Hoya didn't listen...

[Marques Lamont]

If Ricoh is in for the long haul you can bet that they have evaluated the weak points in the Pentax line and will have prioritized efforts to fix the weakest links first. Whether or not that includes new lenses in the short term we will have to wait and see.

Yes, hopefully that will include new lenses.

One of the weakest links is the fact that Pentax's flagship flash, the 540FGZ was made released over 6 years ago!

Also, another weak link is production issues, i.e., the K-5 sensor stain issue. The K-x battery problem. The K-r front focusing problems, etc.

 

[Holger Bargen]

I would like it, if pentax would build the 200 mm f4 macro lens, again and also the 1.4x converter with autofocus option for non-AF lenses.

They have so great stuff in their history book - they simply have to reactivate it.

Best regards
Holger

 

[breeze_of_wind]

Make it a 200-600 or 250-600 and I am ready to step up the plate.
John

Is a DA*200-500 possible with a screw/SDM drive switch?
--
Regards Dean - Capturing Creation
N.B. All my Images are Protected by Copyright

 

[Robbie Corrigan]

I think you will all be disappointed in the short term.

First the value line needs to be strengthened, ie a DA(L)24 f/2.8 and DA(L)55 f/1.8 along the lines of the DA(L)35 f/2.4. These are needed to compete with the competition. A rework of older designs might work here.
The 50 Macro f/2.8 needs updating to DFA WR Spec, again a relatively easy task.

I don't know if the current SDM models have been quietly updated with better / stronger motors but again this would be high on the list, call them MkIIs or V2s but announce the fact, that would reassure prospective customers. If it is only a motor change, offer the 'upgrade' to current owners for cost + labour - say $200 and introduce a combined service / warranty schedule like in the car industry. Brings peace of mind and support kudos.

Then and only then would I focus the designers on the halo products like a DA* 400 or above.

 

[DLBlack]

All Ricoh has to do is release more than one (1) really new lens and they're doing better than Hoya.

I totally agree. Still under Hoya ownership Pentax did get three lenses released. The DAL35, DFA100WR Macro (not really new), and the DA18-135. THis is not really good for a company that is thought of as an optical company.

I am hoping for some new lenses from Pentax under Ricoh ownershipo. Just releasing the FA* lenses would be really nice.

Dave
--

 

[smertz]

Stop making sense walchan!

While I like Ron's fantasy request for sentimental reasons, I cannot see Ricoh releasing any new long telephoto lenses. 500 mm lenses are used primarily by sports and wildlife photographers who are able to justify the big costs. Not to mention that Pentax doesn't make a high-performance camera like the D300s or the 7D to effectively use the lens.

Besides Ron and maybe five or six others who will swear by this forum, who else is going to buy these expensive lenses? As of this late afternoon, Pentax or K-mount lenses do not appear anywhere in Amazon's top 100 best-selling DSLR lenses. The real question is whether there is a market for new K-mount lenses, let alone $6,000 K-mount lenses.

How many Pentax users are contributors to Sportsshooter.com? Or how about the Nature Photographers Network? Maybe one hundredth of a percent. Like a rounding error. If you want Ricoh to be smart stewards of the Pentax brand, then they will not do this. Anyway the engineering behind a professional fast 500mm lens with an ultra-sonic motor, IS, and precision control is um, a little beyond Pentax capabilities--let alone QA issues--right now.

To me, if you have a need for a high-end long lens and can spend the $6000, you might as well spend another $1500 and get a dedicated Canon or Nikon body that stays attached. It's not like you are abandoning your Pentax for all other uses.

SmertZ

 

[Dezzza]

You should be more positive.

But guess you are right.

 

[miles green]

and 3/ multicolored 500f4 might not be a hit with Japanese teenagers... ;-)

LOL!

Pentax, just make it like a big DA* 300 and I'll buy it (as long as it's not pink)!

Shouldn't Sigma also be updating their 500 and TCs with HSM motors / compatibility?

I never thought I'd have Long-Lens-Lust, but there you have it... LLL-positive!

--
-----------------------------------------------
Miles Green
Corfu

 

[LFLee]

will a DA*300 + 2x teleconverter satisfy the need of long lens ?

If so Pentax only need to make a SDM* 2x teleconverter.

I think the need for long lenses is really small in Pentax user, but I wish they allow customer to order it and make them when the order reached certain number, like pre-order and they produce the lens once a year.

Lee

 

[Anastigmat]

Hoya didn't listen, maybe Ricoh/Pentax will.

Of course not. The management was only interested in the bottom line, so it tried different strategies to maximize profits. The worst strategy was to gouge the customers with higher prices than the competitors'. Although there is nothing wrong with maximizing profits, since Nikon and Canon are doing the same, but Canon and Nikon do listen a bit more to their customers. For example, for many years Nikon management refused to release a full frame DSLR, saying that there is no point to a larger sensor when the APS-C is good enough. Good enough is not good enough. Amidst customer outcries, the company got rid of the geezers within the management and brought in some young guys who started building a full frame sensor right away. The rest is history. Nikon took back the professional market from Canon with the D3, which would not have been possible without a full frame.

Many of us really need/want a 400mm and/or 500mm Pentax lens. Quit pussyfooting around and make them for us.

That is not the only thing needed, but that would be a start.

I really beleive that even a 400mm f5.6 will sell well for many of us commited Pentax users.

No doubt about that. The Canon 400mm L f/5.6 lens is a popular lens among Canon users for its sharpness and relatively low price. Pentax would be wise to offer something similar. Hoya/Pentax made a lot of mistakes over the past few years, including dumping TTL flash support to force users to buy new P-TTL flashes and removing the aperture coupling ring to discontinue support for K and M lenses. In the end, such tactics did not make enough extra money for the company to prevent a sale to Ricoh, but it did succeed in disillusioning some users.

 

[ernieF]

Cheers. ernie

 

[HawaiianOnline]

To me, if you have a need for a high-end long lens and can spend the $6000, you might as well spend another $1500 and get a dedicated Canon or Nikon body that stays attached. It's not like you are abandoning your Pentax for all other uses.

SmertZ

Then why even buy Pentax to begin with? The whole point is that Pentax needs to be able to cater to ANY photographer at whatever level they want to be. Sure ultra-teles are expensive. There is no denying that. The simple fact of the matter is that Pentax offers ZERO upgrade path. The vast majority of first time DSLR buyers aren't going to immediately purchase lenses to cover the range from 8mm to 600mm right off the bat. However, it would be nice to know that you could save up and eventually purchase a wide T/S lens or an ultra tele in the 400mm - 600mm ranges. There is no upgrade path as-is, therefore why even start with Pentax in the first place? Sure there are a lot of compelling reasons, but why do it when you can't plug the gaps in your own lens lineup? Go dual system? Why, when you can go with a single system and not worry about incompatible mounts especially if you have to do this professionally or semi-professionally. You may as well start off with a Nikon or Canon in the first place.

 

[thecodthemullet]

no i think your forgetting the number of avid birders in this forum (just have a look at the boards in hummingbird season) who have a k-5 (which surely you'll agree is enough camera for the hypothetical lens)

and what does the number of lenses on amazon have to do with anything. market share wise currently i would suspect it nearly impossible for any pentax lens to make such a list yet as has been said the company is making money.

and on the matter of whether any contribute to magazines i'm not surprised it's a low number, think for a moment on what customer base pentax has, by and large were not professionals we're Amateurs and amateurs don't usually publish stuff in magazines. have a look round the boards though and tell me that the quality of most the wildlife photography on this forum is not good enough to be published.

if Ricoh wants pentax to be taken seriously as a outdoors / adventurers camera then it's needs to provide the lenses to do so and no wildlife photographer is going to take a 300 seriously (however a company tries to do the math)

Rohan (waiting maybe eternally for pentax to release something longer)

Stop making sense walchan!

While I like Ron's fantasy request for sentimental reasons, I cannot see Ricoh releasing any new long telephoto lenses. 500 mm lenses are used primarily by sports and wildlife photographers who are able to justify the big costs. Not to mention that Pentax doesn't make a high-performance camera like the D300s or the 7D to effectively use the lens.

Besides Ron and maybe five or six others who will swear by this forum, who else is going to buy these expensive lenses? As of this late afternoon, Pentax or K-mount lenses do not appear anywhere in Amazon's top 100 best-selling DSLR lenses. The real question is whether there is a market for new K-mount lenses, let alone $6,000 K-mount lenses.

How many Pentax users are contributors to Sportsshooter.com? Or how about the Nature Photographers Network? Maybe one hundredth of a percent. Like a rounding error. If you want Ricoh to be smart stewards of the Pentax brand, then they will not do this. Anyway the engineering behind a professional fast 500mm lens with an ultra-sonic motor, IS, and precision control is um, a little beyond Pentax capabilities--let alone QA issues--right now.

To me, if you have a need for a high-end long lens and can spend the $6000, you might as well spend another $1500 and get a dedicated Canon or Nikon body that stays attached. It's not like you are abandoning your Pentax for all other uses.

SmertZ

--
I hear birds out the window, quick i must grab my camera.
http://floatycod.zenfolio.com/

 

[smertz]

The assumption that Pentax has to meet all photographer needs may have worked well in 1983, but Pentax is in a very different place in 2011.

There are lots of advantages to using Pentax equipment today. Not having long lenses or T/S lenses doesn't negate any of those. It just means that Pentax has ceded those speciality markets to others.

SmertZ

 

[leopold]

I believe that Ricoh will be a better owner than Hoya !

Certainly need a longer lens than the DA*300mm/4 and a TC 1.4X and some fast short Primes and WA.

Will see in the next years.
--
Leopold
Pentax forever
http://smarcoux.zenfolio.com/
http://www.limagier-photo.com/
http://www.firstlight.com/galleries.php

 

[HawaiianOnline]

The assumption that Pentax has to meet all photographer needs may have worked well in 1983, but Pentax is in a very different place in 2011.

There are lots of advantages to using Pentax equipment today. Not having long lenses or T/S lenses doesn't negate any of those. It just means that Pentax has ceded those speciality markets to others.

SmertZ

No. This is a very narrow viewpoint. Without offering flexibility in terms of features, formats, and equipment, Pentax will be abandoned by the very market segment that they need to become profitable. Ask yourself, why was Pentax so dominant at one time? Precisely because they appealed to a broad spectrum of the market both featurewise and equipment wise. What happened when it didn't grow with the market?

If Pentax follows the path you believe is correct, then the company will only stunt its growth and shut out all of those who would've started out with a Pentax. They will not want to go with a brand that they cannot grow into. That path will end up with Pentax becoming a "boutique" brand sitting upon old glories and reputation with all the insecurity that it entails. Pentax needs to grow and to show that any photographer that wishes to purchase a Pentax camera will be able to grow as their needs grow. Photographers, professional or enthusiast, past and future, do not need a stunted brand. Pentax needs flexibility, and it needs growth. They're going to need to spend money on R&D and new products to make money.

 

[paulkienitz]

Ok thanks for that Ron that explains things well.

Sounds like a dual drive system would be a good thing for users and maybe allay fears of SDM issues

But it's also been argued that the dual drive approach is the whole reason they built the SDM system around small crappy motors that break! If they used proper ring-motors in the star lenses, we probably wouldn't have this issue.

 

[jf_tea]

the Sigma long lenses are not a dream. They are available in PK mount.

Yes, it would be nice to have Pentax long lenses, but, we can buy other brands if we really need long.

Hopefully, Ricoh will make some good moves.
--
-JF
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jftouchette/

 

[HawaiianOnline]

the Sigma long lenses are not a dream. They are available in PK mount.

Yes, it would be nice to have Pentax long lenses, but, we can buy other brands if we really need long.

Hopefully, Ricoh will make some good moves.
--
-JF
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jftouchette/

Only the 300mm f2.8 and the 500mm f4.5. Both are fine lenses, but they are not a 600mm f4 or an 800mm f5.6. Availability of the 500mm f4.5 seems to be going down to. Sigma does have their 800mm 5.6 and the 300-800mm f5.6, but neither are available in K-mount. I personally would be a happy camper if they made the 300-800mm f5.6 available to Pentax users. I'd have to save up for a while to afford it, but I would be happy, and I suspect that many others would be too.

 

[wlachan]

I personally would be a happy camper if they made the 300-800mm f5.6 available to Pentax users. I'd have to save up for a while to afford it, but I would be happy, and I suspect that many others would be too.

Don't really remember how much it cost back then, maybe 6k USD? I believe the # being made could be counted by 10 fingers? A DA*300-800/5.6 might cost... 10k if being developed and made today? Plus another couple of hundreds for each SDM failure shipping? It might end up being as rare as the Canon EF1200/5.6L?
--
http://www.pbase.com/wlachan