Originally posted by regken As a strong believer in the OEM concept I think they should add every lens made by anybody to the line. It doesn't cost them anything other than a little inventory and adds profit to the bottom line. Why waste your time reinventing the wheel when Sigma. Tamron, Tokina, or anybody else has already done the work. They can get a 10-15% premium with the Pentax name glued on.
It also takes care of the shortage of FF lenses if Samsung pushes that issue. Something like the Tamron 17-50 and Sigma 17-70 would create an overlap but so what? More choices for those that want Pentax branded lenses and the appearance of a much more robust lens lineup. If they are really intent about going after the specialty shops as Ned says, it also gives them a full arsenal of lenses to back up the bodies.
Ken
Historically Pentax have used Tamron and Cosina as OEM suppliers with cosmetic re-badges. AFAIK they have never used Sigma, nor has any other major camera maker.
Recently the link with Tokina in co-development has resulted in similar but more divergently different cosmetics than before, or with the recent Tamron rebadge (DA 18-250).
Rebadging indiscriminently across the board would just dilute the individuality that Pentax lenses have (and desired by Pentaxians), the pancake prime Limiteds are a typical example.
Remember that Hoya are major glass suppliers and I believe will want to seriously extend their capability through Pentax offerings. There's profit in glass and Hoya are profit driven!
Here are my musings for the future. They are not based (well, not a lot
) on any prior knowledge, they are just "my" guesses/wishes.
I believe that there will be more zooms introduced over the next 12-24 month period, including the expected DA(*?) 11-16 f2.8 WA zoom, and I also believe that a super zoom will be among them, more likely to be a step up from the existing DA 18-250 as I said. It may even be another joint Pentokina effort.
I would also like to see something like a quality (DA* level) 135-400 (f2.8-f4.5?) and 200-500 (F4.0-5.6?) added. With those aperture sizes, both would be able to utilise the largest commonly available filter size of 95 mm without going to the extra costs of rear filter systems.
Then maybe an even a slightly faster (non DA* and extending zoom) SDM+QS 55-300 (f3.5-4.5 with 67mm thread, as in the 17-70) would also be very nice as a mid range offering between the current DA 55-300 and the DA*60-250. Let's keep to the 55mm (not 70mm) start point as it's a very handy focal length to start a tele-zoom at, 70 is just a tad too long, the overlap is very handy.
Finally a DA* 15-60(+) at least f4.0 constant to pair with the DA*60-250.
We would then have a very nice 2 tier DA set-up
DA 18-55 mkII + DA 55-300 f4.0-5.8 (kit) set
DA 17-70 f4.0 SDM + DA 55-300 f3.5-4.5 SDM mid range
and a great 2 tier DA* Weather Sealed setup,
DA*15-60 f4.0 SDM + DA*60-250 f4.0 SDM + DA*200-500 f4.0- 5.6 SDM
DA(*) 11-6 f2.8, DA*16-50 f2.8, DA*50-135 f2.8 SDM, + DA*135-400 f2.8-f4.5
Naturally there will be TC's and also more super primes as well, but we are ahead of the competition and doing pretty well with those already! Not being a major prime shooter I will leave the wishes for those to others. Maybe an 85 f1.4 and 135 f2.0, am I warm?!
I also believe that a new roadmap introduced either by Photokina or by PMA will get the LBA adrenalin coursing once again!
There you have my crystal ball!