|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
10-16-2021, 05:24 AM
|
| |
So after >20 years Pentax expand the full format lens range with a DFA 21/2.4 limited.
I'm looking very positive at that, and might buy the lense to replace my Sigma 20/1.8, and becsuse I have the other limited.
But now I'm wondering if Pentax might also expand the FF limited range in the other end...something longer than 77mm, but shorter than 200mm. A 100mm limited, or 105mm limited....or a FF 135mm limited. Or if they like unusual focal lengts (like 31, 43, 77mm): a 120mm limited (the K mount line included a 120mm). I don't believe in a 100mm limited since they produce a 100mm macro. But something in the range 120-135mm would complement the DFA limited range very well. Today it's the FA 135/2.8 that plays that role, but it's been out of production for about 25 years. I'm just speculating. But the new DFA limited tell us that Pentax intention is that DFA limiteds remain a part of their FF strategy...it's not just an old legacy that they keep to fill the FF lense range...it's more than that. And that might result in more new DFA limiteds....maybe a DFA limited zoom, like in the APS-C limited lense range.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-13-2019, 11:40 AM
|
| |
The copy in Japan? I think that's why it have been there without selling for several months. They need to cut the price in half. The two copies in Prague are fairly new. High prices, but in EU so I would not pay any tax on top of itm And they take bids. Tempting. But not for now. I have my new lenses to play with, those I actually posted about. So for this summer I keep on hunting the butterflies and dragon flies with my Sigma 180mm macro.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-13-2019, 03:44 AM
|
| |
They come up regularly on ebay. There's three FA 200mm macro out right now on ebay, one in Japan, and two in Europe. But they ask for ~4000US$ for the later two. The one in Japan has been sitting there for a while...probably because of fungus on the last lense element.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-12-2019, 11:05 AM
|
| |
Compared to past years my frequency of lens purchases has gone down a bit. I don''t think it is because my LBA is cured. It is more, I think, because there are so many lenses that I wanted that I now already have. ;) And of those remaining on my wish-list, most of them are really hard to find or very expensive. So by necessity, I buy less lenses, without being cured. This begun sometime after I passed 300 lenses. I heard this is the 2nd last stage of LBA.
Anyway, despite less than 10 new lenses so far this year, I landed two lenses this week that has been on my wish-list a long time:
1) In my ambition to get the full frame lenses I want for the K-1 there was now only two lenses I really miss, and one of them being a true 180 degree circular fish eye on full frame. And there are very few alternatives. If one wan't something modern with A-contacts and maybe even autofocus, there is in practise only one alternative. So I just landed a Sigma EX 8mm f4 fisheye 180 degree. I don't got any shots I want to post yet, but it makes a nice circle in the middle of the K-1 rectangle, sometimes with a bluish curve outside of the 180 degree circle. Now I just need to learn how to shoot with this very special lense. Scientifically, at work, I have some tasks for this lense, but privatley I'd like to play around with daytime skies, landscapes, nightime skies etc in the way I've seen some great photographers do.
2) The other long term lens hunt that finished this week was to get the A 645 35mm f3.5 (or the FA version) since the A645 45mm f2.8 I had was not wide enough in many cases. And the 35mm f3.5 have a great reputation, especially the A version. To my surprice, after failing to get it on ebay several times, it appeared on the local Swedish tradera (like e-bay, but just for Sweden), and i got it for about half the price one would expect on e-bay. Haven't got it on the post yet....but in a week it's time to take out the 645-system.
Still looking for the A/FA 200mm f4 macro, meanwhile I get around with the Sigma 180mm f3.5 macro...
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-08-2019, 11:39 AM
|
| |
Thank you for a very interesting twitter thread! Even the built in twitter translater is good enough to get a lot out of it.
But I must say it is bizzare to see the almost 20 years old MZ-S-based digital FF prototype handled like that over a dinner table among beer, sake and rise bowls! Shouln't it belong in a safe or a company museum glass monter?!?
And since they now anyway brought it out of whatever closset it rests in, and they even mounted an FA limited on it....why didn't they took and posted some test shots? Would have been interesting to see how bad that Philips sensor was!?
Photos of the K-1 labeled digital MZ-S-clone from that twitter thread:
 |
|
Forum: Pentax Price Watch
07-03-2018, 05:45 AM
|
| |
An interesting piece of information is that the designer of this lense is Tohru Matsumoto, son of Saburo Matsumoto (the guy who built up the modern Pentax from the ashes of three boombed factories after WW2). Tohru Matsumoto was head of Pentax from 1975-1996. It is the only lens patent where he is the leading inventor. The patent is from 1970. Between his MIT degree in 1963 and taking over the leadership of Asahi Optical Company from his dad in 1975, he probably worked a while in different departments, including enough time at the lens design department to draw this beast. Not a bad apprentice exam! Sorry for the rambling. A bit of Pentax history.
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
07-01-2018, 05:47 AM
|
| |
How about a DFA* 200mm macro? I would retire my sigma 180mm macro instantly if Pentax came out with a new 200mm macro. Tired of looking for a used FA*200 macro.
---------- Post added 07-01-18 at 02:49 PM ----------
Lets stay in the bar and share some more champaign....
---------- Post added 07-01-18 at 03:02 PM ----------
Whoa! This thread isn't familly safe! A naked DA*60-250!
 |
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
07-01-2018, 05:36 AM
|
| |
They list 6 criterias that define * lenses....including large aperture. But they miss one that all * lenses have: fixed aperture.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-01-2018, 05:23 AM
|
| |
I've got the A*85/1.4, A*135/1.8, FA*24/2, FA*28-70/2.8, FA*80-200/2.8, FA*85/1.4, FA*300/4.5, DA*16-50/2.8, DA*50-135/2.8.
Optically they are all worth the *. The 135/1.8 would be worth two *. I've never had any SDM problems, but the 2nd lens element got lose on the DA*50-135, after bumping around in my back pack, so I had to open it up and repair it. Hapy ending. My A*'s and FA*'s have however taken more beating than that with no problems. So combined with the problems others had with the SDMs I think it is fair to say that the DA*'s build quality suffered from some bad compromises, probably forced onto Pentax by Hoya. The later DA*'s appears to do better, and I expect the new DFA*'s to be back at A*/FA* quality level. If not Pentax(Ricoh) shoot themselves in the foot.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-01-2018, 05:00 AM
|
| |
Right so! If anything, Pentax limiteds correspond to Carl Zeiss ZK (ZE for Canon) lenses in build quality and optics....but Pentax have autofocus!
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-24-2018, 10:19 PM
|
| |
SMC Pentax FA* 200mm f4 macro. But I haven't given up yet. There were one on ebay last week for 4300 US$, which was too much for me considering it had fungus! Meanwhile I shoot with the Sigma 180mm f3.5 macro.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
06-24-2018, 09:45 PM
|
| |
Researcher at Stockholm University in the fields of air pollution and climate change. Associate professor would be the English title.
|
|
Forum: General Photography
06-21-2018, 07:59 AM
|
| |
I've heard that one before. Another version: "I'm going to show your list to my wife. Thanks for the help!"
|
|
Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
06-21-2018, 07:57 AM
|
| |
If LBA is such a problem, you can always glue one lense to the camera. That shoukd cure you ;)
|
|
Forum: Pentax Q
06-21-2018, 06:57 AM
|
| |
I'm wondering why they only manufacture it for Nikon mount? I suspect K-mount would have sold much better. At least I would have been much more interrested. I have a few nice pre-AI nikons, but many more in K or m42. Am I wrong to think that Q-owners more typically are Pentaxians with a bunch of Pentax/Takumar lenses in the closset, rather than old Nikonians? And with the slightly longer registration distance of the Nikon mount, it is hard to add another adapter on it to adapt to another lens mount, without adding more optics that likely degrade the results.
But thanks for posting an interesting review.
As this is my first post on the Q-subforum, I suppose I should admit that I happened to buy a red Q10 2nd had for very little a week ago. It comes with the 01, 02, 04 (which doesn't impress) and 07.
Right now I'm shopping adapters to see what is worth trying on the Q10 of my lens collection: through the viewfinder: My Lenses |
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
06-20-2018, 08:43 PM
|
| |
Not my job. But it surprices me that the forum has such a sloppy error. The facts are well known. Pentax and Tokina had a deal then where several Pentax lens patents were licenced to Tokina, and Tokina licensed one lens design to Pentax. It upset some people as unfair. But obviously the net cash-flow went from Tokina to Pentax, even though the sum was never purlic. It should be noted that the research section at Tokina is small, much smaller than at Pentax prior to the Hoya purge, and still smaller than the optical R&D at Ricoh today. Both Tamron and Sigma has substantially larger research teams than Tokina, so Tokina is dependent on this sort of deals.
As for the dates, it is the date when the patent was finally accepted. Production often start when the patent is still pending. That's a terrible slow process.
---------- Post added 06-21-18 at 05:53 AM ----------
I don't think so. Pentax was quite eager to repeat the success of the F 17-28mm fisheye zoom in APS-C format. And it worked, the DA 10-17mm has sold very well.
It was interresting to observe what happened with the 2nd hand price of the F 17-28mm fisheye zoom when the K-1 came. Since a lot of them where sold back in film-days, but the lens where nearly useless (or pointless) on APS-C, it was valued very low. Prices jumped up quite a lot. It works very well on the K-1. :)
|
|
Forum: General Photography
06-19-2018, 04:57 PM
|
| |
I've been full frame ready since 1983. So it was about time.
Now these are used the way God intended:
With autofocus:
SMC Pentax-F 17-28mm f3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye
SMC Pentax-F 24-50mm f4
SMC Pentax-F 28-80mm f3.5-4.5
SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm f3.5-4.5
SMC Pentax-F 50mm f1.7
SMC Pentax-F 70-210mm f4-5.6 ED
SMC Pentax-FA 20-35mm f4 AL GC
SMC Pentax-FA* 24mm f2 AL IF
SMC Pentax-FA 24-90mm f3.5-4.5 AL IF
SMC Pentax-FA 28mm f2.8 AL
SMC Pentax-FA* 28-70mm f2.8 AL
SMC Pentax-FA 28-70mm f4 AL
SMC Pentax-FA 28-80mm f3.5-4.7 Powerzoom
SMC Pentax-FA 28-105mm f4-5.6 Powerzoom
SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f1.8 limited AL
SMC Pentax-FA 35mm f2 AL GC
SMC Pentax-FA 43mm f1.9 limited
SMC Pentax-FA 50mm f1.4
SMC Pentax-FA 50mm f2.8 macro 1:1
SMC Pentax-FA 70-200mm f4-5.6 Powerzoom
SMC Pentax-FA 77mm f1.8 limited
SMC Pentax-FA* 80-200mm f2.8 ED IF
SMC Pentax-FA* 85mm f1.4 IF
SMC Pentax-FA 85mm f2.8 soft
SMC Pentax-FA 135mm f2.8 IF
SMC Pentax-FA* 300mm f4.5 ED IF
SMC Pentax-FAJ 18-35mm f4-5.6
SMC Pentax-DFA 100mm f2.8 FREE macro 1:1
SMC Pentax-DFA 100mm f2.8 WR FREE macro 1:1
SIGMA 20mm f1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF
SIGMA 24mm f2.8 ULTRA-WIDE II
SIGMA UC ZOOM 28-70mm f2.8-4
SIGMA EX 180mm f3.5 IF APO 1:1 macro
SIGMA AF Tele 400mm f5.6
Soligor AF 1.7x converter
Tamron BBAR MC7 AF 2x converter
Kenko 1.5x Pz-AF Teleplus SHQ converter
Non-autofocus:
SMC Pentax 18mm f3.5
SMC Pentax 24mm f2.8
SMC Pentax 28mm f3.5
SMC Pentax 30mm f2.8
SMC Pentax 35mm f3.5
SMC Pentax 45-125mm f4.5
SMC Pentax 50mm f1.2
SMC Pentax 50mm f1.4
SMC PENTAX 50mm f4 macro 1:2
SMC Pentax 55mm f1.8
SMC Pentax 55mm f2
SMC Pentax 85mm f2.2 soft
SMC Pentax 105mm f2.8
SMC Pentax 135mm f2.5
SMC Pentax 135mm f3.5
SMC Pentax refconverter T6-2x
Helicoid extensiontube K
Pentax Auto Bellows with slide copier
SMC Pentax-M 24-35mm f3.5
SMC Pentax-M 28mm f2
SMC Pentax-M 28mm f2.8
SMC Pentax-M 28mm f3.5
SMC Pentax-M 35mm f2.8
SMC Pentax-M 40mm f2.8
SMC Pentax-M 40-80mm f2.8-4
SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.4
SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.7
SMC Pentax-M 50mm f2
SMC Pentax-M 75-150mm f4
SMC Pentax-M 80-200mm f4.5
SMC Pentax-M 85mm f2
SMC Pentax-M 135mm f3.5
SMC Pentax-M 200mm f4
Takumar bayonet 28mm f2.8
Takumar (bayonet) 135mm f2.5
Takumar bayonet 135mm f2.8
SMC Pentax-A 28mm f2.8
SMC Pentax-A 28-135mm f4
SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm f3.5-4.5
SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm f4
SMC Pentax-A 35-105mm f3.5
SMC Pentax-A 50mm f1.7
SMC Pentax-A 50mm f2
SMC Pentax-A 70-210mm f4
SMC Pentax-A* 85mm f1.4
SMC Pentax-A 100mm f2.8
SMC Pentax-A* 135mm f1.8
SMC Pentax-A 135mm f2.8
Pentax refconverter-A 1.4x-S
Pentax refconverter-A 2x-S
Takumar-A zoom 70-200mm f4 (non-SMC)
Now I got tired....too tired to list all m42 and m37 Takumars and 3rd party m42 and K-mounts...
Am I hapy Pentax finally went FF? Yes!
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
06-19-2018, 04:14 PM
|
| |
The original full frame fish-eye zoom F 17-35mm was developed by Pentax lens designer Jun Hirokawa, patented in 1998.
The APS-C fisheye zoom DA 10-17mm was designed by the same Jun Hirokawa and his colleague at Pentax, Mr. Takayuki Ito, patented in 2008. Tokina, nor any other company helped with the development. That was 2 years before Hoya "retired" Jun Hirokawa.
So it is something of a tradition by Pentax to have a fisheye zoom.
For sources including patents, see through the viewfinder: Known Pentax lens designs and designers |
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-08-2018, 12:21 AM
|
| |
The F/FA/DFA50 macro is perhaps the sharpest Pentax lens and as you have discovered, very usefull. And then we haven't really considered that it is a very good 1:1 macro lens. Despite this it isn't very valued very high on the 2nd hand market, so you won't get that much for it. So keep it....you only have to save a little bit longer.
The DA*55 is a very different lens, despite the close focal length. The DA*55 is optimised for high speed (big apperture, thin DOF), and smooth portraits skin, smooth bookeh. F/FA/DFA 50 macro is optimised for sharpness and 1:1 macro. You clearly need both!
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
06-07-2018, 10:40 PM
|
| |
DPreview and respected in the same post.... !?!
---------- Post added 06-08-18 at 07:58 AM ----------
Statistics is revealing, isn't it?
Pentax has released 30 bodies since 2003...
The OP made 34 posts since he joined 2008.
Clearly, he out-numbers Pentax!
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
04-03-2018, 12:17 AM
|
| |
Looks like it changed "a bit" since I was there in 1994. If it's the same place? Tokyo it was, and Pentax. Lot's of big lenses. Remember looking at people across the square through the window and a 600mm lens. Don't remember if it was the A*600 or FA*600...
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
10-31-2017, 11:49 PM
|
| |
The FA28/2.8 is certainly small, fits in my pocket. I think the FA20 is about the same.
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
10-31-2017, 02:56 PM
|
| |
Yes, both of them designed by Jun Hirokawa. To my knowĺedge the F17-28 was the first fisheye zoom ever, even though Canon and Nikon have since released their own fisheye zooms. The new fisheye zoom I suppose Masakazu Saori will design (he is currently the leading lens designer at Pentax, among other lenses he made the DA*16-50/2.8, DA*50-135/2.8, DA21ltd, DA70ltd and DFA*70-200/2.8), unless they just update the F17-28 with new coating etc. What I"ve learned as an owner of both the F17-28 and DA10-17 is that the zoom function makes the fisheye so much more usefull and easier to use.
|
|
Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
10-30-2017, 04:45 PM
|
| |
There is no such thing as "de-fishing" a fish eye. The DA fish-eye zoom is a completely different beast. It's not rectlinear and it is much slower. You can't turn it into a rectlinear f2.8 zoom with some simple "de-fish-eye" process. The lens designs will be different from the first array.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-11-2017, 05:50 PM
|
| |
No, no....that's the wrong answer! You buy them all!
|
