[deus ursus]

Ok, it would be better to say that it is a guess, but look at this thread: HD Pentax-D FA 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 ED PLM WR SR & HD Pentax-DA★ 50-135mm f/2.8 ED PLM - PentaxForums.com

Most probably it's a variable aperture lens, yeah, but as long as the road map doesn't say anything about the matter, we can still hope for a fixed aperture lens.

[Mistral75]

Most probably it's a variable aperture lens, yeah, but as long as the road map doesn't say anything about the matter, we can still hope for a fixed aperture lens.

Ricoh Imaging having filed four patent applications between November 2018 and February 2021 plus a divisional in September 2022, which include 20 examples of 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 lenses, I wouldn't hope too much if I were you.

[deus ursus]

Hope you are right. If it was the case for the 16-50 (was it the case ? don't remember the exact timeline) then we can expect as much for the 50-135.

I believe the 16-50 was shown on the road map as a large aperture normal zoom lens or something in that ballpark. But after all it's a completely new lens with new optics, new focus motor (compared to the 'old' 16-50) and new barrel. I don't know how far they can go with renewing a lens before it's natural to put it up on the road map.

[Mistral75]

I believe the 16-50 was shown on the road map as a large aperture normal zoom lens or something in that ballpark. But after all it's a completely new lens with new optics, new focus motor (compared to the 'old' 16-50) and new barrel. I don't know how far they can go with renewing a lens before it's natural to put it up on the road map.

As written on the bottom of the former page:

(...) lenses with improved optics are first introduced on the roadmap, albeit with a generic name: 'DA Standard Zoom Lens' (--> HD DA★ 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW) (...)

[Hayashi]

I don't recall as I didn't follow that lens, but the limited's were updated that way and I think the 55-300 PLM just turned up too.

55-300 PLM and 55-300 coexist simply because there still stock of 55-300

Same for 18-55 WR & 18-50 RE (look into the optical structure diagram, you will see they are actually the same lens)

[yucatanPentax]

I imagine in the case of all three of those lenses, they hadn't been in production line flow in some time, and back stock was reduced to such a level as to be considered discontinued unless they ran another batch of each.

I think the most missed will be the 60-250. I'm hopeful that Ricoh updates this lens with usual improvements + whatever is needed for it to be considered full frame compliant.

Yes, updating the 60-250mm would be easy for FF, requiring only minor baffle modifications. Add HD coatings and a faster focus motor and it would be an awesome lens. The IQ is great as it is.

[BarneyL]

Curiously, the upcoming lenses segment is still titled '2022 or Later' and not '2023 or Later'. Oversight or hint of an upcoming announcement?

645 lens roadmap still says "2017 or later" for two planned lenses, so I wouldn't read too much into that.

[Rondec]

55-300 PLM and 55-300 coexist simply because there still stock of 55-300

Same for 18-55 WR & 18-50 RE (look into the optical structure diagram, you will see they are actually the same lens)

I think with the DA 55-300 PLM it is a KAF-4 lens and hence not compatible with older cameras. It makes sense that Pentax would keep a lens around that is still compatible with cameras like the K-5 for a while after the release of the PLM.

[Mistral75]

645 lens roadmap still says "2017 or later" for two planned lenses, so I wouldn't read too much into that.

After some research I wouldn't either. Here below the past examples I have found:

• End of November 2022 : 2022 or Later
• 14 October 2021 : 2021 or Later
• 27 October 2017 : 2018 or Later
• 5 October 2012 : 2013 or Later

In the past, year-end roadmaps used to display the next year in the '...or Later' segment, last year and this year they displayed the current year.

As for the 645 roadmap, the current version was published in February 2017, so...

[BarneyL]

Personally, I don't really see the lens roadmap as anything super interesting. Things appear on (or disappear from) it without notice. The famous "or later" is the cherry on top of the "we don't promise anything" cake. I guess the info about discontinued lenses is useful, although it has been circulating for a while.

[Kevin B123]

It does show a lack of investment in the lens line up.
The FF ecosystem is crying out for a new HD D FA 20-35mm f4, it would fly off the shelf and intice more people to the K-1 series, that is money left on the table at this stage.

[bladerunner6]

It does show a lack of investment in the lens line up.
The FF ecosystem is crying out for a new HD D FA 20-35mm f4, it would fly off the shelf and intice more people to the K-1 series, that is money left on the table at this stage.

I say this a lot because I feel the data backs it up but Pentax has to be mindful of redundancies in this vastly contracted camera market.

With their very competent 15-30 I think there would be too much overlap with a 20-35 f4.

[nonpigliounoshoot]

It does show a lack of investment in the lens line up.
The FF ecosystem is crying out for a new HD D FA 20-35mm f4, it would fly off the shelf and intice more people to the K-1 series, that is money left on the table at this stage.

let's hope, as long as there is life..

I believe that the same function for the k3III would have a 200-600 or similar for APSC, size and weight content and competitive price.
I believe that some lenses can increase camera sales as well.

the camera market is shrinking, but pentax can tap into a market that is slowly being left by the others. But you have to be able to offer the things that others used to offer or else they will look to ML. A user with an old apsc canon D90 or Nikon D500 who loves reflex why should he take the k3III if he doesn't have long lenses. Will watch ML of own brand or others.

[yucatanPentax]

Personally, I don't really see the lens roadmap as anything super interesting. Things appear on (or disappear from) it without notice. The famous "or later" is the cherry on top of the "we don't promise anything" cake. I guess the info about discontinued lenses is useful, although it has been circulating for a while.

I really tend to agree. Whenever Pentax releases a lens is when I'm interested in learning about it, generally speaking. It's all nice to build castles in the sky, but the entire stand-alone camera market has vastly changed from just a short few years ago. My Android camera -- not even a high-end phone, but a $300 Motorola -- is now more capable than my pocket go-everywhere, Canon Elph Powershot 300 was just a few years back. And my Android camera is always with me, always.

Pentax has continued to release products at a reduced pace. The greatly changed K3iii -- really a new camera, not a K3 -- came out and has been popular. They adapted the K70 to component unavailability and released a KF instead of just dropping the low end, which would have been easier and less costly.

They're continuing at the rate that the marketplace dictates and that their resources allow for these devices today. I don't think for a minute that Pentax is holding back intentionally on anything (withholding from the market for "timing" sake), but just think that today is such a different world than 10 years ago or even 5 years ago.

At the same time, I don't feel like knowing a great new lens is "coming someday" allows me to do anything about it. I'll continue to plunk along, I guess, and get excited when the lens has a "Buy Now" button beside it.

[pres589]

It does show a lack of investment in the lens line up.
The FF ecosystem is crying out for a new HD D FA 20-35mm f4, it would fly off the shelf and intice more people to the K-1 series, that is money left on the table at this stage.

I think it's kind of insane that a camera that is supposed to be so good at landscape work, the K-1, is still being supported by the 15-30 on the ultra-wide end. This isn't a complaint about that lens per se but it's not a 1st party offering, really, and it's large by huge. I would be pushing for 2022's version of the Sigma or Tamron 17-35's; variable aperture, and aim for best IQ at the wide end (meaning, performs best at or around the 17 end as a priority over the 35 end). The D-FA 21 helps the situation, maybe that's the rationalization here, I don't know.

That and a hot 28, like a D-FA*28mm f1.6 or faster. Those two lenses I'm describing here seem like they would nicely round out the wide end for FF users and I personally would like a modern fast 28 for my crop body.