[kenspo]

That's a good new !! We should have more feedback and pictures in a few weeks

Yes

[wissink]

Yes

Fantastic

[jpzk]

That a great piece of news !!

Very soon now, we will be able to glance at some images taken with this lens from users (i.e.: people who bought the lens in its final rendition).

Someone should start a thread such as "Post your HD 150-450 pictures", or something similar so that they are posted in one single place and not all over the forum.

Cheers!

[Mike.P®]

I really really hope it's up to scratch as I sold my Sigma 100-300mm f4 a few months ago and my 50-500mm OS today (and I really rated the 50-500mm)

[Stavri]

I really really hope it's up to scratch as I sold my Sigma 100-300mm f4 a few months ago and my 50-500mm OS today (and I really rated the 50-500mm)

I've owned the Sigma 100-300/f4, and a bunch of 400/f5.6 primes, including the Sigma Telemacro 400/f5.6. From what I've seen so far the 150-450 @450 f5.6 is already sharper with better contrast wide open. I would expect that from a lens with the latest HD (aero) coating. I don't think you'll be disappointing Mike.

[rondoudou87]

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW "review" ? ?????? - ??????

[MadMathMind]

You may, you may not, it's to early to decide IMHO. But if you are about to buy the 150-500, you should wait & see if the 150-450 is far better.
For now we can say that the Pentax is (probably) better build and weather sealed, and the autofocus is (probably) a lot better.
For what I have seen so far, we can't discuss the image quality against the Sigma. Seems good.

I think the point is that no matter how much better it is, it won't be worth $1500 extra to a lot of people. That's a lot of money for weather sealing...heck, if it rains on your Sigma, you can replace it for less money than the extra you spent on the Pentax.

[Zygonyx]

Please STOP these stupid price mounings.....
Or swich to Canikon forums.
With such stupid reasonning/comparison, Leica would be dead since it was born, and Pentax wouldn't sell any 645 lens either....

[Kunzite]

Death to the high-end market!

[jaad75]

Some fullframe samples (Leica):
Camera of Yaotomi | You have to try at full size. HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mmF4.5-5.6ED DC AW - Used camera your line like (by Yaotomi camera shop)

[Nicolas06]

Please STOP these stupid price mounings.....
Or swich to Canikon forums.
With such stupid reasonning/comparison, Leica would be dead since it was born, and Pentax wouldn't sell any 645 lens either....

But this is true. It is very expensive and many will not buy it because of that. Like many will not buy it because it is huge/heavy.

Is it an issue? Well I think that Pentax know it and included this fact in their business model for the lense.

It is like Leica... When I go to camera shop in Nice or Cannes (French Riviera) I don't see the 35mm leica range finder and the lenses. Because nobody would ever buy it: too expensive. But when I go to the same shop brand (there are many in France) in Monaco, here they have the full set of leica lenses on display.

We don't have to avoid to speak of reality.

[Rondec]

I think the point is that no matter how much better it is, it won't be worth $1500 extra to a lot of people. That's a lot of money for weather sealing...heck, if it rains on your Sigma, you can replace it for less money than the extra you spent on the Pentax.

The question is if it is a good lens and better than the competition. Is it sharp at 450? Does it focus better? How are the colors and the contrast?

Pentax is well known to charge a premium on release that does come down somewhat over time and so I would rather leave price out of it. Premium lenses are probably worth saving for, as long as they really do well. Unfortunately, a lot of long lenses are pretty weak at the telephoto end. And the best ones are very expensive.

[derekkite]

Expensive compared to what? Long wildlife lenses are expensive. The Canon 100-400 is around the same amount, and is quite nice. The three other choices for that length are sigma 500 f4.5 which is $6k or the 560 for about the same. Or a 300f4 with tc for a bit less.

The sigma 150-500 doesn't approach the DA*300 in IQ, for almost as sharp you lose two stops of light at least. I don't know about the new sport model, but it isn't inexpensive either.

Don't consider the inexpensive long zooms on the market as being in the same ball park.

This assumes that the Pentax is sharp wide open. We shall see.

[thibs]

But this is true. It is very expensive and many will not buy it because of that. Like many will not buy it because it is huge/heavy.

Is it an issue? Well I think that Pentax know it and included this fact in their business model for the lense.

It is like Leica... When I go to camera shop in Nice or Cannes (French Riviera) I don't see the 35mm leica range finder and the lenses. Because nobody would ever buy it: too expensive. But when I go to the same shop brand (there are many in France) in Monaco, here they have the full set of leica lenses on display.

We don't have to avoid to speak of reality.

It does not justify the moaning. Too epxensive foy rou? Fine. For me too. So?
Is it too expensive for what it brings ? That's another story which is mostly objective and can be discussed without moaning.
It may end up being too expensive for what it brings. But moaning now about price without propoer review/trial is dumb.

[Mistral75]

Some fullframe samples (Leica):
Camera of Yaotomi | You have to try at full size. HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mmF4.5-5.6ED DC AW - Used camera your line like (by Yaotomi camera shop)

The new mirrorless Pentax