Originally posted by jsherman999 The 50-135 is pretty big - the Limited would probably be about the size of the FA 135 2.8, or smaller, and would probably be a tad sharper wide open than the 50-135.
I used to have the 50-135 and loved it, but a very small 135 would have got the call on a lot of travel, portrait and walkabout situations where I didn't want to carry the big DA*.
I'd like very-small/sharp or kinda-large/fast/sharp - a 135 f/2.4 limited would be pretty sweet if it were very small, or an f/1.8 if it were about the size of the DA 50-135.
slow/large would be pointless.
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I agree with everything you said. I just went on a club field trip with 7 others to a nearby classical garden preserve. Everyone of us were using tripods except for one monopod, and so the DA50-135 was convenient to carry around on the end of a tripod. But after several weeks since i bought the 50-135, if i was on tourist type travel, i'd much rather carry the A 135 f2.8 , a FA 50, and a DA 35.
But with the current pricing, i think Pentax might look at their sales and wonder whether the marketplace will provide a decent Return on Investment for the DA 135. (it would be interesting to know how high prices have affected sales of other favorites) On the other hand, how can they introduce the 645D and not have many lenses for it. I would think Pentax would prioritize the 645D lenses prior to any DA 135.
You heard it here, pure conjecture, no DA 135 anytime soon :-)