Where is the"Pentax" AF RC 1.4x teleconverter that's on the Pentax roadmap for 2013?

I expect we will know if its coming soon in less than a month as that is when the next supposed announcement is. However looking at Nikon and Canon prices for TC's are Pentaxians really willing to pay that much for a TC?

Probably not but Canikon users have the Kenko Pro 300 DG as an option. A lot cheaper than the factory ones and optically pretty close. Until I got one I didn't know how much better than the Sigma and Tamron a TC could get without costing like the factory ones.

Kent Gittings

I't been on every road map Pentax has ever released for the last 5 years..... Always next year....

A question asked more than a few times. There are a few lenses on the road map as well...... Asahi Man told us months ago that the TC was in production. Perhaps we'll all be wiser in a month or so. Maybe there'll be an announcement about it for either Photokina (or whatever it's called these days) or pre-Christmas availability.

Patience, Rod

MightyMike said:

MightyMike wrote:

I expect we will know if its coming soon in less than a month as that is when the next supposed announcement is. However looking at Nikon and Canon prices for TC's are Pentaxians really willing to pay that much for a TC?

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Probably Kenko, Tamron or Sigma will manufacture one for Pentax K as they do or have done for Canon/Nikon.

The Kenko 300 Pro 1.4 is considered top notch and costs $205 brand new, but sadly is only available for Canon and Nikon.

I am sure Ricoh will charge and arm and a leg for the AF RC 1.4x

Ricoh Imaging US has included (old) Rear Converter in the Pentax Webstore. I think the move was made to secure, and to justify the (new) price for the new converter.

smc Rear Converter A 1.4xL in Pentax Webstore

Zvonimir Tosic said:

Zvonimir Tosic wrote:

Ricoh Imaging US has included (old) Rear Converter in the Pentax Webstore. I think the move was made to secure, and to justify the (new) price for the new converter.

smc Rear Converter A 1.4xL in Pentax Webstore

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FWIW: That Rear Converter 1.4X-L has been in the Webstore since 2004 as far as I know. Also, it has always been listed at a very high price of at least above US $450. So, "the move" as you've written above was not really a move to justify anything. It is just there as it has always just been there.

Ron

brandrx said:

brandrx wrote:

brandrx said:

Zvonimir Tosic wrote:

Ricoh Imaging US has included (old) Rear Converter in the Pentax Webstore. I think the move was made to secure, and to justify the (new) price for the new converter.

smc Rear Converter A 1.4xL in Pentax Webstore

Click to expand...

FWIW: That Rear Converter 1.4X-L has been in the Webstore since 2004 as far as I know. Also, it has always been listed at a very high price of at least above US $450. So, "the move" as you've written above was not really a move to justify anything. It is just there as it has always just been there.

Ron

Click to expand...

The webstore says it's ready for ordering as it is, it sits there, and its price changes whenever policies and prices change. It says something, and you think it doesn't say anything? At least when the new one comes out, and everyone is struck by its new price, this one will give some reference point and an evidence in conversation, right?

--
Zvonimir Tosic
“A portrait is not made in the camera, but on either side of it.”
— Edward Steichen

MightyMike said:

MightyMike wrote:

I expect we will know if its coming soon in less than a month as that is when the next supposed announcement is. However looking at Nikon and Canon prices for TC's are Pentaxians really willing to pay that much for a TC?

Click to expand...

I hope/expect to use it on:

• Sigma 500mm f/4.5 APO DG EX
• DA* 300mm f/4
• DA* 60-250mm f/4
• DFA 100mm WR Macro f/2.8

Yes, I am willing to pay that much for something that will extend my options for all those lenses!

Oh, doesn't time just fly by when your waiting for Pentax optics, the question is, will it arrive in time to photograph the end of the universe!

You mean you haven't got one yet?

Asahi man might give a hint, but he has disappeared of the radar after raising false expectations for the last Ricoh press conference, and a moderator hot on his heels to prevent spamming. What we lack is a proper rumors site or blog a la 4/3 rumors. The secrecy surrounding Ricoh's plans with Pentax is a bit over the top if you ask me. I'm sympathetic towards Ricoh, and no doubt they are slowly building a decent Pentax product line behind the curtains, but you are completely left guessing, no revealing of future plans whatsoever. At least with Olympus, you were shamelessly misled :-x

It would reálly be nice if Ricoh decided to share something of a one to two year product development plan, all the more since you don't have the same certain predictability that you have with Canon or Nikon, especially since the takeover might have reset all plans that Pentax had. But it's not going to happen, so we'll be left guessing and guessing until one day, suddenly the 1.4tc pops up, or not....

hikenhi said:

hikenhi wrote:

.. got a cheesy reply from Pentax as follows:

Thank you for contacting RICOH.

RICOH does show an AF RC 1.4x teleconverter on the lens development roadmap but we have not received any more information about this or when it might be available.

Click to expand...

Translation. "Thank you for contacting your local sales outpost. HQ tell us no more about future releases than they tell you - they just tell us a day or two sooner, if we're lucky. Any advance information we might have is internal rumour, subject to change and not sharable."



Tbh, despite your other rantings Nikon, Canon et al don't tell you shipment dates for future products until they are in production and on the way to the stores.

TC is on the roadmap since 2008 or so. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

What was quite paradoxical in the long and winding TC saga, is that during the last year's Photokina, when everyone was watching at what Ricoh will do with the Pentax brand, Ricoh has announced a $7,000 telescope, but not a $500 TC, promised (then) more than 4 years ago.

I can understand that some lens plans might have changed, and that camera plans may change too, but I can't understand what was so secretive, mysterious or difficult about the TC, that needed such a mismanagement of users' expectations and trust? Indeed, was the $7,000 lens (only few can afford) far more important for the brand and its users than a TC (which many can afford and use with all lenses)?

I think that TC should have been one of products announced during 2012, or early 2013, to show users the new curator of the brand cares, and manages expectations a bit better. However, lack of it also helped spreading of rumours that Ricoh may change the K-mount, that some all-new mount is coming, etc.

I believe all of this could have been avoided and more people kept interested in Pentax.

Just my 2c.

--
Zvonimir Tosic
“A portrait is not made in the camera, but on either side of it.”
— Edward Steichen

Admittedly, I'm not knowledgeable about lenses/Teleconverters, but I was wondering if there might be a technical issue that keeps them from making one for the Pentax system? As those of us who have a 1.4 Tamron find out they don't work that well with some Pentax lenses. Is there a problem in that area of design?

John

Zvonimir Tosic said:

Zvonimir Tosic wrote:

TC is on the roadmap since 2008 or so. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

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The TC was on a roadmap, then it was canceled/removed by Hoya.

Zvonimir Tosic said:

What was quite paradoxical in the long and winding TC saga, is that during the last year's Photokina, when everyone was watching at what Ricoh will do with the Pentax brand, Ricoh has announced a $7,000 telescope, but not a $500 TC, promised (then) more than 4 years ago.

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The long lens was also a project canceled by Hoya; yet Ricoh completed it. I can't say why they did it before the rear converter, though... maybe they have to make sure it works with some future lenses?

Alex

I know I just bought one off a person listing some Canon lenses on Astromart. I picked up a near mint Kenko Pro 300 1.4x for $125. It really works well on my Sigma 100-300/4. Even the corrected aperture is displayed on the camera (60D). Have to try it on my Tokina AF AT-X Pro 300/2.8 next. Maybe on my Tamron 90/2.8 Macro also. Its a pain to find something that works this well on Canikon and realize I can never get one for my Pentax system also. One reason I am a 2 system shooter these days.

Kent Gittings