[solar1]

Welcome to Pentax Forums.

Welcome to Forums Neurotica.

[Uluru]

Come on... no-one has ever released a 16-85/2.8-4. The closest thing is the Sigma 17-70/2.8-4. The Nikons and Canons (16-85 and 15-85 respectively) are also 3.5-5.6. Is it really that surprising that this Pentax lens isn't that fast?

..

Asahiman wrote me on few occasions. He was certain lens will be fast at start because he got that info from the 'Pentax service'. Aparently it was catalogued as well.
Now it's a totally different one.

[JPT]

I think Ricoh has been struggling to find a suitable lens for their higher end kits. The K-5 IIs was never offered in a kit at all, and now the K-3 is mostly sold body only. I think in this context it makes a lot of sense.

Imagine how big and heavy this would be if it was f2.8. The 16-50 is big enough already and an f2.8 16-85 would presumably be even larger.

[D1N0]

Asahiman on the other two lenses over at dpprview:

If it´s like the internal Roadmap,we will see the ca.150-450 and the 2,8 70-200 for fullframe.
70-200 is a * Lens on this map,so it will have SDM.
New Version.
But i have no information if there are any changes since i got the confirmation about the lenses.
Next wil be some optical stuff for 645.
I think ready to buy in the end of first half 2015.
The development need 2-3 years,than a production run for one year till it´s ready for the market.
Normally i will get the new stuff for testings and i will report about this again.
Best regards

[Lokusart]

I think Ricoh has been struggling to find a suitable lens for their higher end kits. The K-5 IIs was never offered in a kit at all, and now the K-3 is mostly sold body only. I think in this context it makes a lot of sense.

Imagine how big and heavy this would be if it was f2.8. The 16-50 is big enough already and an f2.8 16-85 would presumably be even larger.

maybe a 16-70 f4 WR to substitute the 17-70 f4 could have been a nice bet, but again, these are subjective matters, some photographers may praise this new 16-85

[c.a.m]

I just went through the process of researching and ultimately getting the DA 18-135 for CAD $450.

I had a gap between 15mm and 35mm, and no WR lens below 50mm. So, I'm using the 18-135 mainly as a 'wide-ish' complement to my 50-135, and find that the slower wide-to-mid angle coverage works fine for me for what I use it for. I think the new 16-85 could be an even better complement to the 50-135, especially if the corner sharpness is better than the 18-135. It probably will not be comparable in terms of aperture and other optical qualities, but it might provide a useful, lower-cost option than the DA star 16-50.

- Craig

[vjacesslav]

The performance of Nikon lens is really superb and I am looking forward for similar or even better optical design with sharp photos... WR is really cool, 16mm is wide enogh and DC is just a bonus

[Winder]

Asahiman on the other two lenses over at dpprview:

Yeah. IF Asahi man is correct, then it will be late next year before we see the F-DA* 70-200mm lens.

[audiobomber]

I don't understand this. It needed to be a premium lens, f2.8-4 or constant f4. The lower tier is more than adequately covered with the 18-55 and 18-135 WR kit lenses.

For those who were expecting 16-85mm f2.8, please show me anyone who makes such a lens for APS-C. That is no accident, it is not practical.

[luftfluss]

I don't understand this. It needed to be a premium lens, f2.8-4 or constant f4. The lower tier is more than adequately covered with the 18-55 and 18-135 WR kit lenses.

I wouldn't tag the kit 18-55 as "more than" adequate. The Canon & Fuji 18-55's are both optically better than the Pentax, Nikon's is about the same. While I, too, wish the new 16-85 were faster, if it can improve on the 18-55 and become the kit lens, that would be a good thing for Pentax. Hopefully it will be a more handsome lens, too.

[c.a.m]

The lower tier is more than adequately covered with the 18-55 and 18-135 WR kit lenses.

The 18-55 and 18-135 are decent lenses and cover most of the focal length of the 16-85, but I think we need to see the performance of the new one before casting doubts.

- Craig

[PPPPPP42]

I'm just going to summarize all my feelings on this as "No" for all the reasons already mentioned.

I truly hope this is a kit lens replacement for the 18-55WR and not something to compliment it in the line since nobody with the kit lens would waste hundreds on a near identical replacement when there are so many better choices. I suppose I could see it as an alternate kit lens but the 18-135WR already fills that role pretty well and makes a better all in one starter lens.

[RGlasel]

show me anyone who makes such a lens for APS-C

Who else makes a 20-40 or 60-250? Apparently Fuji just announced an 18-135, otherwise that would be a Pentax exclusive and the only other 55-300 I could find is made by Sony. It's called market differentiation.

[Venom3300]

Who else makes a 20-40 or 60-250? Apparently Fuji just announced an 18-135, otherwise that would be a Pentax exclusive and the only other 55-300 I could find is made by Sony. It's called market differentiation.

cannon has an 18-135 IS, and a newer 18-135 IS STM, along with a 75-300 and 55-250 IS STM.

[Ex Finn.]

Nothing here, moving on...