Limited A-Series Manual focus lenses

Rico · 07-27-2018, 05:59 PM

Ricoh/Pentax should bring back a modernized version of some of the A-Series manual focus lenses. WR modern coatings. Ditch the aperture rings etc.

Nikon still makes their manual focus lenses which means there is a market for it even without giving the end users aperture control.

vonBaloney · 07-27-2018, 06:02 PM

They aren't WR, but Samyang has some pretty good ones. Also Voigtlander (Cosina) & Zeiss did for a while.

Rico · 07-27-2018, 06:07 PM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

They aren't WR, but Samyang has some pretty good ones. Also Voigtlander (Cosina) & Zeiss did for a while.

Ricoh/Pentax should produce new ones based on the 28mm ƒ2 comes to mind. The 20mm ƒ2.8 would be nice.

pxt · 08-25-2018, 07:18 AM

I don't see with limited MF lens when you can use AF len in that way...

**savoche** · 08-25-2018, 07:33 AM

Originally posted by pxt

I don't see with limited MF lens when you can use AF len in that way...

Well, if only they could make an AF lens which actually has a focus ring that is pleasant to use. Most AF lenses have narrow and not very well dampened focus rings with a short throw.

That said, I prefer AF most of the time if I have the choice.

**boriscleto** · 08-25-2018, 07:52 AM - **1 Like**

Ricoh should concentrate their very limited resources on producing lenses that will make them money...

pschlute · 08-25-2018, 10:37 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by savoche

Well, if only they could make an AF lens which actually has a focus ring that is pleasant to use

They already have. DFA* 50mm 1.4

**twilhelm** · 08-25-2018, 10:41 AM

The 3 amigos, FA Limiteds are quite nice to manually focus. I use them all the time with my LX.

**monochrome** · 08-25-2018, 11:17 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by pschlute

They already have. DFA* 50mm 1.4

The Fatty is ergonomically the nicest modern lens I have ever used. Manual focus is every bit as good as an A lens.

Wasp · 08-25-2018, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

They aren't WR, but Samyang has some pretty good ones. Also Voigtlander (Cosina) & Zeiss did for a while.

You can also get new MF glass in K mount from Irix (ultra wides) and Lensbaby (85mm) among others. There is a thread about available K mount lenses here somewhere.

About the idea, I like it too but it is highly unlikely. The thing is, as good as some of the old MF glass back in the day, the game has moved on. Pixel peepers walk the earth now and will have all sort of unkind things to say when they get their hands on these re-released classics.

Perhaps some entrepreneur can license some of the classic designs from Pentax but I don't see that happening either.

**savoche** · 08-25-2018, 12:02 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pschlute

They already have. DFA* 50mm 1.4

Originally posted by monochrome

The Fatty is ergonomically the nicest modern lens I have ever used. Manual focus is every bit as good as an A lens.

Cool! I haven't looked at that lens as it isn't my kind of lens. But great that they've actually made a modern lens with a proper focusing ring. I guess it's simply not possible to do that with screwdrive AF without making it very sluggish.

pxt · 08-25-2018, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by savoche

Well, if only they could make an AF lens which actually has a focus ring that is pleasant to use. Most AF lenses have narrow and not very well dampened focus rings with a short throw.

What do you think about Pentax 70-200/2.8 lens then?

**savoche** · 08-25-2018, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by pxt

What do you think about Pentax 70-200/2.8 lens then?

Another lens that I haven't looked at. I know it's fantastic, but it's not my kind of lens. Really happy to have my complaining shoved back down my throat, though

Rico · 08-27-2018, 06:45 PM

I don't agree with anything any one has said here. If Ricoh/Pentax made a few modern A-series manual lenses especially on the wide angle end these lenses would sell. Wider than 28mm the focus to infinity is so short that you don't really need to focus such lenses anyway. They are ideal for landscape applications out in the field.

The D-FA 50mm ƒ1.4 is not going to get a single person to switch to Ricoh/Pentax. This lenses does not fit into the traditional sensibilities that has sustained Pentax over the years. The D-FA50mm ƒ1.4 was a waste of resources that should have been better spent.

**monochrome** · 08-27-2018, 07:09 PM

Originally posted by Rico

I don't agree with anything any one has said here. If Ricoh/Pentax made a few modern A-series manual lenses especially on the wide angle end these lenses would sell. Wider than 28mm the focus to infinity is so short that you don't really need to focus such lenses anyway. They are ideal for landscape applications out in the field.

The D-FA 50mm ƒ1.4 is not going to get a single person to switch to Ricoh/Pentax. This lenses does not fit into the traditional sensibilities that has sustained Pentax over the years. The D-FA50mm ƒ1.4 was a waste of resources that should have been better spent.

In my extensive experience with Pentax A manual lenses and growing experience with the D FA* 50/1.4 my opinion is you might not agree but you are certainly wrong.They might sell 100 manual focus WA lenses to mount on the 50 stripped down FF bodies they could sell with them.

07-27-2018, 05:59 PM	#1
Rico Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,205	Limited A-Series Manual focus lenses Ricoh/Pentax should bring back a modernized version of some of the A-Series manual focus lenses. WR modern coatings. Ditch the aperture rings etc. Nikon still makes their manual focus lenses which means there is a market for it even without giving the end users aperture control.

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07-27-2018, 06:02 PM	#2
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	They aren't WR, but Samyang has some pretty good ones. Also Voigtlander (Cosina) & Zeiss did for a while.

07-27-2018, 06:07 PM	#3
Rico Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,205 Original Poster	Originally posted by vonBaloney They aren't WR, but Samyang has some pretty good ones. Also Voigtlander (Cosina) & Zeiss did for a while. Ricoh/Pentax should produce new ones based on the 28mm ƒ2 comes to mind. The 20mm ƒ2.8 would be nice.

08-25-2018, 07:18 AM	#4
pxt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 290	I don't see with limited MF lens when you can use AF len in that way...

08-25-2018, 07:33 AM	#5
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	Originally posted by pxt I don't see with limited MF lens when you can use AF len in that way... Well, if only they could make an AF lens which actually has a focus ring that is pleasant to use. Most AF lenses have narrow and not very well dampened focus rings with a short throw. That said, I prefer AF most of the time if I have the choice.

08-25-2018, 07:52 AM - 1 Like	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Ricoh should concentrate their very limited resources on producing lenses that will make them money...

08-25-2018, 10:37 AM - 2 Likes	#7
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,218	Originally posted by savoche Well, if only they could make an AF lens which actually has a focus ring that is pleasant to use They already have. DFA* 50mm 1.4

08-25-2018, 10:41 AM	#8
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	The 3 amigos, FA Limiteds are quite nice to manually focus. I use them all the time with my LX.

08-25-2018, 11:17 AM - 2 Likes	#9
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by pschlute They already have. DFA* 50mm 1.4 The Fatty is ergonomically the nicest modern lens I have ever used. Manual focus is every bit as good as an A lens.

08-25-2018, 11:39 AM	#10
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	Originally posted by vonBaloney They aren't WR, but Samyang has some pretty good ones. Also Voigtlander (Cosina) & Zeiss did for a while. You can also get new MF glass in K mount from Irix (ultra wides) and Lensbaby (85mm) among others. There is a thread about available K mount lenses here somewhere. About the idea, I like it too but it is highly unlikely. The thing is, as good as some of the old MF glass back in the day, the game has moved on. Pixel peepers walk the earth now and will have all sort of unkind things to say when they get their hands on these re-released classics. Perhaps some entrepreneur can license some of the classic designs from Pentax but I don't see that happening either.

08-25-2018, 12:02 PM - 1 Like	#11
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	Originally posted by pschlute They already have. DFA* 50mm 1.4 Originally posted by monochrome The Fatty is ergonomically the nicest modern lens I have ever used. Manual focus is every bit as good as an A lens. Cool! I haven't looked at that lens as it isn't my kind of lens. But great that they've actually made a modern lens with a proper focusing ring. I guess it's simply not possible to do that with screwdrive AF without making it very sluggish.

08-25-2018, 01:07 PM	#12
pxt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 290	Originally posted by savoche Well, if only they could make an AF lens which actually has a focus ring that is pleasant to use. Most AF lenses have narrow and not very well dampened focus rings with a short throw. What do you think about Pentax 70-200/2.8 lens then?

08-25-2018, 02:15 PM	#13
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	Originally posted by pxt What do you think about Pentax 70-200/2.8 lens then? Another lens that I haven't looked at. I know it's fantastic, but it's not my kind of lens. Really happy to have my complaining shoved back down my throat, though

08-27-2018, 06:45 PM	#14
Rico Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,205 Original Poster	I don't agree with anything any one has said here. If Ricoh/Pentax made a few modern A-series manual lenses especially on the wide angle end these lenses would sell. Wider than 28mm the focus to infinity is so short that you don't really need to focus such lenses anyway. They are ideal for landscape applications out in the field. The D-FA 50mm ƒ1.4 is not going to get a single person to switch to Ricoh/Pentax. This lenses does not fit into the traditional sensibilities that has sustained Pentax over the years. The D-FA50mm ƒ1.4 was a waste of resources that should have been better spent.

08-27-2018, 07:09 PM	#15
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Rico I don't agree with anything any one has said here. If Ricoh/Pentax made a few modern A-series manual lenses especially on the wide angle end these lenses would sell. Wider than 28mm the focus to infinity is so short that you don't really need to focus such lenses anyway. They are ideal for landscape applications out in the field. The D-FA 50mm ƒ1.4 is not going to get a single person to switch to Ricoh/Pentax. This lenses does not fit into the traditional sensibilities that has sustained Pentax over the years. The D-FA50mm ƒ1.4 was a waste of resources that should have been better spent. In my extensive experience with Pentax A manual lenses and growing experience with the D FA* 50/1.4 my opinion is you might not agree but you are certainly wrong.They might sell 100 manual focus WA lenses to mount on the 50 stripped down FF bodies they could sell with them.