New PKA mount Zeiss Lenses

I know this has been posted elsewhere , but I could not find the thread. More details on the soon to be released range of lenses. Maybe if they are a success it may make Pentax think again about reintroducing some 'older' lenses

http://www.popphoto.com/photonews/4514/carl-zeiss-rolls-out-pentax-k-mount-line....[/url]

All else being equal, by introducing a new range of K-mount lenses, Zeiss will increase the supply of lenses, rather than the demand for them. As a result, the market will be less atractive to Pentax, which will make it less likely that they will re-introduce older lenses.

G

Who are they targeting, do you think, by introducing such a range of manual focus lenses?

Enthusiasts with a bit of money. I think it was Brian who pointed out that their macro lenses are both very fast, and sharp at full aperture, and therefore fill a gap, of sorts.

But since Pentax already has a better range of top-quality prime lenses below 100mm than other manufacturers, I think the gaps are rather small.

G

Much as I thought. Shame there's nothing there either very wide, or much longer (as well as fast) and AF.

I agree all things being equal this should be the case, however the demand for old primes on EBay is very strong, particularly autofocus primes.
It maybe a short term measure but I believe the reintroduction of a number of FA series lenses would be very popular. As I stated in another thread, Pentax have shown that they can produce the FA50 F1:1.4 and the FA35 F1:2.0 in limited quantities at a reasonable price. A reintroduction would meet the needs of those who prefer prime lenses, but who cannot justify the expense of the FA Limiteds

That's true of some lenses, like the FA* 200mm and F/FA* 300mm 1:4.5, but the FA 20mm and F/FA 135mm don't seem to command very high prices. I know, because I would like to sell mine!

G

I seem to recall a A 20mm going for around £110 a few months back (not 100% sure on that). Never seen a FA 135, I got hold of an absolute mint M 135 a few years back for only £5. They go for quite a bit more now.

I believe there would be demand for the 24, 35 , 50, and 85 as well as the 200 and 300 that you mentioned.

If the tooling is still available and with the potential economies that Hoya could bring I would think that this could be quite profitable.

This may be heresy, but I believe that there could be a big opportunity for Pentax to manufacture lens in Canonikon mounts. With its reputation as a long standing OEM, Pentax lenses available for different systems would attract a lot of attention.

The big question is would this give away a competitive advantage and devalue the Pentax brand.

"........I believe there would be demand for the 24, 35 , 50, and 85 as well as the 200 and 300 that you mentioned.

If the tooling is still available and with the potential economies that Hoya could bring I would think that this could be quite profitable. ..."

Agreed,...it would make sense especially since 'the others' offer these focal length choices.

The Zeiss 25mm is very interesting as this is a key focal length not deemed important by pentax.

Lenses have different looks too IMHO. One of the reasons I've ended up with Pentax is because I love the look of the 50mm M f1.4 lens. I've subsequently found that other lenses in the family have a similar look. Zeiss lenses in equivalent focal lengths might have different characteristics which some people might find desirable.

Pentax currently sell excellent, fast lenses in 31mm, 35mm, 43mm, 50mm, and 77mm focal lengths, and 24mm and 85mm can be found second-hand. So I personally would not be especially interested in Zeiss lenses of these lengths.

And the Pentax lenses offer AF and AE.

G

Please tell me where I can find a good 24 and 85 as all I can find are 28s and 50s...

Pentax really need a new 85, 135 and the expected DA* telephoto lenses.

I've seen a few FA* 24's (worldwide) sold via Ebay over the last year or two (including my own) and they're usually not stupidly expensive - under £300 anyway. I think I've only seen one FA* 85 1.4 being sold in that period though (two now as I've just found one on US Ebay!) and while I don't remember what it sold for I remember it as being a lot.

The latest FA* 85mm F1.4 on US Ebay has a buy-it-now on Ebay of nearly $1200 (£600) - I only paid $770 new for mine!

There is a SMC-A 24mm F2.8 listed in one of the US Ebay webshops at the moment but it's at a "buy it now" of nearly £140 even before postage. There are a couple of SMC-M 85mm F2's listed.

The problem with getting 24 and 85mm AF primes in Pentax fit is that Pentax only ever made the fast & expensive FA* versions at those focal lengths and therefore not that many would have been sold. If there had been "normal" FA 24mm F2.8 and FA 85mm F2 lenses at about half the price of the FA* lenses I'm sure there would be a lot more out there.

Don't forget the marked focal lengths of all lenses are nominal. Most 24mm lenses from the MF era were closer to 25mm, so Zeiss could simply be making a slightly more accurate (or honest) statement.

You might come across two versions of a lens (not Pentax) one labelled 19mm f3.8 and the other labelled 20mm f4. In the case I am thinking of the lenses are the same.

I have to say that T* Distagons are probably the sharpest lenses I have ever used in cinematography. They utilise 'T' stops rather than 'F' stops; T being the actual light transmission rather than F which is a mathematical formula. If these new lenses are up to the same standard they will be stunning indeed.