DA* 55mm have finally arrived to sweden

vinzer · 02-20-2009, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by FotoPete

Yes it hurts to see the price so high...but I think we Pentaxians are a bit spoiled by the Legends past. They litter ebay and second hand shops in prices enough to spur even a poor student like myself to reach for my wallet. Many of those OEM and 3rd party M42, K, M, A generation lenses would definitely deserve Star designations by today's standards.

I think some of us (myself included) have been disillusioned by the inflation and price disparity. A *Star lens back in the day was just as considerable an investment as they are today.

To bring it back to present day, I have yet to see the Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG ASPH HSM in pentax KAF3 mount but its C/N/Sigma variants sell for $750CAN here in Toronto. Like the DA*55mm, it too was designed to give the extra edge wide open.

I guess that kinda puts the anticipated DA*55/1.4 into perspective. A hunderd/two more and you get Pentax optics, DA* guaruntee...hopefully not like 16-50 QC

, SMC, weather sealing and a smart hood lol.

With that said, I still hang on to my SupaTakumars and friends. As for something like the DA*55mm..well...I can only dream.

I think you hit the nail on the head dead-center with that post.

thibs · 02-20-2009, 11:09 AM

Originally posted by Erik

Just so our American buddies are in the clear regarding what we're actually talking about here, that's about 860 US dollars

Ouch... currencies conversion coming into play? Tekade.de offers it at 499 Euros.

thibs · 02-20-2009, 11:10 AM

Originally posted by Erik

Fine, I can deal with that explanation. I hope, then, that this also means that the FA50 isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Absolutely. If they disontinue the FA50 then, Houston we have a problem.

cousinsane · 02-20-2009, 01:06 PM

According to ?

Originally posted by Erik

The FA is already tested as "one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time".

Substitute · 02-20-2009, 10:30 PM

Originally posted by FotoPete

I think some of us (myself included) have been disillusioned by the inflation and price disparity. A *Star lens back in the day was just as considerable an investment as they are today.

So true my FA* 28-70mm cost 9000 FF that's about 1400 euros in the 90s to the original owner who sold it to me....

ryan s · 02-21-2009, 12:42 AM

Ok since the other DA55 thread in here has gone into "that one discussion" again, I'll post here.

How much have DA* lens' prices fluctuated in the past? I mean announced price to MSRP to street price in order. I never paid much attention to release price but I'm sure there are other who have.

thibs · 02-21-2009, 05:26 AM

I dunno about official price against street price.
What I know is that the 16-50 was 1000 Euros when introduced, it is about 750 now.
The 50-135 was 1100 Euros, 830 Euros now.

ryan s · 02-21-2009, 01:48 PM

It seems 350EUR would be a stabilized price if it's already on offer for 499EUR. But I'm not an economist or marketer so what do I know?

RMabo · 02-24-2009, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by Erik

The FA is already tested as "one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time". I'm not sure that I need better than the best.

But that's just me obviously -- others will want the features the 55 has.

The weak spot of the FA 50 f/1.4 is the wide aperture sharpness. The DA Star 55 is especially made for super sharpness, even wide open, with mor care to the bokeh and different contrast and colour rendition to be "better than the best".

The DA Star 55 f/1.4 is really a shrinked down version of the FA Star 85 f/1.4 instead of being a modernized FA 50 f/1.4. (FA 50 f/1.4 has the same optical design as the M 50 f/1.4 and it has been around since the late 70's).

Fototim · 02-24-2009, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by RMabo

The weak spot of the FA 50 f/1.4 is the wide aperture sharpness. The DA Star 55 is especially made for super sharpness, even wide open, with mor care to the bokeh and different contrast and colour rendition to be "better than the best".

The DA Star 55 f/1.4 is really a shrinked down version of the FA Star 85 f/1.4 instead of being a modernized FA 50 f/1.4. (FA 50 f/1.4 has the same optical design as the M 50 f/1.4 and it has been around since the late 70's).

The FA* 85 is not sharp wide open, at least not mine. Never the less, it's a mighty fine lens

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02-20-2009, 07:54 AM	#16
vinzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philippines Posts: 1,399	Originally posted by FotoPete Yes it hurts to see the price so high...but I think we Pentaxians are a bit spoiled by the Legends past. They litter ebay and second hand shops in prices enough to spur even a poor student like myself to reach for my wallet. Many of those OEM and 3rd party M42, K, M, A generation lenses would definitely deserve Star designations by today's standards. I think some of us (myself included) have been disillusioned by the inflation and price disparity. A Star lens back in the day was just as considerable an investment as they are today. To bring it back to present day, I have yet to see the Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG ASPH HSM in pentax KAF3 mount but its C/N/Sigma variants sell for $750CAN here in Toronto. Like the DA55mm, it too was designed to give the extra edge wide open. I guess that kinda puts the anticipated DA55/1.4 into perspective. A hunderd/two more and you get Pentax optics, DA guaruntee...hopefully not like 16-50 QC , SMC, weather sealing and a smart hood lol. With that said, I still hang on to my SupaTakumars and friends. As for something like the DA*55mm..well...I can only dream. I think you hit the nail on the head dead-center with that post.

02-20-2009, 11:09 AM	#17
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by Erik Just so our American buddies are in the clear regarding what we're actually talking about here, that's about 860 US dollars Ouch... currencies conversion coming into play? Tekade.de offers it at 499 Euros.

02-20-2009, 11:10 AM	#18
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by Erik Fine, I can deal with that explanation. I hope, then, that this also means that the FA50 isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Absolutely. If they disontinue the FA50 then, Houston we have a problem.

02-20-2009, 01:06 PM	#19
cousinsane Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: madison Posts: 239	According to ? Originally posted by Erik The FA is already tested as "one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time".

02-20-2009, 10:30 PM	#20
Substitute Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NOLA Posts: 396	Originally posted by FotoPete I think some of us (myself included) have been disillusioned by the inflation and price disparity. A Star lens back in the day was just as considerable an investment as they are today. So true my FA 28-70mm cost 9000 FF that's about 1400 euros in the 90s to the original owner who sold it to me....

02-21-2009, 12:42 AM	#21
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	Ok since the other DA55 thread in here has gone into "that one discussion" again, I'll post here. How much have DA* lens' prices fluctuated in the past? I mean announced price to MSRP to street price in order. I never paid much attention to release price but I'm sure there are other who have.

02-21-2009, 05:26 AM	#22
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	I dunno about official price against street price. What I know is that the 16-50 was 1000 Euros when introduced, it is about 750 now. The 50-135 was 1100 Euros, 830 Euros now.

02-21-2009, 01:48 PM	#23
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	It seems 350EUR would be a stabilized price if it's already on offer for 499EUR. But I'm not an economist or marketer so what do I know?

02-24-2009, 08:45 AM	#24
RMabo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 845	Originally posted by Erik The FA is already tested as "one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time". I'm not sure that I need better than the best. But that's just me obviously -- others will want the features the 55 has. The weak spot of the FA 50 f/1.4 is the wide aperture sharpness. The DA Star 55 is especially made for super sharpness, even wide open, with mor care to the bokeh and different contrast and colour rendition to be "better than the best". The DA Star 55 f/1.4 is really a shrinked down version of the FA Star 85 f/1.4 instead of being a modernized FA 50 f/1.4. (FA 50 f/1.4 has the same optical design as the M 50 f/1.4 and it has been around since the late 70's).

02-24-2009, 10:00 AM	#25
Fototim Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 268	Originally posted by RMabo The weak spot of the FA 50 f/1.4 is the wide aperture sharpness. The DA Star 55 is especially made for super sharpness, even wide open, with mor care to the bokeh and different contrast and colour rendition to be "better than the best". The DA Star 55 f/1.4 is really a shrinked down version of the FA Star 85 f/1.4 instead of being a modernized FA 50 f/1.4. (FA 50 f/1.4 has the same optical design as the M 50 f/1.4 and it has been around since the late 70's). The FA* 85 is not sharp wide open, at least not mine. Never the less, it's a mighty fine lens