Sigma

Hi,
I read a disturbing article a few days ago that Sigma will no longer produce their lenses with the Pentax K mount. Due, apparently, to plummeting Pentax DSLR sales. (Sigma words not mine). Given that there has not been a successor to the K3II (first released 4.1/2 years ago now, in fact the K3 was way back in 2013) and from what seems to be the case, there is nothing new in the pipeline at prosumer level. Are Pentax signalling coming out of the APS C market and concentrating on FF or even worse?
Andrew

Here we go again ....

Sigma haven't made a new lens in Pentax mount for years so it's really no suprise they aren't selling many and I'm rather suprised they didn't do this a lot sooner.

As for plummeting DSLR sales, I imagine that's not just Pentax since mirrorless has taken a foothold and to be fair if Ricoh haven't released a new DSLR for years then sales will only go down as their market share becomes saturated with the K-3II/KP and there is nothing to "upgrade" to.

Unfortunately no-one apart from Ricoh know what they have in store for the brand so all the rumours doing the rounds mean nothing until they announce anything (or not)

New DA*11-18
Updated DA 10-17

need I say more?

As Mike says this is nothing new - Pentax were doomed:

at the advent of AF
at the advent of digital
at the introduction of full frame

I remember trying to get AF lenses for my Z-10 in 1992, and really struggled to get 3rd party as I couldn't afford the FA 80-200, couldn't get anything in the UK, so my parents got me a really nice Tokina 70-210 f4.5 from San Fransisco....

Uncertainty doesn't help the used market though.......

Yawn

Discussed in this recent thread
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/sigma-long-lens-availability-62587

Sigma don't manufacture for all camera brands by any means, only those they judge will result in sufficient sales for them.

No, in your own words Sigma are!
But what if Pentax were to concentrate on FF for a while. Having introduced a FF body they'd be a bit stupid not to support it would they not given there's a plethora of APS-C lenses available already?
I don't get it that we must have something new every week. There are more gaps in the FF range than in APS-C where just about every usable focal length is available.

The point being that if Sigma have pulled out how long before Tamron do the same for the same reason as Sigma. Should that be the case that leaves potential, new purchasers of Pentax cameras perhaps thinking twice with reference to the lack of lenses other than the second hand market. No company can exist long without customers.
Andrew

Tamron are working with Pentax to produce new lenses hence there seems to be an agreement not to duplicate them.
Irix, Laowa and Samyang are releasing new K mount lenses, eg wide angle primes.

Don't forget that any new FF lenses can be used on APS-C too,

Both Sigma and Tamron are in a difficult situation.
The decline in DSLR sales has meant a decline in Sigma and Tamron sales.
Mirrorless cameras are barely supported by third party lens makers, so neither manufacturer has made up the sales.
Sigma and Tamron are doomed.

Regards

With Tamron and Pentax working together it might prove to be a life saver for both if the Pentax patents are used in Tamron lenses which get ported to other camera brands.

Hi Andrew.

The ongoing myth about there not being sufficient Pentax lenses doesn't hold much water with me. (and of course most of the new lenses are WR!). There exists all the APS-C lenses that almost all of us want, currently in production.

There is an ever decreasing number of new FF primes that we want Pentax to produce, however I have been able to fill these gaps with used K, M, A, FA, DA, and D-FA lenses. As we all know, new Pentax bodies accept virtually all Pentax lenses that were ever produced. I look forward to the new lenses that are in the pipeline or 2019 lens chart

Personally I am quite happy with the rate of development; it gives me time to save up for the next one in production.

Plus there are the existing non Pentax K mount lenses, but I don't have any of these and don't feel the need to buy any.

So my question is, which lenses are you waiting for?

I have to say this is a big blow to Pentax, despite what some say. They provide some lenses that have been very popular indeed (17-50/2.8, 10-20 etc) and which don't really have an equivalent from Pentax or another third party make, die to either significant price or quality differences.

I think the recent announcement that a flagship APS-C camera is in the line is an attempt to show they're still interested in APS-C, but a new flagship is looking overdue, the KP has been generally over-priced and the K-70 is a looking a little long in the tooth as well as suffering from aperture block failures. It's a pretty poor show currently from Pentax in APS-C cameras.

I believe those lenses are still available brand new from retailers if you wish to buy them. Do you want links for them?

It is, indeed, good news that Pentax are releasing a new DSLR with an APS-C sensor. However, the issue for us poor earthlings that cannot afford (nor want) to move to FF will realistically be left with only Pentax lenses to chose from. The fact that all current Pentax camera owners may well be happy with our lens collection it will be a large consideration to anybody wishing to chose Pentax for the first time. Nikon or Canon have way more choice from multiple manufacturers. Pentax lenses are generally way more expensive than equivalent third party lenses.

I love my Pentax K3II with my Sigma 10-20 f3.5, Sigma 18-300 f3.5/6.3 and Pentax 35 f2.4 but I have to sadly admit that if I was new to photography and choosing my first system, given the direction the road seems to be currently going I would go for Nikon or Canon. eBay is great but most people prefer to buy new rather than rely on used lenses. I suspect that most newbies would do the same.

That cannot be good for Pentax.

Andrew

Anyone got a rusty razor blade , I feel like slashing my wrists listening to all this dull negativity.

The evening nights must just fly by at some of your houses