FA* lenses.

Indeed but when you see the price of those lenses I get second thoughts about them.
The DA* range have a very good quality, certainly compared to their price.

Also when they want to make those FA lenses again they need to have more factories since they sold the Japanese one that made them and I wonder if they would sell enough to make that interesting.

If they could do a DA* 200mm Macro version of the FA equivalent for around the £1k mark, Chris @ SRS can have my deposit right now!

Still want 'our' DA*11-16 f2.8 though!

Makes me wonder about this. If experience at a couple of camera shops in Manchester are concerned, the K-7 is flying off the shelves. Every time they get them in, they go out of the shop. Even CaNikon users are changing systems (EOS 50D is a primary body being exchanged - wonder why? :lol
I know this is only what is happening in my neck of the woods, but even on photo shoots, you do see more Pentax bodies around the necks of people, in the past I was the only Pentaxian.
With third party companies now bringing their better optics with a K-mount, makes me think that Pentax are on the up with togs.
So, with this in mind, Pentax could re-introduce the FA* range, should they find the capacity, as interest in the system is on the increase. Plus, if Pentax did have more high grade optics, then even more togs would serious consider changing, or indeed change, to Pentax, as they know that they can get high quality glass to suit their needs, rather than looking at the others and think, "well they have more glass that I need/aspire to, so I will go with them", even if their bodies are not as good as the Pentax! (50D and 7D spring to mind........)

I've just got hold of an FA 80-200mm SMC 4.6/5.6 from eBay

I did notice it had "Made in Taiwan" on it Is this normal as I thought they were Japanese, of have I been HAD

It does seem to be OK, its compatible with my K-x, but I won't be able to give it a good try until the weekend.

Some FA lenses were made in Japan, mainly the more expensive ones and the primes. FA* lenses were all made in Japan. The FA 80-200 4.5/5.6 was a fairly cheap consumer lens so it was probably made wherever Pentax could get it cheapest!

I wouldn't mind seeing the FA J 18-35mm, they seem to be quite sought after as the only two I can find on ebay are pretty expensive. I realise that my kit lens covers the same focal length, but the FA J is a full frame lens and will work on film, so I could use it on my P30 or A3.

There is currently a used one on offer here:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographic-equipment-sale/83473-sale-super-...*-1-1-4-85mm-if.html

for CAD 1100

I'm surprised that they are sought after! It was the original kit lens for the *istD and was regarded as being pretty average, so much so that many users (including myself) preferred the Sigma 18-50 DG which was no great shakes.

Most people eventually upgraded to either the DA 18-55 or the even better DA 16-45.

Hmm, maybe I won't bother then!

The FA J series in general don't seem well regarded, although I've never been sure if that's down to people not liking the plastic construction.

I would also like to see the FA*'s reintroduced. They were among the best optics ever made but Pentax must launch a full frame DSLR first..

Oh bother!

I always quite liked mine on the MZ-5n, but then that was in the days when you didn't scrutinise your photos in the minutest detail - digital has done a lot to ruin the reputation of many a lens...

Dan

I would miss the quickshift though and some lenses do look heavy.

So maybe just a modification so that it fits APS-C sensor nicely by making the lens a bit smaller and therefor lighter and at all the extra's of the DA* lenses, I would like to see that indeed.

If they need to go FF is another story all together.

Correct me if i'm wrong but a FA* modified for APS sensors will be a DA* anyway..

Yes precisely, we don't need FF right?

Those of us who still shoot film would like some FF lenses to stay in manufacture. I think we are down to the three classic ltds and the macro lenses now. I'll admit to being very tempted by the WR 100mm macro.

K.