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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-22-2016, 06:47 AM
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It only makes sense that Tamron would not release their lenses for K-mount. The reason they stopped releasing for Pentax is that there was not enough demand and the venture wasn't profitable. Now, if the K-1 increases demand and Tamron (and Sigma) saw a chance for profit, they would start releasing the lenses that there is a high demand for, which is mostly stuff that Pentax doesn't offer themselves.
But for the rebadging Ricoh has obviously chosen the Tamron lenses that Pentax users have the highest demand for - a wide-angle zoom and a standard zoom. And if the two mystery lenses are rebadged Tamrons too, then how much else can Tamron release for Pentax that there is really high demand for?
Now, while the rebadging was a smart move on Ricoh's behalf, I am pretty sure it removes any chance of Tamron releasing K-mount lenses any time soon. Through rebadging they make a profit without any risk, because Ricoh are the ones who need to sell the lenses, not Tamron.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-21-2016, 04:06 PM
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Wait a second there. a) the FA35 f/2 is still on the roadmap and I have not come across any indication that it would be discontinued. It frequently happens that some online store mislabels a lens as discontinued, unless other stores follow suit there really is nothing to it.
And the DA 35 f/2.4 is a stellar lens on crop, both acclaimed by reviewers and revered by many users, me included. It is pretty damn sharp, with low distortion and close to no CAs. And it is entirely FF compatible.
And how many 'world class' primes do you need of the same focal length?
 Quote: The Pentax K-1 has 5-axis stabilisation IBIS, so what is your point?
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-21-2016, 02:27 PM
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Who knows whether they can 'quickly' update them. It's more likely they've been working on updating them for quite some time now in order to have them ready for the K-1 launch.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-21-2016, 11:42 AM
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True. But Sigma sells a 85 f/1.4 for Pentax. With that area covered for now, I think Pentax would be well advised in focusing on wide-angle primes.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-21-2016, 10:25 AM
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Never :lol:
No, seriously - if they are rebadged, it will be done under the HD FA label. Bestowing the 'Ltd.' label on lenses designed by another company would be a major embarrassment, and these lenses have nothing of what the Ltd.s are known for.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-21-2016, 06:45 AM
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I would love for Ricoh to keep rebadging Tamron lenses, and even start looking at some of the Tokina stuff - that way we as users get high quality lenses at good price points (higher than the Tamron original, but cheaper than Ricoh's own creations) quickly, and it frees up resources for Ricoh to work on their own developments.
However, the question is how much money Ricoh can make by rebadging. They'll have to invest in a number of changes made to the design (take out OS, put weather sealing in, add proprietary coatings), pay Tamron for manufacturing the lenses for them and then they can't even sell them for a lot. Ricoh charges $1,499 for the 15-30, Tamron charged $1,199 at release, the Pentax 24-70 comes in at $1,299, the Tamron version cost exactly the same at release in 2013, and now much less, of course. They do save big time on development, of course, but if rebadging was highly profitable more brands would do it.
So while this is an easy and quick way in getting high quality lenses out, Ricoh cannot make much money with them, and looking at the K-1's price that won't earn them much either. Ricoh Imaging needs to make a profit to stay afloat, so where's the cash cow? I can only assume their own lenses like the 150-450 and 70-200 are doing that job, and they'll want to add more of these.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-18-2016, 02:16 PM
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Impossible to tell. They might keep with their evaluation that K-mount does not offer enough demand. Or they may well have struck a deal with Ricoh and give Pentax another chance. The fact that they have been manufacturing the 15-30 f/2.8 and 24-70 f/2.8 for them, and the new line will be revealed so close to the Pentax K-1 (with loads of demand for fast, modern primes that Ricoh does not currently offer), maaay hint towards K-mount versions. I think it that would be the case, with little else to choose from in the high quality prime department, they might actually earn quite a bit of money with K-1 owners.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-17-2016, 12:14 PM
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I don't really care whether Tamron starts producing Tamron branded K-mount lenses again, or whether they just produce them for Pentax in another coat. The first option would be cheaper for the consumer, the second comes with weather resistance and potentially better coatings.
The important thing is that we, as customers, get the lenses we want. Consequentially I would greatly welcome it if either more third party manufacturers start to sell K-mount lenses again, or Pentax would expand their current arrangement with Tamron to other manufacturers. Specifically thinking of the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 and a couple Sigma 'Art' lenses.
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