4 Pentax lenses to be discontinued

[woefulwabbit]

From http://www.pentax.jp/japan/imaging/digital/lens/index_list_others.html

DA 16-45mm F4 ED AL
DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED
DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL[IF]
FA★ 600mm F4 ED[IF]

16-45mm is understandable, it's not that popular and there's quite a few alternatives.
50-200mm is strange... isn't that a kit lens option? I suppose there's the expensive WR version and the 55-300mm, but 50-200mm is still a nice budget telephoto zoom.
18-250mm is mistake to discontinue... the 18-200s are very popular with Nikon and Canon, so people looking into buying Pentax need this as an option to consider Pentax. In fact this lens should also be a kit lens option
FA* 600mm... well, currently it's made by order only, and the volume sold is probably not enough to justify keeping this going.

 

[grantyale]

It's not a bad thing if they could replace the 18-250 with something slightly better.

 

[scorpioh]

Then i better order my FA*600mm fast. Just kidding... d:

 

[matchkk]

From http://www.pentax.jp/japan/imaging/digital/lens/index_list_others.html

DA 16-45mm F4 ED AL
DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED
DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL[IF]
FA★ 600mm F4 ED[IF]

16-45mm is understandable, it's not that popular and there's quite a few alternatives.
50-200mm is strange... isn't that a kit lens option? I suppose there's the expensive WR version and the 55-300mm, but 50-200mm is still a nice budget telephoto zoom.
18-250mm is mistake to discontinue... the 18-200s are very popular with Nikon and Canon, so people looking into buying Pentax need this as an option to consider Pentax. In fact this lens should also be a kit lens option
FA* 600mm... well, currently it's made by order only, and the volume sold is probably not enough to justify keeping this going.

Actually I dont understand why they discountinue 16-45.
For Pentax alternatives, there are only DA*16-50 and DA17-70.
DA16-45 is cheap but the image quaility is very good for its price....

However, if this is replaced by another WR version, then I am fine with it...

For DA50-200, there is DAL 50-200 also available...

 

[fengwei]

DA1645 has been replaced by DA1770, a bit pricey, but all lens prices have gone up quite a bit. DA1645 was priced at $400usd plus when it's launched ...
DA50200 has been replaced by DAL50200 and DA50200 WR
DA18250 is discounted because Tamron has discounted their 18250 version, and replaced it w/ 18-270. But obviously Pentax hasn't asked Tamron to make that lens for them, yet
F*600/4 was a made-by-order item, it doesn't really generate much profit for Pentax anyway. Besides, Pentax already closed its factory in Jappan, currently there is no place can make the lens anyway I guess.

That's been said, we have more than enough lenses to choose from, except the extreme tele end. Hopefully Pentax will release the rumored 400mm F4 lens sometime next year

 

[Reportage]

Either that or hopefully FF lenses are in the works.

 

[woefulwabbit]

Too bad Tamron hasn't made a Pentax version of the 18-270mm, and if they do, it will come with this redundant and expensive thing called "VC"

 

[Reportage]

Too bad Tamron hasn't made a Pentax version of the 18-270mm, and if they do, it will come with this redundant and expensive thing called "VC"

wasnt there an experiement to find out if lens stabilization made for on body stabilization cameras worked the same or better?

 

[woefulwabbit]

wasnt there an experiement to find out if lens stabilization made for on body stabilization cameras worked the same or better?

Yep. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPdy52mR6Io

 

[istDeS]

DA1645 has been replaced by DA1770, a bit pricey, but all lens prices have gone up quite a bit. DA1645 was priced at $400usd plus when it's launched ...
DA50200 has been replaced by DAL50200 and DA50200 WR
DA18250 is discounted because Tamron has discounted their 18250 version, and replaced it w/ 18-270. But obviously Pentax hasn't asked Tamron to make that lens for them, yet
F*600/4 was a made-by-order item, it doesn't really generate much profit for Pentax anyway. Besides, Pentax already closed its factory in Jappan, currently there is no place can make the lens anyway I guess.

That's been said, we have more than enough lenses to choose from, except the extreme tele end. Hopefully Pentax will release the rumored 400mm F4 lens sometime next year

Nah... 400mm F4 too near to 300mm F4, I hope they release a 600mm F4 instead and a lighter one also.

 

[ishou80]

Nah... 400mm F4 too near to 300mm F4, I hope they release a 600mm F4 instead and a lighter one also.

Des I think it will be a pretty big glass for 600mm F4 =P

 

[cityzensg]

...and I am going to buy the 18-250mm tomorrow from another forummer here in B&S ...:what: is that a good thing or not?

 

[istDeS]

Des I think it will be a pretty big glass for 600mm F4 =P

I meant the Pentax 600mm is the heaviest among the 600mm, hope it can be lighter.

Pentax FA* 600mm f/4 ED (IF) - 6.80kg
Canon EF 600mm f/4.0 L IS USM - 5.36kg
AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR - 5.06kg

 

[istDeS]

...and I am going to buy the 18-250mm tomorrow from another forummer here in B&S ...:what: is that a good thing or not?

We buy lens we need and use. If you need the lens, just buy and use. A lot of us uses lens that are discontinued so i don't know what you mean good thing or not.:think::bsmilie:

 

[felixcat8888]

We buy lens we need and use. If you need the lens, just buy and use. A lot of us uses lens that are discontinued so i don't know what you mean good thing or not.:think::bsmilie:

I think he is asking if that lens is a good buy or not . . .:think:;p

If it is a "Pentax" then of course lah . . . :devil:

 

[istDeS]

I think he is asking if that lens is a good buy or not . . .:think:;p

If it is a "Pentax" then of course lah . . . :devil:

oh...my bad. The pentax 18-250mm is a very decent lens.