DA* 55mm f1.4 SDM

Matt Miller · 05-17-2008, 10:20 PM

What's the latest on when this lens will hit the shelves?

roentarre · 05-17-2008, 11:21 PM

This lens is well overdued! I had heard nothing so far (even privy to others forum members) and this lens is something I will buy straight away no matter what. 50mm is my favorite focal length...

mattdm · 05-18-2008, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by Matt Miller

What's the latest on when this lens will hit the shelves?

Pentax Japan has been releasing updated lens "roadmap" documents quarterly. There was one at the end of January, then another at the end of March, and so I expect we'll get an update at the end of June.

benjikan · 05-18-2008, 08:53 AM

We are probably looking at a summer release.

Ben

Matt Miller · 05-18-2008, 10:37 AM

Originally posted by roentarre

This lens is well overdued! I had heard nothing so far (even privy to others forum members) and this lens is something I will buy straight away no matter what. 50mm is my favorite focal length...

Me too. This is the one I most anxiously await. How much do you think it will cost at release?

mattdm · 05-18-2008, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by Matt Miller

Me too. This is the one I most anxiously await. How much do you think it will cost at release?

I'm hoping it's of an optical quality to justify a price of around $600.

benjikan · 05-18-2008, 11:16 AM

Now that I am paying for gear even though Pentax have offered me pro user pricing, I will not get the 55 as I already have the 50mm f1.4 AF and the 40, 43 & 70 limited lens. I don't see any reason to get it. I am sure it will be an awesome lens though.

mattdm · 05-18-2008, 11:24 AM

Originally posted by benjikan

Now that I am paying for gear even though Pentax have offered me pro user pricing, I will not get the 55 as I already have the 50mm f1.4 AF and the 40, 43 & 70 limited lens. I don't see any reason to get it. I am sure it will be an awesome lens though.

It probably doesn't matter much for what you do, but for me the weather sealing implied by the ★ designation is a huge draw. If it doesn't perform optically as good as (or better than!) the 50mm, I doubt I'll get it — probably instead go for the 50mm and get the 50-135mm DA★ eventually.

Teo D'Or · 05-18-2008, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by mattdm

I'm hoping it's of an optical quality to justify a price of around $600.

$600 would be waaaay to expensive. Even with weather sealing and SDM.

mattdm · 05-18-2008, 12:15 PM

Originally posted by Teo D'Or

$600 would be waaaay to expensive. Even with weather sealing and SDM.

Way too expensive for what? The 77mm Limited is $680. The 31mm Limited is $835. The new DA★ 200mm and 300mm are $975 and $1300, respectively. And perhaps more to the point, the new DA 35mm Macro is $575 and seems quite well regarded already.

There's already a cheap 50mm option (not to mention the 40mm Limited).

Teo D'Or · 05-18-2008, 12:47 PM

50mm are really easy to make. Pricing your normal 1.4 lens 100$ over the Zeiss, 100$+ over the 43mm Limited and more than twice than the competition, it better be "really really" good.

Then, i don't see a lot of buyers at 600$. If you have the 43, 70 or/and FA 50, you probably spend that money on a different focal length. With the 16-50 and 50-135 also there, i think Pentax wouldn't sell a lot of them. Maybe i'm wrong. But, for 350-370$ i see it as a strong seller and also very marketable: weather sealed, very fast and SDM.

Jaleel · 05-18-2008, 02:02 PM

I think it will be about 450$
But I don't need it cause i have fa50

augustmoon · 05-18-2008, 02:27 PM

sounds like a good "office pool" to guess the pricing and release date for the DA*55 and DA*30

here's a start

I'm guessing August for the DA*55 around $400, and November for the DA*30 around $550. Just not decided whether to state 2008 or 2009 for the year...

BrendanPK · 05-18-2008, 04:18 PM

Originally posted by benjikan

NI will not get the 55 as I already have the 50mm f1.4 AF and the 40, 43 & 70 limited lens... I don't see any reason to get it.

ITS called LBA, Join the club man!
Go on and get it

Matt Miller · 05-18-2008, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by mattdm

I'm hoping it's of an optical quality to justify a price of around $600.

I would gladly pay $600 for this lens if it is optically excellent, on par with the FA Limiteds or better. A lens like that, of this perfect (imo) focal length, with weather sealing would be worth it to me. Just because it's another "50" does not mean it is just another "50". Hopefully!

05-17-2008, 10:20 PM	#1
Matt Miller Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cambridge, Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 339	*DA 55mm f1.4 SDM** What's the latest on when this lens will hit the shelves?

05-18-2008, 02:27 PM	#13
augustmoon Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Toronto, San Diego, Seattle Posts: 455	pricing sounds like a good "office pool" to guess the pricing and release date for the DA55 and DA30 here's a start I'm guessing August for the DA55 around $400, and November for the DA30 around $550. Just not decided whether to state 2008 or 2009 for the year...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DFA 645 f2.8 55mm AL[IF] SDM AW not usable with K5/K7 ?!?	Wololo	Pentax Medium Format	9	09-17-2010 04:23 AM
New 55mm SDM 645D lens means no SDM II?	alehel	Pentax News and Rumors	11	03-14-2010 09:43 AM
Pentax DA* 55mm 1.4 SDM (unscientific test)	asdf	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	01-29-2010 02:20 PM

05-17-2008, 11:21 PM	#2
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	This lens is well overdued! I had heard nothing so far (even privy to others forum members) and this lens is something I will buy straight away no matter what. 50mm is my favorite focal length...

05-18-2008, 08:50 AM	#3
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by Matt Miller What's the latest on when this lens will hit the shelves? Pentax Japan has been releasing updated lens "roadmap" documents quarterly. There was one at the end of January, then another at the end of March, and so I expect we'll get an update at the end of June.

05-18-2008, 08:53 AM	#4
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308	We are probably looking at a summer release. Ben

05-18-2008, 10:37 AM	#5
Matt Miller Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cambridge, Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 339 Original Poster	Originally posted by roentarre This lens is well overdued! I had heard nothing so far (even privy to others forum members) and this lens is something I will buy straight away no matter what. 50mm is my favorite focal length... Me too. This is the one I most anxiously await. How much do you think it will cost at release?

05-18-2008, 11:07 AM	#6
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by Matt Miller Me too. This is the one I most anxiously await. How much do you think it will cost at release? I'm hoping it's of an optical quality to justify a price of around $600.

05-18-2008, 11:16 AM	#7
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308	Now that I am paying for gear even though Pentax have offered me pro user pricing, I will not get the 55 as I already have the 50mm f1.4 AF and the 40, 43 & 70 limited lens. I don't see any reason to get it. I am sure it will be an awesome lens though.

05-18-2008, 11:24 AM	#8
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by benjikan Now that I am paying for gear even though Pentax have offered me pro user pricing, I will not get the 55 as I already have the 50mm f1.4 AF and the 40, 43 & 70 limited lens. I don't see any reason to get it. I am sure it will be an awesome lens though. It probably doesn't matter much for what you do, but for me the weather sealing implied by the ★ designation is a huge draw. If it doesn't perform optically as good as (or better than!) the 50mm, I doubt I'll get it — probably instead go for the 50mm and get the 50-135mm DA★ eventually.

05-18-2008, 11:59 AM	#9
Teo D'Or Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bucharest Posts: 37	Originally posted by mattdm I'm hoping it's of an optical quality to justify a price of around $600. $600 would be waaaay to expensive. Even with weather sealing and SDM.

05-18-2008, 12:15 PM	#10
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by Teo D'Or $600 would be waaaay to expensive. Even with weather sealing and SDM. Way too expensive for what? The 77mm Limited is $680. The 31mm Limited is $835. The new DA★ 200mm and 300mm are $975 and $1300, respectively. And perhaps more to the point, the new DA 35mm Macro is $575 and seems quite well regarded already. There's already a cheap 50mm option (not to mention the 40mm Limited).

05-18-2008, 12:47 PM	#11
Teo D'Or Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bucharest Posts: 37	50mm are really easy to make. Pricing your normal 1.4 lens 100$ over the Zeiss, 100$+ over the 43mm Limited and more than twice than the competition, it better be "really really" good. Then, i don't see a lot of buyers at 600$. If you have the 43, 70 or/and FA 50, you probably spend that money on a different focal length. With the 16-50 and 50-135 also there, i think Pentax wouldn't sell a lot of them. Maybe i'm wrong. But, for 350-370$ i see it as a strong seller and also very marketable: weather sealed, very fast and SDM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

05-18-2008, 02:02 PM	#12
Jaleel Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Moscow, Russia Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	I think it will be about 450$ But I don't need it cause i have fa50

05-18-2008, 04:18 PM	#14
BrendanPK Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 735	Originally posted by benjikan NI will not get the 55 as I already have the 50mm f1.4 AF and the 40, 43 & 70 limited lens... I don't see any reason to get it. ITS called LBA, Join the club man! Go on and get it

05-18-2008, 04:28 PM	#15
Matt Miller Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cambridge, Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 339 Original Poster	Originally posted by mattdm I'm hoping it's of an optical quality to justify a price of around $600. I would gladly pay $600 for this lens if it is optically excellent, on par with the FA Limiteds or better. A lens like that, of this perfect (imo) focal length, with weather sealing would be worth it to me. Just because it's another "50" does not mean it is just another "50". Hopefully!