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04-15-2010, 02:11 PM   #1
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Pentax 55-300mm in short stock... is a sign?

maybe... quite possibly wishful thinking... but I am in the market for the 55-300, hopefully even a 55-300 WR but have started to find stock levels seem to be very low...

Amazon globally (US, UK, France, Germany) look to be out of stock and seems quite limited accross the rest... still seem to have in Adorama & B&H...

Any info on replacement/update of the 55-300, possibly sign of the 55-300 WR.
I am sure it will happen at some point... however I am travelling in June and plan to wait till the last moment in the case it happens before I need to buy.

04-15-2010, 03:38 PM   #2
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I think the reason is the popularity of the K-x and many buyers are getting the kit version when they purchase. So they probably are just in short supply.

I haven't heard of a WR version coming out but if they do make one, I'll have to give it some serious consideration.
04-15-2010, 03:55 PM   #3
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I know you're not really going to like my idea on this as much as a new 55-300mm that has WR (that would be nice, but probably way too expensive), but the demand of the lens may have simply exceeded the supply, and Pentax is working on catching up. Of course if this is it as well then the price is probably going to keep going up. Goody for us!
04-15-2010, 04:17 PM   #4
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The 55-300 seems to be available from B&H and Adorama, but I'm sorry to say both are STILL without my DA* 50-135!

Although I usually look to multiple vendors to check a status of a lens or other equipment, the fact that such bigwigs cannot acquire such a lens makes me want to believe something is going on with the lineup. I try, however, to temper my wishful thinking in the event nothing new happens and it really is just a supply issue.

04-15-2010, 04:30 PM   #5
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Oh wow, a DA 55-300mm WR would be amazing! Probably to expensive for me to purchase new though. The DA 55-300mm's current price is a bit steep IMO, but I was able to luck out and get a like new copy used for $230ish
04-15-2010, 06:14 PM   #6
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I just picked up a copy in the marketplace for $260-ish and feel that it's a good price.
04-15-2010, 06:18 PM   #7
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Why would a WR 55-300 be much more expensive than a non-WR 55-300?

Pentax' Webstore (reliable MSRP) lists the following prices:
DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR - $199.95
smc Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II - $199.95
DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR - $249.95
smcP DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED - $249.95

smc Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED - $429.95

So I'd expect a 55-300 WR to be pretty close to 430 dollars. Maybe 450 upon introduction.

04-15-2010, 06:29 PM   #8
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I don't believe the kx is selling the DA 55-300 lenses. Most of the people buying the kx are buying it with the "kit" DA-L 55-300. Unless Hoya is diverting resources from making their bread and butter zooms to do something else behind the scenes, I have no idea what is going on.
04-15-2010, 07:25 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Martin Schou Quote
Why would a WR 55-300 be much more expensive than a non-WR 55-300?

Pentax' Webstore (reliable MSRP) lists the following prices:
DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR - $199.95
smc Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II - $199.95
DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR - $249.95
smcP DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED - $249.95

smc Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED - $429.95

So I'd expect a 55-300 WR to be pretty close to 430 dollars. Maybe 450 upon introduction.
Their prices do not reflect the same we see in real B&M stores. The WR version of both lenses are more expensive.
04-15-2010, 07:52 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by Rondec Quote
I don't believe the kx is selling the DA 55-300 lenses. Most of the people buying the kx are buying it with the "kit" DA-L 55-300. Unless Hoya is diverting resources from making their bread and butter zooms to do something else behind the scenes, I have no idea what is going on.
Two weeks ago I referred a friend to Amazon where they packaged the 18-55II and DA55-300 (neither the L version) with black K-x for $660. They came in separate packaging, not a single "Kit" package.

I think it depends on what they have in stock and what the price point is that week.
04-15-2010, 08:22 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by yeatzee Quote
Their prices do not reflect the same we see in real B&M stores. The WR version of both lenses are more expensive.
I realise that. But it is really really difficult to speculate on street prices on imaginary products. MSRP based on current lenses is a lot easier. And that's what I did.

And while the WR versions are more expensive in the stores, they aren't much more expensive, and I'm yet to see them go to MSRP. In other words, the 430-450 I guesstimated for a 55-300 WR is a realistic upper limit. Especially as the 55-300 is selling for 350 US$ at B&H.

Even the WR lenses are selling quite a lot below MSRP:
100 mm is 700 vs 850
18-55 mm is 150 vs 200
50-200 mm is 230 vs 250

So ... what exactly is the problem with using MSRP as a guideline for prices? It's not like you're going to end up paying MORE than those.
04-15-2010, 10:29 PM   #12
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Not just this lens. Actually most DA pancake lenses are lack fo stock right now. Not a good thing for new Pentax users imo.
04-15-2010, 11:08 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Rondec Quote
I don't believe the kx is selling the DA 55-300 lenses. Most of the people buying the kx are buying it with the "kit" DA-L 55-300. Unless Hoya is diverting resources from making their bread and butter zooms to do something else behind the scenes, I have no idea what is going on.
I had not though of this before, and you are mostly (although some kits I've seen have been sold with the original one, either by mistake or on purpose, I'm not sure, but it sure makes one hell of a deal!) correct about this, and maybe Pentax realized that they would not be selling as many of them, so they decided to stop making and stocking them, in favor of the new light version.

They recently released new "L" (as in light, not the Canon L, that would be too good to be true) lenses for the 18-55mm and the 50-200mm so it would be interesting to see if the stock has changed on those ones as well.

Edit: This is my 2500th post!
04-16-2010, 01:22 AM   #14
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Is it a sign? Yes, of lots of K-x buyers getting a long tele.
04-16-2010, 08:07 AM   #15
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I think it would be advisable for Pentax to improve the range rather than current lenses. Exception for lenses that would be under par, such as the kit lens, which with the new body's philosophy and sensor required a revamp.

A fast tele zoom? A longer tele prime?
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