[Mazhe]

I'm not sure this image is from the new lens or not but it will be interesting to see the improvement in contrast between the tamron and pentax due to HD coating. from the site linked a few pages back.
????????HD PENTAX-D FA 24-70mmF2.8ED SDM WR??????????????? - ??????????by????????

For that to happen, the lens would have to be manufactured by Pentax, which is not a given right now. The superzoom were built and assembled by Tamron in their own factories if I remember well...

[Mistral75]

For that to happen, the lens would have to be manufactured by Pentax, which is not a given right now. The superzoom were built and assembled by Tamron in their own factories if I remember well...

It's a given that the Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR lens is not manufactured by Ricoh Imaging since it's labeled "Made in Japan" and they haven't any assembly plant there.

[thibs]

The DA* 16-50/2.8 was not a pentax design... I guess it's rather "not built in pentax factories" which is a no-go, and there's probably more quality control on the star lenses.

Nope it is a Pentax design.

[robjmitchell]

For that to happen, the lens would have to be manufactured by Pentax, which is not a given right now. The superzoom were built and assembled by Tamron in their own factories if I remember well...

I was assuming the lens elements are coated by Pentax/Ricoh with HD before being shipped to and assembled by Tamron.

[Sandy Hancock]

I was assuming the lens elements are coated by Pentax/Ricoh with HD before being shipped to and assembled by Tamron.

I don't think it's an assumption. Unless I have greatly misinterpreted earlier postings the above is a fact.

[dcBear78]

Doesn't have a gold ring on it!

In Tamron guise it does.

[IchabodCrane]

Originally posted by IchabodCrane
Of course warranties cost money so why not have a 30 day warranty? They could charge less and/or put the savings into more developments.

Warranties are competitive features of an offering. The automotive industry in the USA didn't go from 12 month to 36 month (or more) warranties because they are just a bunch on nice guys doing nice things. They did it because someone else did and they wanted to remain competitive. There's no reason the camera industry is different.

Nicolas6:
I think that's because it would be ilegal in most countries.

I'm not following you. What would be illegal?

[Rondec]

Nope it is a Pentax design.

Yes, of the Tokina/Pentax collaborations, Pentax designed all of them except for the 12-24mm.

[RobA_Oz]

It's a given that the Pentax-D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR lens is not manufactured by Ricoh Imaging since it's labeled "Made in Japan" and they haven't any assembly plant there.

The fine art of contracting out, no doubt. Just because Tamron might assemble the Pentax version, it doesn't necessarily follow that Ricoh doesn't manufacture some of the components. Even though both the Tamron and Pentax lens elements appear to be identical in form, if not in coatings, or perhaps in substance, we don't know whose hands touched what parts of the Pentax version. It could be that Tamron produces all or most of the glass, and Pentax coats them for its lens. It could also be that Pentax makes the housing, and Tamron assembles the components. Most products these days come from a variety of suppliers.

[thibs]

Yes, of the Tokina/Pentax collaborations, Pentax designed all of them except for the 12-24mm.

Indeed but it seems many will continue to doubt whatever patent shown in front of them.

[starbase218]

A Japanese camera retailer Yaotomi asked Pentax why the 24-70mm isn't a star lens, and it got a response from Pentax:

????????HD PENTAX-D FA 24-70mmF2.8ED SDM WR??????????????? - ??????????by????????

"We decide whether to call a lens 'star' based on several factors."
"The 24-70mm doesn't meet the criteria, so we haven't made it a star lens."
"We don't announce what decision criteria we use."

That's it.

Then, how do customers know what the "star" actually means? And if they (we) don't, what's the point of having the "star" designation on lenses in the first place?

[Zygonyx]

The mystery can be fascinating, isn't it?

[VoiceOfReason]

I wonder how the image quality will compare to my Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 HSM.

[redcat]

Then, how do customers know what the "star" actually means?

it means : more expensive and more Pro (build, optic, look...) ^^

[monochrome]

If Tamron and Pentax co-published a White Paper that described every fact and specification of this lens and the manufacturing process flow, half the posters to this thread would dispute its veracity and half would declaim it as a mere marketing document.

Just buy the damned lens or don't. We'll never know the answers.

Sheesh.