DFA*50 1.4 coming

**jatrax** · 12-09-2017, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

I also believe the quality of glass material selected can be different to make a lens with same formulation.

It is also possible that the particular type of glass used in older designs is no longer practical for regulatory reasons. Thus requiring a more expensive or more complicated design. This is just speculation as I know very little about glass formulations except reading (on the internet) that some compounds are now banned by EU or US regulation.

mee · 12-09-2017, 07:20 PM

Originally posted by bxf

I would be curious to know what it is about the new breed of these 50mm lenses that justifies a price increase from the typical $500 area of the previous generation to the $1500 that are being charged or projected for the new ones. Is it the cost of the glass? Other materials? More labour to produce?

I can't help but be skeptical about the relationship between the cost or production and selling price.

Interesting comments!

Hard for us outside of the company to really know definitively. But I'll wager it is a combination of aspects -- mostly material cost due to higher tolerances and IQ requirements (higher resolution, sharper edges and corners, less coma and distortion) and less sales so more markup to make up for production costs. Possibly there is also added costs just to not be perceived as a budget brand. Sell it too low and some people incorrectly link that in their heads to the product being inferior to a higher costing competitor.

It is really hard to tell specifically. But I'm guessing the more optically corrected a formula, the more expensive it is to produce. I think the issue is the costs per performance is more exponential than linear.

totsmuyco · 12-09-2017, 10:04 PM

Actually this lens is so expensive because it has some diamonds inside. Don't tell the other system owners. It's a Pentax secret thingy.

**sibyrnes** · 12-09-2017, 10:27 PM

I gave up waiting and that’s how I got introduced to the Zeiss Distagons. I got the 21 and 25 mm and want a new 35 mm but I am making myself wait and see what Pentax does about the old FA 31. I have zero interest in a 50 or 85mm.

**TwoUptons** · 12-10-2017, 02:17 PM

Has there been any word on the lens configuration (elements/groups, etc. )

I’m only curious, and I haven’t seen anything in poking through this thread periodically...

-Eric

robjmitchell · 12-10-2017, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by TwoUptons

Has there been any word on the lens configuration (elements/groups, etc. )

I’m only curious, and I haven’t seen anything in poking through this thread periodically...

-Eric

Not yet, all we know is 72mm filter, KAF4 mount (electronic aperture) ring type SDM motor.

**Belnan** · 12-11-2017, 06:41 AM

Originally posted by OoKU

Facebook

Help me out, I understood none of that. Is he out testing the new 50mm?

repaap · 12-11-2017, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by Belnan

Help me out, I understood none of that. Is he out testing the new 50mm?

I paused that video, and seems WAY too big for that. perhaps 70-200...?

Kunzite · 12-11-2017, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by repaap

I paused that video, and seems WAY too big for that. perhaps 70-200...?

Yeah. You can see it's a zoom - and as you say, it's big.

Mistral75 · 12-11-2017, 10:06 AM

Originally posted by repaap

I paused that video, and seems WAY too big for that. perhaps 70-200...?

Lee Jay · lens is DFA*50/1.4？

Mike Muizebelt · I wish

, it's the K-1 with DFA* 70-200

repaap · 12-11-2017, 01:13 PM

Originally posted by Mistral75

Lee Jay · lens is DFA*50/1.4？

Mike Muizebelt · I wish

, it's the K-1 with DFA* 70-200

It is big too..

**TwoUptons** · 12-11-2017, 04:27 PM

Originally posted by totsmuyco

Actually this lens is so expensive because it has some diamonds inside. Don't tell the other system owners. It's a Pentax secret thingy.

Wasn’t there a kickstarter or something a while back that put semiprecious stones in lenses to improve their bokeh and highlight performance?

Or am I thinking of an April fools joke that just sounds like a real Kickstarter.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell

-Eric

adjutant · 12-11-2017, 06:52 PM

Originally posted by Winder

I love the Loxia lenses. If most of my work didn't require AF I would buy all of them.

If modern manual focus lenses are your thing, take a look at those Voigtlander lenses for e-mount, the 60mm in particular. Overwhelmingly superior for less money.

Jeff Lopez · 12-12-2017, 07:50 PM

http://www.kutuzov-photo.ru/images/stories/Misha_Pentax_HD_50_1.4.jpg

---------- Post added 12-12-17 at 07:50 PM ----------

Another sample in the wild..

Mistral75 · 12-13-2017, 02:00 AM

Originally posted by Jeff Lopez

http://www.kutuzov-photo.ru/images/stories/Misha_Pentax_HD_50_1.4.jpg

---------- Post added 12-12-17 at 07:50 PM ----------

Another sample in the wild..

Yep!

Originally posted by ogl

Pentax K-1 HD Pentax-D FA* 50/1.4 SDM AW.
ISO 400, f/1.4, 1/160
http://www.kutuzov-photo.ru/images/stories/Misha_Pentax_HD_50_1.4.jpg

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12-09-2017, 07:03 PM	#2191
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by biz-engineer I also believe the quality of glass material selected can be different to make a lens with same formulation. It is also possible that the particular type of glass used in older designs is no longer practical for regulatory reasons. Thus requiring a more expensive or more complicated design. This is just speculation as I know very little about glass formulations except reading (on the internet) that some compounds are now banned by EU or US regulation.

12-09-2017, 07:20 PM	#2192
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Originally posted by bxf I would be curious to know what it is about the new breed of these 50mm lenses that justifies a price increase from the typical $500 area of the previous generation to the $1500 that are being charged or projected for the new ones. Is it the cost of the glass? Other materials? More labour to produce? I can't help but be skeptical about the relationship between the cost or production and selling price. Interesting comments! Hard for us outside of the company to really know definitively. But I'll wager it is a combination of aspects -- mostly material cost due to higher tolerances and IQ requirements (higher resolution, sharper edges and corners, less coma and distortion) and less sales so more markup to make up for production costs. Possibly there is also added costs just to not be perceived as a budget brand. Sell it too low and some people incorrectly link that in their heads to the product being inferior to a higher costing competitor. It is really hard to tell specifically. But I'm guessing the more optically corrected a formula, the more expensive it is to produce. I think the issue is the costs per performance is more exponential than linear.

12-09-2017, 10:04 PM	#2193
totsmuyco Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Iloilo City Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,276	Actually this lens is so expensive because it has some diamonds inside. Don't tell the other system owners. It's a Pentax secret thingy.

12-09-2017, 10:27 PM	#2194
sibyrnes Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 447	I gave up waiting and that’s how I got introduced to the Zeiss Distagons. I got the 21 and 25 mm and want a new 35 mm but I am making myself wait and see what Pentax does about the old FA 31. I have zero interest in a 50 or 85mm.

12-10-2017, 02:17 PM	#2195
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,224	Has there been any word on the lens configuration (elements/groups, etc. ) I’m only curious, and I haven’t seen anything in poking through this thread periodically... -Eric

12-10-2017, 03:00 PM	#2196
robjmitchell Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Aus Posts: 1,776	Originally posted by TwoUptons Has there been any word on the lens configuration (elements/groups, etc. ) I’m only curious, and I haven’t seen anything in poking through this thread periodically... -Eric Not yet, all we know is 72mm filter, KAF4 mount (electronic aperture) ring type SDM motor.

12-11-2017, 06:41 AM	#2197
Belnan Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nova Scotia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,090	Originally posted by OoKU Facebook Help me out, I understood none of that. Is he out testing the new 50mm?

12-11-2017, 06:55 AM	#2198
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Originally posted by Belnan Help me out, I understood none of that. Is he out testing the new 50mm? I paused that video, and seems WAY too big for that. perhaps 70-200...?

12-11-2017, 06:58 AM	#2199
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by repaap I paused that video, and seems WAY too big for that. perhaps 70-200...? Yeah. You can see it's a zoom - and as you say, it's big.

12-11-2017, 10:06 AM	#2200
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	Originally posted by repaap I paused that video, and seems WAY too big for that. perhaps 70-200...? Lee Jay · lens is DFA50/1.4？ Mike Muizebelt · I wish , it's the K-1 with DFA 70-200

12-11-2017, 01:13 PM	#2201
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Originally posted by Mistral75 Lee Jay · lens is DFA50/1.4？ Mike Muizebelt · I wish , it's the K-1 with DFA 70-200 It is big too..

12-11-2017, 04:27 PM	#2202
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,224	Originally posted by totsmuyco Actually this lens is so expensive because it has some diamonds inside. Don't tell the other system owners. It's a Pentax secret thingy. Wasn’t there a kickstarter or something a while back that put semiprecious stones in lenses to improve their bokeh and highlight performance? Or am I thinking of an April fools joke that just sounds like a real Kickstarter. Sometimes it’s hard to tell -Eric

12-11-2017, 06:52 PM	#2203
adjutant Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 100	Originally posted by Winder I love the Loxia lenses. If most of my work didn't require AF I would buy all of them. If modern manual focus lenses are your thing, take a look at those Voigtlander lenses for e-mount, the 60mm in particular. Overwhelmingly superior for less money.

12-12-2017, 07:50 PM	#2204
Jeff Lopez Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 531	http://www.kutuzov-photo.ru/images/stories/Misha_Pentax_HD_50_1.4.jpg ---------- Post added 12-12-17 at 07:50 PM ---------- Another sample in the wild..

12-13-2017, 02:00 AM	#2205
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	Originally posted by Jeff Lopez http://www.kutuzov-photo.ru/images/stories/Misha_Pentax_HD_50_1.4.jpg ---------- Post added 12-12-17 at 07:50 PM ---------- Another sample in the wild.. Yep! Originally posted by ogl Pentax K-1 HD Pentax-D FA* 50/1.4 SDM AW. ISO 400, f/1.4, 1/160 http://www.kutuzov-photo.ru/images/stories/Misha_Pentax_HD_50_1.4.jpg