Originally posted by Lowell Goudge I disagree
If they are offering a system, it needs to be complete. Note that the long lenses are also needed for ASP-C.
I don;t think people want to rely on sigma only, and note that sigma for some of the most interesting long lenses don't include pentax now. try for example the 120-300F2.8 zoom, not available in pentax.
While relying on existing users and old lense collections got them into the DSLR market in a big way, it is no longer viable to move them forward. They have exhausted that market.
I don't disagree the short end will get a lot of attention also, but they need essentually to re-make the FA system over, using modern materials, and ultimately get down to a 12mm -24 mmrectalinear zoom, plus the full frame ultra wide primes.
15 lenses is a reasonable full system requirement. (after all I have 27 lenses presently, but 11 of them are M42's because I decided to make an M42 kit over a limited range of focal lengths)
I was speaking to entirely new lenses. Yes, a total FF-capable quiver of 15+ would be right.
They need the equivalent of the dominant FF Nikon line-up, especially high-quality zooms:
14-24
24-70
and something longer, less fast
maybe a 17-x as well
And one long zoom, 70-300/4-5.6 with a 70-200/2.8 later.
The reason the Sigma 120-300/2.8 is not offered is that it is an FF model by design. When Pentax comes with FF, Sigma would likely offer. Currently Pentax cedes the long zoom market to Sigma and Tamron. That may not change.
For primes they need a 24 and something wider eventually. 85 for sure and 135 perhaps. Maybe 17, 24, 31, 43, 50, 77, 85, 100, 135. 5 of those are currently in production.
They'd need a TC. 100 is a macro, but they'd need a shorter one. Maybe a 50 variant, the DA 35 equivalent. FE and TS are other issues.
A more critical problem is that the other brands have expensive fast "pro" lenses, or the option of less expensive, slower versions. So with FF body investments, price-conscious consumers have price point lens options. Pentax hasn't the market headroom for both. The whole * and Limited variance might need to disappear if FF comes back and DA lenses are still in the mix for the larger APS-C market. There will be aperture trade-offs in the line-up, for sure, like a 17 prime at f/4, not 2.8.
Pentax may try and put out a relatively inexpensive FF body to make up for total system cost. This appears to be the same tactic used with the 645D.