Will we ever get a 400mm f2.8 lens for sports photographers?

**loyalt** · 11-19-2019, 02:02 PM

Being a loyal Pentax professional photographer, I would like to put in a plug for a good 400mm f2.8 lens for sports action photography. I love the Pentax lenses that I have and would like to be able to add this to my arsenal. (at least begin saving for it.

)

**Pål Jensen** · 11-19-2019, 02:09 PM - **3 Likes**

Why? They did make (some) sense in the film days when 100ISO or less was the norm. With today's high ISO performance the 2.8 aperture is not needed for most. A 400/4 will be half the cost and weight and for all practical purposes do the same job.
How much cost and weight penalty for one stop are people willing to take?
Pentax need some long telephotos but a 400/2.8 is probably not among them.

KiloHotelphoto · 11-19-2019, 02:15 PM - **2 Likes**

No, Ricoh will not release a 400 2.8 they don’t have the buyers for a $10,000 lens.

They are not in the sports and wildlife market that such a lens is used for. If they would release a lens like that they would also have to develop a new body to compete with the 1DX2, D5 and A9 and they don’t seem to have the budget and again the buyers for those types of bodies.

**tduell** · 11-19-2019, 02:15 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

Why? They did make (some) sense in the film days when 100ISO or less was the norm. With today's high ISO performance the 2.8 aperture is not needed for most. A 400/4 will be half the cost and weight and for all practical purposes do the same job.
How much cost and weight penalty for one stop are people willing to take?
Pentax need some long telephotos but a 400/2.8 is probably not among them.

I'd vote for that!.
A 400 f/2.8 would be a nice birding lens, one often needs high shutter speeds, and this lens would do the trick if it could be built with the latest tech that keep the weight down.

Cheers,
Terry

**luftfluss** · 11-19-2019, 02:29 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

Why? They did make (some) sense in the film days when 100ISO or less was the norm. With today's high ISO performance the 2.8 aperture is not needed for most. A 400/4 will be half the cost and weight and for all practical purposes do the same job.
How much cost and weight penalty for one stop are people willing to take?
Pentax need some long telephotos but a 400/2.8 is probably not among them.

Canon's newest 400/2.8L is less than half the weight of the old Pentax A* 400/2.8. If Pentax were to go for a long, exotic lens, it might actually make more sense to offer a 400/2.8 than 400/4, so there's greater differentiation from the DFA 150-450 and DA 560/5.6.

Mistral75 · 11-19-2019, 02:31 PM - **1 Like**

To answer the OP's question: not in the foreseeable future.

Niche lens ∩ niche brand = (almost) no sales.

**Pål Jensen** · 11-19-2019, 02:31 PM - **1 Like**

I don't think a 400mm prime lens is a good idea at all....

**boriscleto** · 11-19-2019, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by luftfluss

Canon's newest 400/2.8L is less than half the weight of the old Pentax A* 400/2.8.

And it costs $12,000.

DeadJohn · 11-19-2019, 02:41 PM - **3 Likes**

Nope. There are not enough Pentax users to try selling something that will only be bought by a tiny fraction.

If you need such a lens, buy one in a different mount, then buy a camera body to attach to it. The body is just an accessory with such an expensive lens.

**FozzFoster** · 11-19-2019, 02:41 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Mistral75

Niche lens ∩ niche brand = (almost) no sales.

That's definitely right, but Ricoh has released niche items before, such as an IR only KP... doesn't cost $12,000 though haha

As far as niche lenses go, I'd love to see a tilt/shift lens come from Pentax. I think that it fits well in their portfolio of being a solid stills camera..

MikeyBugs95 · 11-19-2019, 02:55 PM - **1 Like**

I'd never be able to buy any of these lenses (if I could, I might though) but I'd personally rather see Pentax release a 500/4 and a 400/4. A 300/2.8 would be interesting though. I'd definitely like to see tilt-shift lenses too (again, wouldn't be able to buy but would if I could). It'd be nice if they released that IR KP to general consumers.

UlrichSchiegg · 11-19-2019, 02:57 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

I don't think a 400mm prime lens is a good idea at all....

I think a 400 2.8 lens is a great lens. That guy here just loves it: Radomir Jakubowski Naturfoto Camp and I love his award winning fotos. The weight of the most recent Canon version (Canon 2.8 400mm L IS III) is only 2.84kg.

I just don't think that this lens would be the right lens to do for Pentax. I still hope that we will see a 300 2.8 lens at some point in the future.

PS There are a lot of people who think a fast aperture isn't needed on a long telefoto. This is individual perception. I love the bokeh of the long telefoto (300@2.8; 400@2.8; 500@4, ...).

zapp · 11-19-2019, 03:05 PM

No.
2.8/300 and derivatives could be the maximum in a couple years not planned at all yet.

**travelswsage** · 11-19-2019, 03:08 PM - **1 Like**

We don't even have the 1.4x/2x teleconverters yet ...

MikeyBugs95 · 11-19-2019, 03:10 PM

Actually, I think if Ricoh wanted to really make a splash, they should try to make a 500mm f2.8. I think it'd be pretty neat if they tried to make a lens similar to Sigma's 300-800 f5.6. Or even if they tried to license and rebrand it.

11-19-2019, 02:02 PM	#1
loyalt Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Albums Posts: 261	Will we ever get a 400mm f2.8 lens for sports photographers? Being a loyal Pentax professional photographer, I would like to put in a plug for a good 400mm f2.8 lens for sports action photography. I love the Pentax lenses that I have and would like to be able to add this to my arsenal. (at least begin saving for it. )

11-19-2019, 02:41 PM - 2 Likes	#10
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,808	Originally posted by Mistral75 Niche lens ∩ niche brand = (almost) no sales. That's definitely right, but Ricoh has released niche items before, such as an IR only KP... doesn't cost $12,000 though haha As far as niche lenses go, I'd love to see a tilt/shift lens come from Pentax. I think that it fits well in their portfolio of being a solid stills camera.. Last edited by FozzFoster; 11-19-2019 at 02:52 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sports photographers take note: AF and SR changes in the K-3 II	bwDraco	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	24	05-17-2015 11:59 PM
Now That We Didn't Get All We Wanted With The K-3...	tabl10s	Photographic Industry and Professionals	50	10-24-2013 03:04 PM
Eleven years ago we were attacked so we get to do whatever we want forever!	boriscleto	General Talk	8	10-02-2012 07:07 AM
Keep K-x buy premium lens, get K-r and get good lens, get the K-7 w/ lens or K-5?	crossover37	Pentax DSLR Discussion	19	02-06-2011 10:38 PM

11-19-2019, 02:09 PM - 3 Likes	#2
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Why? They did make (some) sense in the film days when 100ISO or less was the norm. With today's high ISO performance the 2.8 aperture is not needed for most. A 400/4 will be half the cost and weight and for all practical purposes do the same job. How much cost and weight penalty for one stop are people willing to take? Pentax need some long telephotos but a 400/2.8 is probably not among them.

11-19-2019, 02:15 PM - 2 Likes	#3
KiloHotelphoto Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Glen Mills, PA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,030	No, Ricoh will not release a 400 2.8 they don’t have the buyers for a $10,000 lens. They are not in the sports and wildlife market that such a lens is used for. If they would release a lens like that they would also have to develop a new body to compete with the 1DX2, D5 and A9 and they don’t seem to have the budget and again the buyers for those types of bodies.

11-19-2019, 02:15 PM - 1 Like	#4
tduell Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,515	Originally posted by Pål Jensen Why? They did make (some) sense in the film days when 100ISO or less was the norm. With today's high ISO performance the 2.8 aperture is not needed for most. A 400/4 will be half the cost and weight and for all practical purposes do the same job. How much cost and weight penalty for one stop are people willing to take? Pentax need some long telephotos but a 400/2.8 is probably not among them. I'd vote for that!. A 400 f/2.8 would be a nice birding lens, one often needs high shutter speeds, and this lens would do the trick if it could be built with the latest tech that keep the weight down. Cheers, Terry

11-19-2019, 02:29 PM - 1 Like	#5
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,627	Originally posted by Pål Jensen Why? They did make (some) sense in the film days when 100ISO or less was the norm. With today's high ISO performance the 2.8 aperture is not needed for most. A 400/4 will be half the cost and weight and for all practical purposes do the same job. How much cost and weight penalty for one stop are people willing to take? Pentax need some long telephotos but a 400/2.8 is probably not among them. Canon's newest 400/2.8L is less than half the weight of the old Pentax A* 400/2.8. If Pentax were to go for a long, exotic lens, it might actually make more sense to offer a 400/2.8 than 400/4, so there's greater differentiation from the DFA 150-450 and DA 560/5.6.

11-19-2019, 02:31 PM - 1 Like	#6
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	To answer the OP's question: not in the foreseeable future. Niche lens ∩ niche brand = (almost) no sales.

11-19-2019, 02:32 PM	#8
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,476	Originally posted by luftfluss Canon's newest 400/2.8L is less than half the weight of the old Pentax A* 400/2.8. And it costs $12,000.

11-19-2019, 02:41 PM - 3 Likes	#9
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	Nope. There are not enough Pentax users to try selling something that will only be bought by a tiny fraction. If you need such a lens, buy one in a different mount, then buy a camera body to attach to it. The body is just an accessory with such an expensive lens.

11-19-2019, 02:55 PM - 1 Like	#11
MikeyBugs95 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,206	I'd never be able to buy any of these lenses (if I could, I might though) but I'd personally rather see Pentax release a 500/4 and a 400/4. A 300/2.8 would be interesting though. I'd definitely like to see tilt-shift lenses too (again, wouldn't be able to buy but would if I could). It'd be nice if they released that IR KP to general consumers.

11-19-2019, 02:57 PM - 1 Like	#12
UlrichSchiegg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 298	Originally posted by Pål Jensen I don't think a 400mm prime lens is a good idea at all.... I think a 400 2.8 lens is a great lens. That guy here just loves it: Radomir Jakubowski Naturfoto Camp and I love his award winning fotos. The weight of the most recent Canon version (Canon 2.8 400mm L IS III) is only 2.84kg. I just don't think that this lens would be the right lens to do for Pentax. I still hope that we will see a 300 2.8 lens at some point in the future. PS There are a lot of people who think a fast aperture isn't needed on a long telefoto. This is individual perception. I love the bokeh of the long telefoto (300@2.8; 400@2.8; 500@4, ...).

11-19-2019, 03:05 PM	#13
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,388	No. 2.8/300 and derivatives could be the maximum in a couple years not planned at all yet.

11-19-2019, 03:08 PM - 1 Like	#14
travelswsage Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 385	We don't even have the 1.4x/2x teleconverters yet ...

11-19-2019, 03:10 PM	#15
MikeyBugs95 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,206	Actually, I think if Ricoh wanted to really make a splash, they should try to make a 500mm f2.8. I think it'd be pretty neat if they tried to make a lens similar to Sigma's 300-800 f5.6. Or even if they tried to license and rebrand it.