Pentax Lens Price

Are Pentax lenses really that much more expensive than Canons? I have not really found this so far.

Nor have I. If anything I would think it is th eother way around, yet the Pentax quality is there.

I am hoping that the new pro lenses to be introduced next year will be reasonably priced. I am still trying to get my head around it that Pentax products can be better than their Canon equivalents at lower prices.

Shhhhh....

But what is this I hear about these lenses being developed with Tokina, that cant be a good thing.

Developed with Tokina.
The Pentax lenses have their SMC coating, and they behave like all the best Pentax lenses. The Tokina lenses don't have the SMC
The SMC-DA 12-24 is a Tokina/Pentax lens - and a very fine one indeed. Build quality is very good and the optical quality is excellent.
The fact that Pentax have been able to release an extremely impressive set of lenses in so short a time is a good thing.

Don't expect the new f2.8 lenses to be cheap though - they are Pentax * lenses, and weather sealed like the K10D. You only have to look at the price of second hand star lenses to realise the prices... but then for the equivalent Canon L-series lenses I still reckon you'd pay more.

Matt

Pentax are aiming for 20% market share in 12 months, and their strategy (judging by the K10D) seems to be to sell superior quality at low prices.

So, I for one am hoping that these new lenses, though they have to be expensive, will be at the low end of expensive.

The 28-70 1:2.8 sold for £1,300. It is effectively being replaced by the 16-50 1:2.8, and I would hope that the price might come in a little under £1,000. But perhaps I am being optimistic.

G

20% in 12 months would be a remarkable feat. I hope they have a K1D coming then. I have thought it over and decided this joint venture probably isn't such a bad thing.

That's good news. I am sure Pentax will be relieved.

George

I think that Pentax have made a very smart move by concentrating on the APS DA lenses.

Just look at the price of the 14mm lenses of Canon and Nikon compared to Pentax. Does this mean that the Canon and Nikon are better quality? No. They are more expensive because they need to accomodate their full frame users.

The DA approach gives us much more bang for the buck.

Andy

Nikon don't have full frame users in the digital domain

Yes, but their 14mm is an old design lens on full frame which therefore accomodates their film users as well.

It a lump of a thing with a huge protruding front element and no provision for front filters. No wonder it costs so much.

I'm glad of my neat 14mm DA which is half the price.

Andy

Andy - granted
Yes, looking at the prices Pentax always come out far cheaper... and in most cases I prefer the "look" of the resultant image (i.e. beautiful soft out of focus areas). It'll be interesting to see the price of the new 16-50/f2.8 etc...
Matt