Pentax keeping up with Canon and Nikon?

[mhc_99]

Sorry to be so harsh, but why on earth would you even give a rat's behind??

Marion

737Guy wrote:

Whenever I talk to a pro or another photog in general usually, and I say I have a Pentax, it's like from then on I'm not even taken seriously.

 

[foot]

If anyone asked me, LIMITED lenses are the sole reason for the Pentax existance at this moment.

maybe a lot of truth in that. Unfortunately now they are too expensive to even dream of

 

[tvw]

Good camera, less than stellar company. I wouldn't put money into Pentax until there is a clearer picture in terms of where its heading.

 

[Charlie Self]

And I didn't buy my camera to keep up with anybody. Nikon and Canon make fine cameras but if your reason for switching is to be taken seriously by the "pros"...

... then show them what you can do with what you have. ;-)

If you can do it. I shoot professionally, and there are a number of things in the lens line I miss quite badly: a 400mm top end zoom, for one, like the Tokina 80-400 series 2.

Last Saturday, I missed the ability for really quick focusing while shooting an AMA motorcycle road race.

My K20D is superb for most uses, but Pentax blows its owners off in the long lens field, not even helping with someone else's lenses for use. In fact, they interfere with Tokina at two ends of the lens spectrum, the 11-16mm and the 80-400mm. Yup, they've got star 200mm and 300mm teles, but there's no long zoom at all.

Please don't mention the Pentax 100-300mm, as that is a royal piece of dung.

Pentax 200 DA* F2.8
Pentax 300 DA* F4
Pentax 60-250 DA* F4
Sigma EX 100-300 F4
Sigma EX 50-500 F6.3
smc PENTAX-FA600mmF4ED[IF] (by order).

And for the less well healed

Sigma 120-400 F5.6 HSM
Sigma 150-500 F6.3 HSM

Maybe Pentax don't release a 300-500mm lens as they don't see a market gap.

I'm probably going to stay with Pentax, but let's not kid ourselves: while Pentax is superior in a good number of ways, including body price, it is also inferior in a number of ways, including new lens prices.

And maybe you don't read. I didn't mention anything like a 300-500mm lens, nor do I believe that Sigma is a subsidiary of Pentax. Those lenses are available for every current camera, but the Tokina 80-400 is available to everyone but us. Why? Because Pentax and Tokina have a relationship, which royally screws us on both ends of the lens spectrum, as I noted. I also believe I did mention the Pentax 200 and 300, which anyway are not zooms. The 60-250 is way the hell short of 400. Yeah, by order on the 600. And a mortgage on my house that would annoy my wife. Besides, I also didn't mention a 600, which is still not a long zoom.

So maybe Pentax could pull it togehter and provide something like a 120 or 150-400 or a 150 to 450 or something like that, at f/5.6.

Sure. That and the tooth fairy will arrive at the same time, right behind Santa Claus and his flying reindeer bringing us a large enough buffer to hold maybe 20-25 raw files, instead of nine.

I can, and do, work with the Pentax weak spots to do pretty well, but face the facts: those weak spots exist, and can be a PITA at times. Pentax makes a good camera, sturdy, long lasting and easy to handle, but for a few dollars more, they could make it a LOT better, while also adding to their own profit picture, IMO.

--
Charlie Self
Meandering Mind: http://charlie-self.blogspot.com/
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[FarHagh]

I have a K10D currently. It was a great camera when released but I'm now looking to upgrade. Thinking about the K7, or maybe switching to Canon or Nikon. Whenever I talk to a pro or another photog in general usually, and I say I have a Pentax, it's like from then on I'm not even taken seriously. I think Pentax is catching up to the Big Two very quickly and in some areas have already surpassed them...for example weather sealing and sensor stabilization that works on ALL lenses...let's just pay for it once and not on every dang lens!!! Do you fellow Pentax owners feel that your equipment can keep up with the big boys? Again I think Pentax makes great stuff, not knocking them one bit. Just very confuse right now as far as which direction to head in. I do love my FA f/1.4 50mm prime and would hate to lose that! What an awesome lens for a mere $250!

First off, why do you want/need to be taken serious by pros? I'm not challenging you; just I'm curious about the case.

Then, don't you think shooting with a Canon rebel, they'll look at you in the same (or similar) way? Unless by C & N you mean the pro level gear.

Sorry if I'm not answering your question. I think you can better decide for yourself what is the better decision, as I do.

Good luck

-+-+-+-
Farhad

 

[gnaztee]

Well, this is a silly statement. Photographers aren't investing in companies, they're buying products. My camera and lenses work great, and they will for years, regardless of what direction Pentax goes.

Good camera, less than stellar company. I wouldn't put money into Pentax until there is a clearer picture in terms of where its heading.

--
Todd
http://www.naskedov.zenfolio.com
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/toddnaskedov

 

[awaldram]

Sorry charlie maybe you don't realize what you wrote......

My K20D is superb for most uses, but Pentax blows its owners off in the long lens field, not even helping with someone else's lenses for use. In fact, they interfere with Tokina at two ends of the lens spectrum, the 11-16mm and the 80-400mm. Yup, they've got star 200mm and 300mm teles, but there's no long zoom at all.

Let me disect it for you

Pentax blows its owners off in the long lens field, not even helping with someone else's lenses for use.

This infers ANY 3rd party manafacturer, Note you put a full stop this means end of statement.

Next statement

In fact, they interfere with Tokina at two ends of the lens spectrum, the 11-16mm and the 80-400mm. Yup, they've got star 200mm and 300mm teles, but there's no long zoom at all.

Here you have an example of how Pentax are interfering with a 3rd party manafacturer and then state some lenses Pentax do make finishing with a global statement and the one a succinctly answered.

From the gist of your statement your complaint is more you cannot afford a long zoom rather than they don't exist.

If English isn't your 1st language then you shouldn't accuse others of not reading what you have written.

Maybe Pentax don't release a 300-500mm lens as they don't see a market gap.

Sorry my turn to be clear I meant pentax don't see a market gap to produce a zoom lens ending in the range 300 to 500mm

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[awaldram]

Charlie

I see you have a BA in English !!

So I assume you are being deliberately argumentative.

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[Charlie Self]

My K20D is superb for most uses, but Pentax blows its owners off in the long lens field, not even helping with someone else's lenses for use. In fact, they interfere with Tokina at two ends of the lens spectrum, the 11-16mm and the 80-400mm. Yup, they've got star 200mm and 300mm teles, but there's no long zoom at all.

Let me disect it for you

Dissect? Or have you found a new word?

Pentax blows its owners off in the long lens field, not even helping with someone else's lenses for use.

This infers ANY 3rd party manafacturer, Note you put a full stop this means end of statement.

You infer. If the statement did anything other than what is written, it would imply.

Next statement

In fact, they interfere with Tokina at two ends of the lens spectrum, the 11-16mm and the 80-400mm. Yup, they've got star 200mm and 300mm teles, but there's no long zoom at all.

Here you have an example of how Pentax are interfering with a 3rd party manafacturer and then state some lenses Pentax do make finishing with a global statement and the one a succinctly answered.

I'm not at all sure what you're writing in the above: " ...then state some lenses do make finishing with a global statement and the one a succinctly answered."

From the gist of your statement your complaint is more you cannot afford a long zoom rather than they don't exist.

Pentax does not make a long zoom. How in hell do you get me stating I can't afford a long zoom from that I don't know.

If English isn't your 1st language then you shouldn't accuse others of not reading what you have written.

Given your handling of English, I'd figure it wasn't your first language, but I do realize that schools in the UK are just about as bad as those in the US, Canada, NZ and Oz when it comes to teaching English. Unfortunately, you don't read at all well, either.

Maybe Pentax don't release a 300-500mm lens as they don't see a market gap.

Sorry my turn to be clear I meant pentax don't see a market gap to produce a zoom lens ending in the range 300 to 500mm

I did not specifiy a reason, but I did state they made no such lens. So what's your point, other than your being badly confused? Their not seeing a market gap creates a flaw in their usability, at least in part because they interfere with Tokina's release of its 80-400mm zoom in a Pentax mount.

--
Charlie Self
Meandering Mind: http://charlie-self.blogspot.com/
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[Charlie Self]

Charlie

I see you have a BA in English !!

So I assume you are being deliberately argumentative.

Uh, sure. I also have worked as a writer/photographer since 1962. In that time, I've won multiple awards. That has nothing to do with your misunderstanding of what I have written. It does have to do with your own reading and writing skills, which are meager.

--
Charlie Self
Meandering Mind: http://charlie-self.blogspot.com/
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[Pete Dee]

LOL, So very true, I wonder if this is how he chooses his car?

Marion

737Guy wrote:

Whenever I talk to a pro or another photog in general usually, and I say I have a Pentax, it's like from then on I'm not even taken seriously.

 

[tvw]

No they are not keeping up with Nikon and Canon in fact, they are losing ground to Sony, Oly and it looks like Panasonic as well, hence, Hoya's latest admission of seeking help. Canon will reportedly introduce a more affordable FF shortly and you can bet Nikon will follow suit. Sony also has FF and Pentax doesn't. Oly has very good 4/3rds and Panasonic has the GH1. Pentax has excellent lenses and that's what will make them attractive to a potential buyer. If you already own Pentax and have a lot of lenses then it makes sense to not jump ship, but if you are just starting to build a system, then Pentax is a more problematic as a choice

 

[This is not a real name]

Those lenses are available for every current camera, but the Tokina 80-400 is available to everyone but us. Why? Because Pentax and Tokina have a relationship, which royally screws us on both ends of the lens spectrum, as I noted.

That's not correct. Tokina lenses are not available in Sony (Minolta) fit either, nor of course in four-thirds or Sigma fit. They are only available in Canon and Nikon fit. How did Canon and Nikon only (two out of the six current DSLR mounts) become everyone except Pentax?

The non-competition agreement would only apply to lenses in which there are equivalents from Tokina and Pentax that share an optical design such as the 12-24mm and 50-135mm. The absence of the others, is, like the absence of Sony-mount versions, simply a question of economics in my opinion, ie they would not sell enough to make money on them.

 

[Charlie Self]

Those lenses are available for every current camera, but the Tokina 80-400 is available to everyone but us. Why? Because Pentax and Tokina have a relationship, which royally screws us on both ends of the lens spectrum, as I noted.

That's not correct. Tokina lenses are not available in Sony (Minolta) fit either, nor of course in four-thirds or Sigma fit. They are only available in Canon and Nikon fit. How did Canon and Nikon only (two out of the six current DSLR mounts) become everyone except Pentax?

The non-competition agreement would only apply to lenses in which there are equivalents from Tokina and Pentax that share an optical design such as the 12-24mm and 50-135mm. The absence of the others, is, like the absence of Sony-mount versions, simply a question of economics in my opinion, ie they would not sell enough to make money on them.

As far as I am concerned, the reason is irrelevant. The lens is unavailable in a Pentax mount. We do not know what the reason is. We can rationalize back and forth and up and down, but, in fact, it all comes down to a lack of availability. That lack of availability may be the reason I eventually dump Pentax, because I get tired of making do, even though I save money by doing so.

--
Charlie Self
Meandering Mind: http://charlie-self.blogspot.com/
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[Pete Dee]

Those lenses are available for every current camera, but the Tokina 80-400 is available to everyone but us. Why? Because Pentax and Tokina have a relationship, which royally screws us on both ends of the lens spectrum, as I noted.

That's not correct. Tokina lenses are not available in Sony (Minolta) fit either, nor of course in four-thirds or Sigma fit. They are only available in Canon and Nikon fit. How did Canon and Nikon only (two out of the six current DSLR mounts) become everyone except Pentax?

The non-competition agreement would only apply to lenses in which there are equivalents from Tokina and Pentax that share an optical design such as the 12-24mm and 50-135mm. The absence of the others, is, like the absence of Sony-mount versions, simply a question of economics in my opinion, ie they would not sell enough to make money on them.

As far as I am concerned, the reason is irrelevant. The lens is unavailable in a Pentax mount. We do not know what the reason is. We can rationalize back and forth and up and down, but, in fact, it all comes down to a lack of availability. That lack of availability may be the reason I eventually dump Pentax, because I get tired of making do, even though I save money by doing so.

Ultimately this is your choice, if there are lenses that you simply must have and they are not available in Pentax mount you have to go elsewhere.

Cheers.

Pete

 

[MusicDoctorDJ]

Canon will reportedly introduce a more affordable FF shortly and you can bet Nikon will follow suit.

Really?

And where might this have been reported?

Or perhaps this is just another rumor . . .

--
J. D.
Colorado

Remember . . . always keep your receipt, the box, and EVERYTHING that came in it!

 

[awaldram]

My K20D is superb for most uses, but Pentax blows its owners off in the long lens field, not even helping with someone else's lenses for use. In fact, they interfere with Tokina at two ends of the lens spectrum, the 11-16mm and the 80-400mm. Yup, they've got star 200mm and 300mm teles, but there's no long zoom at all.

Let me disect it for you

Dissect? Or have you found a new word?

Guilty as charged ;-)

Pentax blows its owners off in the long lens field, not even helping with someone else's lenses for use.

This infers ANY 3rd party manafacturer, Note you put a full stop this means end of statement.

You infer. If the statement did anything other than what is written, it would imply.

Definition infer

(of facts, circumstances, statements, etc.) to indicate or involve as a conclusion; lead to.

Next statement

In fact, they interfere with Tokina at two ends of the lens spectrum, the 11-16mm and the 80-400mm. Yup, they've got star 200mm and 300mm teles, but there's no long zoom at all.

Here you have an example of how Pentax are interfering with a 3rd party manafacturer and then state some lenses Pentax do make finishing with a global statement and the one a succinctly answered.

I'm not at all sure what you're writing in the above: " ...then state some lenses do make finishing with a global statement and the one a succinctly answered."

Typo's slept in all over.

Here you have an example of how Pentax are interfering with a 3rd party manafacturer, then you state some lenses Pentax do make.
Finishing with a global statement and the one I succinctly answered.

From the gist of your statement your complaint is more you cannot afford a long zoom rather than they don't exist.

Pentax does not make a long zoom. How in hell do you get me stating I can't afford a long zoom from that I don't know.

First time you've made the statemen t "Pentax does not make a long zoom".

If English isn't your 1st language then you shouldn't accuse others of not reading what you have written.

Given your handling of English, I'd figure it wasn't your first language, but I do realize that schools in the UK are just about as bad as those in the US, Canada, NZ and Oz when it comes to teaching English. Unfortunately, you don't read at all well, either.

Your facts to back this up or are you just blowing off.?

Maybe Pentax don't release a 300-500mm lens as they don't see a market gap.

Sorry my turn to be clear I meant pentax don't see a market gap to produce a zoom lens ending in the range 300 to 500mm

I did not specifiy a reason, but I did state they made no such lens. So what's your point, other than your being badly confused? Their not seeing a market gap creates a flaw in their usability, at least in part because they interfere with Tokina's release of its 80-400mm zoom in a Pentax mount.

Again what's you proof that Pentax stop Tokina making lenses in Pentax mount?

It would seem more probable the Tokina a little player cannot sell enough Pentax mount lenses to justify the R+D.

--
Charlie Self
Meandering Mind: http://charlie-self.blogspot.com/
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

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[foot]

i just saw a NIB (old stock) tokina 80-400 for $400. I didn't find out much about this lens, even posting here and asking, so i passed it on by. Hope i didn't make a mistake

Those lenses are available for every current camera, but the Tokina 80-400 is available to everyone but us

 

[awaldram]

Charlie

I see you have a BA in English !!

So I assume you are being deliberately argumentative.

Uh, sure. I also have worked as a writer/photographer since 1962. In that time, I've won multiple awards. That has nothing to do with your misunderstanding of what I have written. It does have to do with your own reading and writing skills, which are meager.

Are you inventing a new word.?

You can't even throw insults with aplomb !!

The word your looking for is meagre.

Guess when your in a glass house you shouldn't throw stones.

We all understand what you have written......do you?

--
Charlie Self
Meandering Mind: http://charlie-self.blogspot.com/
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

--
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My Photo Stream
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[awaldram]

Those lenses are available for every current camera, but the Tokina 80-400 is available to everyone but us. Why? Because Pentax and Tokina have a relationship, which royally screws us on both ends of the lens spectrum, as I noted.

That's not correct. Tokina lenses are not available in Sony (Minolta) fit either, nor of course in four-thirds or Sigma fit. They are only available in Canon and Nikon fit. How did Canon and Nikon only (two out of the six current DSLR mounts) become everyone except Pentax?

The non-competition agreement would only apply to lenses in which there are equivalents from Tokina and Pentax that share an optical design such as the 12-24mm and 50-135mm. The absence of the others, is, like the absence of Sony-mount versions, simply a question of economics in my opinion, ie they would not sell enough to make money on them.

As far as I am concerned, the reason is irrelevant. The lens is unavailable in a Pentax mount. We do not know what the reason is. We can rationalize back and forth and up and down, but, in fact, it all comes down to a lack of availability. That lack of availability may be the reason I eventually dump Pentax, because I get tired of making do, even though I save money by doing so.

Ultimately this is your choice, if there are lenses that you simply must have and they are not available in Pentax mount you have to go elsewhere.

You've hit the nail on the head.

Given Charlie castigated me for suggesting anything but the Tokina, He must have some overinding desire to own this lens.

Cheers.

Pete

--
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