DA* upgrade this fall ?

SSGGeezer · 03-05-2018, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by FantasticMrFox

That's true, but they have limited resources. Ideally they'd redo all and every lens they have with weather sealing, DC, PLM or new ring-type SDM, update optical formulas, introduce new lenses (I'd personally love update DA 35s und 50s, plus a DA 24) ... But they can only work on so many lenses at once, so they prioritise. It seems like right now they are concentrating on completing a strong FF line-up, including large aperture primes, and a strong APS-C *-level line-up.

They already have the HD DA 16-85 WR, so I guess the DA 17-70 f/4 is just not a priority?

Too true but I shouldn't comment since my 17-70 works so well I would not be the target market anyway.

Imp · 03-05-2018, 02:47 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by sungibr

I wouldn't go that far, but a redesigned zoom ring should make me more happy.
The ring on mine 16-50 broke after one and half year of use.
I got really angry about that!

Shouldn't da* lenses aspire to the same quality as dfa* lenses?

ogl · 03-05-2018, 09:20 PM

Originally posted by FantasticMrFox

They already have the HD DA 16-85 WR, so I guess the DA 17-70 f/4 is just not a priority?

3.5-5.6 and constant f4 are rather different lenses...

????? / K??????? / ??? / ?? | RICOH IMAGING
DA17-70 is still in line of Pentax lenses....

**Pål Jensen** · 03-06-2018, 02:30 PM

Good news. The Limited lens range will be expanded.

zapp · 03-17-2018, 05:36 AM

Originally posted by ogl

I think it will be DA*200/2.8 and DA*300/4 first of all

We have now 6 lenses
DA*55/1.4, DA*200/2.8 and DA*300/4
DA*50-135/2.8, DA*60-250/4, DA*16-50/2.8

DA* 200/300 with new dedicated TC(s) would make a lot of sense. A 5.6/400 will not show up ;-( as it would compete with D-FA 150-450.
Many other lenses could do with new AF motor... updates will not show up in the roadmap, so hoping for updates will show that Pentax is alive since delivery of roadmap lenses is more than slow.

UserAccessDenied · 03-17-2018, 08:33 PM

Updated DA*300 with a dedicated TC would be a dream come true!

Zygonyx · 03-17-2018, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by FantasticMrFox

I think only giving the 16-50 a new AF motor would be a wasted opportunity.

I've never used it myself (went for the Sigma 17-50), but it seems to have certain optical weaknesses (strong CA, low border sharpness wide open). It came last in the PF comparison review vs. the Tamron and Sigma, and was described as having "poor wide open sharpness, atrocious flare resistance, and heavy distortion at 16mm", at twice the price of the other two.

I know a lot of people like it, but if Pentax wants to continue asking $800 for this lens, I think a new optical design is in order.

humm..., but no, HD coating should be good enough.

FantasticMrFox · 03-18-2018, 08:51 AM

Originally posted by Zygonyx

humm..., but no, HD coating should be good enough.

I don't need to have used every lens myself in order to form an opinion of it. There are plenty of qualitative and quantitative reviews out there, and if most of them agree on certain strengths and weaknesses, then they're probably reliable

Zygonyx · 03-18-2018, 10:36 AM

Yes, time will tell if they only change the engine.

robjmitchell · 03-18-2018, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by FantasticMrFox

I don't need to have used every lens myself in order to form an opinion of it. There are plenty of qualitative and quantitative reviews out there, and if most of them agree on certain strengths and weaknesses, then they're probably reliable

The 16-50 is definitely an underrated lens, but reliability is its biggest weakness. CA is practiacally a non issue with PP, and the lens only needs to be sharp (enough) in the centre wide open and across the frame stoped down to F8. It has great colour and OOF rendering, and in a AW package and starting at 16mm it offers a lot more than the other two options if sharpness is not your primary consideration.
Of course i fully agree that it could be improved, and who knows maybe there might be some element tweaks as well.

FantasticMrFox · 03-18-2018, 02:27 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by robjmitchell

The 16-50 is definitely an underrated lens, but reliability is its biggest weakness. CA is practiacally a non issue with PP, and the lens only needs to be sharp (enough) in the centre wide open and across the frame stoped down to F8. It has great colour and OOF rendering, and in a AW package and starting at 16mm it offers a lot more than the other two options if sharpness is not your primary consideration.

That's quite debatable. Of course CA can be removed in PP, but the software doesn't magically restore whatever information was obscured behind the CA. Slim CAs aren't a problem, but once we're talking about several pixels wide you just get mush instead after the removal. As for sharpness, if you place your subject off-centre and want a narrow depth-of-field, you suddenly want more than just the centre to be reasonable sharp at f/2.8

Zygonyx · 03-19-2018, 02:34 AM - **1 Like**

CA will be handled sufficently with HD coating.
This said, I am really satisfied with my copy.

Saltwater Images · 03-19-2018, 02:36 AM

This makes life more complicated for those of us planning to buy new glass with a tax refund. I might have to squirrel away the cash and wait...

thibs · 03-19-2018, 09:42 AM

More complicated? Because you've got choice?
Sorry I don't understand 😕

**Pål Jensen** · 03-19-2018, 01:57 PM - **1 Like**

The 16-50 never deserved the star designation.
CA, flare, edge sharpness at wider apertures.

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03-05-2018, 11:28 AM	#106
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Originally posted by FantasticMrFox That's true, but they have limited resources. Ideally they'd redo all and every lens they have with weather sealing, DC, PLM or new ring-type SDM, update optical formulas, introduce new lenses (I'd personally love update DA 35s und 50s, plus a DA 24) ... But they can only work on so many lenses at once, so they prioritise. It seems like right now they are concentrating on completing a strong FF line-up, including large aperture primes, and a strong APS-C *-level line-up. They already have the HD DA 16-85 WR, so I guess the DA 17-70 f/4 is just not a priority? Too true but I shouldn't comment since my 17-70 works so well I would not be the target market anyway.

03-05-2018, 02:47 PM - 2 Likes	#107
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Originally posted by sungibr I wouldn't go that far, but a redesigned zoom ring should make me more happy. The ring on mine 16-50 broke after one and half year of use. I got really angry about that! Shouldn't da* lenses aspire to the same quality as dfa* lenses?

03-05-2018, 09:20 PM	#108
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	Originally posted by FantasticMrFox They already have the HD DA 16-85 WR, so I guess the DA 17-70 f/4 is just not a priority? 3.5-5.6 and constant f4 are rather different lenses... ????? / K??????? / ??? / ?? \| RICOH IMAGING DA17-70 is still in line of Pentax lenses....

03-06-2018, 02:30 PM	#109
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Good news. The Limited lens range will be expanded.

03-17-2018, 05:36 AM	#110
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	Originally posted by ogl I think it will be DA200/2.8 and DA300/4 first of all We have now 6 lenses DA55/1.4, DA200/2.8 and DA300/4 DA50-135/2.8, DA60-250/4, DA16-50/2.8 DA* 200/300 with new dedicated TC(s) would make a lot of sense. A 5.6/400 will not show up ;-( as it would compete with D-FA 150-450. Many other lenses could do with new AF motor... updates will not show up in the roadmap, so hoping for updates will show that Pentax is alive since delivery of roadmap lenses is more than slow.

03-17-2018, 08:33 PM	#111
UserAccessDenied Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Maryland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,677	Updated DA*300 with a dedicated TC would be a dream come true!

03-17-2018, 09:01 PM	#112
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,033	Originally posted by FantasticMrFox I think only giving the 16-50 a new AF motor would be a wasted opportunity. I've never used it myself (went for the Sigma 17-50), but it seems to have certain optical weaknesses (strong CA, low border sharpness wide open). It came last in the PF comparison review vs. the Tamron and Sigma, and was described as having "poor wide open sharpness, atrocious flare resistance, and heavy distortion at 16mm", at twice the price of the other two. I know a lot of people like it, but if Pentax wants to continue asking $800 for this lens, I think a new optical design is in order. humm..., but no, HD coating should be good enough.

03-18-2018, 08:51 AM	#113
FantasticMrFox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Munich Posts: 2,339	Originally posted by Zygonyx humm..., but no, HD coating should be good enough. I don't need to have used every lens myself in order to form an opinion of it. There are plenty of qualitative and quantitative reviews out there, and if most of them agree on certain strengths and weaknesses, then they're probably reliable

03-18-2018, 10:36 AM	#114
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,033	Yes, time will tell if they only change the engine.

03-18-2018, 01:12 PM	#115
robjmitchell Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Aus Posts: 1,776	Originally posted by FantasticMrFox I don't need to have used every lens myself in order to form an opinion of it. There are plenty of qualitative and quantitative reviews out there, and if most of them agree on certain strengths and weaknesses, then they're probably reliable The 16-50 is definitely an underrated lens, but reliability is its biggest weakness. CA is practiacally a non issue with PP, and the lens only needs to be sharp (enough) in the centre wide open and across the frame stoped down to F8. It has great colour and OOF rendering, and in a AW package and starting at 16mm it offers a lot more than the other two options if sharpness is not your primary consideration. Of course i fully agree that it could be improved, and who knows maybe there might be some element tweaks as well.

03-18-2018, 02:27 PM - 3 Likes	#116
FantasticMrFox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Munich Posts: 2,339	Originally posted by robjmitchell The 16-50 is definitely an underrated lens, but reliability is its biggest weakness. CA is practiacally a non issue with PP, and the lens only needs to be sharp (enough) in the centre wide open and across the frame stoped down to F8. It has great colour and OOF rendering, and in a AW package and starting at 16mm it offers a lot more than the other two options if sharpness is not your primary consideration. That's quite debatable. Of course CA can be removed in PP, but the software doesn't magically restore whatever information was obscured behind the CA. Slim CAs aren't a problem, but once we're talking about several pixels wide you just get mush instead after the removal. As for sharpness, if you place your subject off-centre and want a narrow depth-of-field, you suddenly want more than just the centre to be reasonable sharp at f/2.8

03-19-2018, 02:34 AM - 1 Like	#117
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,033	CA will be handled sufficently with HD coating. This said, I am really satisfied with my copy.

03-19-2018, 02:36 AM	#118
Saltwater Images Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Newfoundland Photos: Gallery Posts: 501	This makes life more complicated for those of us planning to buy new glass with a tax refund. I might have to squirrel away the cash and wait...

03-19-2018, 09:42 AM	#119
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	More complicated? Because you've got choice? Sorry I don't understand 😕

03-19-2018, 01:57 PM - 1 Like	#120
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	The 16-50 never deserved the star designation. CA, flare, edge sharpness at wider apertures.