Throwing something else into the mix here - hows does the the Tameron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD macro measure up to the samsung/pentax 50-200?

apart from the longer reach (and pretty fast @f/4 at it shortest) it looks a contender as sourced at £99

Anyone had experience with this lens?

btw I compared the Schneider (Samsung) with it's Pentax sister today in Jessops and it's not an exact clone; the moulding is different with subtle but notable variation in size of the zoom and focus rings. Is the Schneider optically identical to the Pentax build? They are after all different manufacturers

Is it, apart from the coating, identical to the Pentax version in build?

it's arrived in france http://www.megapixel.net/phpBB2f/viewtopic.php?t=113095

"In the United States (and most other countries) both lenses will available simultaneously on August 15, 2007."

was hoping UK fell into the 'most other countries' category

not that i can afford these either yet to pick up a K10 body, come to think of it

http://pentaxlife.com/official-release-date-for-two-da

apparently

I seem to remember reading that RAW processing in the supplied Pentax software (albeit silkypix driven) delivered similar results to that done in-camera, showing a tendency to softened edges etc and that Abode produced crisper detail - could be due to automated 25% sharpening (?) cant say as I've yet use a K10D

What's this article/mag you are looking at Myrdinn?

curious concept for a photo shoot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-WEJYObP1Y

still, it seems to have coped well enough

Actually I just noticed this on rereading the linked DPR thread:

Roland Mabo: The "Super" upgrade to the K10D is more about firmware than hardware, it is a marketing thing to tell the customers that it is still fresh and new so it can live longer on the market. Kind of what Nikon did with D70 that became the D70S.

(the firmware will be available for existing users as a download).


That to me sounds very much like the newly released Grand Prix Ltd Editon.




The only difference apart from bling factor is that the shipping firmware is more contemporary. Patently not worth waiting for.

Then again Roland contradicts himself by saying elsewhere the K10D Super will have a more substantive work over in terms of minor hardware revisions.

who's to know?

From the rumour-mill:

http://www.photozone.de/active/forum/ShowMessage?ID=108615421463974872146397486A

So, I believe the "roadmap" is as follows...

K1D - PMA show 2008 announcement, on the market September 2008. 12 - 16Mp APS-C sensor (no, it is not a Sony!). 4fps. 1/8000 shutter, 1/250 flash sync, new autofocus and metering system. Similar price as Nikon D200.

K5D - Fall 2007 release (PMA Paris, Sepember?). New AF and metering, or similar system as the K10D? Probably same sensor as K1D. Price as EOS 30D.
K10D Super - Fall 2007 release. Improved performance, added features, basically the same body. Price unchanged or slightly lowered.
K50D - Fall 2007 release. 10Mp in a body similar to K100D, larger buffer and improved performance, but still pentamirror viewfinder.
K100D Super - Fall 2007 release (announced now).

K100D Super and K10D super will end their production run in spring 2008, and the K5D and K50D will then get lower prices so they effectively replaces the K10D and K100D. A new low-end model (K200D?) and low-end semi-pro (K20D?) will hit the market in fall 2008.
So, pentax will release two-three new DSLR's each fall - in time for christmas shopping.

Supplementary discussion here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&thread=23803996

Apparently this was suggested more recently by somebody close to Pentax. I'll See I can dig up the source

Hehe

Sound advice