Two new smc PENTAX-DA * ( DA Star ) Zoom Lenses

[KhoKing]

Pentax Japan has announced and confirmed the specifications of the new two Pentax DA * Lenses:



smc PENTAX-DA 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL[IF]SDM
smc PENTAX-DA 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF]SDM

Designed exclusively for use with its digital SLR cameras, these zoom lenses are the first models of the new high-performance smc PENTAX-DA lens series.

Major Features of the smc PENTAX-DA 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL[IF]SDM Lens

   1. When mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, this 3.1-times zoom lens covers angles of view from 24.5mm to 76.5mm ( in the 35mm format ). Thanks to this versatile ultra-wide to medium-telephoto coverage, it can be used as a handy standard zoom lens in a wide variety of applications, including landscape, snapshot and portrait.

   2. Incorporating two ED ( extra-low dispersion ) elements and three aspherical elements, this standard zoom lens effectively compensates for chromatic and spherical aberrations.

Major Features of the smc PENTAX-DA 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF]SDM Lens

   1. When mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, this 2.7-times zoom lens covers angles of view from 76.5mm to 207mm ( in the 35mm format ). Coupled with a large maximum aperture of F2.8, it is a perfect telephoto zoom lens for applications such as portraiture featuring beautifully obscured, out-of-focus backgrounds and sports photography freezing split-second action at high shutter speeds.

   2. Incorporating three ED ( extra-low dispersion ) elements, this telephoto zoom lens effectively minimizes the chromatic aberrations which would be particularly detrimental to image-forming performance.

   3. This telephoto zoom lens is treated with PENTAX-original ghostless coating to effectively minimize internal reflections in the optical elements and greatly improve the image description of backlit subjects.

More info / source at:
http://www.pentax.co.jp/e...ish/news/2007/200707.html

[tcom]

Great news.

I would just like to add the following, taken from the Pentax website, about the compatibility of these lenses on the other DSLRs:

# Innovative SDM System for smoother, quieter autofocusing operation

These two new smc PENTAX-DA zoom lenses come equipped with a new SDM System, which assures smoother, quieter autofocusing operation using a built-in supersonic motor. When mounted on the PENTAX K10D digital SLR camera body, the focus mode is automatically switched to SDM-assisted autofocusing*. When mounted on other PENTAX digital SLR camera bodies, the conventional autofocus mode using a camera-mounted motor is selected.

*
    The PENTAX K10D firmware must be updated to take advantage of this automatic switching function.

[manual_focus]

tcom,
   Thanks for the info.  As Pentax is coming out with three more SDM lenses, its good that they have made them fully compatible with other than K10D dSLRs.

[benjikan]

I found it interesting to compare the new 16-50mm f2.8 with the older 16-45mm f4.
The specs on both can be found here:
http://www.pentaxslr.com/lenses

The new lens has 15 elements in 12 groups with 2 ED and 3 Aspherical lens elements as compared to 13 elements in 10 groups with 1 ED and 2 Aspherical lens elements.  Nine aperture blades as compared to six. 77mm filter size vs. 67mm, and almost twice the weight, (565g vs 365g). 

So along with the normal size differences of going from f4 to f2.8, Pentax appears to have worked the optics to a much higher level and with more aperture blades should give better bokeh. 

As these two lenses are already on Pentax's websites, I would expect they should be available shortly after PMA.  (end of March  to early April)!!!

If they turn out to be as good as I think they will be, I may not be using my primes very often..

[leto78]

Is the USM simply off when you mount these lenses on a K100D?

[Pilot de Guerre]

Some web sites of Japanese stores are already taking order for above zooms. By US$ conversion, cost around $1,000 MSRP for either.

The DA*16-50 is a sister of Tokina AT-X165 Pro DX, which is almost same MSRP and interestingly, both will launch same time in the next month.

http://www.tokina.co.jp/n...ws/4961607atx165news.html 
(they should have English page for this product)

The AT-X535 Pro DX is DA* 50-135, except cosmetics and drive mechanism, and your guys are already familiar with this.

http://www.tokinalens.com...tokina/atx535prodx-a.html

Tokina has been financially controlled by Hoya, so will do Pentax. I wish I could see real original from them.  Of course, better than nothing....   
 

[starkillerz]

Just to mention.
At that address (that manual focus provided):
http://www.pentaxslr.com/lenses/lens_16_50
http://www.pentaxslr.com/lenses/lens_50_135

They have a price:
899$ for the 16-50
999$ for the 50-135

I don't know how accurate these prices are since the price for the 16-45 f4 is way off (549$ ! It is listed for 309$ at BH). However, these prices are the first prices that I have seen.

[JAZZer]

Is the USM simply off when you mount these lenses on a K100D?

Yes... so as written.

[tcom]

Here are the official list prices of these lenses in Switzerland:

DA*16-50:  CHF 1349.- (~1070 USD)
DA*50-135: CHF 1499.- (~1200 USD)

As usual, the photo industry applies another dollar rate...

[manual_focus]

Read it and weep.  Adorama has both lenses listed.

16-50mm   --  USD $750
50-135mm  --  USD $830

The lenses can be pre-ordered.

http://www.adorama.com/PX...ax%2016-50&item_no=17

[tcom]

Not sure if I will go the adorama way for the 16-50. Being a good customer, my usual shop allows me to test any new lens for about a week and after that, I can decide if want to buy it or give it back. And I never payed the list price in that shop. I usually get a "good customer" discount.

If I add shipping and import taxes to the 16-50 at Adorama, it will end by around 850USD, not so big difference to what I will have to pay.

[manual_focus]

There definitely is value ($$) for having a local shop provide that type of service.  I'd pay more also.

[KhoKing]

Read it and weep.  Adorama has both lenses listed.

16-50mm   --  USD $750
50-135mm  --  USD $830

The lenses can be pre-ordered.

http://www.adorama.com/PX...ax%2016-50&item_no=17

The 16-50mm price is quite attractive, especially with SDM built in! Definitely much cheaper than Nikon and Canon equivalent!

More reasons for photographers to switch to Pentax! 

[tcom]

True, but I fear the waiting times to have it delivered might be much longer than N/C.

[celetron]

2 days ago at PHOTOVISION expedition in Greece I had the chance to try both lenses. I must say that the SDM makes the AF so fast and silent on K10D that some times I couldn’t believe it was actually focusing… The difference of AF speed with these lenses on K10 and on DS is huge… With the K10D I was checking again and again to make sure it was actually working and I was changing focus points all the time to make it move again but it was focusing so fast with no hunting at all that I could not believe it… AND THE LIGHT THERE WAS SO DIM THAT THE AF WITH MY DS WAS ALMOST USELESS… I am talking about the 50-135. The sample of 16-50 was not functional. However I could try to zoom in or out manually… Ok, now both lenses were quite light for their volume, with better build construction than other DA zoom lenses I used so far. The 50-135 has stable the front element. I promise I’ll post a photo I took that night with 50-135 on my DS. Until then, you can check and compare the size of the 2 DA* lenses next to my FA 50/1.4






Christos