[Kunzite]

Does anybody still remember asahiman's last rumor?
In my opinion, asahiman has overdrawn his credit.
Even if personal stereotypes are put aside, there are many options in this list that are extremely unreliable.

Let's see how well your inside info turns out to be true Although most cannot be verified.

I'd prefer people with inside info posting here confident they won't be attacked for it. Even if plans change. Even if some things are not definitive. Even if problems happen, like a certain product being delayed.
You, asahiman, OoKU - are all welcome to share what you can.

[Mistral75]

Does anyone know how many lenses Pentax releases per year on average?
Just curious.

2021 ytd

• one new lens
• three revamped lenses

2020

• one new lens
• one rebranded lens

2019

• one new lens
• two revamped lenses

2018

• one new lens

2017

nil

2016

• two new lenses
• one rebranded lens

2015

• three new lenses
• one revamped lens
• one rebranded lens

2014

• two new lenses

2013

• one new lens
• six revamped lenses

2012

• three new lenses
• one revamped lens
• one rebranded lens.

2012-2016 yearly average: 2 new lenses + 0.4 revamped lens + 0.6 rebranded lens = 3 lenses.

2017-2021 yearly average: 0.8 new lens + 1 revamped lens + 0.2 rebranded lens = 2 lenses.

[biz-engineer]

Interesting how we react about the 24-105 mm lens type. Very versatile yes, but generally worst optically in a lens lineup. Perhaps the only 24-105 lens that is reasonably sharp at both the wide end and the long end is the Sigma 24-105 but it's heavy; the other 24-105 from Canon and 24-120 from Nikon never impressed me, they are either sharp at the wide end and soft at the long end, or the other way around. The 28-105 however is sharp all the way, starting at 28mm relaxes design constrains, 28-75 is even easier. I'd take 20-40 and 35-75 and 75-150 lenses, they'd be tack sharp end to end. Or just a two lenses kit: the 21mm prime and a 35-135 zoom.

[Andrea K]

I am also satisfied with a 24-90 f / 4

[nonpigliounoshoot]

2021 ytd

• one new lens
• three revamped lenses

2020

• one new lens
• one rebranded lens

2019

• one new lens
• two revamped lenses

2018

• one new lens

2017

nil

2016

• two new lenses
• one rebranded lens

2015

• three new lenses
• one revamped lens
• one rebranded lens

2014

• two new lenses

2013

• one new lens
• six revamped lenses

2012

• three new lenses
• one revamped lens
• one rebranded lens.

2012-2016 yearly average: 2 new lenses + 0.4 revamped lens + 0.6 rebranded lens = 3 lenses.

2017-2021 yearly average: 0.8 new lens + 1 revamped lens + 0.2 rebranded lens = 2 lenses.

An interesting detail to add is that all the new lenses of the last 4 years are star. You can always do better but at the moment it doesn't seem like little to me for the situation at Pentax.

[i_trax]

Interesting how we react about the 24-105 mm lens type. Very versatile yes, but generally worst optically in a lens lineup. Perhaps the only 24-105 lens that is reasonably sharp at both the wide end and the long end is the Sigma 24-105 but it's heavy; the other 24-105 from Canon and 24-120 from Nikon never impressed me, they are either sharp at the wide end and soft at the long end, or the other way around. The 28-105 however is sharp all the way, starting at 28mm relaxes design constrains, 28-75 is even easier. I'd take 20-40 and 35-75 and 75-150 lenses, they'd be tack sharp end to end. Or just a two lenses kit: the 21mm prime and a 35-135 zoom.

the Sony FE 24-105 F4 G is very highly rated , I personally do not have one but I might get one

---------- Post added 09-07-21 at 19:07 ----------

I am also satisfied with a 24-90 f / 4

yes , if nice and compact , why not

[Rondec]

The DFA 21 isn't on this list because it is much closer to release date.

I am hoping for a variable aperture 70-300 consumer zoom with faster auto focus and full frame compatibility compared with my DA 55-300.

[reh321]

Which is a variable aperture slow as hell zoom lens with no accommodation for internal filters, and doesn't internally zoom the way the Nikkor G or FA* supertelephoto lenses do.

f5.6 to f6.3 is not that much different,

There is one thing I like about the external zoom is that it can be used a push and pull lens and find it slightly more convenient than an internal when it comes to action.
And if my memory is correct the G 200-500 is not an internal zooming lens.

And when we get into lenses like the 250-600 f5.6 the price jumps up it would be basically in the range of the Nikon 180-400 f4 much different than the 200-500 external zoom.
One of the nice things with the 600mm zooms is that they can get you to 600 6.3 at a very reasonable price, prior it took the 200-400 f4 and a TC at 3 time the price and all I gained was less than a 1/3 of a stop

This where I comment that the Pentax approach to such issues seems to be to simply use slightly higher ISO, which their modern cameras handle very well.

[JPT]

There isn't much left on the roadmap now. So I wonder if we'll get a new roadmap soon to prove this or reveal a different future. Wouldn't it be nice if in the near future, the 21mm was released and Ricoh did another video in which they showed prototypes of the DFA 70-300 and DFA 24/1.4, as well as adding a couple to the roadmap.

Given other people's comments, I'd better keep my mouth shut about Asahiman. But I do think that some of his guesses here make a lot of sense. The 24-105/4 is a classic first lens for people buying into full frame systems. A DFA 35/1.4 is a logical next step. The DA 50-135 seems almost an inevitability. And the macros and telephotos need updating sometime.

I think that anything made by Pentax will be either a completely new lens, or a simple HD update with no mechanical changes (and they are running out of them). The idea of taking something long discontinued and updating it to current specifications doesn't seem to be a thing companies do. I guess it is more trouble than starting from scratch.

I still think that a variable aperture wide angle zoom is a gap in both the DA and DFA lines, and that they could solve both cases by just rebranding a Tamron.

[normhead]

2021 ytd

• one new lens
• three revamped lenses

2020

• one new lens
• one rebranded lens

2019

• one new lens
• two revamped lenses

2018

• one new lens

2017

nil

2016

• two new lenses
• one rebranded lens

2015

• three new lenses
• one revamped lens
• one rebranded lens

2014

• two new lenses

2013

• one new lens
• six revamped lenses

2012

• three new lenses
• one revamped lens
• one rebranded lens.

2012-2016 yearly average: 2 new lenses + 0.4 revamped lens + 0.6 rebranded lens = 3 lenses.

2017-2021 yearly average: 0.8 new lens + 1 revamped lens + 0.2 rebranded lens = 2 lenses.

2 lenses a year.

Currently there are 9 WA lenses.
16 standard lenses.
15 telephoto zooms
and 3 macros for a total of 43....
And hundreds on the legacy used market.

2 lenses a year doesn't seem all that bad, what were people hoping for?
Besides cheap?

[Digitalis]

if my memory is correct the G 200-500 is not an internal zooming lens

No, it isn't. I was referring to the higher performance Nikkor zoom lenses...they have so many of them these days.

f5.6 to f6.3 is not that much different

The Tamron 150-600mm varies from f/5 at 150mm to f/6.3 at 600mm - that is a notable difference especially when you work with flash.

[ThorSanchez]

DA 50-135 or 150: I don't know, maybe for apsc shooter, why not.

DA 50-135 or 150 - gaah not more of those type zooms!

Not even more versions of their modest zooms.

The 50-135 or 50-150 is one of the few things on the list I'd be interested in. Of course as a DA lens it's for APS-C, it's that format's version of the standard, ubiquitous 70-200 f/2.8. That's the lens to have for indoor or low-light sports, or any sports where you want good subject separation. If you've ever seen photos from basketball, hockey, indoor soccer, gymnastics or similar there's a good chance it was taken with a 70-200 FF or 50-135ish APS-C lens.

The current version has the old SDM motor and isn't up to sports, not a great lens to match the performance of the K-3 Mark III.

And a prime simply doesn't work when you're never sure if your subject is going to be 20 feet away or 120 feet.

[Rondec]

Looking at what Pentax was able to do with the DA *16-50 PLM, I would really be interested in a DFA *24-70mm (Pentax designed of course). Certainly it would be too big a lens to have PLM drive, but they certainly could get better performance at f2.8 than what the Tamron designed one offers. Of course, it would be more expensive too...

[normhead]

Looking at what Pentax was able to do with the DA *16-50 PLM, I would really be interested in a DFA *24-70mm (Pentax designed of course). Certainly it would be too big a lens to have PLM drive, but they certainly could get better performance at f2.8 than what the Tamron designed one offers. Of course, it would be more expensive too...

This is the issue. Everyone is making expensive gear with higher profit margins. At least in the Pentax world, cameras are now luxury items. This remind me of a Sigma rep 8 years ago, when they started producing for the premium market. The seemed to want to do one better than everyone else. Now it's Pentax in the same mind set. Pentax has a lot of medium to low excellent quality glass available. They are now filling out the top end. Slower development, bigger price. But they have no where else left to go.

My last purchase was the DA 55-300 PLM. A great lens for great price. The current trend is excellent lenses at big prices.They are not attracting my attention, but, no worries. In APS-c I have 8mm to 500mm covered. In FF I have 14mm to 600mm covered. It's not like I'm waiting for something to come out to complete my coverage in focal length. I'm not even sure what they could sell me right now. Especially since I'm happy with the 55-300 on FF. I remain a fan of compact light weight gear with compromises I understand. That's not the current direction of the company, but there are at least 10 lenses I'd buy if I had unlimited capital. SO for me it comes down to "can Pentax sell me stuff if they don't produce another lens?" Honestly, there's a lot, I don't need new lenses to have a substantial shopping list. But nothing on that shopping list is critical, and most would be niche lenses for which I don't very often have a use. I don't use my Sigma 8-16 much. If I bought the DA*11-18- it would be to keep the Sigma company sitting on the shelf.

[house]

Certainly it would be too big a lens to have PLM drive

Since the PLM is only limited by the size of the focus group I'm not sure it's impossible. Other brands have rather large lenses like tele lenses with linear motors. Perhaps it's a serious constraint on the design but others have done it so it's possible.

edit:

see for instance
https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL/SL-Lenses/Vario-Lenses/APO-...ARIT-SL-90-280
https://www.sony.com/za/electronics/camera-lenses/sel70350g#product_details_default