[Lev]

Anyone have an idea exactly when wide angle DFA* will be available?

[thibs]

Lens Roadmap 2020 June - Page 2 - PentaxForums.com

[ecostigny]

In May they said '2021' for the HD Pentax-D FA 21mm ED Limited DC WR and 'first half of 2021' for the HD Pentax-DA★ 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW.

As usual, you might consider taking these targets with a grain of 'or later'.

I won't hold my breath then, considering how long it's taken for the K-3 III to make its way to being available.

[Belnan]

In May they said '2021' for the HD Pentax-D FA 21mm ED Limited DC WR and 'first half of 2021' for the HD Pentax-DA★ 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW.

As usual, you might consider taking these targets with a grain of 'or later'.

Ofcourse

[Mistral75]

Anyone have an idea exactly when wide angle DFA* will be available?

Exactly no but, considering that:

1. Between the first mock-up being pictured and/or showcased and the commercial product being available, it took:
   -
   • 513 days (almost 17 months) for the HD Pentax-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW
   • 483 days (almost 16 months) for the HD Pentax-DA★ 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW and
   • 486 days (almost 16 months) for the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW
   -
2. No mock-up of the Large Aperture Wide Angle Single Focus Lens has been shown yet
   -
3. The first opportunity to showcase such mock-up would be CP+ 2021 at the end of February

I would say at least 16 months from the end of February 2021, i.e. late July 2022 at the earliest.

[house]

Exactly no but, considering that:

1. Between the first mock-up being pictured and/or showcased and the commercial product being available, it took:
   -
   • 513 days (almost 17 months) for the HD Pentax-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW
   • 483 days (almost 16 months) for the HD Pentax-DA★ 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW and
   • 486 days (almost 16 months) for the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW
   -
2. No mock-up of the Large Aperture Wide Angle Single Focus Lens has been shown yet
   -
3. The first opportunity to showcase such mock-up would be CP+ 2021 at the end of February

I would say at least 16 months from the end of February 2021, i.e. late July 2022 at the earliest.

Thing is though that the speed, or lack of speed, is almost impossible to comprehend. They must have so few staff they can sit at one table in a restaurant. I can't see how they could afford having people working for years with so few products launched. Considering the different specialists involved and their slot within the product timeline it just doesn't make sense. They must have a mountain of lenses in the pipeline held up by launch and factory schedules.

Or do you think they work for other non consumer camera parts of the company as well?

[ThorSanchez]

I guess a DA* 50-135 f/2.8 PLM won't be any sooner than 2023 or 2024, if ever?

[Mistral75]

(...) do you think they work for other non consumer camera parts of the company as well?

I have no idea. A way of knowing would be to list the inventors named in the recent (Ricoh Imaging) lens patents, check the list of patents each of them is credited for and see whether some of this patents (could) correspond to industrial lenses (machine vision, factory automation, intelligent transportation systems and more).

I might do that one day if I get too bored because of lockdown.

[mlt]

Exactly no but, considering that:

1. Between the first mock-up being pictured and/or showcased and the commercial product being available, it took:
   -
   • 513 days (almost 17 months) for the HD Pentax-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW
   • 483 days (almost 16 months) for the HD Pentax-DA★ 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW and
   • 486 days (almost 16 months) for the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW
   -
2. No mock-up of the Large Aperture Wide Angle Single Focus Lens has been shown yet
   -
3. The first opportunity to showcase such mock-up would be CP+ 2021 at the end of February

I would say at least 16 months from the end of February 2021, i.e. late July 2022 at the earliest.

Unless they had planned to show an early prototype at one of the shows that got cancelled this year. For an answer that we’ll have to wait til the 2021 CP+

[reh321]

I wish there'll be a superwide APSC fixed lens. Maybe a DA 11. That would make my bag lighter. I'd be leaving behind my 10-20 sigma for travel. I'm growing older and I'd like a much lighter backpack.

I'm very happy with my Sigma 10-20mm.

It was my favorite lens when I was a Canon Rebel user, and was thrilled when I discovered that there was a K-mount version also.
I don't expect Pentax to make anything that I would purchase to replace it - although I did enter the drawing when Adam gave away a DA* 11-18mm last year.
I would be very surprised if they would make another lens that covers the same focal lengths as the DA* 11-18mm does.

[TwoUptons]

Exactly no but, considering that:

1. Between the first mock-up being pictured and/or showcased and the commercial product being available, it took:
   -
   • 513 days (almost 17 months) for the HD Pentax-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW
   • 483 days (almost 16 months) for the HD Pentax-DA★ 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW and
   • 486 days (almost 16 months) for the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW
   -
2. No mock-up of the Large Aperture Wide Angle Single Focus Lens has been shown yet
   -
3. The first opportunity to showcase such mock-up would be CP+ 2021 at the end of February

I would say at least 16 months from the end of February 2021, i.e. late July 2022 at the earliest.

The DFA 21mm was shown in May, was it?

That puts us then about halfway to its release then, if that relation holds...'

-Eric

[Serkevan]

The DFA 21mm was shown in May, was it?

That puts us then about halfway to its release then, if that relation holds...'

-Eric

Assuming the Covid-related delays aren't affecting the schedule, of course. Hopefully we'll learn more in February

[robjmitchell]

I guess a DA* 50-135 f/2.8 PLM won't be any sooner than 2023 or 2024, if ever?

Its the same optics so it may just be launched without a run up.

[Serkevan]

Its the same optics so it may just be launched without a run up.

I doubt the optical formula stays the same, particularly if it becomes a PLM lens.

[mlt]

I doubt the optical formula stays the same, particularly if it becomes a PLM lens.

True, PLM requires a lightweight focusing group to move