[rsthelens]

I have the smc PENTAX DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR
and the smc PENTAX DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR for my K20D.
I would like to have a 300mm lens that is weather-resistant since i live in Northwest Oregon and we get a lot of rain.
Is pentax planning to release a smc DA 50-300mm ED WR or smc DA 55-300mm ED WR ?

I would love to have the smc PENTAX DA Star 300mm F4 ED(IF) SDM, but $1100 is a lot of coin.

I was thinking along the lines of the smc PENTAX DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED that they would put weather-resistant seals in and i would have a smc PENTAX DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR.

I would hate to buy the smc PENTAX DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED only to find that the WR version is in the works or on the way.

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Last edited by rsthelens; 12-13-2009 at 04:37 PM. Reason: A better phrased question.

[ogl]

I have the smc PENTAX DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR
and the smc PENTAX DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR for my K20D.
I would like to have a 300mm lens that is weather-resistant since i live in Northwest Oregon and we get a lot of rain.
Is pentax planning to release a smc DA 50 or 55-300 ED WR ?

DA*300/4 is FULL WEATHER RESIST.
DA50 - there is no SUCH lens.
DA*55 is FULL WEATHER RESIST.

DA55-300 WR - maybe, later.

[Mike.P®]

DA50 - there is no SUCH lens.

Which is why he was maybe asking if Pentax were planning to release one?

If people on here knew what Pentax were planning to release then they would already have said something .. unless under some restraints in which case they wouldn't answer anyway

[Kunzite]

It doesn't make any sense to have both a DA50mm f/1.4 and the current DA* 55mm f/1.4. But a lower priced DA 50mm f/1.7 WR...
I don't think such a lens is a priority for Pentax, though.

[the swede]

Which is why he was maybe asking if Pentax were planning to release one?

If people on here knew what Pentax were planning to release then they would already have said something .. unless under some restraints in which case they wouldn't answer anyway

Ogl maybe are one of thoose "under restraints"

[bunegg]

Wad bout the rumored 50 1.0?

[thibs]

It doesn't make any sense to have both a DA50mm f/1.4 and the current DA* 55mm f/1.4. But a lower priced DA 50mm f/1.7 WR...
I don't think such a lens is a priority for Pentax, though.

The problem for Pentax (as I understand it) is the following:

• The DA*55 was never intended to replace the FA50 but to replace the FA*85.
• Pentax didn't introduce a fast normal lens (35 limited is cool and very good but it ain't fast).
• I don't see Pentax introducing a DA55/1.8, it would be a 'second portrait lens' but a DFA 50/1.8. They can't since it would trumpet 'a FF camera is coming'.
• The only thing they can do without compromising their strategy is a fast normal on APS-C à la Nikon. They should do this even if they go FF IMO, and quickly !!

Well... apart waiting I dunnoi what else we could do

[ogl]

I don't see any DFA50/1.4 WR or DFA50/1.7 WR in the future...

[RMabo]

The easiest thing for Pentax to do would be a DA 35 f/2 WR, for less money than the DA 35 f/2.8 Macro.

Or a D FA 35 f/2 WR if they wants to release a 24x36 lens.
Or a DA 30 f/1.4 WR or 1.7 WR as the ideal standard lens that is reasonable fast.

[PrimeObjectif]

I don't see any DFA50/1.4 WR or DFA50/1.7 WR in the future...

Give your Magic 8 Ball a shake and ask again.

[legacyb4]

He's not asking about a "DA 50mm"; he's asking if there will be a DA WR 50/55-300.

Is pentax planning to release a smc DA 50-300 ED WR or smc DA 55-300 ED WR ?

[CharlieO]

I have the 18-55 WR and 50-200 WR and would love to see a 55-300 WR. The sooner the better.

[gazonk]

I have the 18-55 WR and 50-200 WR and would love to see a 55-300 WR. The sooner the better.

I'm considering buying the 55-300, but have put the purchase on hold until a WR version is released. It's such a logical move that I'm sure we'll see it soon. Or maybe not, for a moment I forgot that we're talking about Pentax

[Clarkey]

Earlier (June) this year, there was a comment by one of the Pentax Reps in Toronto that there were several lenses being redesigned as WR models. The 55-300mm was specifically mentioned at the time.
Subsequently the 18-55 and 50-200 were released.

However, since then the 55-300mm has been released in a "L" (weight reduced, plastic mount) version, and not WR, I'm wondering if it will be. It may be that there is just a lot of other things going on, and it will be released in due course.

I'm wondering now, whether with the discontinuation of the 18-250mm, we are going to see a longer weather sealed superzoom - maybe with SDM. Still, the 17-70 is not weathersealed and Pentax moves in mysterious ways, so who knows!

As an outdoors shooter, I would certainly like to see another weathersealed lens at a decent price.

[CharlieO]

I'm considering buying the 55-300, but have put the purchase on hold until a WR version is released. It's such a logical move that I'm sure we'll see it soon. Or maybe not, for a moment I forgot that we're talking about Pentax

I was thinking the same thing. I have been reluctant to purchase the 55-300 in the hope that a WR version was on the way. I am generally happy with my Tamron 70-300 LD di except for the purple fringing. It would be nice though to be able to field a full WR Pentax Kit when I am hiking or hunting. Especially when hunting. There are many times when the 50-200 just doesn't have enough reach.