Had a nice chat with Pentax Australia todau and they've kindly updated the website for the new lenses. Get your pre-orders in now! Exciting stuff!

11-18 Ricoh Imaging | Pentax HD DA 11-18mm f2.8 ED DC Lens

35/2 Ricoh Imaging | Pentax HD FA 35mm f2.0

[rawr]

eds along with nearly all of my old film lenses and slr's , K-5 and quite a few Sigma K-mount lenses from Photo Continental ( now gone unfortunately ) and K-1 from Digital C

Similarly, in terms of recent Pentax purchases I bought my K200D from JBHifi via store walk-in, my K-x from OfficeWorks (!) in-store, my K-5 from DCW in-store, my K-3 from CameraPro in-store, K-1 from DigiDirect in-store. But K-mount lenses or Pentax flashes? No one has any of that stuff in-store.

[monochrome]

This relatively price-insensitive Lexus non-owner will probably be patient. There's a lot like about this new lens, but when all is said and done my DFA15-30 is pretty good.

Yep. I also want to see whether the 16-50 and 50-135 are re-released at this standard. Maybe I’ll eventually buy it (and the upgrades) if I keep the KP, which is a better camera than many people appreciate.

As it is though K-1 remains my primary camera and the 3 zooms my daily kit. The Limiteds and manual lenses are for entertainment.

[cmohr]

Similarly, in terms of recent Pentax purchases I bought my K200D from JBHifi via store walk-in, my K-x from OfficeWorks (!) in-store, my K-5 from DCW in-store, my K-3 from CameraPro in-store, K-1 from DigiDirect in-store. But K-mount lenses or Pentax flashes? No one has any of that stuff in-store.

That's right, It's not easy being "green" , ( IE a Pentax person)

Yep. I also want to see whether the 16-50 and 50-135 are re-released at this standard. Maybe I’ll eventually buy it (and the upgrades) if I keep the KP, which is a better camera than many people appreciate.

As it is though K-1 remains my primary camera and the 3 zooms my daily kit. The Limiteds and manual lenses are for entertainment.

Yes, would be nice to see re-releases of those two with undated motors in them, but, unfortunately I'm unsure that would happen, seeing how the HD 35/2 , is the same design, just a little cosmetics on the outside, and new coatings on the same design glass inside. So I'm not sure, HOW much redesign would be needed to swap the SDM to a DC motor?? or even if there could be an upgrade program for them , similar to the K-1 to K-1ii upgrade.... Could you image that, send in your old SDM lenses, to get a DC Motor upgrade on them , they did it with a Camera, why not lenses???

Until then, I wish Pentax, would finally bit the bullet, and give a firmware update, that would allow people to switch them to screwdrive "in camera menu" so when they do fail they are still easily usable by even a novice , without having to do all the hacking that is needed currently.

That KP is still super super tempting, I keep imagining a silver one, with a Limited set of primes say a 15/43/77 and a 20-40 . as a travel/daily kit.

[Sandy Hancock]

I see the KP with 11-18 and 150-450 as a perfect compliment to the K-1 with 24-70 and 70-200.
Shared filters from super wide to short telephoto, and every reasonable focal length covered with top-notch glass.

Stuff it. I think I'll pre-order

[cmohr]

I see the KP with 11-18 and 150-450 as a perfect compliment to the K-1 with 24-70 and 70-200.
Shared filters from super wide to short telephoto, and every reasonable focal length covered with top-notch glass.

Stuff it. I think I'll pre-order

Can't wait to see the Pics!!!!!!!!!!!

[PJ1]

Stuff it. I think I'll pre-order

Maybe pre-order that Lexus while you are at it?

[cmohr]

On a side note, any more info on this Heating Element Wire gizmo they mention???

[Sandy Hancock]

Maybe pre-order that Lexus while you are at it?

Not a chance. Stupid cars.
I'm a Subaru man.

[Sandy Hancock]

Now look at what you've gone and made me do:

Thank you for placing an order with us. Your order has been processed by our system as shown below. If you have any queries regarding your order please don't hesitate to contact us.

Your Order Details

Order Date 14/02/2019
Order Number 442****

[Megapixelmk]

Been looking forward to the release of the 11-18 for so long....but at nearly $2000 its going to be alot longer before I obtain one. I guess the 12-24 will get more service

[BruceBanner]

I see the KP with 11-18 and 150-450 as a perfect compliment to the K-1 with 24-70 and 70-200.
Shared filters from super wide to short telephoto, and every reasonable focal length covered with top-notch glass.

Stuff it. I think I'll pre-order

Now look at what you've gone and made me do:

Bahaha Throw a HD FA 35/2 in yer cart as well, and if you don't like it I'll buy it off you for the 20% DCXpert price tag

But on a serious note, why are we so excited about the 11-18 when there is a FF 15-30?

15-30 on a FF is wider than 11-18 (16.5-27mm on a crop Equiv FoV).

The 11-18 cannot be used on FF but the 15-30 can, which gives approximately 22.5-45mm equivalent. In my mind the 15-30 is a much better lens between the two systems than the 11-18. I guess the attraction of the 11-18 is for the KP users who really want a small and compact landscape set up and have no FF camera so therefore the 15-30 is of little interest. Those of us with both crop and FF systems (and limited funds)... why would you really go for the 11-18? Is it going to be that much better than the already excellent 15-30?

[Sandy Hancock]

I have already explained that I have no use for the FA35/2.0

At the very least, the DA*11-18 is smaller than the DFA15-30 (by quite a lot), lighter, and takes conventional 82mm filters. From the early images I've seen I get the impression that the image quality is at least comparable and the flare resistance is better.

I have both full frame and crop systems, and the DFA15-30. In my humble opinion, no one in their right mind would buy the DFA15-30 to use exclusively on a crop system. I've had mine for nearly three years, and travelled overseas with it four times - most recently with both FF and crop cameras. It has only ever been used on the K-1. I'm really looking forward to a smaller option.

[BruceBanner]

I have already explained that I have no use for the FA35/2.0

At the very least, the DA*11-18 is smaller than the DFA15-30 (by quite a lot), lighter, and takes conventional 82mm filters. From the early images I've seen I get the impression that the image quality is at least comparable and the flare resistance is better.

I have both full frame and crop systems, and the DFA15-30. In my humble opinion, no one in their right mind would buy the DFA15-30 to use exclusively on a crop system. I've had mine for nearly three years, and travelled overseas with it four times - most recently with both FF and crop cameras. It has only ever been used on the K-1. I'm really looking forward to a smaller option.

Yeah I get that Sandy, by no means having a go at you. I'm just talking from the budgeter Pentaxer. I know my funds, there is no way I will ever be able to justify owning both a 15-30 and a 11-18 for two different systems. I've paid for my mistakes in the past and now hunt exclusively for lenses that are 100% interchangeable between both systems to get maximum value.
People like me who own a K-1 and a KP are in this situation not always due to choice but funds. If I could have afforded two K-1's I would have done that, but the K-70 and KP are absolute bargains (especially today) for the IQ and functionality they offer, and when I do events it's important I can quickly throw on different lenses and not worry about vignetting etc.
The classic and beautiful HD DA 20-40 is another example of a lens I'd love to have, but it lacks proper compatibility with FF and when on a crop it's actually a 30-60. The way I see it the 15-30 is a fantastic lens when considering it's versatility across two systems, 15-30mm on one, and a 'proper DA HD 20-40' equivalent on the other (actually a 22.5-45mm). But yeah it's huge

The 11-18 just feels like a very specialised lens with perhaps limited appeal, either you have a lot of funds (good on ya!) or you shoot crop sensor only (and the 15-30 was never of interest to you because of that and you don't already own it). Don't get me wrong, I have a friend looking to get into photography (specifically landscape), he could pick up a KP or K-70+11-18 and some filters and he is in total business rocking what will be an astonishing professional landscape set up!
For those owning FF cameras... I dunno... I worry the 11-18 won't sell so well due to the 15-30 being in existence already.

I actually was looking at the 12-24 recently, seeing how well it works on FF, almost gets away with it!

Regardless, I can't wait to see your results with the 11-18

[Sandy Hancock]

there is no way I will ever be able to justify owning both a 15-30 and a 11-18 for two different systems.

Nor can I. If the DA*11-18 is as good as I think it will be I won't be keeping the DFA15-30

[SSGGeezer]

I went out and got a job after seeing the price! I want the 11-18 that much!