Tamron announces SP AF70-200MM F/2.8 DI LD (IF)

I am not sure if this has been covered already (the news is from March), but I could not find it here or on Phils newspage:

http://www.tamron.com/news/35mm/70200.asp

You can see a picture on their german page:

http://tamron.de/index.php?id=529&L=0

I wonder if this is close to the nice mf SP 80-200. I don't think 1112gr is lightweight as they claim. What's also interesting is that even the Pentax version has a switch for AF on the lens, maybe it has its own motor?

Nice!

Hopefully it is quite affordable. I wish Pentax would make a telezoom 200mm+ with f/2.8 . Something to compare directly with the infamous C 70-200 2.8

--
Michael Liu - http://michaelliu.zenfolio.com

Given that the (more or less equivalent) Pentax 80-200 f2.8 weighs in around 1.5 kilos, it's not bad at all.

this has been mentioned before... anybody see a date when it should be available?

I was guessing from the description that the AF/MF switch only disengages the manual focusing ring on the Pentax/Sony cameras. That would explain why you still need to flip the switch on the camera body.

Interestingly, the advantage that Pentax has with its DA* lenses and their dual-focus system is a disadvantage when it comes to third-party lenses. Tamron, Sigma, and Tokina (or heck, Zenit, if they wanted) can make an AF lens for Canon or Nikon with only an in-lens AF system without abandoning any of the Nikon/Canon bodies. With Pentax, they have to use the screw drive, or most of the user base can't AF.

This will bite the Nikon D40 users on the bottom end, as I don't think all of the less-expensive third-party lenses use in-lens motors, but it stinks for us on the high end. At least until the whole Pentax lineup has SDM support, which I think will have to happen before we see in-lens focusing from Sigma, Tamron, etc.
-Eric

sigh i always wanted a versatile zoom with this focal range.....anyone know when it will hit singapore?