Originally posted by blackcloudbrew Per the package and lens - "Made in Vietnam"
Also, and not unexpectedly, Lightroom 9.2, Camera Raw 12.2 (the latest version AFAIK as LR just updated earlier this week) does not recognize this lens' profile - yet. Seems to like the Tamron 70-210 profile though.
And where are Tamron's made?
Is there anything anywhere suggesting Pentax doesn't do everything from pouring the glass blanks through to putting the lenses in the boxes and shipping them.
Where is there support for the notion Tamron did anything but licence the design?
After all if the original Tamron design met Pentax spec. it would make more sense to license than burden your own design department with the task, and it would help get the product out quicker.
Until someone confirms the parts of the two cameras are interchangeable, I'm not committing to the stretch that it might be Tamron manufactured, or even have any Tamron manufactured components.
As far as I can tell the whole discussion is fostered by those who want to claim that the Pentax is overpriced, and need them to be the same lens. It's more likely that Tamron just doesn't command the kinds of price Pentax does and as a third party can't make money with so many of us preferring Pentax branded glass. Just putting the Pentax name on it means the lens has a shot at being profitable, for Pentax as the OEM, where it wouldn't be for Tamron.
But really, it's a lens that fits on my camera, if the switch for the focus limiter was made on the moon or in North Korea I really don't care. Fix lens to camera, aim, focus , fire, process picture. Nothing changes, no matter where it's from.
The entire obnoxious claim that Canon or Nikon users can buy exactly the same lens for less than the release price is irrelevant. If you want the Nikon version buy whatever the Nikon you prefer is and buy it. And you can walk around saying "look what a great deal." And if you need to believe you're getting exactly what you would have if you'd bought the Pentax, it's not really worth anyone's time to try and convince you other wise. But that doesn't mean you'd be right.
Until the notion that Pentax didn't in some way make desired changes to the glass, or lens body supported by something other than speculation, anyone who claims to know something is just blowing hot air.
It's a very good Pentax lens. It's Pentax branded and comes through the Pentax supply chain. Anything more than that should be prefaced with "I don't know this for sure but I suspect, blah , blah, blah."