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Where's some updated thoroughbred FF primes from Pentax?

You have to wait!

Lol! Patient I am. Just getting a little antsy.

"2017 or later"

With photokina a few days out, we might be some prototypes. We'll of course be there to cover the event!

Yeah, they focused on 'pro' zooms (big, f2.8, highly corrected, many features) because these days you really need that to be a viable system. Many of us are waiting for primes in the 21-31mm range. That said, Pentax does have some good prime offerings at the moment, and many of them are FF-compatible. See thread here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/54-pentax-lens-articles/31629-da-lenses-f...ts-thread.html
There are other threads and discussion, tests about this.
Just the official ones, despite not being "HD" are all really good: DFA 50mm, DFA 100mm, FA 50mm, FA 35mm, the FA limited trio..
Hope we all get what we want, soon, but I think Samyang, Irix, Venus Laowa and even Mitakon, Tamron will produce some FF K-mount primes before Pentax will make real updates in that department

Yeah, I have some really good FF frame compatible primes. Was out shooting today and my FA limiteds were putting out some moderate Purple Fringing with my K-1. If they updated for that and flare resistance i.e. updated coatings, I'd be a happy camper.

Wouldn't they also produce PF with a K-3?
I've found that most of the film lenses I've tried, even the ones with good reputations, produce noticeable PF on my digital cameras {I didn't have most of them back when I used film but looking at a some slides I've scanned, I'm beginning to think we were less picky back then}

Given that the FA Limiteds are actually in current production (not selling down stock from the last batch that ended production 12/2012) I think it unlikely they will be updated any time soon. I personally think Pentax would be insane to alter them in any way at all.

Rather I believe over the next 12-18 months Pentax will release 6 new FF prime lenses in the UW - Telephoto range, three of D FA* quality and three of high DFA quality (same as the 28~105).

24, 28, 35, 50, 85, 105, 200, 300 seem reasonable focal lengths to look for.

I think things are about to become anything but boring in the FF arena

Yeah, please don't touch them - some of the great character lenses of all time!

Instead, release newer alternatives, reissuing the Tamron SP series with Pentax labels, for instance, if that's the cost effective way to do things.

Yes, these seem the more likely considering the official "approval" of the da 200 & 300mm.


Maybe next week wont be sooooo boring!

I am curious though about how the FA ltds would behave with the most up to date coatings.

We can only assume VERY well at this stage.

That's a good question, but since they started production again in January (or thereabouts) there must be a reason they didn't use HD. I'll deal with a little flare and LoCA / PF for the color rendering every day of the week.

IMHO it is marketing. They're classics, they're cult lenses and they're associated with Pentax. Unless and until the sales slow why mess with success?

And then there's the matter of what happened to the DA15 Limited when they reiisued them with HD and curved aperture blades.

Good points

Loweredddd expectatttionnssss....



So now we're down to hoping for rehashed lenses with new coatings? I'm looking forward to brand new lenses here!