New 55, 60-250, and 17-70 Announced

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08012919pentaxlenses.asp

Full article.

"Pentax has announced that it will exhibit three forthcoming lenses both at PMA 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada and Photo Imaging Expo 2008 in Tokyo, Japan. Two - a 55mm F1.4 and 60-250mm F4 - are part of Pentax's flagship DA* line whilst the third, a 17-70mm F4, is a standard DA lens. All three lenses will feature SDM ultrasonic focusing."

Both DA* announced to be marketed by summer 2008, no date has been released for the 17-70 as of yet.


Along with the 200, 300, 35 macro, I think this is what all those suffering from LBA have been waiting for

Pentax, by winter of this year will have a very strong selection of digital lenses

Of course, we all knew these lenses were coming, just not when, or for certain. Still no sign of the non-macro 35mm SDM. I suspect that maybe pentax have scrapped that due to the fact they have the 31, the 35 macro and the old FA 35mm F/2. Perhaps they have just considered it of less importance.

---

http://www.behance.net/robbranigan
K20D, DA18-55II, FA50 1.4, DA10-17
To buy: Metz 58 AF-1, DA*50-135, DA12-24, DA100M

Don't get too excited though, they've been hoiking the 300/200/35 macro around shows for over a year and they're still not actually in the shops - they're just teasing us with things we may be able to buy in 2010 I reckon...

Interesting to note that the 17-70 will be the first DA (not DA*) lens to get SDM though, I guess the writing's on the wall for the old body-driven AF system.

---

Joining the Q

As a 16 year old kid, with no job, I just like to drool; so it doesnt matter to me

The question is, when will the new roadmap be out

---

http://www.behance.net/robbranigan
K20D, DA18-55II, FA50 1.4, DA10-17
To buy: Metz 58 AF-1, DA*50-135, DA12-24, DA100M

Now that is a good question! Although based on the reliability of previous maps I reckon you could draw your own and stand just as good a chance of guessing when (if) lenses see the light of day...

---

Joining the Q

The 60-250 might make a good upgrade from my recently acquired Tamron 70-300 DI, although obviously at around 5 times the price. Hoping that Samsung/Schneider introduce the same lenses as chances are they'll be cheaper here in the UK

simon

---

My website http://www.landscapephotographyuk.com

My Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/landscapephotographyuk

Find me on Google+ link

In all honesty, I cant see many ranges that need filling
Well..

A DA 85mm F1.8 would be exceptionally nice though
And a 135mm prime
Perhaps a zoom extending between 100 to around 400
Otherwise its a case of replacing the older FA prime lenses, which has been done by the pancakes pretty much already.

---

http://www.behance.net/robbranigan
K20D, DA18-55II, FA50 1.4, DA10-17
To buy: Metz 58 AF-1, DA*50-135, DA12-24, DA100M

Today!

See http://www.digital.pentax.co.jp/en/lens/

The most interesting, to me is the DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM lens!

I am way beyond a kid, have a job and I still can only drool!

---

Bodies: K5IIs, K7, MZ5n, LX, MV
Lenses: DA*16-50, DA18-55WR, DA18-135, DAL35, M50 F2, A50 f1.4, FA50 f1.4, DA*50-135, DA55-300, Tamron 70-300, DFA 100 WR Macro, M135 f3.5, Sigma 120-400 APO DG HSM, Tokina 500 f8.0
Flash: Metz 58, Metz 48
Accessories: BG4, Pentax right angle finder, Pentax mirror adaptor lens, O-ME53 Viewfinder Loupe
Auto 110 System: Auto 110, Winder, 18mm, 24mm, 50mm, 70mm, 20-40mm, AF100P, 1.7x telecon

Lens roadmap was updated today as well:-

http://www.digital.pentax.co.jp/en/lens/roadmap.pdf

An interesting one is the 'Rear Converter for SDM'

---

Website・Blog・Gear・Twitter・Facebook

Whats the point in the new 15mm with the DA 14mm already out

That costs £500, and this 15mm is limited, probably faster.. gona set people back alot.

---

http://www.behance.net/robbranigan
K20D, DA18-55II, FA50 1.4, DA10-17
To buy: Metz 58 AF-1, DA*50-135, DA12-24, DA100M

I've already pre-ordered the DA* 300mm so the SDM converter sounds very interesting to me!

It'll be a must-have lens. For people with a Bentley in the garage.

G

---

Keywords: Charming, polite, and generally agreeable.

Well yeah, its gotta be something special!

I propose that the 15mm will be rediculously expensive, have extremely high quality elements and be as fast as F/1.8



... but if they were going to do that, why not add in SDM and weathersealing

Oh the confusing world of the pentax road map

---

http://www.behance.net/robbranigan
K20D, DA18-55II, FA50 1.4, DA10-17
To buy: Metz 58 AF-1, DA*50-135, DA12-24, DA100M

It's early days. I should expect most Limiteds in future to be weather sealed and (except for pancakes) to have SDM.

G

---

Keywords: Charming, polite, and generally agreeable.

Theres a proposal

the new 15mm will be a pancake, of ultra high quality, f/1.4 and set us back £1500....

Hahahah

Seriously though, I am quite interested as to what it will turn out to be, and maybe the pancake is correct; it would make sense to complete the DA primes, 15, 21, 40, 70.

---

http://www.behance.net/robbranigan
K20D, DA18-55II, FA50 1.4, DA10-17
To buy: Metz 58 AF-1, DA*50-135, DA12-24, DA100M

I am glad to see a whole selection of DA lenses starting to be rolled out in a timely manner. I think the Hoya takeover has given them a jolt up the backside to get their arses in motion. There are more lenses planned over the next six months than over the past year and a half!

I am really looking forward to all the DA* primes and really want to get my hands on the 30, 55, 200 and 300. Finally some real telephoto options to play with. I am also interested in that SDM teleconverter, a 1.5x would be perfect for the 200 (if you don't have the 300) and 300 as you'd get a 450mmF5.6 with the fov of a 690mmF5.6![/i]

---

Regards,
Dan

https://www.flickr.com/photos/honourabletyr/