Where is the weathersealing, guys?

A Schamber wrote:

I've been out of the forums for about 6 years, I believe. Probably most of you are not the same people there used to be around here.

Welcome back.

Nevertheless, I have just started again to take photography seriously, after being a Pentax PRO for 5 years, and got my equipment robbed, which included a K-5, a K-r, 16-50, 50-135, three AF-540, and a couple primes and other stuff. I bought a K-3 II (because I am NOT planning to upgrade the camera anytime soon, so I prefered to buy something good and just put the money in lenses).

Sorry to hear that...

Enough background... lenses. I'm really struggling to understand Pentax line up right now. There are some basics that every brand should have, and I believe Pentax is disappointing, not because they cannot perform, but because they are not willing.

Let me explain: Limited lenses, are great. We all love them. But they were updated recently with round blades, better coatings... but where the hell is the weathersealing? I mean. I don't want to spend 500 - 800 dollars on a lens that is NOT weathersealed. Was it that hard for them to add that?

I guess that depends if extensive barrel changes are needed or not. If so, it might be comparable with launching a new lens.

It's not trivial, otherwise the HD DA Limiteds would've been WR'ed.

Something else, then: 50 mm Macro lens. One of the sharpest lenses of all time, great 50 for FF or for APS-C. But it's 12 years old! There hasn't been un update on the body, on the construction quality, blades, coatings, weather sealing... not a single thing. It is really painful, because if that same design was used with today's technology, it would be a lens that everyone would buy for that price.

Yes. If they make a new version (optics seems to be fine) I would buy it.

The 50 1.8 was a great add for the lineup... but still again no weather sealing. The 35 2.4, the same. I'd rather have a 30 dollars more expensive lens with weather sealing, just to make the statement: "our cameras can do this. The competition, can't for the price."

Those are cheapest lenses, designed to compete with the competition's cheapest lenses.

So I am really struggling to make a lens buying roadmap, because some of the lenses are just not there. Sure, I'll pick a DFA 100 Macro 2.8 lens, and probably a DA* 55. But I feel that most of the lineup is just not there yet for everyday photography, so I'll stick with the 16-85 for most things.

You are struggling? How about me? At least on APS-C you have quite a few modern choices.

What are your thoughts?

I think that Pentax should've had a full APS-C modern lens line by now. But Hoya reduced introducing new lenses to a grinding halt.

Ricoh Imaging should do their best, but it will take a while. And they have to take care of both APS-C and FF (and 645, and Q)

I am waiting for - and will buy - new D FAs.

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Alan Schamber
Progress is not possible without deviation from the norm - Frank Zappa

Alex