Summary roadmap 2006 Pentax/Samsung

timo · Jan 8, 2006

Alex Foot said:
I really thought Samsung would inject a little more dynamism and
take the whole project a little more seriously. I take this info
with a grain of salt, but it does have that awfully under-whelming
feeling of truth about it.

I guess Pentax is teaming up with them because they can't survive
on their own, so it is a little bit unrealistic to expect the
effective power of two companies combined, without loss.

There is an air of commercial unreality about some posts in this thread. What exactly did anyone expect Pentax to do between the announcement of the Samsung tie-up and now that hasn't happened? Do you expect there to be no lead time at all in developing new product? Anyway, as someone said earlier up this thread, Pentax would have gone bust long ago if they really responded immediately to all the whims we express on this forum - our views are no doubt interesting to them, but they are not always realistic and I am sure we do not represent the market at large.

--
tim

janneman02 · Jan 8, 2006

Brett St Pierre said:
Yup, I agree Ryan... at the moment for my travel telezoom I choose
between my 1.27kg Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX or my 260 g DA50-200 -----
hmmm, big difference there! Something inbetween would be
desireable and Canon users do have that choice at the moment. Given
the compact bodies Pentax make, an F/4 would be about right but I
don't want it to be 60-250mm -- that is too broad a range to be
optically superb IMO...

I am not sure about that, optics develop too, and even the "superzooms" like the 28-300 or 18-200 will/might one day become very good lenses.

The most "superzoom"-like lens I have is the sigma 18-125 and I think that one is not bad at all, especially considering the price and its size.... (a tad bigger than the DA18-55)

Brett St Pierre said:
--
Brett

The Journey is the Thing

--
Happy new year
janneman
http://www.pbase.com/jl2

janneman02 · Jan 8, 2006

Mousehill said:
janneman02 said:

That gives you something bigger than a compact but it fits into
some of my coat pockets. A while ago I could hold a D70, no way
that could fit anywhere small, not even with a pancake (if there is
such a thing like a Nkon pancake)

Click to expand...

Mouseflame and I both held a D70 two days ago and were very pleased
with the size. The DS is too small to hold comfortably (for me
especially with a large lens attached). I'm travelling with a
camerabag usually so I couldn't care less about Pentax being the
smallest out there.

Fortunately Pentax seems to be specially designed for me, as I have quite small hands....

)) (or am I designed for Pentax??).

But on the trip we made to Gent and Grugge, I did not want to carry a large bag around as, especially in Ghent we went for some nightlife straight after the trip, so I opted for Ds+18-125 in a coat pocket for safety reasons and tha worked very well.

Actually, I told that to a photo journalist and he now is for that sole reason considering to go Ds with a few small lenses...

Some stock agencies don't accept images of less than 10Mp, but he is a freelancer with a contract for a local newspaper and for those kind of things it is more than adequate (before he used a Nikon 5400 for these kind of "quick, can you go there? yes I know it's your day off but we need a picture." assignments...). It is also considered by a writing journalist but in general they are not allowed to make newspaper pics, union nepaper rules or something, about competition, apparently writes can't take pics and photographers can't write articles.

Mike Muizebelt said:
I'll trade the DS any time for a larger Pentax camera. I'm still
puzzled why Pentax doesn't make a handstrap option like they did
with the Z1-P.
But then, there are more things about Pentax that puzzle me.........

Mike
--
--

Best of Gallery at http://www.culinair.com
Stockphoto gallery at http://www.panwild.com

--
Happy new year
janneman
http://www.pbase.com/jl2

Stig Vidar Hovland · Jan 8, 2006

Brett St Pierre said:
don't want it to be 60-250mm -- that is too broad a range to be
optically superb IMO...

I don't know if this lens is going to be a DA or a D FA lens, but if it is a DA lens, don't you think it is easier to make a broad zoom range and still maintain good optical quality?

Stig Vidar Hovland

richardday · Jan 8, 2006

steephill said:
There are no current DA lenses beyond
200mm so I want someting in this area, maybe a DA300mm f4 - smaller
and less expensive than the FA*300 f4.5? Again nothing on the
roadmap but nothing in production either. We need a new long lens
lineup.

I believe that Pentax may well do a co-op with Tokina with their new ATX 80-400 zoom, as they have done with the DA 10-17 and maybe the DA 12-24.

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/lens/2005/12/13/2876.html , use babelfish to translate from the Japanese.

It has a non-rotating front element and 2 ED elements and a very nifty polariser rotator built into the hood. Initially only available in C & N mounts, I believe this would be a natural for Pentax.

As many know, I have the previous ATX 80-400 II and rate it highly, I also have the FA*300/4.5 and had the A*300/4.0 beforehand, so I think my rating is valid.

Incidentally I wouldn't be surprised to see Pentax either update their DA 16-45 to a 16-60, or introduce a new lens, maybe not this year, but in the near future.

Let's see what transpires over the next few months, I think we will all be more satisfied, well, some of us anyway ;-)
--
Richard Day - 'Carpe Diem!'
Gloucester UK

richx · Jan 8, 2006

Mousehill said:
I'll trade the DS any time for a larger Pentax camera. I'm still
puzzled why Pentax doesn't make a handstrap option like they did
with the Z1-P.

Yesterday I bought the Sony STP-HA wrist strap and put it on my DS. I know the blister cardboard says not for still cameras heavier than 400g, but I'll ignore that for now

I don't quite care if Sony CyberShot is embossed onto the strap - it's quite comfortable ...

--
Richard with DS @ +0800GMT
left-eyed photography - http://richx.org

richx · Jan 8, 2006

janneman02 said:
That gives you something bigger than a compact but it fits into
some of my coat pockets. A while ago I could hold a D70, no way
that could fit anywhere small, not even with a pancake (if there is
such a thing like a Nkon pancake)

There's the Nikkor 45/2.8P, the only other pancake lens I know of. Made its appearance in year 2000 I think, it's manual focus only, which might explain why it's largely unheard of despite good sharpness.

--
Richard with DS @ +0800GMT
left-eyed photography - http://richx.org

larrycook99 · Jan 8, 2006

Gary Martin said:
Gary Martin said:

It's not really a benefit of F/4 lenses as such, more like a
limitation. If you had an F/2.8 lens you'd be able to choose F/4
should you want more in focus. But with a max F/4 lens you can
never choose to have less in focus!

Click to expand...

Sure, but your f2.8 lens will be twice the weight, and three times
the cost, f4.0 lens. I too wonder why so many Pentax users claim to
want glass costing thousands of dollars, and turn their lightweight
cameras into hulking machines.

For this Pentax user the answer is simple. I bought the *istD not because of its small size but because I had Pentax glass AND it was a very good camera that did all that I wanted a DSLR to do (actually much more than I wanted but I would have been happy with a digital K1000...).

I personally do not care that the Pentax Digital's are the smallest DSLRs excpet that it gives Pentax an adge that allows them to continue producing DSLRs, albeit at a rather relaxing, tranquil pace.

So I want the faster (and unfortunately more expensive) glass because that is what I believe that I need to shoot what I shoot.

--
-Larry
http://www.cook-imaging.com

steephill · Jan 8, 2006

Contax also had one. Tessar T* 2.8/45 makes a very compact package with an Aria.

http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B58B9/InhaltWWWIntern/A82FE043BF31376BC12567A80044EE76

--
Steve

http://www.pbase.com/steephill

Franka T.L. · Jan 8, 2006

I am not too worried about current user jumping ship either, what I am referring to is total market share. Pentax share of the pie is already small enough, and we all know a Mfr need some sort of market share / volume to stand a critical mass of market, that which able to maintain a market presence and allow long term profit and market participation. If Pentax had but only able to keep old customers and without any real prospect of grabbing plenty of new one. They risk further shriking their already dwidelling market share, and that is not a good sign for the marque and for users also

--
Franka

Sarbu Alexandru-Cristian · Jan 8, 2006

Again, it'll be a DFA. It says so in the roadmap.
The new pancakes will be DA lenses

Alex Sarbu

parallaxproblem · Jan 8, 2006

Hi Brett!

Brett St Pierre said:
Yup, I agree Ryan... at the moment for my travel telezoom I choose
between my 1.27kg Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX or my 260 g DA50-200 -----
hmmm, big difference there!

What happened to your F70-210/4-5.6?

Brett St Pierre said:
Something inbetween would be
desireable and Canon users do have that choice at the moment. Given
the compact bodies Pentax make, an F/4 would be about right but I
don't want it to be 60-250mm -- that is too broad a range to be
optically superb IMO...

I wonder if Tekade made a mistake there. I can't help noticing:

1. The roadmap values suggest around 60mm-210mm (I wonder if Tekade typed 250 instead of 210 or 220 by accident?)

2. The DA16-45/4 has just a slightly longer range than range of the Canon 17-40/4L... I can't imagine this is coincidence! I'll bet Pentax are gunning for Canon's excellent 70-200/4L here and so they only have to go a little outside the range at each end to 'win' ( ahem ). 60-210 would be 3.5X. 60-250 would be over 4X... (70-200 is under 3X). Let's hope Pentax go for the former rather than the latter focal-range! Let's hope Pentax also take some notice of the excellent build quality of the Canon 70-200/4L (hint, hint...)

Best regards!

brendan PK · Jan 8, 2006

Most of us who would jump ship are waiting on high-performance zooms like the 80-200 F2.8 replacment. A lot of us have 3rd party zooms, but are looking into a 100% Pentax glass, but with them trashing most of that line, their will be little extra glass on the market. I know Ill be keeping my D's if I jump ship, and all the lenses. Even on ebay most 3rd party glass doesnt go for what I would like it (as a seller, not buyer) and I can use my PK bodies as remote cameras, or for backpacking trips. By far they are the lightest on the market, espicaly for their build quality.

No other competitor (not even olympus) has suceeded in making nice compact light weight/solid bodies. Sure the Canon 350 is about the same as the DS, but feels like cr*p. I could squese the handgrip and feel it flex!

Now again I will waite till PMA and talking to them before I would make and drastic decision to jump, but if the roadmap is dim at best from here, I will have to seriously consider something else.

I have already priced out a Nikon system, and its not prety. Even going w/ mostly used im still looking at clost to $7-8grand!
and sorry I just say NO to Canon

Lawrence Levy · Jan 8, 2006

Mike wondered "why Pentax doesn't make a handstrap option like they did with the Z1-P.

The Pentax "way" for the Z1-P was as an adjunct of it's hand grip (FDP). This accessory made the camera still bigger and added a handstrap. I like the strap aspect a lot, and when the battery grip (D-BG1) for the istD did not include a hand strap, I looked elsewhere.

I discovered that Hakuba makes straps for that purpose. I opted for the Grip-PH because it includes a wrist-wrap with which I felt more secure than the handstrap. It is well made, and after a year of use still looks new.
--
Larry in Dallas

Gary Martin · Jan 8, 2006

Mike Muizebelt said:
Mouseflame and I both held a D70 two days ago and were very pleased
with the size. The DS is too small to hold comfortably (for me
especially with a large lens attached). I'm travelling with a
camerabag usually so I couldn't care less about Pentax being the
smallest out there.
I'll trade the DS any time for a larger Pentax camera. I'm still
puzzled why Pentax doesn't make a handstrap option like they did
with the Z1-P.
But then, there are more things about Pentax that puzzle me.........

This is all a matter of personal taste, of course. I certainly understand that many would prefer a larger camera. But I've always thought that small size, simplicity and affordability (with quality) were Pentax's niche. Therefore I don't understand why someone who liked larger camera bodies and big fast glass would be a Pentax user in the first place, when Canon and Nikon have offerings that you will NEVER see from Pentax.

--
http://www.pixelstatic.com

Aleksander Kozak · Jan 9, 2006

It is much too early to say anything. The partnership was established a few months ago so no one could release a few new items so quickly without good testing and planning and finally good reliability of the product. Sorry but please give Pentax/Samsung some time to show new gear. There is sth like AS now, who predicted it 6 months ago it would appear?Maybe new lenses will be realease, a few bodies, mayby 645D w AS but it takes time to do this. I do hope 9M camera will appear soon and them with AS .If the price is good and body with sensor very good too, I think that it would be great start of new marge. Just 2 cents.

Acliff · Jan 9, 2006

Antishake on medium format would be an excellent idea to counter mirror slap... as long as you got it to work with the tripod. Of course most medium format shooting for maxium sharpness is shot with mirror lockup anyway...

K1000Photographer · Jan 9, 2006

I do not understand why a number of people are whining because Pentax or Samsung did not introduce a DSLR or lenses at CES. The threats of jumping brands because of this are absolutely ludicrous. No one introduces these things at this time. We do know that there will be a few new SLR's and some lenses coming out this year. In fact, this should be a very good year for Pentax.

I would like a pro/semi pro body, the DA 20 something and the new tele zoom. I am not going to switch to C in order to pay too much for L glass and bad skin tones because Pentax did not show these products at CES.

Roland Mabo · Jan 9, 2006

Pentax are working on in-body shake reduction systems for their DSLR line so a fast aperture may not be so much needed in the future.

Take care*

K1000Photographer · Jan 9, 2006

Thanks Roland. Since this comes from you, I assume it is accurate. BTW - Any word on the exact focal lenths of the 2 new DA pancakes?

Now, should I wait or jump ship because it was not announced at CES. ;-)

All kidding aside, I am picking up a $10 Tokina M80-200/4 and a monopod. That should tide me over until the Pentax zoom comes out.

Summary roadmap 2006 Pentax/Samsung

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