014, 10:28 PM

Originally posted by filoxophy

Pardon my ignorance, but do any of the OEMs license their lens AF/communication protocols? I thought it was all reverse engineered...

Others replied aleady but yes, OEM do licences mounts.
They do not, however (at least Pentax) license flash system stuff: Metz is reverse engineeering PTTL and this leads to frequent problems.
Sigma doesn't play the game at all

which isn't a problem (compatibility wise) for Pentax. Ask Sony/Canon users ..

But... until now Samyang did use older mounts because of free (expired patents) which is why Nikon lenses went AE after a time.
But Canon lenses have never communicate with Canon bodies AFAIK hence the fully manual aperture and stop down metering (if there's a meter at all).
So, license or not ?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Samyang/Rokinon to release AF lenses in 2013	ChopperCharles	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	03-01-2013 01:59 PM
Tamron SP AF 90mm vs. Rokinon (Samyang) 85mm	klkitchens	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	12-10-2012 09:02 PM
Landscape stepping into fall....	dcmsox2004	Post Your Photos!	4	10-28-2010 02:10 PM
Will the K-5 AF breath new life into AF TC?	JohnBee	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	17	09-28-2010 10:26 PM

02-12-2014, 02:10 PM	#16
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	Originally posted by eurostar Why Nikon and Canon costumers buy Nikkors and Canons when they can buy much more Tamrons and Sigmas than us Pentaxians? By this kind of reasoning, every camera maker should have stopped selling lenses many decades ago... Everything has trade offs. And each customer has to choose what's important to them. There will always be some customers (not costumers) who choose OEM for all their accessories & lenses. Having the ability to choose from another manufacturer gives you more choice, not less. Tamron & Sigma both only choose to produce certain lenses in K mount.

02-12-2014, 02:11 PM	#17
ma-ledezma Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 108	Great, competition for Tamron and Sigma. I hope they release the 85mm 1.4 soon.

02-12-2014, 02:14 PM	#18
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	Originally posted by boriscleto If you want an AW lens you have to buy a Pentax. Tamron & Sigma don't make any sealed lenses. Not everyone needs AW lenses. Some people only need one or two WR lenses.

02-12-2014, 02:20 PM	#19
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	Originally posted by Corto-PA And IF they end up doing AF lenses for Pentax, I hope with good quiet reliable motors instead of noisy screwdrives. The noisy screwdrives would be less expensive and more reliable. Aren't the Nikon versions of some Samyang lenses already a little more expensive (i.e., to make the lenses work better with Nikon DSLRs)? If so, screwdrives for Pentax versions (and maybe Sony Alpha mount) might be less expensive than all other mounts. In any case, AF will increase the cost of these lenses. Will Samyang still offer MF versions for those who don't wish to pay the AF tax?

02-12-2014, 02:23 PM	#20
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	I wouldn't mind the screw drive noise on some lenses. And for some things where you want whisper quiet, that's when you pony up & pay for it.

02-12-2014, 02:27 PM - 1 Like	#21
Woolcott Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: London Posts: 79	Originally posted by dansamy I wouldn't mind the screw drive noise on some lenses. And for some things where you want whisper quiet, that's when you pony up & pay for it. Or just shoot manual focus!

02-12-2014, 03:05 PM	#22
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Hm, but the thing with screwdrive is, that they can't make it a universal system for all their lenses/mounts. They would have to do more than just change the mount, right? But if they add AF motors, then its easier to make essentially the same lens, but only adding power connection to the mount. And I assume that, since this is an Asian company, they might have found a good, cheap supply of motors. A modular approach makes sense, but I am just speculating.

02-12-2014, 03:06 PM	#23
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	Sounds good. I am fine with screw driven lenses, as I think, are most folks who shoot Pentax. Screw drive is the "sound of reliability." I believe (righlty or wrongly) that my FA 77, which is about four years old -- is much more likely to be functioning in 10 years, than the best in lens motor driven lens -- at least without factory servicing.

02-12-2014, 04:18 PM	#24
jezza323 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,421	If i were making lenses in the manner they do (same lens, many mounts) I would go for inbuilt motors, as its just the mount/contacts & some internal electronics which need to change then

02-12-2014, 04:23 PM	#25
Woolcott Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: London Posts: 79	Originally posted by Rondec Sounds good. I am fine with screw driven lenses, as I think, are most folks who shoot Pentax. Screw drive is the "sound of reliability." I believe (righlty or wrongly) that my FA 77, which is about four years old -- is much more likely to be functioning in 10 years, than the best in lens motor driven lens -- at least without factory servicing. Screw drive was a bit of a shock to my ears, coming from m4/3 and Fuji X - does have a reassuringly mechanical feel to it though.

02-12-2014, 05:05 PM	#26
filoxophy Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 1,132	Originally posted by thibs So, will they go reverse engineering way or the license way? Pardon my ignorance, but do any of the OEMs license their lens AF/communication protocols? I thought it was all reverse engineered...

02-12-2014, 05:44 PM	#27
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	Originally posted by filoxophy Pardon my ignorance, but do any of the OEMs license their lens AF/communication protocols? I thought it was all reverse engineered... I think in some instances, the third party buys a license. I think in those instances, you'll notice the lens is only a little less expensive than an equivalent OEM.

02-12-2014, 08:58 PM	#28
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by Rondec I am fine with screw driven lenses, as I think, are most folks who shoot Pentax. Screw drive is the "sound of reliability." I believe (righlty or wrongly) that my FA 77, which is about four years old -- is much more likely to be functioning in 10 years, than the best in lens motor driven lens -- at least without factory servicing. Personally I am fine with ol' reliable screwdrive. The AF accuracy in newer Pentax cameras make the AF hunt less and less, so less noise in general too. But "creating something functioning as day 1 in 10 years" isn't the common motto of many manufacturing firms these days. but in any case, Samyang going AF will be wonderful. +$100 or so to the final price, I guess, depending on the lens. I just hope adding those motors won't affect IQ anytime.

02-12-2014, 09:20 PM	#29
klkitchens Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Allanta, GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 480	Originally posted by D1N0 Breaking: Samyang to start producing autofocus (AF) lenses \| Photo Rumors Sofar Samyang has always made K-mount versions AFAIK. Ooooh... nice. Love the quality of their lenses. AF is icing on the cake!

02-12-2014, 10:28 PM	#30
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by filoxophy Pardon my ignorance, but do any of the OEMs license their lens AF/communication protocols? I thought it was all reverse engineered... Others replied aleady but yes, OEM do licences mounts. They do not, however (at least Pentax) license flash system stuff: Metz is reverse engineeering PTTL and this leads to frequent problems. Sigma doesn't play the game at all which isn't a problem (compatibility wise) for Pentax. Ask Sony/Canon users .. But... until now Samyang did use older mounts because of free (expired patents) which is why Nikon lenses went AE after a time. But Canon lenses have never communicate with Canon bodies AFAIK hence the fully manual aperture and stop down metering (if there's a meter at all). So, license or not ?