[Noisychip]

In Japanese ... according to Babelfish, the lens is delayed to spring 2009.

ƒyƒ“ƒ^ƒbƒNƒX�A�uDA�š 60-250mm F4 ED [IF] SDM�v‚ð”*”„‰„Šú

[k100d]

this lens is still vapourware until it's available on the market

[Wheatfield]

Sure, just in time for the Ulan Bator photo exposition.
I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever see this lens actually hit the market.

[bladerunneruk]

In Japanese ... according to Babelfish, the lens is delayed to spring 2009.

ƒyƒ“ƒ^ƒbƒNƒX�A�uDA�š 60-250mm F4 ED [IF] SDM�v‚ð”*”„‰„Šú

now that is disappointing, still they have to make sure the quality is right, so I for one can wait a few more months if we get a good final result, better that than hit or miss build quality IMO

[Albert Siegel]

My dealer got an e-mail from Pentax Canada that says the lens will ship around March.

[k100d]

My dealer got an e-mail from Pentax Canada that says the lens will ship around March.

i bet that's what they said in december 2006 too

[Torphoto]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

delayed again why why why

ok thats it I'm getting a sigma 100-300, I'm not waiting anymore

[Zebooka]

Holy crap!

let me say in russian - хватить тянуть кота за яйца!



In spring they'll say it is delayed until summer, in summer until autumn etc.
Hello 20xx year!

[lol101]

In Japanese ... according to Babelfish, the lens is delayed to spring 2009.

ƒyƒ“ƒ^ƒbƒNƒX�A�uDA�š 60-250mm F4 ED [IF] SDM�v‚ð”*”„‰„Šú

If confirmed, this is really becoming ridiculous...

Hopefully we will see some properly working samples at the next Las Vegas PMA because both samples that were presented at Paris Photoexpo were defective...

[Dan]

Delayed again! Now that's funny. I think that it's actually ready, and they are just testing our patience.

"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"How poor are they that have not patience!
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?"
- William Shakespeare (from Othello)

“The fates have given Pentaxians a patient soul.”
- Homer (from The Iliad); most would translate the original as "mankind" instead of "Pentaxians"; I offer a new translation.

And finally, from Margaret Thatcher, an honest sentiment:

"I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end."

As for the lens, it should be here by summer. You pick the year.

Dan

[KungPOW]

I think it is part of Pentax's Full Frame role out.

They deplay it as to not "spill the beans" early.

The 60-250 is ready, but the K3D that it is tied to is not.

Ok. I don't really know. The above is pure speculation.

Its just the the rumors here have been SO tired, that I will say anything to get something going.

[Shashinki]

Pentax... che palle!

[nostatic]

zooms suck anyway...

[ozzi-paul]

Has this delay and others always been a trait of Pentax or is it only since Hoya
took over the reins. I read somewhere a while ago that Hoya was more interested in the
optical side of things (because thats what they do) and not into the imaging side
of things to much.

[Ishpuini]

Has this delay and others always been a trait of Pentax or is it only since Hoya
took over the reins. I read somewhere a while ago that Hoya was more interested in the
optical side of things (because thats what they do) and not into the imaging side
of things to much.

It was probably worse before Hoya. The original DA*60-250/4 announcement predates the Hoya take-over, so it's not *completely* in their hands.

Two quotes from Mr. Hamada, COO, from the published summary of Hoya's financial results meeting for the three months ended September 30, 2008 (Tokyo, November 10, 2008). (see: http://www.hoya.co.jp/english/investor/2009_2Q_meeting_summary.pdf)

Sales of single-lens reflex cameras also trigger those of interchangeable lenses, so we will continue focusing on the former product.

and:

Essentially, the products we are now producing and selling were developed last summer or autumn, with a roadmap that lacked strategy in my view. As I said in the previous meeting, we remade a completely new roadmap for the next fiscal year in accordance with the "scrap & build" policy: creating unique cameras of a new and different field, and releasing and commencing the marketing of interchangeable lenses at the same time as new cameras. As for new products for this year, a new single-lens reflex camera K-m model (an entry level high-end model) was launched about two 8 weeks ago, while new compact digital cameras have also been released on a quarterly basis. Next year, we are planning to launch some three types, including minor design change versions, of single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. With a desire to offer cameras which will demonstrate our advantages, as announced in the Photokina held in Germany, we will relaunch ourselves next year as a manufacturer of all-weather cameras which are strong outdoors, highly water-resistnat, splash-proof, and dustproof, small and light, easily portable and tough (durable).

This may shed some light on the reason why the DA*60-250/4 is getting delayed. Perhaps it just doesn't fit in with the other plans but they feel cannot cancel it since it has been announced. Adapting it to fit in with their plans for the future and fitting it into that schedule is probably what's taking time...

Wim