[JPT]

A few things I found about the 70-210/4 on Japanese sites.

Not much of a review, but a few downsized samples.
??????*|*KASYAPA*|*574:??????????????????PENTAX HD D FA 70-210mm F4 ED SDM WR? | PENTAX & RICOH

Samples of bokeh with a comparison against the DA* 50-135 on APS-C.
???????? | GANREF

And Yaotomi Camera store confirms that the Tamron tripod mount works with the Pentax DFA 70-210.
Twitter

[thibs]

Thanks, JPT !

[mattt]

70mm @ ƒ8.0... posted full size for the snoopy types (caveat that its been swished through Silver Efex)

[BigMackCam]

70mm @ ƒ8.0... posted full size for the snoopy types (caveat that its been swished through Silver Efex)

Very nice indeed. Snoopers will agree, I'm sure

[Wheatfield]

70mm @ ƒ8.0... posted full size for the snoopy types (caveat that its been swished through Silver Efex)

Nice. Clean your sensor.....

[mattt]

Nice. Clean your sensor.....

I'm not sure what you're refering to... I dont see any schmutz.

[sergysergy]

I'm not sure what you're refering to... I dont see any schmutz.

the birds?

[Wheatfield]

I'm not sure what you're refering to... I dont see any schmutz.

Dayam, that is a bird.
Well done, BTW.

[OoKU]

DFA70-210/4 open box
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/AVchwpwoWFHPOnRmhblRmg

[bdery]

So why wasn't the cheapest and easiest course of action to update the 60-250 with HD, new SDM, and baffle removed?

I do not know, I am just guessing of course.

The 60-250 suffers from slight vingetting on ff, maybe it was hard to fix this.

Maybe they decided the image qualtify is better with the Tamron.

Maybe changing the whole body is more of a redesign, especially with the new af, than using the Tamron and therefore costs more dev time/money. I mean, they even left the screws in the same position at the Tamron .

Pentax answered this question directly when I asked a rep at a trade show.

When they tested each DA lens after the release of the K-1, they decided that the 60-250 did not meet their standards of quality for a DA* FF lens.

Even with the baffle removed. So it didn't make the cut.

From what I've seen so far with the 70-210, it's excellent, but not really better than the 60-250, optically. So maybe they were willing to accept this level of quality for a regular lens, but not a DA* lens.

The rep was fully aware of the baffle modification, and thought it was cool to see it in the flesh.

[deus ursus]

At least at the norwegian distributor fovi.no the 70-210 is more affordable than the 60-250 . I assume the focus speed is much faster on the 70-210 and the focus motor is more reliable. The design is much more sleek, especially the transition between the lens barrel and the hood. So I can't see any reason why anyone would choose the 60-250 before the 70-210, other than the slightly wider zoom range. If I had the money, I know I'd rather have the 70-210.

Will the 70-210 'kill' the 60-250?

[normhead]

At least at the norwegian distributor fovi.no the 70-210 is more affordable than the 60-250 . I assume the focus speed is much faster on the 70-210 and the focus motor is more reliable. The design is much more sleek, especially the transition between the lens barrel and the hood. So I can't see any reason why anyone would choose the 60-250 before the 70-210, other than the slightly wider zoom range. If I had the money, I know I'd rather have the 70-210.

Will the 70-210 'kill' the 60-250?

Only for FF shooters and if the AF does turn out to be faster, maybe sports shooters., although I would never advise anyone shooting sports indoors to buy an ƒ4 lens.
Just my opinion of course.
For many shooters, the extra range of the 60-250 makes it a more desirable lens.

The 1.4 gets it out to 350 ƒ5.6, close enough to 400mm that carrying a heavier 70-200 2.8 with a 2x less attractive, for a little less reach.
A 2x on the 70-210 puts you at ƒ8. That's not enough light for consistent AF in my experience with moving subjects.
The downsides of the DA*60-250 are vastly overstated IMHO.

In Canada they are the same price, although I would expect the 70-210 to drop in price over the next year or two. For every day shooters (not sports or birds in flight) the 60-250 has some distinct advantages. And the advantages of the 70-210 haven't been demonstrated yet. Anyone with APS-c gear should at least consider keeping or buying the DA 60-250. It's not edge soft on APS-c.

[BigMackCam]

At least at the norwegian distributor fovi.no the 70-210 is more affordable than the 60-250 . I assume the focus speed is much faster on the 70-210 and the focus motor is more reliable. The design is much more sleek, especially the transition between the lens barrel and the hood. So I can't see any reason why anyone would choose the 60-250 before the 70-210, other than the slightly wider zoom range. If I had the money, I know I'd rather have the 70-210.

Will the 70-210 'kill' the 60-250?

The 60-250 is built to a standard well-worthy of its star designation, and on its intended APS-C platform it performs very well optically, with out-of-focus rendering that is - without any hint of exaggeration - beautiful. Importantly for some, it's an "AW"-rated all-weather lens, with the highest level of weather protection available for Pentax - and it pairs superbly with the HD DA1.4x AW rear converter to make a very capable, all-weather 84-350mm f/5.6.

The 70-210/4 is probably the more compelling choice now because of its AF motor and official full-frame capability, but the out-of-focus rendering and AW capabilities of the 60-250 are still worthy of consideration, depending on use case and personal preference... especially for those shooting APS-C.

[ZeljkoS]

Do you think there's any chance of Pentax updating the AF assembly on the 60-250?

[thibs]

Do you think there's any chance of Pentax updating the AF assembly on the 60-250?

Close to none IMO. But that's just me.