[kevinschoenmakers]

The DA* 55mm f/1.4 is SDM only; there is no screw-driven AF coupler in this DA* lens. So your argument that all DA* lenses have dual-AF systems is not valid.

From Pentax's website:



- Jason

It just changes the argument from 'All DA* have double AF systems' to 'All DA* have SDM'.

[Adrian Owerko]

I think pentax should have made a DA* 135mm F2.8 macro (total weather sealing & SDM) as a replacement for the legands like the FA* and A* 200mm f4 macro... I find 100mm too short for nature work, even on APS-C..

[kevinschoenmakers]

I think pentax should have made a DA* 135mm F2.8 macro (total weather sealing & SDM) as a replacement for the legands like the FA* and A* 200mm f4 macro... I find 100mm too short for nature work, even on APS-C..

Thing is they already had a 100mm designed, so this is a relatively minor operation as opposed to designing something from scratch.

[Kunzite]

Not really; the internals were completely re-designed, I guess (as the build quality of the old DFA 100mm was nowhere near a Limited)

[Adrian Owerko]

Not really; the internals were completely re-designed, I guess (as the build quality of the old DFA 100mm was nowhere near a Limited)

But is an EXTRA $300 plus USD worth it? When both will work on FF.. WR is the cheap pentax weather sealing!

[deadwolfbones]

But is an EXTRA $300 plus USD worth it? When both will work on FF.. WR is the cheap pentax weather sealing!

Where'd you get a price tag from?

[brecklundin]

Where'd you get a price tag from?

PENTAX News and Press Releases - Official PENTAX Imaging Web Site

[Italian]

I cannot find information about a clamp or focuslimiter functions.

Does Pentax really sell a new lense without this function for about the double price of the similar competition?

[LeDave]

Wow, over 800 dollars, the price is rape. Pentax surely is price matching Canikon after-all.

[brecklundin]

Wow, over 800 dollars, the price is rape. Pentax surely is price matching Canikon after-all.

pretty much exactly what I thought...the only thing I could hope is the there is a lot of miscommunication going one because on the UK site I seem to recall the price was 649ish, unless Pentax is now pricing US lenses based on the increased prices in the UK/EU and all of the import tariff's etc...a street price of anywhere from $450-$500ish would seem a marginally OK price but there is nothing about the lense which would imply it's worth more than Canon 100/2.8 Macro (~$600). Or they decided on the MSRP because the new Canon 100/2.8L IS Macro is a bit over $1k in price.

If the case is Pentax is pricing to keep up with the Canon "L" and in this case w/IS then we are each paying for IS even though the lenses do not have it or need it.

Somewhere this insane pricing has to give. But what is going to do is push a lot of people out of the retail chain when buying. I know I am even more likely to consider used lenses, even for current production models.

[kevinschoenmakers]

Not really; the internals were completely re-designed, I guess (as the build quality of the old DFA 100mm was nowhere near a Limited)

Yeah sure, they completely redesigned the whole thing

[kevinschoenmakers]

Even though I don't take an interest in this lens at all, the price is sort of saddening. The Tamron 90mm goes for less than half of the price. This does not bode well for future lenses. That yen had better come down.

[dopeytree]

If they want to charge this stupid amount then at least release some photos to prove its worth that much!!

That said I do quite like the sound of this lens it would be an awesome match to the 15mm or 21mm as a carry around lens to get the details etc.

I look forward to the reviews

[Kunzite]

Yeah sure, they completely redesigned the whole thing

Did I ever said that? Don't put words in my mouth, please.

[Blue]

Did I ever said that? Don't put words in my mouth, please.

You did say the internals were completely redesigned. However, the new version still has 9 elements in 8 groups.