18-135mm lens being discontinued?

D1N0 · 06-23-2015, 04:55 AM

Originally posted by reh321

I'm not trying to destroy any brand. I just returned to Pentax, remember! I said that overall, Pentax is better than Canon, remember! but I believe that Pentax will have to switch over to DC completely, for all their lenses, if they want to compete effectively with Canikon.

You want them to ditch the screw drive and with that totally alienate pentaxians with loads of perfectly fine legacy glass and also lenses still in production now among which quite recently renewed limited DA lenses and the DA 55-300 WR HD That would be a stupid move.

normhead · 06-23-2015, 05:02 AM - **1 Like**

The only people arguing for the death of screw drive will be those who don't own any of the great screw drive lenses. A soon as they buy one they'll switch sides.

Kunzite · 06-23-2015, 05:18 AM

Last time Pentax announced a new screw drive lens was in 2012 (not counting the HD DA Limiteds).
Pentax will not ditch the in-body motor, for compatibility reasons. But, they will have in-lens motors in most (if not all) of the new lenses.

normhead · 06-23-2015, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Last time Pentax announced a new screw drive lens was in 2012 (not counting the HD DA Limiteds).

But all of those lenses are still in production....so, my guess is Pentax will support screw drive on their camera bodies for at least 10 years after the last screw drive lens goes out of production, and possibly a lot longer than that. The clock hasn't even started yet. The referee is waiting for the last screw drive to come off the line so he can start the clock.

reh321 · 06-23-2015, 05:30 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

You want them to ditch the screw drive and with that totally alienate pentaxians with loads of perfectly fine legacy glass and also lenses still in production now among which quite recently renewed limited DA lenses and the DA 55-300 WR HD That would be a stupid move.

Originally posted by normhead

The only people arguing for the death of screw drive will be those who don't own any of the great screw drive lenses. A soon as they buy one they'll switch sides.

I never said they should stop supporting the screw drive. What I did say is that screw drive lenses are at a disadvantage in any situation where noise might be an issue, so I would hope that new lenses will have built-in motors so that Pentax can compete with Canikon.

normhead · 06-23-2015, 05:44 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by reh321

I never said they should stop supporting the screw drive. What I did say is that screw drive lenses are at a disadvantage in any situation where noise might be an issue, so I would hope that new lenses will have built-in motors so that Pentax can compete with Canikon.

This is the internet, do we really have to pay attention to what you actually said? We prefer to just respond to what we think you might have said.

D1N0 · 06-23-2015, 05:45 AM

Originally posted by reh321

I never said they should stop supporting the screw drive. What I did say is that screw drive lenses are at a disadvantage in any situation where noise might be an issue

Could have fooled me. Noise is always an issue with dslr because of a mechanical shutter and mirror mechanism. Don't want noise? Go mirrorless.

normhead · 06-23-2015, 05:49 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

Could have fooled me. Noise is always an issue with dslr because of a mechanical shutter and mirror mechanism. Don't want noise? Go mirrorless.

Mirrorless don't have shutters? Awesome....

I still don't want one.

Kunzite · 06-23-2015, 06:12 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

Could have fooled me. Noise is always an issue with dslr because of a mechanical shutter and mirror mechanism. Don't want noise? Go mirrorless.

Specifically, go A7r

reh321 · 06-23-2015, 06:36 AM

I bought my MF Pentax Super Program in 1984.
I bought my AF Canon EOS Elan in 1995.
I'm guessing that I wasn't unique in switching from Pentax to Canon during that time.
Perhaps I am unique in making the switch because of AF, or maybe not.

Today, dispassionate observers say that the strength of Canon is in their lenses.
Canon fans claim that sensor tests are biased against Canon. If that comforts them ...

If I were a Pentax executive, I would be glad that there are people who love what Pentax is currently doing, but I wouldn't bet the company on them; I would look at Pentax weakness, and the strengths of other brands, and build Pentax towards the strengths of other companies (and away from Pentax weaknesses) while keeping Pentax strengths.

D1N0 · 06-23-2015, 06:49 AM

Originally posted by normhead

Mirrorless don't have shutters? Awesome....

I still don't want one.

They have electronic shutter modes.

Youtu.be

**luftfluss** · 06-23-2015, 07:35 AM

Originally posted by mattb123

Like others said it's not an option but I also have not heard of a single Pentax DC motor failure so I think that tech is a lot more reliable than SDM ever was.

Yeah, I'm not worried about the durability of the DC motor. I plan on acquiring the 18-135 at some point this year, folks are enthusiastic about it and its a useful range.

**Aristophanes** · 06-25-2015, 10:28 AM

Originally posted by Kunzite

Last time Pentax announced a new screw drive lens was in 2012 (not counting the HD DA Limiteds).
Pentax will not ditch the in-body motor, for compatibility reasons. But, they will have in-lens motors in most (if not all) of the new lenses.

The in-body motor allows for very small lenses like the DA 15/21/40/70 Ltd., not to mention the FA 43 and the very lightweight DA 50/1.8 and DA 35/2.4.

They all achieve their size/weight advantages because of screw drive primarily.

The DA 18-135 isn't going anywhere except to the HD upgrade. It is a compact, light weight, fast focusing, wide to tele-zoom with WR. It is my go-to lens for outdoors on a K-30. I consider the 16-85 too large, especially this day of the trend (K-S2) towards smaller kits. The 18-135 is a very strategic lens for Pentax a must-have in their line up.

Kunzite · 06-25-2015, 10:52 AM

Indeed, they might continue to use screw-drive AF for their most compact lenses. Or they might decide that DC-equipped lenses are compact enough... see the collapsible 18-50.

normhead · 06-25-2015, 11:11 AM

The only question I have with the electric motors is, in 20 years when my DC motor in my 18-135 finally gives up the ghost, what are the odds of Pentax even having parts?

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06-23-2015, 04:55 AM	#61
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Originally posted by reh321 I'm not trying to destroy any brand. I just returned to Pentax, remember! I said that overall, Pentax is better than Canon, remember! but I believe that Pentax will have to switch over to DC completely, for all their lenses, if they want to compete effectively with Canikon. You want them to ditch the screw drive and with that totally alienate pentaxians with loads of perfectly fine legacy glass and also lenses still in production now among which quite recently renewed limited DA lenses and the DA 55-300 WR HD That would be a stupid move.

06-23-2015, 05:02 AM - 1 Like	#62
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	The only people arguing for the death of screw drive will be those who don't own any of the great screw drive lenses. A soon as they buy one they'll switch sides.

06-23-2015, 05:18 AM	#63
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Last time Pentax announced a new screw drive lens was in 2012 (not counting the HD DA Limiteds). Pentax will not ditch the in-body motor, for compatibility reasons. But, they will have in-lens motors in most (if not all) of the new lenses.

06-23-2015, 05:22 AM	#64
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Quote: Last time Pentax announced a new screw drive lens was in 2012 (not counting the HD DA Limiteds). But all of those lenses are still in production....so, my guess is Pentax will support screw drive on their camera bodies for at least 10 years after the last screw drive lens goes out of production, and possibly a lot longer than that. The clock hasn't even started yet. The referee is waiting for the last screw drive to come off the line so he can start the clock.

06-23-2015, 05:30 AM	#65
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,180	Originally posted by D1N0 You want them to ditch the screw drive and with that totally alienate pentaxians with loads of perfectly fine legacy glass and also lenses still in production now among which quite recently renewed limited DA lenses and the DA 55-300 WR HD That would be a stupid move. Originally posted by normhead The only people arguing for the death of screw drive will be those who don't own any of the great screw drive lenses. A soon as they buy one they'll switch sides. I never said they should stop supporting the screw drive. What I did say is that screw drive lenses are at a disadvantage in any situation where noise might be an issue, so I would hope that new lenses will have built-in motors so that Pentax can compete with Canikon.

06-23-2015, 05:44 AM - 1 Like	#66
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by reh321 I never said they should stop supporting the screw drive. What I did say is that screw drive lenses are at a disadvantage in any situation where noise might be an issue, so I would hope that new lenses will have built-in motors so that Pentax can compete with Canikon. This is the internet, do we really have to pay attention to what you actually said? We prefer to just respond to what we think you might have said.

06-23-2015, 05:45 AM	#67
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Originally posted by reh321 I never said they should stop supporting the screw drive. What I did say is that screw drive lenses are at a disadvantage in any situation where noise might be an issue Could have fooled me. Noise is always an issue with dslr because of a mechanical shutter and mirror mechanism. Don't want noise? Go mirrorless.

06-23-2015, 05:49 AM	#68
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by D1N0 Could have fooled me. Noise is always an issue with dslr because of a mechanical shutter and mirror mechanism. Don't want noise? Go mirrorless. Mirrorless don't have shutters? Awesome.... I still don't want one.

06-23-2015, 06:12 AM	#69
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by D1N0 Could have fooled me. Noise is always an issue with dslr because of a mechanical shutter and mirror mechanism. Don't want noise? Go mirrorless. Specifically, go A7r

06-23-2015, 06:36 AM	#70
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,180	I bought my MF Pentax Super Program in 1984. I bought my AF Canon EOS Elan in 1995. I'm guessing that I wasn't unique in switching from Pentax to Canon during that time. Perhaps I am unique in making the switch because of AF, or maybe not. Today, dispassionate observers say that the strength of Canon is in their lenses. Canon fans claim that sensor tests are biased against Canon. If that comforts them ... If I were a Pentax executive, I would be glad that there are people who love what Pentax is currently doing, but I wouldn't bet the company on them; I would look at Pentax weakness, and the strengths of other brands, and build Pentax towards the strengths of other companies (and away from Pentax weaknesses) while keeping Pentax strengths.

06-23-2015, 07:35 AM	#72
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by mattb123 Like others said it's not an option but I also have not heard of a single Pentax DC motor failure so I think that tech is a lot more reliable than SDM ever was. Yeah, I'm not worried about the durability of the DC motor. I plan on acquiring the 18-135 at some point this year, folks are enthusiastic about it and its a useful range.

06-25-2015, 10:28 AM	#73
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	Originally posted by Kunzite Last time Pentax announced a new screw drive lens was in 2012 (not counting the HD DA Limiteds). Pentax will not ditch the in-body motor, for compatibility reasons. But, they will have in-lens motors in most (if not all) of the new lenses. The in-body motor allows for very small lenses like the DA 15/21/40/70 Ltd., not to mention the FA 43 and the very lightweight DA 50/1.8 and DA 35/2.4. They all achieve their size/weight advantages because of screw drive primarily. The DA 18-135 isn't going anywhere except to the HD upgrade. It is a compact, light weight, fast focusing, wide to tele-zoom with WR. It is my go-to lens for outdoors on a K-30. I consider the 16-85 too large, especially this day of the trend (K-S2) towards smaller kits. The 18-135 is a very strategic lens for Pentax a must-have in their line up.

06-25-2015, 10:52 AM	#74
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Indeed, they might continue to use screw-drive AF for their most compact lenses. Or they might decide that DC-equipped lenses are compact enough... see the collapsible 18-50.

06-25-2015, 11:11 AM	#75
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	The only question I have with the electric motors is, in 20 years when my DC motor in my 18-135 finally gives up the ghost, what are the odds of Pentax even having parts?