Tamron 200-500mm

I wonder if Tamron have any intention of releasing the 200-500mm SP in Pentax mount? I mean they do several other lenses in PK. I saw someone with it today and it is considerably smaller and lighter than the big Sigma 500mm zooms. It costs about £675 and seems to get good reviews. Doesn't have OS but that's not a problem for us.

Tamron seem to have completely stopped making any new lens in Pentax mount so I would presume older lenses not made for Pentax cameras won't be forthcoming either.

It's hard to estimate the economics of it but you would think with all the overhead costs of research and manufacture of the optics already taken care of, fitting a PK mount which they have experience of, would easily be covered by the number of extra sales. Perhaps their market research shows otherwise.

The hard fact is that Tamron is abandoning the K-mount for some reason. It is a shame, as the 60mm F2.0 Macro, could be the perfect Macro/portrait lens that would be on a K-5. Nevertheless, Tamron is more small fry compared the Sigma, with a small range of lenses available.
Needless to say, even Sigma as pegging back lenses for the K-mount. Yes the mighty primes are available (thank god) but some lenses that have recently come out, such as the 120-300 F2.8, they have stepped back from the K-mount, inspite of the original announcement that it will be available. The same (so far) with the 105mm OS macro, and 150mm OS macro.

The third party brands, might be thinking that due to the small range of Pentax bodies and lenses, it is not worth investing in making K lenses.

So, I think it is a two way street, and Ricoh need to have an ability when they take over is showing that the Pentax brand is not only still around, but able to be considered a thriving DSLR brand to the consumer.
To do this, they HAVE to introduce a larger range of DSLR's (not have just two, albeit excellent DSLR's) and also have increased range of lenses. Only then will the likes of Tamron/Tokina/Sigma/Samyang realise that "hey the Pentax system is pretty large and available that we need to have the K mount on all our lenses".

If Ricoh don't then look long term and invest, we may have a situation of only two brands vying for the DSLR market, with a third (Sony) providing an alternative with their SLT camaras.

Some very good points there and I imagine that is the way it is.

Samyang make lenses for the Pentax right?
And Tokina is more or less owned by Hoya so it's logical that they won't compete with their own products (pentax).

Why should Ricoh care whether Sigma or Tamron make lenses for their system??? I imagine they think its great that Sigma & Tamron are abandoning their system. Means more sales for their own product. if they where to invest in more lenses like the DA 35mm 2.4 then their wouldnt be a need for 3rd party lenses...

Personally I think the 2 slr line up is an inspired idea. First rule of business keep it simple. Saw a guy trying to buy a nikon in a shop today & the sales guy getting perplexed trying to explain the difference between a d300s d3100 d7000 etc etc etc...