The longest telephoto, by custom order only, is still the Pentax FA* 600mm F4 ED(IF).
whilst i'm here preparing for a Zombie Shuffle...
how are they isolated? They're all K-mount derivatives. it's one thing to say the new FA645 55mm SDM won't fit on a K7, but there's nothing stopping you from mounting any of the K-mount lenses on a current Crop KAF3 camera
It would be pretty silly to have 2 teams tasked to develop the D-FA and FA line, given that there hasn't been a new FA design since the FA31mm LTD in 03, and the D-FA 100mm Macro WR is (as far as my research says) the same optical formula as in the non-WR D-FA macro, as well as the FA macro and F macro.
Again, they're not isolated and if anything, the majority of FA lenses were developed well before Pentax even thought of the MZ-D, whilst most of the DA lenses were developed after the release of the *ist D in 03.
there's also the note that a lot of Pentax's Digital lenses were co-developed with another company, saving R&D resources. In one case, the DA18-250, Pentax took an existing Tamron lens and rebadged and recased it.
will the FA31LTD do Macro? will the DA31 work without vignetting on my Film K1000. Can i afford either when the FA35 F2 is a nice cheap in-between step..
Will the DA40 work fine on my K1000?
and other gaps would be introduced if pentax were to consolidate as per your suggestion.
You don't. others do. I would if i could afford some more lenses since i want a wide angle close focusing lens like the DA35LTD for some of my hobbies.
all of which are too look for my macro usage.
... on the assumption that the ONLY thing you're using a D-FA 100mm for is Macro...
the D-FA 100mm is the right size for my portraiture and has nice bokeh imo, but far far too long for my macro work. shame i didn't pick one up when i was in japan...
Same with Full Frame discussions. Doesn't mean they're not stupid, banal, and from people who really need to drop K-mount and go to Canon or Nikon...
Yes, i took out "good reason" for a "good reason"
Sand. Rain. Seasalt, Tomato and Barbeque sauce. Fake blood. I've seen Canons and Nikons die in the same usage i put my K200D and K7 though. And i've seen people not take their cameras in similar situations.
there's no doubting that the current lenses won't last as long as, say, an M lens (hell, my Tamron 18-200's falling apart...), but i would want it to fall apart later, given the abuse i give my cameras and lenses and the conditions that it goes through, rather than some similarly priced DSLR or lenses that isn't build as strongly.
Where is the assumption that having WR adds significantly to the cost? to get K7 kind of sealing with Canon or Nikon, you're looking no less than the 1D and D3 series. On it's own, the 18-55WR and 50-200WR aren't significantly more expensive. Sure, the DA*s are fairly expensive as Pentax lenses go, but they're no more expensive than equivalent Canon Ls and Nikon pro lenses.
Don't make the assumption that WR isn't anybody's requirement. It was one of mine, and one of the reason i stayed with a K200D and instead of moving to the 450D & D60. It's the reason i stayed with the K7 instead of moving to a D90 or 50D
Admittedly, Pentax's SDM implementation in-lens leaves a lot to be desired. But the contacts are already there (they are old Power Zoom contacts). why not use them for something?
however, the problem did exist. the speed of the screwdrive AF, pre K20/200D generation, wasn't exactly brilliant. It was also noisy. Sure, the SDM isn't Canon L USM silent, but it was a damn sight better than anything on screwdrive.
a full move to SDM can't happen as Pentax's DA LTD pancake lenses don't have the physical space to have one. If pentax can implement a ring type USM motor like in Canon's USM or Nikon's AF-S, then SDM on K-mount becomes decidely more appealing. My friends with Sigma HSM lenses on their Pentax DSLRs dont' seem to complain....
you're also saying this as if no other company has ever had to decide on whether to put AF motors in the body or lens...
So? 2 good, well segmented bodies isn't a bad thing...
with 4, yes, FOUR, in the entry level bracket. all varying so little that video and price point is the segmentation.
i count 7 (D3000, D5000, D90, D300s. D700, D3S, D3X) and Again, all so close that they overlap.
*points to the 645D* It's a high end market that Canon or Nikon don't have campers high-end enough to compete in.
Realistically, the high end market is small. 5-9% or so. Sure, everyone with a Digital Rebel wants an FF, but how many are actually going to pony up the funds to do so.
for a company so small with such a small sales percentage, there are events i go to that have more Pentaxes than FF cameras from the 3 FF makers combined. and invariably, unless they're pros, if it starts to pour they'll be the first ones under cover protecting their FF bodies..
