[Daikokuya]

Japanese website says it's out in fall this year. It could change, of course.

[Zygonyx]

Paris Pentax boutique confirmed this afternoon the lens was due to ship next october.
Also "FF should come later, probably only early next year in Europe".

[pathdoc]

next october

LOLOL as a native English speaker, to me this implies October 2016.

[rawr]

Also "FF should come later, probably only early next year in Europe".

I read that as saying: ' FF will be available in stores in Europe early next year'. Which means an early October announcement is still possible. Just that there will be a delay between announcement and availability in stores.

However I think if Ricoh announce in October, that means they plan to ship product before Christmas. Otherwise, why announce 3 months before Christmas, but have nothing to sell during the Christmas selling season?

Even more delays will simply drive potential Pentax FF buyers crazy, and put money into Nikon or Sony's pockets this Christmas.

[monochrome]

I read that as saying: ' FF will be available in stores in Europe early next year'. Which means an early October announcement is still possible. Just that there will be a delay between announcement and availability in stores.

However I think if Ricoh announce in October, that means they plan to ship product before Christmas. Otherwise, why announce 3 months before Christmas, but have nothing to sell during the Christmas selling season?

Even more delays will simply drive potential Pentax FF buyers crazy, and put money into Nikon or Sony's pockets this Christmas.

Could be - as was the 645z - the planned production is terrifically oversubscribed, so that Japan comes first, then somewhat later there will be units available for EU and North America.

As I recall we waited something like 90 days to see the first 645z's in the USA.

[rawr]

so that Japan comes first, then somewhat later there will be units available for EU and North America.

That I could understand - launch product October, ship first production batch to reviewers/flagship retailers/media/DxO throughout Oct, first retail flow to JP stores Oct/Nov, limited initial flows to other markets Oct - Dec, general availability everywhere Q1 2016 ...

[Zygonyx]

LOLOL as a native English speaker, to me this implies October 2016.

OK, then read "next month".

---------- Post added 16-09-15 at 00:40 ----------

That I could understand - launch product October, ship first production batch to reviewers/flagship retailers/media/DxO throughout Oct, first retail flow to JP stores Oct/Nov, limited initial flows to other markets Oct - Dec, general availability everywhere Q1 2016 ...

Btw, as far as i can remember, that was K10D scenario.

[Mistral75]

I said almost the same thing. That this lens will be available around the release of the FF.

So, in Spring 2016?

[Mistral75]

The man has spoken:

The 70-200 maybe comes fresh out in October.

[D1N0]

He has spoken again:

The missed 2.8 70-200 is available in November!!!!

[Sandy Hancock]

Whenever it comes out, I'll be very interested in the reviews.

[bdery]

I've just come back from a local photo expo in Quebec city. I handled a 70-200 "near-final prototype". The rep said it will be released in a few weeks.

[Zygonyx]

First shot with second batch pre-prod lens, @200mm f/2.8 (K200D) :

[rawr]

First shot with second batch pre-prod lens, @200mm f/2.8 (K200D) :

Lens looks good. Nice to see the K200D doing good work with it. How was the focus speed?

But I am surprised that they are still showing only pre-prod versions of the lens, if it is supposed to be in stores very soon.

[repaap]

First shot with second batch pre-prod lens, @200mm f/2.8 (K200D) :

Even if there is some distortion when taking a picture of a mirrorimage, it makes that lens look quite small.
Looks good!