HD Pentax-D FA 70-200mm f/4

Alex Sarbu · Jan 21, 2020

tassosDA said:
Alex Sarbu said:

tassosDA said:

Heliar said:

Massao said:

Heliar said:

tassosDA said:

d) it has no aperture control for older bodies [kaf 4] very disappointing, what happened to the backward compatibility?)

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It also doesn't have screwdrive-fallback AF mechanism. How am I going to use that on my 15 year old *ist DL? Very disappointing.

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This is a strange criticism. This isn't anything unusual. You can't use the newer AF-P Nikkor lenses on older Nikon cameras either. Why would you want to use a 15 year old camera in 2020 with a 1100USD lens? Why not get a better camera or stick to older lenses?

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I was being sarcastic.

It's a D-FA lens. Full frame lens. Every full frame DSLR made by Pentax can use KAF4 lenses. Therefore, I don't see a problem.

Click to expand...

The 55-300 plm is a cropped sensor lens and has also the KAF 4 mount. So with my 8 year old flagship k5ii I can't use. See here where the problem is?

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Nope.

While backwards compatibility is important, users of old equipment should not be allowed to held Pentax hostage in the past. Sorry, the electromagnetic aperture is a superior solution.

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So, in your opinion an 8year old Pentax camera is... old??

Isn't it?

tassosDA said:
Given the fact that Pentax releases new bodies every once in a blue moon, I think that by Pentax standards the k5ii is relatively new!

Some cameras a K-5II owner could upgrade to:

- K-3

- K-3 II

- K-70 (debatable as it's lower class but it has better image quality)

- KP

- K-1

- K-1 II

and, soon, the K-new.

I do not think there are many willing to buy the D FA 70-210 for a realistic price, yet unable to upgrade even to a second hand compatible camera.

tassosDA said:
And they should not force us to upgrade by changing mounts, but by producing modern and competitive cameras!

Sorry, but that doesn't make any sense; the KAF4's purpose is not to force you to upgrade, but to modernize the K-mount, bringing it up to its peers.

And as I said, the electromagnetic aperture is a much superior solution.

Alex

Alex Sarbu · Jan 21, 2020

Heliar said:
Alex Sarbu said:

tassosDA said:

Heliar said:

Massao said:

Heliar said:

tassosDA said:

d) it has no aperture control for older bodies [kaf 4] very disappointing, what happened to the backward compatibility?)

Click to expand...

It also doesn't have screwdrive-fallback AF mechanism. How am I going to use that on my 15 year old *ist DL? Very disappointing.

Click to expand...

This is a strange criticism. This isn't anything unusual. You can't use the newer AF-P Nikkor lenses on older Nikon cameras either. Why would you want to use a 15 year old camera in 2020 with a 1100USD lens? Why not get a better camera or stick to older lenses?

Click to expand...

I was being sarcastic.

It's a D-FA lens. Full frame lens. Every full frame DSLR made by Pentax can use KAF4 lenses. Therefore, I don't see a problem.

Click to expand...

The 55-300 plm is a cropped sensor lens and has also the KAF 4 mount. So with my 8 year old flagship k5ii I can't use. See here where the problem is?

Click to expand...

Nope.

While backwards compatibility is important, users of old equipment should not be allowed to held Pentax hostage in the past. Sorry, the electromagnetic aperture is a superior solution.

Besides, quite likely changing the 70-210 for a mechanical aperture linkage would be very difficult, if not impossible. For the 55-300 RE PLM, it was its retractable design.

Alex

Click to expand...

DA 18-50mm DC WR RE is also retractable, but not KAF4.

I'm not saying every retractable design requires KAF4.

Alex

Alex Sarbu · Jan 21, 2020

DougOB said:
Joseph Tainter said:

MightyMike said:

If Pentax/Ricoh is to survive their existing customer base has to buy the latest cameras, what is the point of a company providing newer cameras at high R&D cost if the customer base is happy to stick with their older cameras.

Click to expand...

I have come to the conclusion that Pentax made an enormous miskake with the K-5 series cameras. They are so good that many of us felt no need to move to the K-3. I still use my K-5II and IIs. (I also use my K-1.)

Now that all future Pentax cameras will have baked-in noise reduction,

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How many people who actually have a Pentax camera with "baked-in noise reduction" have complained about it or shown detrimental results? And it is not simply buyer justification or whatever it's called...

After carefully comparing results until my eyes bled, I decided to pay for the upgrade.

My only regret is not having sold the K-1 and bought a K-1 II instead.

Alex

--
"When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say." - George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings

Joseph Tainter · Jan 21, 2020

Joseph Tainter said:
miles green said:

Why did it take them this long to rebadge the Tamron? I'm OK for rebadging (Ihave the 24-70 and 15-30), but they could at least do in on time. Take this long and now Pentax has to compete with the discounted price of the Tamron. If one did the math a little, other options (including jumping ship) may turn out cheaper...

Click to expand...

Pentax seems at the moment to be concentrating on prime lenses (the 50 and 85). This was their primary emphasis in the past, and perhaps they are going back to it. Also, they need lenses to support the K-1 cameras, and the Tamron lenses they are rebadging are high quaiity. I don't, however, know why it took them so long to rebadge this lens.

Joe

I just had a thought in regard to my last sentence above: Perhaps Pentax had to wait for Tamron to have an opening in their production line.

Joe

Joseph Tainter · Jan 21, 2020

5r82 said:
zakaria said:

Thank you.

With the dfa 15-30 .24-70 and now 70-210mm tamron is still supporting k mount even if it has pentax name.

And this good thing. We have a good company that supports our brand standing behind the wall!

Also tokina with dfa*50mm.

Click to expand...

Think that dfa*50mm is genuine Pentax lens and not Tokina.

It is a Pentax lens, licensed to Tokina.

Joe

Mistral75 · Jan 21, 2020

xmeda said:
(...) if Ricoh orders lets say 100k units per year, it is worth doing temporary changes on production line.
(...)

100,000 HD Pentax-D FA 70-210mm f/4 ED SDM WR per year?

In your dreams... Ricoh don't even sell that many Pentax cameras per year.

asahi man · Jan 21, 2020

I only know that there are planings for a renewing of these two lenses but I have no information if it is real or in production.

It was planned February 2017.

But there are minimum ten more lenses in the pipeline.

Best regards

Mike Arledge · Jan 21, 2020

asahi man said:
I only know that there are planings for a renewing of these two lenses but I have no information if it is real or in production.

It was planned February 2017.

But there are minimum ten more lenses in the pipeline.

Best regards

10 huh? Can’t hardly wait

Oiche · Jan 21, 2020

Massao said:
tassosDA said:

a) it's indeed a Tamron design (a little bit disappointing)

Click to expand...

Yes, it is disappointing..especially given the current price. Nothing new though. Some previous lenses have been either clones or co-designed with other manufacturers. They could had offered this cloned lens earlier though, as Doug pointed out.

Massao said:

b) it's lighter than the 70-200 2.8 Pentax lens (as expected)

Click to expand...

Yes, that's very good! I'm more likely to buy this lens in future (if and ONLY if Pentax fixes their AF issues) than the Pentax DFA 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.

The superb DFA 70-200mm f2.8 can be bought new in the UK for £1400 so this makes the Tamron f4 clone looking highly over priced at £1100.

Massao said:
Massao said:

c) it has no tripod mount (why? It's not that light)

Click to expand...

That's personal preference. Its not a deal breaker for me at least--not with the weight this lens has.

I wouldn't fancy using hanging this long lens with hood off the front of the camera in slight wind, tripod feet or collars are always better for stability holding the camera lens combo around 1/2 way.

Massao said:
Massao said:

d) it has no aperture control for older bodies [kaf 4] very disappointing, what happened to the backward compatibility?)

Click to expand...

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/63551615

Nah aperture levers don't belong in new lenses, electronic aperture is better. Come on, why use old sensors in clunky old K-5s etc. with a modern lens, anyhow the lens is geared towards K-1 users being FF and even the K-1 can't use it as a sports tracking action lens.

Massao said:
Massao said:

e) 1200 euros msrp???? For a rebagded Tamron lens?? While the current canon version of the same lens sales for 800 euros?? Why??

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Yes, it is quite expensive at the moment and I'm not planning to buy it anytime soon. Peter had a good point about price comparison. Fortunately, I already have a Sigma 75-200mm f/3.8 autofocus lens and it serves my needs so far.

Matt Granger tested the Tamron 70-210 f4 on his Nikon D850 and it could do the torture tracking test pretty well so any crap AF performance will be Pentax cameras inability, I thought I'd mention this a few weeks before any reviews and complaints at the lens not being a sports lens... It is on everything but Pentax.

Oiche · Jan 21, 2020

Mike Arledge said:
asahi man said:

I only know that there are planings for a renewing of these two lenses but I have no information if it is real or in production.

It was planned February 2017.

But there are minimum ten more lenses in the pipeline.

Best regards

Click to expand...

10 huh? Can’t hardly wait

10? Yeah right LoL

No more waiting, life is too short and that pipeline goes to infinity and beyond.

vietnam74 · Jan 21, 2020

Oiche said:
Mike Arledge said:

asahi man said:

I only know that there are planings for a renewing of these two lenses but I have no information if it is real or in production.

It was planned February 2017.

But there are minimum ten more lenses in the pipeline.

Best regards

Click to expand...

10 huh? Can’t hardly wait

Click to expand...

10? Yeah right LoL

No more waiting, life is too short and that pipeline goes to infinity and beyond.

I can wait. Mine is kinda slow.

Oiche · Jan 21, 2020

vietnam74 said:
Oiche said:

Mike Arledge said:

asahi man said:

I only know that there are planings for a renewing of these two lenses but I have no information if it is real or in production.

It was planned February 2017.

But there are minimum ten more lenses in the pipeline.

Best regards

Click to expand...

10 huh? Can’t hardly wait

Click to expand...

10? Yeah right LoL

No more waiting, life is too short and that pipeline goes to infinity and beyond.

Click to expand...

I can wait. Mine is kinda slow.

More chance of Betelgeuse going supernova

There were rumours it did about 6 hours ago and many people went outside to check...

All this waiting, low probabilities and living in perpetual hope.

miles green · Jan 21, 2020

Joseph Tainter said:
Joseph Tainter said:

miles green said:

Why did it take them this long to rebadge the Tamron? I'm OK for rebadging (Ihave the 24-70 and 15-30), but they could at least do in on time. Take this long and now Pentax has to compete with the discounted price of the Tamron. If one did the math a little, other options (including jumping ship) may turn out cheaper...

Click to expand...

Pentax seems at the moment to be concentrating on prime lenses (the 50 and 85). This was their primary emphasis in the past, and perhaps they are going back to it. Also, they need lenses to support the K-1 cameras, and the Tamron lenses they are rebadging are high quaiity. I don't, however, know why it took them so long to rebadge this lens.

Joe

Click to expand...

I just had a thought in regard to my last sentence above: Perhaps Pentax had to wait for Tamron to have an opening in their production line.

i think so too.

Still the new lens is of a design that allows for VC (tamron speak for vibration control, i think) - so a number of elements half way through the lens that are small enough to be moved by the VC motors....

For that price, however is a bit steep (and the current Tamron price is very attractive). The DFA* f/2.8 was just a little more on black Friday, and that one is truly stellar. (I got one but had to return it as it was defective. But the bokeh i saw was exceptional, smooth as butter, especially for a zoom)

Looking forward to the 85...

Joseph Tainter said:
Joe

miles green · Jan 21, 2020

Mistral75 said:
amazon.co.uk published the product page yesterday but promptly withdrew it, amazon.es did the same this morning, which makes it possible to report the main features of the HD Pentax-D FA 70-210mm f/4 ED SDM WR:

https://www.amazon.es/PENTAX-D-70-210-F4ED-SDM-Teleobjetivo/dp/B083ZSSGVL/

20 elements, of which 3 ED elements and 2 made of anomalous partial dispersion glass, in 14 groups

HD coating

fluorine water-repellent coating of the front element (Super Protect)

weather resistant (WR)

internal focusing

ring ultrasonic motor (Ring SDM)

That's a big step up compared to the DFA* big brother for fast action!

Mistral75 said:
full time manual focus override (Quick Shift focus)

minimum focusing distance: 0.95m

electromagnetic aperture command & control (KAF4)

rounded aperture blades

focus limiter

even faster AF

Mistral75 said:
filter diameter: 67mm

no tripod collar in the box

Seeing that it's lighter than the 24-70 and the 15-30, i guess this is not necessary...

Mistral75 said:
weight: 819g

OK, i can travel with this one easily! (My 150-450 is a bit heavy!

Mistral75 said:
announcement on Wednesday the 23rd at 10pm UTC (Thursday morning in Japan)

available on the 14th of February

Valentine's day! Hint hint!

Mistral75 said:
€1,199 (€1,219,15 at amazon.es).

--
-----------------------------------------------
Miles Green
Pentaxian since 1997!
Corfu, Greece
N.B. All my images are protected by Copyright

DAVID MANZE · Jan 21, 2020

Mistral75 said:
amazon.co.uk published the product page yesterday but promptly withdrew it, amazon.es did the same this morning, which makes it possible to report the main features of the HD Pentax-D FA 70-210mm f/4 ED SDM WR:

https://www.amazon.es/PENTAX-D-70-210-F4ED-SDM-Teleobjetivo/dp/B083ZSSGVL/

20 elements, of which 3 ED elements and 2 made of anomalous partial dispersion glass, in 14 groups

HD coating

fluorine water-repellent coating of the front element (Super Protect)

weather resistant (WR)

internal focusing

ring ultrasonic motor (Ring SDM)

full time manual focus override (Quick Shift focus)

minimum focusing distance: 0.95m

electromagnetic aperture command & control (KAF4)

rounded aperture blades

focus limiter

filter diameter: 67mm

no tripod collar in the box

weight: 819g

announcement on Wednesday the 23rd at 10pm UTC (Thursday morning in Japan)

available on the 14th of February

€1,199 (€1,219,15 at amazon.es).

I was all for Pentax using Tamron glass ...... but there is a serious downside to this latest offering ...... the price !!

This is not a 1,200 euro lens !!

Nikon/Canon versions are available for 560 euros and they have Tamron's VC !!

--
Dave's clichés

miles green · Jan 21, 2020

Tamron makes no mention of anomalous dispersion (aspherical) glass.

Pentax does, 2 elements.

Could it be that the optical formula is the same, but that Tamron decided to keep the costs down for its own production? Unlikely though...

Alwina H · Jan 21, 2020

DAVID MANZE said:
This is not a 1,200 euro lens !!

Nikon/Canon versions are available for 560 euros and they have Tamron's VC !!

I just checked and it's 399 EUR for the Tamron here in Belgium (several dealers).

DAVID MANZE · Jan 21, 2020

Alwina H said:
DAVID MANZE said:

This is not a 1,200 euro lens !!

Nikon/Canon versions are available for 560 euros and they have Tamron's VC !!

Click to expand...

I just checked and it's 399 EUR for the Tamron here in Belgium (several dealers).

Check to see if they are Tamron official prices (non grey market) ...... the prices I quoted are!!

Heliar · Jan 21, 2020

asahi man said:
But there are minimum ten more lenses in the pipeline.

Pentax superpower 2030!

Massao · Jan 21, 2020

Oiche said:
The superb DFA 70-200mm f2.8 can be bought new in the UK for £1400 so this makes the Tamron f4 clone looking highly over priced at £1100.

True. This is introductory price though....it could drop in few months

Oiche said:
Matt Granger tested the Tamron 70-210 f4 on his Nikon D850 and it could do the torture tracking test pretty well so any crap AF performance will be Pentax cameras inability, I thought I'd mention this a few weeks before any reviews and complaints at the lens not being a sports lens... It is on everything but Pentax.

Yes, I'm sure this lens is very good for fast action on Canikon. Only the AF module in Pentax cameras will be limiting its abilities.

HD Pentax-D FA 70-200mm f/4

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