[robbiec]

Goldilocks for me is still FA77 or DA35 Macro on a K-3 series. Not too small that you can't cradle the lens plus the 77 is just gorgeous. 21 will be smaller than a DFA*50 but bigger than a 31. I'm hoping it's better balanced than the 31 glass weight wise though.

[taktoon]

Do we have some news about the release date?

[robbiec]

Do we have some news about the release date?

Unknown as of yet.

[3by2]

I thought long and hard about an offer for a used KP with the 20-40 for € 1,000. Attractive as it was, I heard that the zoom is not that strong at the 40mm end. In fact, rather weak. Users do not report this, at least not in a dominant way.
But user reviews tend to be fuelled by psychological motives anyway. Take the 2.8/30mm.
I wanted that KP but not so much that lens, and passed.

I wouldn't say rather but relatively. Stop it down, knock it back a few mm and it improves greatly, the prime is still better but it's not by so much and close up the zoom is better and focuses slightly closer. Overall it's a fab lens, of course like any lens it depends whether it suits your use. I tend to think of it as a variable prime rather than a zoom.

[taktoon]

Unknown as of yet.

As I expected. Ricoh is slow as a turtle - but is this a bad thing?

[house]

I wouldn't say rather but relatively. Stop it down, knock it back a few mm and it improves greatly, the prime is still better but it's not by so much and close up the zoom is better and focuses slightly closer. Overall it's a fab lens, of course like any lens it depends whether it suits your use. I tend to think of it as a variable prime rather than a zoom.

according to dxomark it's a lot more even at 40mm f4 than 20mm f4 a bit sharper in the center at 20mm though. The wide end improves by stopping down.
Pentax HD DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR - DxOMark

I find the sharpness "field map" that dxo produce very useful. The overall scores are strange.

[3by2]

according to dxomark it's a lot more even at 40mm f4 than 20mm f4 a bit sharper in the center at 20mm though. The wide end improves by stopping down.
Pentax HD DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR - DxOMark

I find the sharpness "field map" that dxo produce very useful. The overall scores are strange.

I'm not too familiar with Dxo's scoring so I find that chart difficult to interpret. It does have that characteristic Ltd look, the slight pop, nice tonality and a slight glow. I'm probably not in the market for the new 21 but I am quite interested in how it turns out.

[Wheatfield]

I think also that faster thing, but DA21 limited has problems with edges(as I have let my self understand. DFA21 should not have any problems on aps-c.

The DA21 had a lot of field curvature that made the edges look worse than they actually were.
However, I did try to shoot loose with the 21 so as to be able to crop later, the edges still weren't great.
I hope this new 21 has a flatter field than the DA, as well as better edges.

[ZombieArmy]

As I expected. Ricoh is slow as a turtle - but is this a bad thing?

These are products that are expected to be in the lineup for a very long time. And I don't think Pentax is a company that can afford to screwup at launch and get away with it these days.

As Billy Joel says, "Get it right the first time, that's the main thing... Get it right the next time that's not the same thing, gonna make the first time last"

[repaap]

The DA21 had a lot of field curvature that made the edges look worse than they actually were.
However, I did try to shoot loose with the 21 so as to be able to crop later, the edges still weren't great.
I hope this new 21 has a flatter field than the DA, as well as better edges.

I did not buy DA 21 at all because of that. Now it could be that this would not matter at all, and actually there are many who does like DA 21 quite much. And this is alright . I’m going to see what this DFA 21 lens will offer. It could be fun lens with FF and aps-c. I’m now travelling with just 31, DFA50/2.8 macro and FA77. I’d love to have something like 21 (and 120) to get me nice high quality fun set.

[Serkevan]

These are products that are expected to be in the lineup for a very long time. And I don't think Pentax is a company that can afford to screwup at launch and get away with it these days.

As Billy Joel says, "Get it right the first time, that's the main thing... Get it right the next time that's not the same thing, gonna make the first time last"

I'm reminded of Shigeru Miyamoto's "A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever.”

[FozzFoster]

"A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever.”

Totally agree!
Especially for a company with such a small market share as Pentax.
People seem to think that Pentax needs to produce a Sony A1 immediately or else they are doooooomed!
Nah - I am glad Pentax is taking their time and perfecting the camera to where they see fit.
I don't need a camera every other year either - a 5 year return cycle would be MORE than enough.
I certainly hope my K-3 III lasts more than 5 years haha

[Smolk]

The DA21 had a lot of field curvature that made the edges look worse than they actually were.

I keep thinking, when the Nikon Z 14-30mm (which has terrible curvature) can be corrected by a lens profile, can't the 21mm be too?
This may well be my ignorance in these matters.

[ZombieArmy]

I'm reminded of Shigeru Miyamoto's "A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever.”

I see you are a man of culture.

[Belnan]

As I expected. Ricoh is slow as a turtle - but is this a bad thing?

Yes, unless it affects quality, availability or price.