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04-12-2017, 07:07 AM   #106
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I have recently purchased the Pentax 24-70 f/2.8 to compliment my Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 on my K-1. Both also work on my K-3.the 24-70 is fast, quiet and sharp as. It's a really nice lens. In all, I now have:

Samyang 14mm f/2.8
Pentax, DA F 24-70 f/2.8
Tamron 70-500 f/2.8
Pentax DA 50 (crop sensor lens)

These lenses cover everything I need. I go with K-1 & K-3, with the zooms on them as my standard kit. Love my K-1, and the lenses work really well on it.

I'd love a really long zoom for wildlife at some stage, and maybe the DA F 77 PRIME.

QuoteOriginally posted by BigMackCam Quote
I always find concerns over Pentax lens availability an interesting topic.

I agree that it would be nice to have better third-party support, but - frankly - most photographer's needs are already more-than-covered by existing Pentax lenses alone.

These four well-regarded lenses give you uninterrupted access to every focal length from 15 to 450mm, with 15 to 200mm at an acceptably-fast f/2.8:

D FA 15-30 f/2.8
D FA 24-70 f/2.8
D FA 70-200 f/2.8
D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6

If you need a nice walk-around lens, there's the D FA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6.

Add macro to your kit with the excellent D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro.

The legendary FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited makes a fine portrait lens. Comparatively long in the tooth, and a little wider than the 85mm norm, but rightly coveted.

Want fast, wide and normal primes? Again, though older designs, the still-current FA 31 and 43 Limited primes have a huge fan-base, and for very good reason.

Plus, there are other choices in the line-up that are particularly suitable for specialist roles, with more coming.

Most of these lenses aren't cheap, but we're talking about excellent image quality - the kind you'd want to put on a high-end full-frame camera. And you can get away with a sub-set of the above for the majority of day-to-day photography...


04-12-2017, 07:39 PM   #107
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QuoteOriginally posted by Sunburn Quote
Looks like the news is in. Ricoh may close shutter on personal camera business- Nikkei Asian Review
Thanks for the very interesting debate guys. Lets hope the K Mount is kept supported somehow, but the news above does not filll me with confidence.
Where is Sean Spicer when we need him? "Fake news"

Oh, he may be available after all...
04-23-2017, 07:13 AM   #108
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QuoteOriginally posted by Sunburn Quote
Hello All,
In the past 4 months, I have brought into the Pentax K-1, after having been firmly in the Canon camp for several years, mainly for the FF offering of the K1 and the improved low light performance / dynamic range its sensor has over any Canon solutions to date. However, with each passing week, I'm becoming more and more aware and concerned that there seems to be a dying lens ecosystem for the K mount, especially from traditional 3rd party manufacturers. ala (Tamron/Sigma) is anyone else a little concerned about the future lens offering on the K mount for the otherwise amazing K-1?

I appreciate there is a massive back catalogue of lenses that are available and this is great, but time does change and optics and manufacturing processes do improve. I'm surprised the latest offerings from Sigma / Tamron et al are not available in the K mount. With Pentax's roadmap seeming very limited for 2017, I fear maybe forced back into Cannon land in search of a compromised K-1 Substitute.

Regards
Geoff
Canon has more than double the number of lenses in its portfolio, most of them in version II and III now. Pentax is not Canon or Nikon, some glass is completely missing. All ths is well known and the roadmap is online. I always bought into a system for lenses not for cameras. I am fine with the current lens lineup - yes I have my own ideas what is missing, but the DFA85 could be a good start for me.
04-23-2017, 02:07 PM   #109
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Not to derail this thread a bit but where is a Canon or Canon-mount fast 55mm prime? First I noticed that they have nothing like the DA 15 and I was all "eh, their loss, that is an awesome lens" and then I go looking for a good portrait lens for crop bodies and it's just 50's?? I may be asked to recommend a good lens for portrait work by a family member with a Canon SL1 and I'm left wondering if the answer isn't a Sup Tak 55 f1.4 and an M42 adapter. Or am I missing where Canon is hiding their DA 55 equivalent.

Otherwise I'm recommending a Canon 50 1.8 STM.

04-24-2017, 12:42 AM - 1 Like   #110
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Since last posting here saying I have the K-1 with Tamron 70-200 Di Ld IF etc., I have purchased the Pentax 24-70 f/2.8 full frame lens for the K-1. It is a fantastic lens. Mine wasn't sharp when I got it, and couldn't be calibrated by micro-adjustment in the camera; but C.R.Kennedy (Australian importer) came through and I tripped to Melbourne where they spent an hour calibrating and testing on my K-1 body as a post-sales support / warranty issue (ie. no charge). It's fantastically sharp now. It's VERY quick, super quiet, and has a great feel. This lens is definitely superior to the Tamron 70-200 (under 2 years old), and I'd love to sell the 70-200 and get the new Pentax version iof that's the kind of difference Pentax are making to the Tamron product! So, with 14mm prime; 24-70 & 70-200 for my K-1, I have only the long zoom for nature shots and sport to wish for (and I'm inclined to go for an older Pentax film era long zoom due to cost here). From my perspective, there's not much CHOICE, but the Pentax QUALITY is brilliant.
04-24-2017, 03:53 AM   #111
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stevebarnes: Not to be pedantic, but the Tamron 15-30 and 24-70 are the only lenses Pentax based products on. The Pentax 70-200 is their own product and doesn't appear to use any Tamron parts, processes, or engineering.

Very cool to hear that you got good support from C.R. Kennedy and are enjoying your K-1 and lens. I'm curious what all they did to it to make your camera and lens combination work properly.
04-24-2017, 06:27 AM   #112
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QuoteOriginally posted by pres589 Quote
where is a Canon or Canon-mount fast 55mm prime?
Here:

ZEISS Otus 1.4/55 | The standard lens

04-24-2017, 06:37 AM   #113
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Okay, there's a 55mm. I'd be curious what that would be like to handle; a 55mm Otus hanging onto an SL1 sounds kind of funny to see. I don't even like to use that body as it's too small for my hands.

I had forgotten about the 1.6 crop factor on Canon APS-C bodies, making a 50mm act like an 80mm from a field of view standpoint. A 50 is probably not so bad upon reflection of that fact. Still seems odd, still liking the idea of a classic M42 Takumar or similar.
04-24-2017, 08:29 PM   #114
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QuoteOriginally posted by lytrytyr Quote
I'll propose any mfgr proclaiming "Pentax K -- discontinued" be banned from free advertising by Pentax users. We've embraced the Rodney Dangerfield Syndrome, and I'm not gonna take it anymore...

(Even if they are bleepin' good lenses).

<Note to self -- don't post when sleep-deprived, cuz you get cranky>

Last edited by FilmORbitz; 04-26-2017 at 08:21 AM. Reason: coffee
04-25-2017, 06:44 AM   #115
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"DFA" Limiteds?

QuoteOriginally posted by howieb101 Quote
Once Pentax bring out the new 50mm and 85mm F1.4's they are only critically missing a fastish wide angle prime. The usual F2.8 zooms are available now. A 600mm telephoto zoom similar to the Sigma and Tamron's would also be nice.

The legacy FA Limiteds are also very nice and small. Yes, they are screwdrive but compared to the current trend of 800 gram and heavier lenses they are nice and light with still fast apertures.
This feels like a dumb question, but what the hell. On the face of it, updating the FA limiteds with new coatings and motors would seem like an obvious move for Pentax. But if it was as simple as that they probably would have had them ready with the launch of the K-1. Is anyone able to enlighten me as to what's wrong with this idea?
04-25-2017, 07:44 AM - 1 Like   #116
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Hey FilmO, the Otus 55 was mentioned as an answer to my question about a 55mm prime currently available for Canon EF mount, so he was being helpful. Not that I see a lot of Canon SL1 owners lining up to pay Otus prices but that's another issue.

asw66, I've asked this as well, and I don't see a big problem with the FA20 coming back like what you're describing. The FA*24 doesn't seem to get as much love and probably wouldn't make the cut. It's just too soft until stopped way down from what I've read. I'm curious what today's HD/etc coatings would do for the old F28 f2.8.
04-25-2017, 01:20 PM   #117
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QuoteOriginally posted by FilmORbitz Quote
I'll propose any mfgr proclaiming "Pentax K -- discontinued" be banned from free advertising by Pentax users. We've embraced the Rodney Dangerfield Syndrome, and I'm not gonna take it anymore...

(Even if they are bleepin' good lenses).
Relax, they're the last major manufacturer still producing lenses for the Pentax M42 screwmount!
04-25-2017, 01:52 PM - 1 Like   #118
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QuoteOriginally posted by asw66 Quote
This feels like a dumb question, but what the hell. On the face of it, updating the FA limiteds with new coatings and motors would seem like an obvious move for Pentax. But if it was as simple as that they probably would have had them ready with the launch of the K-1. Is anyone able to enlighten me as to what's wrong with this idea?
Pentax started a new batch run of SMC FA Limiteds in January, 2016. The last batch run ended December, 2012.

The question isn't why didn't Pentax change them - it is Why change them? The Three Princesses are sacrosanct. I suspect they'll keep making them without changing anything until people stop buying them. They'll make * lenses instead in more traditional fl's.

I bought my K-1 especially to use with the FA Limiteds, and I really don't have a burning desire to get any of the f/2.8 zooms.
04-26-2017, 08:33 PM   #119
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QuoteOriginally posted by pres589 Quote
Hey FilmO, the Otus 55 was mentioned as an answer to my question about a 55mm prime currently available for Canon EF mount, so he was being helpful. Not that I see a lot of Canon SL1 owners lining up to pay Otus prices but that's another issue.

asw66, I've asked this as well, and I don't see a big problem with the FA20 coming back like what you're describing. The FA*24 doesn't seem to get as much love and probably wouldn't make the cut. It's just too soft until stopped way down from what I've read. I'm curious what today's HD/etc coatings would do for the old F28 f2.8.
pres and lyt...I guess I was feeling a $4000 lens for a $500 camera was an unlikely solution, but mostly I was quite tired <my op edited as such> and am personally fed up with the lens situation which we're forced to endure. Reminders are a sore topic.
No offence intended to anyone, except maybe Zeiss, and Sigma, and Tamron....
04-26-2017, 09:02 PM   #120
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Several comments - I just checked the Tamron and Sigma websites, they are showing several Pentax mount lenses. Certainly there are no lack of quality K mount MF lenses out there for very little cost. I used my Spotmatic for decades with only 3 lenses - how many do we really need? Finally, there are many camera mount types with few or even no third party lens new releases - such as Leica and Hasselblad.
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