[jersey]

Ok, saw it just on PentaxRumors and don't remember it anywhere here: The HD Pentax DA 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited silver lens is probably discontinued - Pentax & Ricoh Rumors

I do not know how probable it is, but if it is true does it mean that DA Limiteds are nearing their lifecycle? If 15mm is no longer produced and there is not enough of silver version in warehouses then how close are other DA (and FA) Limites to their death?


With 14mm, 60-250 etc. discontinuation you think Pentax may be discontinuing all older version of lenses? I wonder at what point we will have only new FA/FA* and some rare DA* lenses to choose from.


Assuming it is real, not just misinterpretation.

[AfterPentax Mark II]

Ok, saw it just on PentaxRumors and don't remember it anywhere here: The HD Pentax DA 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited silver lens is probably discontinued - Pentax & Ricoh Rumors

I do not know how probable it is, but if it is true does it mean that DA Limiteds are nearing their lifecycle? If 15mm is no longer produced and there is not enough of silver version in warehouses then how close are other DA (and FA) Limites to their death?


With 14mm, 60-250 etc. discontinuation you think Pentax may be discontinuing all older version of lenses? I wonder at what point we will have only new FA/FA* and some rare DA* lenses to choose from.


Assuming it is real, not just misinterpretation.

What I understood when at the time the silver editions of the Ltd's were announced that it was a Limited Limited (pun intended) version of the Black version. The new Macro 100 Silver (700) is also a Limited version of the Black one. So it is not discontinued, the stock of the silver one is sold out.
Discontinued Lens for Digital single-lens reflex camera / Lens lineup/ Lenses / Products | RICOH IMAGING the 15mm is not mentioned (nor the 60-250) as being discontinued. After all it is a "rumour" which you get usually served with a pinch of salt. And that is how you should take it.

[Mistral75]

What I understood when at the time the silver editions of the Ltd's were announced that it was a Limited Limited (pun intended) version of the Black version. The new Macro 100 Silver (700) is also a Limited version of the Black one. So it is not discontinued, the stock of the silver one is sold out.
Discontinued Lens for Digital single-lens reflex camera / Lens lineup/ Lenses / Products | RICOH IMAGING the 15mm is not mentioned (nor the 60-250) as being discontinued. After all it is a "rumour" which you get usually served with a pinch of salt. And that is how you should take it.

The DA★ 60-250mm f/4, together with the DA★ 200mm f/2.8, DA 14mm f/2.8 and D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR, was moved to the discontinued list on the Japanese version of Ricoh Imaging website around mid-October. The English version hasn't been updated yet.

販売終了：デジタル一眼レフカメラ用レンズ一覧 / レンズラインナップ / レンズ / 製品 | RICOH IMAGING

(title: 販売終了：デジタル一眼レフカメラ用レンズ一覧, which means List of Discontinued Lenses for Digital SLR Cameras)

The HD DA 15mm f/4 Limited is not on this list but, even if the rumour this thread is about were true and the silver version were to be discontinued soon, this is normal since Ricoh Imaging don't make a distinction between silver and black versions: as long as one of them is not discontinued (and the black one is not supposed to be), the lens is not considered as discontinued.

The rumour of the four lenses quoted above being about to be discontinued surfaced on the Web on the 6th of October, nine days before this discontinuation became official.

However, there is a sensible difference between the 'rumour of four' and the silver 15mm rumour: the former came from a well-known and respected retailer, whose Tweet began with 'From Ricoh Imaging - We have received notice of the discontinuation of the following lenses' whereas the latter comes from a guy, asobinet, who is known for indifferently relaying rumours he finds here and there on the net and who, in this specific case, is merely reporting that some retailers list the silver DA 15mm f/4 Limited as discontinued, which could as well correspond to the lens being temporarily out of stock.

[AfterPentax Mark II]

The DA★ 60-250mm f/4, together with the DA★ 200mm f/2.8, DA 14mm f/2.8 and D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR, was moved to the discontinued list on the Japanese version of Ricoh Imaging website around mid-October. The English version hasn't been updated yet.

販売終了：デジタル一眼レフカメラ用レンズ一覧 / レンズラインナップ / レンズ / 製品 | RICOH IMAGING

(title: 販売終了：デジタル一眼レフカメラ用レンズ一覧, which means List of Discontinued Lenses for Digital SLR Cameras)

The HD DA 15mm f/4 Limited is not on this list but, even if the rumour this thread is about were true and the silver version were to be discontinued soon, this is normal since Ricoh Imaging don't make a distinction between silver and black versions: as long as one of them is not discontinued (and the black one is not supposed to be), the lens is not considered as discontinued.

The rumour of the four lenses quoted above being about to be discontinued surfaced on the Web on the 6th of October, nine days before this discontinuation became official.

However, there is a sensible difference between the 'rumour of four' and the silver 15mm rumour: the former came from a well-known and respected retailer, whose Tweet began with 'From Ricoh Imaging - We have received notice of the discontinuation of the following lenses' whereas the latter comes from a guy, asobinet, who is known for indifferently relaying rumours he finds here and there on the net and who, in this specific case, is merely reporting that some retailers list the silver DA 15mm f/4 Limited as discontinued, which could as well correspond to the lens being temporarily out of stock.

You are quite right: here is a new English list Discontinued Lens for Digital single-lens reflex camera / Lens lineup/ Lenses / Products | RICOH IMAGING. This list is coupled with the earlier link I gave and can be found at the bottom. Singular way of publishing things. But as you can see the SMC 15mm Ltd is mentioned there as well, but not in a bold typeface.

[Rondec]

There's no reason for the DA 15 to be discontinued. They might be low on stock of the silver version and not planning to do another run of it, but that isn't the same thing as the HD DA 15 limited being at the end of its life span. There are probably plenty of black ones in the storehouse for those who want this focal length.

[JPT]

While it’s possible that Pentax is discontinuing the silver version of this lens, the evidence presented is quite weak. It seems that one retailer has put a label on this to say it’s discontinued, but I don’t see it reflected anywhere else.

Also, it’s worth noting that Pentax has been promoting this lens in 2022 as part of the promotions around the KATEN seasonal image profile. They had it on sale as part of a special kit with the K-3 III, various articles came out on their site and other retailers, and they were direct mailing registered users to promote it.

Perhaps despite all the commentary saying that promoting lenses with image profiles was a bad idea, they actually succeeded in creating some interest and sales for this lens.

[Paul the Sunman]

Not likely! I can't see the 15 Limited disappearing for a long time, in part because I can't see them replacing it with anything.