[Kunzite]

"Years to come"? The things people are making up...

[thibs]

"Years to come"? The things people are making up...

That alright, we need our share of Pentax bashing for the day.

[JensE]

Price-wise, the DA*55mm, in relation to the DA* zooms could sadly give you an indication of what to expect.

[repaap]

Price-wise, the DA*55mm, in relation to the DA* zooms could sadly give you an indication of what to expect.

Umm, what do you mean?

I suppose thst it has been several times indicated that prize will be +1000-1500€.. it is a pro FF lens... DA* line is aps-c, and DA*55 is not actually expensive for what it is..if that is what you mean.

[Rondec]

Currently, top end 50s sell in the 1200 dollar range. If this lens measures up to those, which I suppose it will, then it makes sense to price it somewhere around there.

I have less problem paying for a lens than a camera body since to me, the cost is pro-rated over a longer period of time. I've been shooting for 10 years with my DA *16-50 and 50-135 and they are still fine. Basically, I paid 60 and 75 dollars a year for the use of them. And they still have some value if I would choose to sell them.

[Kickmansch]

Currently, top end 50s sell in the 1200 dollar range. If this lens measures up to those, which I suppose it will, then it makes sense to price it somewhere around there. I have less problem paying for a lens than a camera body since to me, the cost is pro-rated over a longer period of time. I've been shooting for 10 years with my DA *16-50 and 50-135 and they are still fine. Basically, I paid 60 and 75 dollars a year for the use of them. And they still have some value if I would choose to sell them.

Well said, assuming no SDM failure occured though , for the moment I'm sticking with the DA* 55, the slight vignette on FF is not that bothersome to me on the K1.

[JensE]

Umm, what do you mean?

I suppose thst it has been several times indicated that prize will be +1000-1500€.. it is a pro FF lens... DA* line is aps-c, and DA*55 is not actually expensive for what it is..if that is what you mean.

I meant that the DA*50mm prices will likely relate to the DFA(*) f/2.8 zoom lens pricing in a similar way as the DA*55mm prices related to the DA* f/2.8 zooms'.

The considerably simpler DA*55mm (9 elements in 8 groups, 1ED, 58mm front thread) is priced very close to the much more complex DA* Zooms, e.g. DA*50-135mm (18 elements in 14 groups, 3ED, 67mm front thread) or DA*16-50mm (15 elements in 12 groups, 3 aspherical, 2ED, 77 front thread), likely based on perceived value to a (semi-)pro photographer or enthusiast. So I expect a similar situation for the DFA*50mm in relation to at least the fast DFA zooms. Considering that the DA*60-250mm costs a lot more than the DA*55mm, we can still hope for a significant gap to the DFA*70-200mm.

[robjmitchell]

I meant that the DA*50mm prices will likely relate to the DFA(*) f/2.8 zoom lens pricing in a similar way as the DA*55mm prices related to the DA* f/2.8 zooms'.

The considerably simpler DA*55mm (9 elements in 8 groups, 1ED, 58mm front thread) is priced very close to the much more complex DA* Zooms, e.g. DA*50-135mm (18 elements in 14 groups, 3ED, 67mm front thread) or DA*16-50mm (15 elements in 12 groups, 3 aspherical, 2ED, 77 front thread), likely based on perceived value to a (semi-)pro photographer or enthusiast. So I expect a similar situation for the DFA*50mm in relation to at least the fast DFA zooms. Considering that the DA*60-250mm costs a lot more than the DA*55mm, we can still hope for a significant gap to the DFA*70-200mm.

Ricoh is trying to attract customers so they may price it more agressively than we expect. I would expect US$1200-1500 in line with their competitors with it drifting down a couple of hundred after a year or two.

[repaap]

I meant that the DA*50mm prices will likely relate to the DFA(*) f/2.8 zoom lens pricing in a similar way as the DA*55mm prices related to the DA* f/2.8 zooms'.

The considerably simpler DA*55mm (9 elements in 8 groups, 1ED, 58mm front thread) is priced very close to the much more complex DA* Zooms, e.g. DA*50-135mm (18 elements in 14 groups, 3ED, 67mm front thread) or DA*16-50mm (15 elements in 12 groups, 3 aspherical, 2ED, 77 front thread), likely based on perceived value to a (semi-)pro photographer or enthusiast. So I expect a similar situation for the DFA*50mm in relation to at least the fast DFA zooms. Considering that the DA*60-250mm costs a lot more than the DA*55mm, we can still hope for a significant gap to the DFA*70-200mm.

No, there will not be gap...

[Kunzite]

Really? What makes you say so?

[biz-engineer]

Really? What makes you say so?

Human intuition, which sometimes is closer to the truth than limited information :-)

[Kunzite]

"Human intuition" can be quite inaccurate.

The D FA* 50mm f/1.4 should be priced similarly with the competition (and I'm talking about high-end lenses here, not the older, "lesser" designs). Which means expensive, but with still some room until the D FA* 70-200's $2300 launch price.
Unless you're comparing launch price with street price, which I wouldn't.

[Rondec]

It will launch high, but certainly there will be leeway to drop the price into the 900 to 1000 dollar range on sale. The DFA 70-200 launched at a high price. It currently sells for 1500 dollars which is less than most of the other brand name 70-200 f2.8 lenses out there.

[Kunzite]

It sells for 1500 dollars in the U.S. - around here it's almost 2000 euro (VAT included, current cashback applied)
1500 dollars is not an unreasonable launch price for the D FA* prime

[mecrox]

Human intuition, which sometimes is closer to the truth than limited information :-)

I would expect the lens to be priced up, in line with others of its kind. It's a premium lens. The Pentax FF line is a premium line. If Pentax cannot price accordingly then they have no business model. Instead, they would be spending a fortune developing high-end items they cannot sell at high-end prices. Besides, how many people are actually, really going to buy this lens or others which may follow like an 85mm f1.4? There'll be an initial surge as there was with the K1, as long-term loyalists who have waited for years place their order,. But after that? Maybe a few hundred a year I'd guess. This is a lens for the 1 per cent and it will surely be priced accordingly. The big sellers are always going to be further down the scale, the regular f1.8 primes or f4-type zooms.