[ChatMechant]

I never buy new, but I've been waiting for a lens like this since the k1 came out. It looks perfect. And comes in my favorite color too.

[Serkevan]

Black with green ring is a beautiful look indeed. I also like the texture of the grippy rings.

[Ray Cox]

This is typical internet forum stuff. People are complaining about a product that has not been announced by the manufacturer over who really makes it, even though they have no idea who is making it or even if it will really be made, and over the price, even though no one knows what it will cost, presuming it actually is being produced and will eventually come to market.
Presuming it actually gets announced on Thursday morning, expect the complaints about focusing speed and accuracy to start cropping up in the afternoon and complaints about it's optical performance shortly thereafter.
Oh, and no matter what, the proposed price will be far to high. That is pretty much a given.

Amen! I really hesitate to add a link, especially from dpreview, but here goes Seems appropriate to the current situation.

'It should cost...' The three main ways you're wrong about camera prices: Digital Photography Review

[Riddler]

It wouldn't be the first time Amazon has made this sort of error. It's rather doubtful that they know something that no one else knows.

Agree very strange

[Mistral75]

What is strange is the fact that PENTAX states "2 anomalous partial dispersion glass" when TAMRON, also having this technology on his catalogue, doesn't add this info to the lens. Perhaps a marketing gimmick thanks to the "partial" word.
(...)

There is the same kind of discrepancy between the Viltrox PFU RBMH 85mm f/1.8 STM (10 elements, of which one made of extra-low dispersion glass (ED) and four made of high refraction and low dispersion glass, in 7 groups) and its recently announced clone, the Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE (10 elements, of which one made of super-low dispersion glass (SD), in 7 groups).

There is no reason for the more expensive Tokina to include less special glass than its older brother, yet Tokina don't mention the high refraction and low dispersion glass four elements of the Villtrox lens are made of.

[RGlasel]

I wonder if Tamron and Pentax are sharing some manufacturing facilities? That could make sound financial sense...

That is far more complex than you make it sound and there have been expensive failures when this is attempted. It is possible that Tamron has already contracted with the same facility in Vietnam as Ricoh uses, to build Tamron branded lenses, but it will be according to Tamron specifications and using Tamron sourced components. It is also possible that there is more than one facility in Vietnam that assembles lenses, once there is infrastructure in Vietnam to support one plant, it becomes much easier for other companies to set up their own plants.


From the LensTips article linked previously,

there are inscriptions: “DESIGNED IN JAPAN” and, in smaller case, “MADE IN VIETNAM”

The "Made in xxx" designation is determined by where the final assembly is done and is a legal requirement for exporting to most of the developed world. Tamron is copying Apple with its "Designed in California, Made in China" obfuscation. At least I have some confidence that Tamron is doing more design work for its lenses than just telling Foxconn to figure out for itself how to build what the artsy-fartsy types in Cupertino would like to see on the next iPhone.

If Ricoh wants to supply glass components (or more likely, have glass from the foundry Tamron uses shipped to Ricoh's coating facility before being shipped to Tamron's assembly plant) and have Tamron's 70-210 design tweaked to Ricoh's requirements, it will cost Ricoh more than it would to just get the brand and model name inscriptions changed. That's understandable to me and I have no issue with the quality of Tamron lenses, the sharpest lens I own is a Tamron. However, Ricoh Imaging will have problems selling modified Tamron lenses with Pentax branding for the same price as equivalent Nikon and Canon lenses. This lens will only be sold to existing Pentax users and for the last 30+ years, Pentax users have consistently shown that they will not buy products that don't have a brand discount

---------- Post added 01-21-20 at 10:59 AM ----------

There is no reason for the more expensive Tokina to include less special glass than its older brother, yet Tokina don't mention the high refraction and low dispersion glass four elements of the Villtrox lens are made of.

This is what happens when marketers try to massage what the engineers are telling them. When in doubt, assume the marketing department doesn't know refraction and dispersion from reflection and asperation.

[Wheatfield]

They have a lot of product shots in the same style of previous Pentax products, a list of specs that *very* much looks like that of the Tamron version, the same price a German dealer quoted to one of our newer members a couple days before we saw the product pages. This is an error, but in terms of leaking. Distributors have to know *before* the customers do...

This may well be true, in fact it probably is. Leaks happen. Having said that, until there is an official announcement with an official release date and everything that goes along with it, we have to treat the one off Amazon web page with some skepticism.

[house]

There is the same kind of discrepancy between the Viltrox PFU RBMH 85mm f/1.8 STM (10 elements, of which one made of extra-low dispersion glass (ED) and four made of high refraction and low dispersion glass, in 7 groups) and its recently announced clone, the Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE (10 elements, of which one made of super-low dispersion glass (SD), in 7 groups).

There is no reason for the more expensive Tokina to include less special glass than its older brother, yet Tokina don't mention the high refraction and low dispersion glass four elements of the Villtrox lens are made of.

Super is more expensive than extra though. And regarding 70-210 I cant imagine tamron not showing anomalous dispersion glass in their diagram if its in the lens nor can I imagine Pentax getting away with lying about it.

[bladerunner6]

In reading the reviews of the K-1 Mark II, KP, K70 and the Tamron version of this lens, it seems that the Pentax might have better stabilization than he Tamron version.

[biz-engineer]

Interesting... I wonder if Tamron and Pentax are sharing some manufacturing facilities? That could make sound financial sense...

According to google map, there are two factories, Tamron factory and Pentax factories in Hanoi region are 31km appart.

[Kunzite]

According to google map, there are two factories, Tamron factory and Pentax factories in Hanoi region are 31km appart.

So they can just have someone with a bike ship the lens elements back and forth, for HD coating

[biz-engineer]

So they can just have someone with a bike ship the lens elements back and forth, for HD coating

At the moment they use a truck, but if customer insist that the price is too high, they may replace the truck by a scootter , then by a bike to save money on fuel.

[Riddler]

At the moment they use a truck, but if customer insist that the price is too high, they may replace the truck by a scootter , then by a bike to save money on fuel.

Pentax rocks 🤩

[BigMackCam]

At the moment they use a truck, but if customer insist that the price is too high, they may replace the truck by a scootter , then by a bike to save money on fuel.

And the question on everyone's lips is, "will the new 70-210 f/4 focus fast enough track that bike?". Enquiring minds want to know...

[clackers]

And the question on everyone's lips is, "will the new 70-210 f/4 focus fast enough track that bike?". Enquiring minds want to know...

(Laughs)