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06-17-2018, 01:46 AM   #1
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Pentax D FA* 50mm f1.4 and Tokina Opera 50mm f1.4

I am having some trouble understanding the strategy in place with Ricoh developing a new high grade D FA* 50 mm lens and then allowing Tokina to release a Canon and Nikon equivalent in their new Opera line.

Initially, I thought Pentax were trying to tempt Canon and Nikon users to the Pentax brand by developing a new range of high class glass that is as good or better than the Sigma Art series. With the Tokina Opera announcement, it would appear as though Pentax are only trying to satisfy the K-1 users, with the costs being ameliorated by on selling the design to Tokina?

Is it possible that Ricoh are targeting a larger slice of the international DSLR lens (Sigma Art Series)market by having some kind of joint venture with Tokina in both the development and manufacture of this line of lenses?

I would be interested in any positive input from members in discussing this and hopefully enlightening me on the strategies involved.


Last edited by BROO; 06-17-2018 at 02:17 AM.
06-17-2018, 02:03 AM - 1 Like   #2
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If they can sell the design to others and make more money, that would probably be a sound businesses strategy. A super sharp 50 1.4 is already available in all other major mounts, so it's not like doing so would cost them their own customers.

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06-17-2018, 02:08 AM - 1 Like   #3
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Sigma? Nah, wouldn't touch 'em with a forty foot barge pole. Pentax lenses all they way.
06-17-2018, 02:08 AM   #4
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With only the 1 prime at the moment i doubt anyone would change brands just to use a better 50mm. Yet if other brands can use it and canikon people feel its great they are going to take notice as more lenses come out. That could certainly be a benefit. I mean we know what the tamron rebranded pentax lenses are. They will know its a pentax lens and see pentax quality optics.

06-17-2018, 02:13 AM - 1 Like   #5
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Canon and Nikon owners will effectively be subsidizing the development of this lens for us Pentaxians.

Tokina have a well-established zoom lineup, they can do with help in their primes.

06-17-2018, 02:17 AM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by beachgardener Quote
Sigma? Nah, wouldn't touch 'em with a forty foot barge pole. Pentax lenses all they way.
I agree. I've had a few Sigmas over the years, but the only one which remains in my bag is the 35 Art....

....until Pentax releases something better

The same applies to my Samyang 12mm fisheye.

I can't image Pentax ever releasing a rival to my Lomography Daguerreotype Achromat 64/2.9, so I imagine that will eventually be my only non-Pentax K-mount lens.
06-17-2018, 02:21 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by Sandy Hancock Quote
....until Pentax releases something better
Absolutely. I have favourites that are not Pentax (many fantastic lenses out there), but I do like the quality of Pentax lenses in general.

06-17-2018, 02:39 AM - 1 Like   #8
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How is this news or a rumor?
06-17-2018, 03:49 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Adam Quote
If they can sell the design to others and make more money, that would probably be a sound businesses strategy. A super sharp 50 1.4 is already available in all other major mounts, so it's not like doing so would cost them their own customers.
This.
They need money and licensing is just another way. Pentax system loses a little exclusivity but, as Adam said, nothing major.

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Modern-day Sigma is not old-days S(t)igma.
06-17-2018, 04:26 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by LensBeginner Quote
Modern-day Sigma is not old-days S(t)igma.
yes, I may be influenced by rubbish Sigma lenses from old days, but, from what I have read reliability and quality control of the modern lenses leave a lot to be desired, some images posted here with modern Sigma I'm not liking how they render in general. don't like the look of them, so nah no sigma for me, wouldn't touch them.
06-17-2018, 05:09 AM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by BROO Quote
I am having some trouble understanding the strategy in place with Ricoh developing a new high grade D FA* 50 mm lens and then allowing Tokina to release a Canon and Nikon equivalent in their new Opera line.

Initially, I thought Pentax were trying to tempt Canon and Nikon users to the Pentax brand by developing a new range of high class glass that is as good or better than the Sigma Art series. With the Tokina Opera announcement, it would appear as though Pentax are only trying to satisfy the K-1 users, with the costs being ameliorated by on selling the design to Tokina?

Is it possible that Ricoh are targeting a larger slice of the international DSLR lens (Sigma Art Series)market by having some kind of joint venture with Tokina in both the development and manufacture of this line of lenses?

I would be interested in any positive input from members in discussing this and hopefully enlightening me on the strategies involved.
Looking at the new Tokina FiRIN 20mm, it doesn't look like Tokina has improved the build quality of their lenses any. I wouldn't expect the Tokina version of the lens to be comparable to the Pentax D-FA*. Samyang is currently building higher quality glass than Tokina.
06-17-2018, 05:20 AM - 1 Like   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by beachgardener Quote
yes, I may be influenced by rubbish Sigma lenses from old days, but, from what I have read reliability and quality control of the modern lenses leave a lot to be desired, some images posted here with modern Sigma I'm not liking how they render in general. don't like the look of them, so nah no sigma for me, wouldn't touch them.
I like my 10-20mm, even though I agree on color rendition: I have to fiddle a little bit in the HSL panel to get the color(s) I want.
06-17-2018, 05:34 AM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by LensBeginner Quote
I like my 10-20mm, even though I agree on color rendition: I have to fiddle a little bit in the HSL panel to get the color(s) I want.
I like my 70-300mm APO, too. It's plastic rubbish, but great glass. Lightweight anyway, and I can use it with my MZ-S. I wish there was a FF digital back for that camera, or the (FF) MZ-D would exist.

Gesendet von meinem Mi A1 mit Tapatalk
06-17-2018, 05:39 AM - 1 Like   #14
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When your market share is 2% it's unlikely anything you do to spread your development costs is going to help you. After all do you want to sell to the whole camera market or 2% of the market?

Last edited by normhead; 06-17-2018 at 06:18 AM.
06-17-2018, 05:54 AM - 1 Like   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by Winder Quote
Samyang is currently building higher quality glass than Tokina.
Ouch! So mean to Tokina.
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