Pentax Kaf3 mount

I think the DA 17-70mm lens is perhaps the first to adopt this mount. The Kaf3 mount brings the demise of the screw drive focussing mechanism in favour of SDM only.

This means that these lenses will not work with any Pentax camera prior to the K10D, it being the first Pentax body to employ SDM focussing.

Does anybody know which other new lenses will use this mount?

Will this be the only mount used from now on?

I suspect that this is how it's going to be.

G

Bigger lenses will have SDM. Limiteds will continue to be screw driven

So then, let's speculate on bodies -

Will they all go with Kaf3?

Or will some (or all) have Kaf2 to support legacy AF lenses?

If some sort of mix of mounts, what will determine which ? Will "pro" (higher-end) models get Kaf2 (for the ltd's, of course) while the consumer models just get SDM? (to cut the cost of installing a motor drive in the body)

(Wondering if I should stock up on Kaf2 capable bodies so all my lenses will still AF...:shock

Pentax had a press release basically saying:

KAF3 is for lenses only
KAF2 is for Limited lenses and bodies.

Although really:
Cripled KAF2 is for bodies.

Personally I prefer this way around to the Nikon aproach of new lower end bodies wont AF older lenses.

I wonder if * lenses will continue to have both.

All these questions have already been answered.

No more DA* lenses will have dual AF and they will start making existing DA* lenses as KAF3 in future.

Many people will be dissapointed with this but it will generate more body sales for Pentax.

We have to move with the technology and if Pentax don't then other manufactrers will.

The backwards compatibility has always been the best and I suspect it always will be as good as they can make it without compromising progress.

I think folk are making too big a deal over this issue, users have been happy to use KA lenses and focus manually so whats to stop them manually focusing a KAF or FAJ lens in preferance to disposing of it?

I agree with John, Pentax have to move forward and I personally think we have been extremely lucky in their decisions to stick with the K mount for so long.

I am considering the 17-70 myself and have no qualms about it not been fully functional with my istD or MZ7, though to be honest my MZ7 has become a bit of a "collectors item"......collecting dust that is, and the istD is not far behind it.