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Do we really need/want updated DA★ lenses?

Started Oct 27, 2020 | Polls thread
James O'Neill Veteran Member • Posts: 6,117
Re: Do we really need/want updated DA★ lenses?
2

SungiBr wrote:

James O'Neill wrote:

SungiBr wrote:

I hope the next update be DA* 50-135.

Then go to primes: DA*300 f4 and DA* 55.

But please Ricoh, don't take forever to do it.

I'm curious. What do you want changed with the DA* 300 ?

On these lenses, mostly mechanical design and af, as they are good lenses optically.

The 16-50 is an extreme example of an updated lens. Ricoh probably made a completely new lens from scratch.

But most of the first generation DA* lenses are finer lenses that happens to have a not so good af system. They just isn't as fast or reliable as the competition's.

For example, I think that by updating just the autofocus on a good lens like the DA*300 will round up the system without spending to much money, and make pentax a much more attractive option for those that still want to invest in a DSLR

Sorry, my error. I was thinking the 200 and 300 were introduced just before the K1, but they go back to 2008 with older motors and are still on the SDM coating, so an all weather HD DFA* 300 with  new ring SDM motor would be a good idea.

Updated DA55 and DFA50 I'm not convinced but maybe. Generally, working through the lenses which are still SMC coated and have old style SDM motors, changing the coating but keeping the glass unchanged would not take a lot of development budget.

 James O'Neill's gear list:James O'Neill's gear list
Pentax K-5 IIs Pentax K-1 Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4 Pentax smc DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 Pentax smc FA 43mm F1.9 Limited +3 more
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