[Zygonyx]

"Interested" in the purpose that it will be a winner sale, yes.
For pentaxian's sake.
But let'm issue it with the so looong awaited body first.

[RonHendriks1966]

Or to put it another way, [WW2 Australian govt poster]:

To be honest I lost the interest to care about these rumors and announcements.

[Cynog Ap Brychan]

There's a review of this lens in this week's Amateur Photographer in the UK. It's a favourable review, but does make the point several times that it was tested on an APS-C sensor. It said that image-quality wise the lens performs well but could be a little sharper at f2.8.

[rawr]

There's a review of this lens in this week's Amateur Photographer in the UK.

All current reviews will need to be re-done, since the lens itself is currently being re-done.

http://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info/2015/20150611_008955.html

"2015.06.11
HD PENTAX-D FA ★ 70-200MmF2.8ED DC AW "
Notice of Release Date
...
Product name: "HD PENTAX-D FA ★ 70-200MmF2.8ED DC AW "
Release date after the change: 2015 autumn (originally scheduled for coming soon)
Reason for change: As we achieve the high performance that is required as a star lens, because the review of some design became necessary

[LaurenOE]

All current reviews will need to be re-done, since the lens itself is currently being re-done.

?HD PENTAX-D FA^? 70-200mmF2.8ED DC AW? ?????????????RICOH IMAGING

This is why I love Pentax, as the optical engineers are still in control over the bean counters.

Go Pentax!

[Nicolas06]

This is why I love Pentax, as the optical engineers are still in control over the bean counters.

Go Pentax!

Or the bean counters seen some not so good review and said to the engineers you have to fix it... NOW... We can't justify this price if the lense don't get the best possible reviews !... All of this after having denied them the time or budget to avoid such issues from the begining.

I don't say it was that, but that would typical of many companies to put the fault on the poor engineer and ask him for the impossible to fix a late issue...

On any case, there, while it's better to ensure problem are corrected, even after the first models have already been reviewed, it would have been even better if the lense was well tested internally and validated BEFORE commiting on a release date or giving samples for review. Theses review will stay here for ever, you know.

[rawr]

problem are corrected

Although i am only really guessing, based on Ricoh's assessment of early reviews (and possibly feedback from early users like kenspo and others) I think the 'problem' that has delayed official release is the AF, not so much the optics.

I get the impression they want their 70-200 to run as fast and accurately (or at least feel that way) as benchmark 'pro' competitors like the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM or Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR 2. So more engineer over-time on AF hardware and software for the lens.

[fuent104]

Although i am only really guessing, based on Ricoh's assessment of early reviews (and possibly feedback from early users like kenspo and others) I think the 'problem' that has delayed official release is the AF, not so much the optics.

I get the impression they want their 70-200 to run as fast and accurately (or at least feel that way) as benchmark 'pro' competitors like the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM or Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR 2. So more engineer over-time on AF hardware and software for the lens.

I agree. It doesn't make a ton of sense to release it if it is more expensive, has less features (shake reduction), and performs more poorly than the competitors. If it's going to be the flagship lens, it would be best if it actually beats the competition.

[deus ursus]

[...]HD PENTAX-D FA ★ 70-200MmF2.8ED DC AW[...]

According to the above, the lens' focal length isn't 70-200 millimeters, but 70-200 megameters.

That's a pretty big lens.

[WillWeaverRVA]

According to the above, the lens' focal length isn't 70-200 millimeters, but 70-200 megameters.

That's a pretty big lens.

It's an astrophotographer's dream! It'd better be hand-holdable, too!

[Kunzite]

According to the above, the lens' focal length isn't 70-200 millimeters, but 70-200 megameters.

That's a pretty big lens.

That explains it: the lens is ready, the delay is actually for building a mega-ship large enough to transport it

[gazonk]

It's an astrophotographer's dream! It'd better be hand-holdable, too!

Wow, that's around 1000 times the focal length of the largest telescope of the world

(The focal length of the "Gran Telescopio Canarias" is 170 meters)

[FantasticMrFox]

Wow, that's around 1000 times the focal length of the largest telescope of the world

(The focal length of the "Gran Telescopio Canarias" is 170 meters)

It might have the longest focal length, but it's not the largest optical telescope in the world - that one goes to the VLT on Cerro Paranal

[Cynog Ap Brychan]

The focal length of the "Gran Telescopio Canarias" is 170 meters

Yeah, but what's its F Stop?

[gazonk]

It might have the longest focal length, but it's not the largest optical telescope in the world - that one goes to the VLT on Cerro Paranal

Well, the the GTC is the largest single-aperture optical telescope, at least!

---------- Post added 19th Jun 2015 at 12:16 ----------

Yeah, but what's its F Stop?

Wikipedia says the diameter is 10.4 meters, so that would make it approximately f/16, wouldn't it?