DA*60-250: not quite there yet but it's coming!

flyer · 11-15-2008, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by Clarkey

Hi there, more confirmations - it has finally appeared in the Pentax Canada website;
smc PENTAX DA* 60-250mm F4 ED[IF] SDM

Not yet in the shops though..... maybe for Christmas?

On the link you provide, Pentax Canada shows the DA* 60-250, but shows the specs for the 55mm 1.4. Strange!

Edit: It says 55mm 1.4, but shows spec for 60-250. I guess they're human, after all.

m8o · 11-15-2008, 10:20 PM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

Ogl said it was very fast and very sharp in the other thread. The sample was probably a dud.

My bad and apologies if it wasn't ogl. I don't frequent any other photography forum so I must have seen it here. But I just went back a few pages in this section and many many pages on the SLR Lens section but couldn't find it. Maybe it was a post in another established thread instead of a new one but I missed where?

m8o · 11-15-2008, 10:35 PM

Originally posted by fs999

I tried it at the Photokina on my K10D... (200 iso 1/25" F4.5) Handheld.

Opinion from anyone... Isn't the guy's head on about the same plane as the woman, and shouldn't "he" be as sharp as "her" , or closer than he is?

yipchunyu · 11-16-2008, 12:11 AM

already got the da* 300 after knowing that the 60-250 is not an internal zoom len.
Just wish pentax will release the 1.4x tc asap.

thibs · 11-16-2008, 02:52 AM

Originally posted by m8o

Opinion from anyone... Isn't the guy's head on about the same plane as the woman, and shouldn't "he" be as sharp as "her" , or closer than he is?

Not as far as I can tell, to me the woman is closer to the camera than the guy.

zntgrg · 11-16-2008, 02:59 AM

Originally posted by m8o

My bad and apologies if it wasn't ogl. I don't frequent any other photography forum so I must have seen it here. But I just went back a few pages in this section and many many pages on the SLR Lens section but couldn't find it. Maybe it was a post in another established thread instead of a new one but I missed where?

There were reports in an italian forum of the same issues during Photokina: maybe the very same bad sample: and seems to be a Pentax europe issue to present bad prototypes at conventions...sigh.:ugh:

**KeesdH** · 11-16-2008, 03:49 AM

The lens extended:

More pics at www.pbase.com/cdehaan/pentax_equipment

Wheatfield · 11-16-2008, 08:19 AM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

When were the DA* 200 and 300mm released? I guess it's easier to wrap an existing design in new overalls and sell them as new products.

The 60-250 has been being discussed on one forum or another for almost 2 years now. I believe it was on the roadmap from late 2006. The 200/2.8 and 300/4 are fairly recent releases (this year).

Wulifou · 11-16-2008, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

The 60-250 has been being discussed on one forum or another for almost 2 years now. I believe it was on the roadmap from late 2006.

Does someone know why this particular lens takes so long to be ready for sale ? I mean, you would think that there must be something terribly difficult to build or incredibly innovative to justify a production delay of two years. Has this glass something special I'm not aware of ? (except an interesting zoom range ....)

jeffkrol · 11-16-2008, 09:03 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

The 60-250 has been being discussed on one forum or another for almost 2 years now. I believe it was on the roadmap from late 2006. The 200/2.8 and 300/4 are fairly recent releases (this year).

Actually it really is way more than 2 years. Close to three if you accept the credible rumors, and the delay due to the re-design necessary for the "new" USM focus system which is about 2 years old in itself.
Whether it's 2 or 3 years (or more) in planning is irrelevent for the most part but interesting.... it's conception is as old as the 645D probably

Samsungian · 11-16-2008, 10:17 AM

Here's the dpreview 60-250mm f4 announcement with product pics from September 2006:

Three new Pentax DA star lenses: Digital Photography Review

Originally posted by Wheatfield

The 60-250 has been being discussed on one forum or another for almost 2 years now. I believe it was on the roadmap from late 2006. The 200/2.8 and 300/4 are fairly recent releases (this year).

Jonson PL · 11-16-2008, 02:44 PM

Originally posted by lol101

Everything happens!

Today I had the pleasure of toying around with the mythical, always soon to come, DA*60-250f4 SDM !!

It was there, quietly waiting for me and snugly attached to a K20 at Paris Photoshow...

Since there were not a lot of people (it was early in the afternoon), I could play with it for some time (actually, I went back 4 times after playing with some other toys from different manufacturers).

So the good thing is that it does exists and will probably be released early next year... that's a very encouraging thought: last time I had seen it, it was in a sealed glass cabinet, and had been so for two years...
Build quality is on par with the other DA*: very high, solid and tight.

It is a big fella, even more when zooming in as it extends quite a bit at the long end but balance was OK with the K20. The 50-135 feels like a dwarf lens next to it!
AF was decently fast and the AF's throw looks shorter than on the 50-135...

Unfortunately, I have the feeling (well, at least I hope) that it was a very early prototype because it was "functionally limited" if I may use such a politically correct wording.

AF had a strong tendency to hunt before acquiring focus and when it did, I just could not get a sharp shot: heavy fuzziness and strange halos around highlights at all settings...

Also, the zoom seemed to have a problem: going from 200mm to 250mm almost didn't change the framing.

Strangely enough, that didn't really alarm me: results are so bad it can only be because it's an early prototype that has been bumped around in all recent photoshows.

It's still a pity that the Pentax guys at the booth did not care to calibrate it better because quite a lot of people who tried it went back thinking that Pentax cameras were not so good.

I played with other cameras (K-M with 16-50, k20 with DA300 and 50-135) and all were focusing fine, tending to prove that the problem was with the sample of the 60-250 but still, I wish they payed a bit more attention to this before displaying the lens.

I signaled the "problems" to a nice hostess but she really didn't care that much... she was probably not even from Pentax I guess...

Anyway, it's coming, can't wait to see the tests!

Thanks for the info, and good seeing you on the site. Indeed bit of a shame that they didn't work more on making the lens sample function better.

How did the K-m and the 16-50 feel ? That camera with the FA 43 limited attached, made the 43 look big

Originally posted by m8o

Opinion from anyone... Isn't the guy's head on about the same plane as the woman, and shouldn't "he" be as sharp as "her" , or closer than he is?

it is taken at 1/25 sec. so motion could be involved. It also seems the light falls a bit differently on them, this could also play a part.

Wheatfield · 11-16-2008, 04:38 PM

Originally posted by Samsungian

Here's the dpreview 60-250mm f4 announcement with product pics from September 2006:

Three new Pentax DA star lenses: Digital Photography Review

Geeze, that's way worse than I gave them credit for. Eventually, I'll give up and buy the 200/2.8 instead.

*isteve · 11-16-2008, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by Wulifou

Does someone know why this particular lens takes so long to be ready for sale ? I mean, you would think that there must be something terribly difficult to build or incredibly innovative to justify a production delay of two years. Has this glass something special I'm not aware of ? (except an interesting zoom range ....)

Apparently unexpected demand for the 200 and 300 DA* lenses used up their remaining production capacity. Now sales have settled down they have capacity to make new lenses.

Steve

creampuff · 11-16-2008, 07:03 PM

The two new DA*s are scheduled for release in Jan 2009 (in Japan at least). They are only now taking pre-orders in Japan.

Unfortunately there is so much negativism in this thread. Why not wait for an actual retail copy to gauge the actual optical performance? The 60-250mm has had design changes from the time it was first mentioned, so I would expect a delay.

11-16-2008, 10:17 AM	#26
Samsungian Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Colorado USA Posts: 1,337	It was shown off Sept 21st 2006 w/March 2007 delivery date Here's the dpreview 60-250mm f4 announcement with product pics from September 2006: Three new Pentax DA star lenses: Digital Photography Review Originally posted by Wheatfield The 60-250 has been being discussed on one forum or another for almost 2 years now. I believe it was on the roadmap from late 2006. The 200/2.8 and 300/4 are fairly recent releases (this year).

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11-15-2008, 05:42 PM	#16
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Originally posted by Clarkey Hi there, more confirmations - it has finally appeared in the Pentax Canada website; smc PENTAX DA* 60-250mm F4 ED[IF] SDM Not yet in the shops though..... maybe for Christmas? On the link you provide, Pentax Canada shows the DA* 60-250, but shows the specs for the 55mm 1.4. Strange! Edit: It says 55mm 1.4, but shows spec for 60-250. I guess they're human, after all.

11-15-2008, 10:20 PM	#17
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	Originally posted by ftpaddict Ogl said it was very fast and very sharp in the other thread. The sample was probably a dud. My bad and apologies if it wasn't ogl. I don't frequent any other photography forum so I must have seen it here. But I just went back a few pages in this section and many many pages on the SLR Lens section but couldn't find it. Maybe it was a post in another established thread instead of a new one but I missed where?

11-15-2008, 10:35 PM	#18
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	Originally posted by fs999 I tried it at the Photokina on my K10D... (200 iso 1/25" F4.5) Handheld. Opinion from anyone... Isn't the guy's head on about the same plane as the woman, and shouldn't "he" be as sharp as "her" , or closer than he is?

11-16-2008, 12:11 AM	#19
yipchunyu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: HK Posts: 171	already got the da* 300 after knowing that the 60-250 is not an internal zoom len. Just wish pentax will release the 1.4x tc asap.

11-16-2008, 02:52 AM	#20
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by m8o Opinion from anyone... Isn't the guy's head on about the same plane as the woman, and shouldn't "he" be as sharp as "her" , or closer than he is? Not as far as I can tell, to me the woman is closer to the camera than the guy.

11-16-2008, 02:59 AM	#21
zntgrg Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Verona, Italy Posts: 202	Originally posted by m8o My bad and apologies if it wasn't ogl. I don't frequent any other photography forum so I must have seen it here. But I just went back a few pages in this section and many many pages on the SLR Lens section but couldn't find it. Maybe it was a post in another established thread instead of a new one but I missed where? There were reports in an italian forum of the same issues during Photokina: maybe the very same bad sample: and seems to be a Pentax europe issue to present bad prototypes at conventions...sigh.:ugh:

11-16-2008, 03:49 AM	#22
KeesdH Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Haarlem Netherlands Posts: 42	The lens extended: More pics at www.pbase.com/cdehaan/pentax_equipment

11-16-2008, 08:19 AM	#23
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,975	Originally posted by ftpaddict When were the DA* 200 and 300mm released? I guess it's easier to wrap an existing design in new overalls and sell them as new products. The 60-250 has been being discussed on one forum or another for almost 2 years now. I believe it was on the roadmap from late 2006. The 200/2.8 and 300/4 are fairly recent releases (this year).

11-16-2008, 08:53 AM	#24
Wulifou Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: France and Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 73	Originally posted by Wheatfield The 60-250 has been being discussed on one forum or another for almost 2 years now. I believe it was on the roadmap from late 2006. Does someone know why this particular lens takes so long to be ready for sale ? I mean, you would think that there must be something terribly difficult to build or incredibly innovative to justify a production delay of two years. Has this glass something special I'm not aware of ? (except an interesting zoom range ....)

11-16-2008, 09:03 AM	#25
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Originally posted by Wheatfield The 60-250 has been being discussed on one forum or another for almost 2 years now. I believe it was on the roadmap from late 2006. The 200/2.8 and 300/4 are fairly recent releases (this year). Actually it really is way more than 2 years. Close to three if you accept the credible rumors, and the delay due to the re-design necessary for the "new" USM focus system which is about 2 years old in itself. Whether it's 2 or 3 years (or more) in planning is irrelevent for the most part but interesting.... it's conception is as old as the 645D probably

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11-16-2008, 02:44 PM	#27
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Originally posted by lol101 Everything happens! Today I had the pleasure of toying around with the mythical, always soon to come, DA60-250f4 SDM !! It was there, quietly waiting for me and snugly attached to a K20 at Paris Photoshow... Since there were not a lot of people (it was early in the afternoon), I could play with it for some time (actually, I went back 4 times after playing with some other toys from different manufacturers). So the good thing is that it does exists and will probably be released early next year... that's a very encouraging thought: last time I had seen it, it was in a sealed glass cabinet, and had been so for two years... Build quality is on par with the other DA: very high, solid and tight. It is a big fella, even more when zooming in as it extends quite a bit at the long end but balance was OK with the K20. The 50-135 feels like a dwarf lens next to it! AF was decently fast and the AF's throw looks shorter than on the 50-135... Unfortunately, I have the feeling (well, at least I hope) that it was a very early prototype because it was "functionally limited" if I may use such a politically correct wording. AF had a strong tendency to hunt before acquiring focus and when it did, I just could not get a sharp shot: heavy fuzziness and strange halos around highlights at all settings... Also, the zoom seemed to have a problem: going from 200mm to 250mm almost didn't change the framing. Strangely enough, that didn't really alarm me: results are so bad it can only be because it's an early prototype that has been bumped around in all recent photoshows. It's still a pity that the Pentax guys at the booth did not care to calibrate it better because quite a lot of people who tried it went back thinking that Pentax cameras were not so good. I played with other cameras (K-M with 16-50, k20 with DA300 and 50-135) and all were focusing fine, tending to prove that the problem was with the sample of the 60-250 but still, I wish they payed a bit more attention to this before displaying the lens. I signaled the "problems" to a nice hostess but she really didn't care that much... she was probably not even from Pentax I guess... Anyway, it's coming, can't wait to see the tests! Thanks for the info, and good seeing you on the site. Indeed bit of a shame that they didn't work more on making the lens sample function better. How did the K-m and the 16-50 feel ? That camera with the FA 43 limited attached, made the 43 look big Originally posted by m8o Opinion from anyone... Isn't the guy's head on about the same plane as the woman, and shouldn't "he" be as sharp as "her" , or closer than he is? it is taken at 1/25 sec. so motion could be involved. It also seems the light falls a bit differently on them, this could also play a part.

11-16-2008, 04:38 PM	#28
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,975	Originally posted by Samsungian Here's the dpreview 60-250mm f4 announcement with product pics from September 2006: Three new Pentax DA star lenses: Digital Photography Review Geeze, that's way worse than I gave them credit for. Eventually, I'll give up and buy the 200/2.8 instead.

11-16-2008, 06:14 PM	#29
*isteve Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 1,187	Originally posted by Wulifou Does someone know why this particular lens takes so long to be ready for sale ? I mean, you would think that there must be something terribly difficult to build or incredibly innovative to justify a production delay of two years. Has this glass something special I'm not aware of ? (except an interesting zoom range ....) Apparently unexpected demand for the 200 and 300 DA* lenses used up their remaining production capacity. Now sales have settled down they have capacity to make new lenses. Steve

11-16-2008, 07:03 PM	#30
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	The two new DA*s are scheduled for release in Jan 2009 (in Japan at least). They are only now taking pre-orders in Japan. Unfortunately there is so much negativism in this thread. Why not wait for an actual retail copy to gauge the actual optical performance? The 60-250mm has had design changes from the time it was first mentioned, so I would expect a delay.