Ricoh Backlogged again with 35mm HD

larkis · 12-30-2015, 08:53 AM

I got to Japan a day ago and they only had 1 of those lenses in stock at Yodobashi Camera (zero now, since I have purchased it). I can see how it could be back ordered in many other locations as well. Hopefully it's a fine performer with the new coating and all. I should be able to post some images from it after I get back to Canada.

TheDocAUS · 12-30-2015, 02:39 PM

Originally posted by itshimitis

I hope you're not being serious.

I think it was meant tongue in cheek, at least that is how I read it.

rfkiii · 12-30-2015, 03:52 PM

Originally posted by Sarnian

The new lens is fantastic and has great edge-to-edge sharpness.

At what aperture? TIA

TheDocAUS · 12-31-2015, 04:02 PM

Just received an email from B&H saying my lens has shipped. They honoured the price of US1,099.00 (the early bird reward). Nice start to the new year!

Last edited by TheDocAUS; 12-31-2015 at 04:16 PM.

lesmore49 · 01-09-2016, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by itshimitis

I hope you're not being serious. Annoying it is certainly, but a massive reduction like that? Get real! Reduced to less than $400 because of a mistake in shipping date? We would all end up paying for that through increased prices.

X2. I completely agree with itshimitis.

LA_Photographer · 01-09-2016, 08:55 PM

Mine should be in my hands on Tuesday. Can't wait to shoot with it!

TheDocAUS · 01-09-2016, 09:19 PM

Got mine Thursday. To my shame I have unpacked it but have not used it. Did have a close look though.

Only very minor changes to the FA35 externally. The focus ring is a slightly different texture, more writing on the lens including DFA 35mm written on the side. Lens hood is almost identical, the changes are mostly internal judging from people's quality comments.

gavincato · 01-11-2016, 02:52 PM

So I have a wedding soon in new zealand where we are going to be getting a helicopter to take us around and drop the couple on top of a couple of mountains - with me shooting them from the chopper plus me being on the ground with them doing wide angles of them plus all the background of mountains.

So is there a consensus if theres a noticeable difference between the new 35 and my old 35? My old 35 is a cracker sharpness wise, but it does suffer from CA and the autofocus would be nice.

In Australia, I can have one in 3 weeks from the local distributor. It's not cheap

TheDocAUS · 01-11-2016, 08:15 PM

Originally posted by gavincato

In Australia, I can have one in 3 weeks from the local distributor. It's not cheap

My order took 6 months, so lets hope the supply situation is better now in Oz, have a backup plan. The older version of the 35mm worked well from the helicopter when I was in NZ late last year. 55mm would also be good.

mee · 01-11-2016, 08:24 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Just FYI but the "Ricoh website" is not run by Ricoh. They have farmed it out to someone, and sadly it is generally a disaster. Many have complained but there has been no change.

Just like their repair facilities.. farmed out to someone else and that someone else is horribly disorganized. And many too have complained but there has been no change (thus far).

I find that farming work to the lowest bidder rarely works well.. or saves money. I wonder how much Ricoh/Pentax loses in sales due to poor performance at the webstore and the repair facility versus had they actually contracted companies that care (or even better, handled them directly in house)?

LA_Photographer · 01-11-2016, 08:34 PM

Mine is officially in the city, but tomorrow afternoon it will be in my hands!

**jatrax** · 01-11-2016, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by mee

I find that farming work to the lowest bidder rarely works well.. or saves money. I wonder how much Ricoh/Pentax loses in sales due to poor performance at the webstore and the repair facility versus had they actually contracted companies that care (or even better, handled them directly in house)?

No idea. I just hope the US market for them improves enough that they feel they can justify the cost of running their own website and repair facility.

Ristretto · 01-13-2016, 08:38 AM

Originally posted by gavincato

So is there a consensus if theres a noticeable difference between the new 35 and my old 35? My old 35 is a cracker sharpness wise, but it does suffer from CA and the autofocus would be nice.

I did some comparison between the FA35 and the new D-FA35 on my blog (www.fotoristretto.ch). Conclusion quick & dirty: The new one is sharper than the FA, especially at wide aperture, Bokeh is nicer, but CA and Flares are about the same... :-(

The A35 wasn't available for the review...

Fitz · 01-21-2016, 08:57 AM

The Pentax-D FA 645 35mm F3.5 showed up yesterday to my address this time and I will give a trial run in the next couple of days.

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12-30-2015, 08:53 AM	#16
larkis Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 130	I got to Japan a day ago and they only had 1 of those lenses in stock at Yodobashi Camera (zero now, since I have purchased it). I can see how it could be back ordered in many other locations as well. Hopefully it's a fine performer with the new coating and all. I should be able to post some images from it after I get back to Canada.

12-30-2015, 02:39 PM	#17
TheDocAUS Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 126	Originally posted by itshimitis I hope you're not being serious. I think it was meant tongue in cheek, at least that is how I read it.

12-30-2015, 03:52 PM	#18
rfkiii Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 130	Originally posted by Sarnian The new lens is fantastic and has great edge-to-edge sharpness. At what aperture? TIA

12-31-2015, 04:02 PM	#19
TheDocAUS Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 126	Just received an email from B&H saying my lens has shipped. They honoured the price of US1,099.00 (the early bird reward). Nice start to the new year! Last edited by TheDocAUS; 12-31-2015 at 04:16 PM.

01-09-2016, 04:44 PM	#20
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,342	Originally posted by itshimitis I hope you're not being serious. Annoying it is certainly, but a massive reduction like that? Get real! Reduced to less than $400 because of a mistake in shipping date? We would all end up paying for that through increased prices. X2. I completely agree with itshimitis.

01-09-2016, 08:55 PM	#21
LA_Photographer Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 37	Mine should be in my hands on Tuesday. Can't wait to shoot with it!

01-09-2016, 09:19 PM	#22
TheDocAUS Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 126	Got mine Thursday. To my shame I have unpacked it but have not used it. Did have a close look though. Only very minor changes to the FA35 externally. The focus ring is a slightly different texture, more writing on the lens including DFA 35mm written on the side. Lens hood is almost identical, the changes are mostly internal judging from people's quality comments.

01-11-2016, 02:52 PM	#23
gavincato Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 247	So I have a wedding soon in new zealand where we are going to be getting a helicopter to take us around and drop the couple on top of a couple of mountains - with me shooting them from the chopper plus me being on the ground with them doing wide angles of them plus all the background of mountains. So is there a consensus if theres a noticeable difference between the new 35 and my old 35? My old 35 is a cracker sharpness wise, but it does suffer from CA and the autofocus would be nice. In Australia, I can have one in 3 weeks from the local distributor. It's not cheap

01-11-2016, 08:15 PM	#24
TheDocAUS Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 126	Originally posted by gavincato In Australia, I can have one in 3 weeks from the local distributor. It's not cheap My order took 6 months, so lets hope the supply situation is better now in Oz, have a backup plan. The older version of the 35mm worked well from the helicopter when I was in NZ late last year. 55mm would also be good.

01-11-2016, 08:24 PM	#25
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Originally posted by jatrax Just FYI but the "Ricoh website" is not run by Ricoh. They have farmed it out to someone, and sadly it is generally a disaster. Many have complained but there has been no change. Just like their repair facilities.. farmed out to someone else and that someone else is horribly disorganized. And many too have complained but there has been no change (thus far). I find that farming work to the lowest bidder rarely works well.. or saves money. I wonder how much Ricoh/Pentax loses in sales due to poor performance at the webstore and the repair facility versus had they actually contracted companies that care (or even better, handled them directly in house)?

01-11-2016, 08:34 PM	#26
LA_Photographer Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 37	Mine is officially in the city, but tomorrow afternoon it will be in my hands!

01-11-2016, 10:53 PM	#27
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by mee I find that farming work to the lowest bidder rarely works well.. or saves money. I wonder how much Ricoh/Pentax loses in sales due to poor performance at the webstore and the repair facility versus had they actually contracted companies that care (or even better, handled them directly in house)? No idea. I just hope the US market for them improves enough that they feel they can justify the cost of running their own website and repair facility.

01-13-2016, 08:38 AM	#28
Ristretto Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 159	Originally posted by gavincato So is there a consensus if theres a noticeable difference between the new 35 and my old 35? My old 35 is a cracker sharpness wise, but it does suffer from CA and the autofocus would be nice. I did some comparison between the FA35 and the new D-FA35 on my blog (www.fotoristretto.ch). Conclusion quick & dirty: The new one is sharper than the FA, especially at wide aperture, Bokeh is nicer, but CA and Flares are about the same... :-( The A35 wasn't available for the review...

01-21-2016, 08:57 AM	#29
Fitz New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 15 Original Poster	The Pentax-D FA 645 35mm F3.5 showed up yesterday to my address this time and I will give a trial run in the next couple of days.