New lenses announced at last!!!

Pentax have finally announced their line up of new lenses with expected dates and prices, the prices aren't confirmed but the DA* 300mm F4 is expected to be about £899, I better had start being nice to the wife
http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/2008/200803.html

Helps when your wife/girlfriend/partner is also desperate for these new telephoto lenses.

I really need to save for them I also want Pentax to release a 400mm F5.6.

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Regards,
Dan

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

Pity it's only the *lenses that are weatherproofed .

Presumably there's significantly more manufacturing cost to do the weatherproofing - I'd rather the 'consumer' DA lenses stayed at accessible prices.

But what is the point then in buying a weatherproofed camera, such as the K200D, and then not have some lenses to go with it at a price the average K200D buyer can afford? Could they not offer a middle range - with weatherproofing but without the optical qualities/speed of the * lenses, at an affordable price?

It would be nice.

The more ranges they offer, the more different manufacturing processes they'll need. I guess they have to compromise as much as anyone else.

It does look as if finally they're heading in the right direction - we just can't have everything straight away.

The prices would be better if we got something a little closer to US prices. Come one 50% more for the same lens? It is rather silly!

Still, I'm going to be saving for these two DA* telephoto lenses.

16-50, 50-135, 60-250, 55, 200 and 300mm DA* lenses are all on my wish list (well, except 16-50 which I already have).

I hope the 35mm SDM they have on the roadmap is weather sealed (and F2 or better) as it is a perfect replacement for ye olde 50mm prime of the 35mm era.

I don't much see the point in the 35mm macro though as they will have two very similar lenses there...

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Regards,
Dan

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

Am I the only one thinking the 3 most interesting lenses in the roadmap still haven't seen the light of day?

DA 35mm (non-macro, faster than F/2.
DA* 50mm F/1.4
DA 17-70mm

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Flink

P.S.: If the 18-55 II really is an improvement over the first version (for bigger sensors), it should be an even greater lens on the 6MP bodies!

I think it's a 55mm....

Besides I fancy the FA35 mm f2...(and 31, 43, 77 Ltds, and FA 135)

If DA* 200 and 300 fit the 36x24mm image circle then I shall go for them rather than hanker for the FA* versions

Peter

And what about the 60-250 F4 ???

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Tony Milner
Super A, ME Super, MZ6, K5II, Ricoh GR & lenses from 8-500mm
www.amilner.org www.flickr.com/photos/tonymilner

that's on my shopping list too