release date for 560mm ???

I haven't found, amongst all the speculation regarding this lens, any suggestion of a release date. except I think 2012. This could mean tomorrow....or Christmas!

Anyone spotted a firmer date???

Wonder when SRS will be taking deposits ?!!!

I think you will find the road map is notorious in it's flexibility

It's about as reliable as the Edinburgh tram map!

60-250mm was on there for approx 4 years I think.

Personally I wouldn't hold my breath.

As for your poll, impossible question without knowing the full details such as af speed, sharpness @ f5.6, weather sealing, type of focus motor, etc etc.

It's also possible that these will only be made to order, ie they will make a few to get the headlines and show they are serious about photography then put the moulds and tooling on the shelf until they get an order.

But I would find any of the prices pretty optimistic. The nearest equvilents are:

Nikon 500mm f/4.0 - £5,866
Canon 500mm f/4.0 - £8,489
Sigma 500mm f/4.5 - £3,774

I would be surpised to see it under £4,000

It's a 1:5.6 lens, not 1:4 or 1:4.5. There is no point in comparing it with faster glass.

I suspect it will come in under £2,000. It's actually quite easy to make long primes, and provided you sell enough, there is no need for them to be very expensive.

The other point is that the market for this lens, if priced high, will be tiny. There are far fewer potential Pentax buyers (at high prices) than there are potential Nikon or Canon buyers. So if Pentax want to make money from this lens, they will have to pile 'em relatively high, and sell 'em relatively cheap.

G

All true. We know & they know what missing links are in the brand regarding challenging the big two. We just don't know how serious the new owners are, or if this is all just 'big new change/bright new future' bravado.

issue with this lens I am very worried! as the date of the sale, and of course the price! agrees that it is impossible to compare the lens 5.6 with 4 lenses! but on the other hand the price of 60-250 F4 is not very democratic!

It's a difficult one.

When you compare the 60-250mm f4 against Canons 70-200mm f4 IS I don't think the Pentax lens is that bad. They are similar in price, the Canon lens is exceptionally sharp, the Pentax not quite as much but it has the extended focal range and full weather sealing.

Saying that .. should we compare the 60-250mm against the IS version of the Canon or the non IS?

If it's the non IS then maybe you are right ...

Even though I don't take it out much the 60-250mm is one of the last lenses I would sell.

you go wash your mouth out with soap and water Mr P, right now!


My thoughts,

DA, screw drive AF, £2000-£3000
DA* SDM, £5000+

Available by Christmas off the shelf at all good camera shops (not)

Coming back to the dangers of comparing chalk with cheese, the Pentax-A 1:4 200mm weighs 405gms, and the A* 1:2.8 weighs 850gms. One stop doubles the area of the glass and more than doubles the weight of it (all else being equal).

Obviously the mount is the same, but the fact remains that the Pentax lens will be significantly smaller and lighter and cheaper to make than the Nikon and Canon 1:4 lenses.

It will still be quite a beast, though.

Let's assume it's going to be sharp. The real make or break factor will be focussing speed. I just hope Pentax put a nice torquey motor in it.

The more I think about it, the more I reckon this is Pentax's most significant new product for years. If they get it right, which includes pricing it right, then it will remove the biggest single barrier to Pentax taking a larger share of the market.

G

Absolutely spot on.

I am going to stick my neck out & think Pentax will price this lens at £2499 & release September.

A rebate of £250 by december and then a price drop in february to £1999 where it will most likely stay.

It is an important release, it will bring some credibility back to the brand. If they make their stockist stock a copy with the price tag attached it will make the brand taken seriously by Joe Bloggs.

You might well be right, Cabstar. It is not unknown for manufacturers to milk the early adopters, and then price the product realistically.

G

Milk, and penalise with poor QC in their rush to get the product to market.