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I would drool all over it...

No but seriously they already have the lens designs. Just start rebuilding them with WR (easier said than done, I know). But still isn't this a possibility and if they do so then it will nothing short of being big.

I'm not a big fan of the FA* lenses except for the FA* 200/4 Macro.
The reason is that most of them were somewhat compromised in both optical and mechanical virtues. Particularly the soft outer body finish is a disgrace...

If they came back to life in KAF4 form so they could be cheaper than they are currently, that would be awesome. But so far everything D FA is pretty expensive.

I imagine life for some of us would end when spouses see the credit card bill

there's a way around that:

The thing is Pentax has an unprecedented opportunity here.. to build brand new lenses from their old FA* designs as a baseline. They don't have to start from scratch but refine and fine tune what worked and what did not. I think they already did this with the D-FA*70-200/f2.8. And I want someone to tell me that this new version isn't better than the FA*80-200/f2.8 from back then.
I know they will be expensive.. but having an option to buy a brand new D-FA* design with WR and improved optics in all those not in production FA* focal lengths (that people on ebay are hoarding on to) will be nothing short of exciting. You don't have to buy them all at once.. and no body lives on a $100 budget for ever in their lives any way. Just saving up and growing into those torpedoes would be nice wouldn't it be?.

Only nobody would want to pay the prices. Corrected by Inflation the FA* 250-600 would cost about $12,000 minimum.
The idiots would immediately compare that to a used Tamron price and whine, whine, whine if it is not better than all Canikons but brandnew only costs less than half of any 3rd parties - used.

So true

Pentax did create some jewels like the DA*55. They know how to engineer great lenses with great optics. I bet they can do better than the FA with nowadays machinery and technics.

Sorry but I have to say this thread has me a little puzzled. The FA* lenses are simply awesome and they are here now. Improvements aside, they produce fantastic images now. If you want that then go and get one. If you want to wait then I suspect you will also be rewarded. As for the finish on the FA* lenses - yes - annoying, but that just means take care with the gear.

I am loving the K1 with the FA*80-200 - stunning images. No complaints at all. In all practicality cannot see how the sharp across the whole frame in the DFA version is any better that the FA*. None of my shots have border and corner subjects that are meant to be in focus with the centre subject. Sharpness in the outer parts of the frame is over rated IMHO.

Don't think so. Different compromises and demand on modern lenses. Pixelpeeping, corner to corner sharpness and less aberations. In addition, another AF mechanisms is mandatory, something that mean different mechanics and lens groups. It is probably better to start on scratch....

Same here.
I am thrilled with the photos I am getting from my K-1 and:
FA*24, *85, *28-70, *80-200
F*300

I am amazed at how much cheaper the FA*80-200mm is lately, compared to when I bought mine 5 years ago.
(maybe due to the release of the D-FA*70-200 ??)

As an added bonus to owning FA* lenses, I use them on my Pentax film cameras, too.
That is what I bought them for in the 1st place, aperture rings are very handy when shooting with a MZ-S, K2, etc..

Are they still being manufactured?

The D FA 28-105mm lens is "affordable". In the UK, a little more than the DA 16-85mm, but not much more.

I would like to see a couple more "affordable" D FA zooms, one wider and one longer than the 28-105mm, so I'm not saying the current situation is satisfactory.

Well, we all know, the current situation is never satisfactory. It's a statistical impossibility. When yo look at ƒ1.4 ƒ2.8, ƒ4 lenses, ƒ4.5, primes, zooms with various zoom ranges, there will always be some lens someone wants that isn't made. Look in Canokon land where there are 70-200 lenses in both ƒ4 and ƒ2.8 versions, and some people still wonder why there isn't an even lighter f4.5 version, or an even wider opening ƒ2.4 version. They are like my dental technician. No matter what I do, it isn't good enough for her.

I don't think so. I'd love to pick up a copy of the FA* 200 f/4 Macro, but it's hardly ever for sale. Its A equivalent just popped up on eBay for $3,300.

I think that if Pentax were to resume producing that specific lens, they'd do quite well, if everything that's written about that lens is even partly true...