Pentax DA 12-35mm WR DC

A new lense in the system?

link

Best regards

Hmm.. could be a very useful lens given its range at the longer end - in an urban walkabout the other night (pics coming soon) I never felt like using anything longer than 35mm (I had my Sigma 10-20, DA35 M, and Samsung 100 M with me). Ultrawide to normal is a pretty good urban/landscape lens - though I wouldn't be interested as I love my Sigma 10-20 too much. My only concern is whether a 3x zoom ratio on an ultrawide lens is too ambitious, and will lead to optical flaws.

I also think the Other Forum are being optimistic in their predictions:


They have seen what Pentax charges for the non-WR, non-silent AF, DA 12-24 haven't they? If this is under £700 (the going rate for the DA*16-50) I'll be astounded.

Looks good. My 10-17 fish eye is 180 to 100 degrees.

And how do they know it won't be a DA*.

Personally I think such a lens SHOULD be a DA*

DOH!!


Official name: SMC Pentax-DA 12-35mm F3.5-4.5 AL SDM WR

Pentax have the 10-17mm,12-24mm,15mm,21mm, a couple of 35mm lenses but nothing bigger/faster than a 300mm f4.

When are we going to get a 100-400mm lens or 400mm/500mm prime.

A teleconverter would be nice as well, every other decent camera manufacturer has one

For whatever reason, it seems to have been a lower priority. Maybe they had eyed up more cooperation with Tokina and it fell through? Or maybe historically sales of long telephotos have been low and hence it's the less profitable part of the range? I'm only guessing...

Actually though are we not spoilt these days? The 300mm is equivalent to 450mm in film terms, and I never had a film lens that long.

Maybe so but a lot of people (myself included) only got into photography when digital became affordable and don't even give such things a thought. Same with the younger people taking up the hobby, they have no idea what film is about and most would be lost if they had to even focus manually. They see what other makes have and obviously they want to know why their chosen brand doesnt have it.

I regularly use my Sigma 50-500mm at its max length and still find it too short on occasions but I am sure it has sold very well in Pentax mount because unlike other makes we have nothing from Pentax to use instead. It's a good lens but not brilliant, I am sure if Pentax could bring something out similar and under 2k they would do ok with it.

But anyway, at present I'm not worried .. I have Bluetits and Robins in abundance at the bottom of the garden at the moment all rolling around playing in the snow .. and no camera.

Those birds will taunt you with their poses, knowing you have no camera! It's the same sense they have that makes them turn away just as we are about to press the shutter....

Honestly, no word of a lie .. they are virtually coming up to the back door as I watch them.

I'm sure I saw one do a beakstand.

The Robin in my garden was posing on the bird bath, on the edge of the waterfall in the pond etc etc. Get the camera out - not a dicky bird!

Exactly Mike.

This is basically the reason I now have a Pentax and a Canon, and will not be buying a K5. I do not see how John's argument works - maybe things have moved on since the film days . Simple fact - other manufacturers make long lenses so what are people who want/need these going to do?

For whatever reason Pentax have and continue to write themselves out of a whole area of the market I do not know how big this area is, but it is big enough for other manufacturers to take seriously.

Things have indeed moved on, that was my point. I wasn't really making an argument for or against anything. Our expectations now are much, much higher. In many respects the quality of what we produce is much, much higher as well.

However, if I wanted a long lens then I would have a choice of ordering a 600mm f4 or buying a Sigma. If you buy a Sigma for your Canon, you can do that for your K-5.

No John - I buy a Canon for my Canon. However you word it, this is an area in which Pentax lag behind other manufacturers. I suspect I may not be the only one with split or switched loyalty over this issue.

There is also the matter of the photo Pentax use on their site of their lens collection, a lot of which have been out of production for many years. This could be regarded as misleading.

maybe the sr doesn't play as expected with longer lenses?
Maybe nobody in retail wants to sock them due to sales demands?
maybe.... just maybe... Pentax figures the 300 is long enough...
I'd be interested if Pentax took an older design (or oddball lens like the 400-600 mirror) and gave the 35 mm plastic/price point make-over......

Can you imagine an affordable ultra compact and light all plastic 400-600 mirror?

I can understand Pentax not getting into the long prime lense market. Why ? Their market is amateur / prosumers (who have a choice of Sigma zooms if they need that length) who aren't going to shell out 2K+ in large enough numbers to make it anywhere near worthwhile developing long lenses, and if Pentax shooters step up into the pro ranks then Pentax offer the 645 for non-sports shooters.

It's a perfectly understandable business decision - how are you going to persuade CaNikon sports shooters to switch to Pentax ? You're not.

Pentax do make a great TC that's on the market, the AFA x1.7, unfortunately it's importation is prohibited in Europe / USA !