[Rorschach]

Let me retract the term "vaporware". That was a bad choice of words. What I mean is that the camera is not on the market yet, i.e., that everything written about it is speculation.
Great, that is part of the fun. I am excited about the possibilities, to the point of holding off buying a D750, as my D600 is nearing the end of its shutter life-cycle. I have enough Pentax
& Pentax compatible glass to entertain the notion of getting a Pentax FF. But I say it as I see it. The new 70-200 does not convince me yet. OK, I'll go and hide again until the end of the year
or early next spring.

Ok. And no need to go into hiding IMO. I think you sobered up quick, like a greased lightning.

[kenspo]

I would truly like to understand how the FA*80-200 performs against the DFA*70-200 (I have the former and would probably not get the latter on that basis).

Such comparison with images would be great to see.

If i find someone around my area that have a 80-200, i will do a compare

[JimmyDranox]

@Kenspo, no need to pay attention to those posts which are disturbing you. Doesn't matter if those posts express a real opinion, or are only posted to make you angry. More, If those are posted only to make you angry, or worse, to make you stop posting, you have more reason not to take them into account.

So, don't give them satisfaction.

[kenspo]

I agree..I shouldn't be so out of order in my answers. Will just overlook them from now on

[Franc]

I agree..I shouldn't be so out of order in my answers. Will just overlook them from now on

there's a ignore button somewhere..............
its handy occasionally

[JinDesu]

there's a ignore button somewhere..............
its handy occasionally

Also known as the Boriscleto button.

[jatrax]

If i find someone around my area that have a 80-200, i will do a compare

That is a comparison I would also like to see. After all it is the lens that the DFA*70-200 is replacing. The FA*80-200 has been the gold standard in Pentax land for a long time it would be a good evaluation. I am sure that will get done at some point, perhaps after the forum gets hold of a copy.

Kenspo: just curious but do you send images to Ricoh as part of your testing? Or just written notes?

[kenspo]

there's a ignore button somewhere..............
its handy occasionally

I also got a warning now, so will go for ignore from now on

---------- Post added 04-13-15 at 04:56 PM ----------

just curious but do you send images to Ricoh as part of your testing? Or just written notes?

I send some pictures..and i give feedback when we have meetings. Same with general things i read both here and on Facebook. I pass it on

[RGlasel]

I would truly like to understand how the FA*80-200 performs

According to this in-depth review from 2011, your FA* has been out of production since 2004. A comparison against a brand new D FA* 70-200 could be interesting, but would have limited applicability.

[RonHendriks1966]

I am a big Pentax fan, although I now use a D600 FF along the K-5. The news of a FF Pentax body is very welcome, but at this point I have to call big marketing BS.
I have not seen anything mind blowing in regards to the new 70-200mm FF lens; if anything it needs auto-focus fine tuning as presented in this thread. Where are the follow up images
that promise any corrections in that regard? The FF Pentax up to this point is vaporware, so there is no correlation as to what this 70-200mm can do with the new body.

And once all the hardware is available for sale, the slaughter can begin. There will always be someone that can point out small/minor deficiencies in any given system.
As an ambassador, I would be cautious against "juvenile" and premature name calling and taunting. MFG's occasionally manage to leapfrog the competition, once certain technical thresholds
are threatened and force their hand. I "so" remember when the K-5 was released as the latest and greatest, but now it is such a "last year" (but still very capable) camera. Same with just about any other brand/model.

I think it is time to gather in the reigns a bit and sober up.

Wel Let me put some words to this. I don't see this as ranting, trolling or bashing . The poster is a Pentax user that maybe would buy the FF if it was available. This is simply not the case. We don't know anything for real about the camera. Not anything of the specs nor the date when to purshase. With holding a D600 and thinking of either a D750 or the Pentax FF it is reasonable to ask questions. Pentax doesn't have a good reputation of delivering good quality images to go with New lenses in the market. Heck. ..........It is even fair to state that they deliver crap images. For Japan it is different, but you don't sell lenses in Europe with images of blossomtrees.

There is no need on bashing the Pentax Brand, but lets be real and see that they aren't performing specless either.

[jatrax]

According to this in-depth review from 2011, your FA* has been out of production since 2004. A comparison against a brand new D FA* 70-200 could be interesting, but would have limited applicability.

Actually I think it would be very useful as it would be the only 1:1 "old:new" comparison we can do with Pentax glass. That might change as they release other lenses but for now it is the only thing we can compare to see what improvements have been made. Both of those lenses are intended to fill the same niche: fast mid range tele-zoom for a FF camera. I would be very interested to see the differences in flare, coatings, AF performance, CA, sharpness and so on. A lot has changed since that lens was produced and I would like to see how much of that gets built into the new DFA. Theoretically the DFA* should mop the floor with the FA* and if it does I think that would go a long way to ease any concerns anyone might have about Ricoh's intentions. The FA* has been the bar to pass for a long time.

Anyone remember what the release price on the FA*80-200 was? I just checked the chart in the review and apparently it was selling for north of $1,700 back in 2007 but those are used prices I assume. Puts the $2,200 list price for the DFA* in a different light.

Production started in 1994, so I think 20 years is a pretty good run to be the flagship lens. But it is time for a new one.

[monochrome]

I have a record in my files of the FA* 80~200/2.8 for $1,350 at B&H in 1999 NIB. That's equivalent to $1,902 today, not taking into account any technological improvements over the ensuing 15+ years.

[Mistral75]

(...)

Anyone remember what the release price on the FA*80-200 was? I just checked the chart in the review and apparently it was selling for north of $1,700 back in 2007 but those are used prices I assume. Puts the $2,200 list price for the DFA* in a different light.

Production started in 1994, so I think 20 years is a pretty good run to be the flagship lens. But it is time for a new one.

FA★ 80-200mm f/2.8 ED [IF]'s MSRP was €2,299 in Germany in April 2002. By comparison,

- FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited's MSRP was €1,099, FA 43mm f/1.9's was €619 and FA 77mm f/1.8's was €919
- for these three lenses, today's MSRPs are €1,499 (+36%), €799 (+29%) and €1,049 (+14%) respectively.

Extrapolating the Limiteds' figures, 'today's' FA★ 80-200mm's MSRP could range between €2,625 and €3,135, let's say around €2,899.

This is to be compared to the HD Pentax-D FA★ 70-200 mm f/2,8 ED DC AW's European MSRP at launch: €1,999.

A real bargain .

[jatrax]

I have a record in my files of the FA* 80~200/2.8 for $1,350 at B&H in 1999 NIB. That's equivalent to $1,902 today, not taking into account any technological improvements over the ensuing 15+ years.

So apparently the asking price went up for a while to over $1,700 in 2007 and then has gradually dropped to just over $1,000. Of course not a lot of data points on that graph. And if new price in today's dollars was $1,902 five years after release I would say the $2,300 release list price on the DFA is fairly reasonable in comparison. Certainly not outrageous.

---------- Post added 04-13-15 at 09:28 AM ----------

Extrapolating the Limiteds' figures, 'today's' FA* 80-200mm's MSRP could range between €2,625 and €3,135, let's say around €2,899.

Thanks for that. Again looks like the DFA price, although high, is not at all out of line with previous similar lenses. And might be lower than the FA*80-200. I'm not sure how the exchange rate would make that look in USD though especially over that length of time.

[Stavri]

Premium lenses have always been expensive. From what I recall a Vivitar Series 1 200mm f3.0 was close to $1000 back in the day. (makes today's prices seem like real bargains)