Your comment was noted John. However, you did not bring up the choice of colour and make a statememnt or assumption that black lenses perform less reliably than a white lens.

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Obviously buyers of the 560mm will only be using it outside of the UK to get the best of the heat reflecting qualities.

Canon need white finish on their long glass due to the thermal properties of flourite glass. Nikon don't use flourite and don't need to wory about heat as much. Just for info, there are hundreds of long black lenses used in the Gulf area where you would be out in 40'C + temps and in direct sunlight the camera can get too hot to hold.

Distortion or heat issues? None. Also long Sigma's are black. Can you point to any issues where any black lenses suffer from heat issues where images are actually impaired or have you fallen into the "Pentax made it white so there's obviously a reason why others are not as good in the heat" camp. It's starting to sound like a Canon user thread.

If Pentax have used flourite glass, which I seriously doubt, then it needs to be white. Earlier offereings were silver, I put that down to marketing.

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So here are some pictures of the lenses and the 560 IS NOT a mirror

link.....

The 560mm looks cool, Canon cool. link

50mm is plastic mount.

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Yes, the number of people that used to laugh or cringe whilst I was using my LX's and MX always got me riled. What a pity that Pentax could not make a non-hideous camera.

We must be really grateful for the K-01, it just blows a gripped K5 into oblivion due to its styling and functionality.

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Affordable. A broad term indeed. It will certainly sift out the "we want a long tele" cheap brigade. My best guess at the moment would be around 2.5K at the lower end possibly to 3K. The Nikkor 500 f/4 is floating around 5.8K in the UK. So for f/5.6 it should be a measure cheaper.

I noticed some comments in the link where some one said "Show me a 500-600mm by Nikon or Canon which will be smaller than the Pentax 560mm f/5.6?" err hello, f/5.6 will always be smaller than f/4 and bear in mind that the Canikons are FF optics.

Another post asked if it was to be a mirror lens due to the reference "thanks to the adoption of optics used in astronomical telescopes". Well if it is an AF mirror, how many will still want one? It should also be a lot cheaper than a proper tele.

I have a Minolta mirror and it's AF, though not 560mm or f/5.6

Interesting times ahead.

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I've seen results from the M9 and they are very impressive. That said, so is the glass on the front of it. Once I've seen real images from the D800E, I can say ye or nay.

an example link

If the IQ is improved markedly, other manufacturers will follow. They are sheep after all.

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It doesn't John as most, if not all of the MF size sensors don't.

It is a first for a DSLR manufacturer to offer as std though. The M9 also is without AA but it's not a DSLR.

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Taken inside Durty Nelly's in Perth. Can't recall if it was before or after a Guinness.




K10D, AF50mm @ f/1.4, ISO 1600, -0.5EV

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Don, I wear glasses for reading and while typing this. When out and about I don't need them to drive or read shop signs etc. So my cameras are set to match my eyesight. I very rarely pixel peep as I don't use preview.

For me, to use a rear screen means wearing glasses and then either looking over the top of them or removing them to see the rest of the world.

An optical viewfinder is ideal for me. Screens are a hassle. I also used the viewfinder on my video cameras and not a screen.

But others may love it to death.

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It makes sense if they do as the cost is minimal and whatever replaces the Kr won't impact sales. If that seems reasonable, I'm probably way off.

The pixel race is over as proven by Canon and Nikon. With the exception of the D800 which will be a challenge to medium format (if it's any good at 36Mp). So Pentax could use this K-01 sensor (if indeed it is new)to do a revised K5. A K5 Mk II or as you say a K5s would sell exceptionally well.

I genuinely think that there is a window of opportunity here for Pentax.

I'm just cautious and do not want to be left wanting.

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