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Is Pentax the only Mfg to improve lenses in more ways than just seeing things better?
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Mar 27, 2017 00:39:15   #
GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan
 
Having just looked in greater detail about two of the Pentax lenses, (70-200 & 150-450), I now see why the price is a bit higher than you'd expect from Pentax. They have improved more than just the optics!

I don't think anyone has a good method to lock the zoom ability from drifting. Irex has a focus lock but they only provide manual focus and fixed lenses.

Pentax now has a Preset button on their 150 to 450 lens. It lets you record a focus point after focusing so you can focus on something else, then quickly come right back to the original focus without another hunt for the proper focus. (Wish I had that ability while covering sports! I can see a great need for naturalists and bird watchers too.)

Check out the Focus Range Limiter. That lets you set the lens to focus full range fast and quietly, or to set it to focus at close ranges or far away ranges. That speeds up an already fast focus if you use it and that comes one both the 150 - 450 and the 70 - 200.

Then they added a SP (Super Protect) Coating to the glass. (I just might consider not using a clear filter to repel the dust, water and grease... well maybe not. LoL)

Those who thought Pentax was just about washed up better think harder. They've got a full frame and crop DSLR's that have many excellent features that other wish they had and now they're improving their lenses. That kind of puts the "big two" camera Mfg's in catchup mode. LoL

I wonder what else they're doing?

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Mar 27, 2017 00:49:12   #
mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)
 
GENorkus wrote:

Pentax now has a Preset button on their 150 to 450 lens. It lets you record a focus point after focusing so you can focus on something else, then quickly come right back to the original focus without another hunt for the proper focus.
My Nikon 300mm f2.8 had that capablility at least five years ago



Check out the Focus Range Limiter. That lets you set the lens to focus full range fast and quietly, or to set it to focus at close ranges or far away ranges. That speeds up an already fast focus if you use it and that comes one both the 150 - 450 and the 70 - 200.
My Olympus lenses have that capability and I'm sure many others do as well.

That kind of puts the "big two" camera Mfg's in catchup mode. LoL

I wonder what else they're doing?
br Pentax now has a Preset button on their 150 to... (show quote)

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Mar 27, 2017 01:05:42   #
DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX
 
Look at and read the reviews on the new Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 FL lens. I have the VRII and the FL is incredible. It also has 4 focus buttons on the lens.

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Mar 27, 2017 01:25:46   #
rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 
Catch up to What? Canon has well over 35% of the market share in DSLR sales, Pentax has less than two. You don't sell that much product if it's inferior. By the way, I have Canon lenses that are several years old that have focus range settings. My EF 28-300L zoom lens, you zoom to the focal length you want then lock it in place, no slipping, no drift and that lens has been around for years.

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Mar 27, 2017 04:03:53   #
rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin
 
GENorkus wrote:
Having just looked in greater detail about two of the Pentax lenses, (70-200 & 150-450), I now see why the price is a bit higher than you'd expect from Pentax. They have improved more than just the optics!

I don't think anyone has a good method to lock the zoom ability from drifting. Irex has a focus lock but they only provide manual focus and fixed lenses.

Pentax now has a Preset button on their 150 to 450 lens. It lets you record a focus point after focusing so you can focus on something else, then quickly come right back to the original focus without another hunt for the proper focus. (Wish I had that ability while covering sports! I can see a great need for naturalists and bird watchers too.)

Check out the Focus Range Limiter. That lets you set the lens to focus full range fast and quietly, or to set it to focus at close ranges or far away ranges. That speeds up an already fast focus if you use it and that comes one both the 150 - 450 and the 70 - 200.

Then they added a SP (Super Protect) Coating to the glass. (I just might consider not using a clear filter to repel the dust, water and grease... well maybe not. LoL)

Those who thought Pentax was just about washed up better think harder. They've got a full frame and crop DSLR's that have many excellent features that other wish they had and now they're improving their lenses. That kind of puts the "big two" camera Mfg's in catchup mode. LoL

I wonder what else they're doing?
Having just looked in greater detail about two of ... (show quote)

Great news for Pentax fans.

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Mar 27, 2017 09:18:46   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
GENorkus wrote:
Having just looked in greater detail about two of the Pentax lenses, (70-200 & 150-450), I now see why the price is a bit higher than you'd expect from Pentax. They have improved more than just the optics!

I don't think anyone has a good method to lock the zoom ability from drifting. Irex has a focus lock but they only provide manual focus and fixed lenses.

Pentax now has a Preset button on their 150 to 450 lens. It lets you record a focus point after focusing so you can focus on something else, then quickly come right back to the original focus without another hunt for the proper focus. (Wish I had that ability while covering sports! I can see a great need for naturalists and bird watchers too.)

Check out the Focus Range Limiter. That lets you set the lens to focus full range fast and quietly, or to set it to focus at close ranges or far away ranges. That speeds up an already fast focus if you use it and that comes one both the 150 - 450 and the 70 - 200.

Then they added a SP (Super Protect) Coating to the glass. (I just might consider not using a clear filter to repel the dust, water and grease... well maybe not. LoL)

Those who thought Pentax was just about washed up better think harder. They've got a full frame and crop DSLR's that have many excellent features that other wish they had and now they're improving their lenses. That kind of puts the "big two" camera Mfg's in catchup mode. LoL

I wonder what else they're doing?
Having just looked in greater detail about two of ... (show quote)


Not bursting a bubble here but Pentax's "holy trinity" of lenses (15-30mm F2.8, 24-70mm F2.8, and 70-20mm F2.8) are nothing more than re-branded Tamron lenses with the VC removed. "SP" is Tamron technology, not Pentaxes.
That said, when these lenses are paired with the Pentax K-1 body you get an amazing combination of features not found from Canon or Nikon.

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Mar 27, 2017 09:41:49   #
aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM
 
MT Shooter wrote:
[ ... ] That said, when these lenses are paired with the Pentax K-1 body you get an amazing combination of features not found from Canon or Nikon.

That's an intriguing statement. How about an off-the-top-of-your-head example or two for the curious of us in the Canon/Nikon camps? (Are you referring to the various IBIS features like rather cool idea of dynamic anti-aliasing?)

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Mar 27, 2017 10:00:38   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
aflundi wrote:
That's an intriguing statement. How about an off-the-top-of-your-head example or two for the curious of us in the Canon/Nikon camps? (Are you referring to the various IBIS features like rather cool idea of dynamic anti-aliasing?)


Or try the Astro tracer feature that allows you to take 4 minute exposures of the night sky with no star trails. And the multi position rear LCD that allows you to see those sky compositions without having to lay under the camera to do so. Or even the multi shot pixel shift technology built into the body. The K-1 is amazing, and Pentax gives it to you with full frame 36MP sensor for only $1949!!!

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Mar 27, 2017 10:52:31   #
aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM
 
MT Shooter wrote:
Or try the Astro tracer feature that allows you to take 4 minute exposures of the night sky with no star trails. And the multi position rear LCD that allows you to see those sky compositions without having to lay under the camera to do so. Or even the multi shot pixel shift technology built into the body. The K-1 is amazing, and Pentax gives it to you with full frame 36MP sensor for only $1949!!!


Those are pretty cool features.

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Mar 27, 2017 17:44:07   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
GENorkus wrote:


They have improved more than just the optics!

Pentax now has a Preset button on their 150 to 450 lens. It lets you record a focus point after focusing so you can focus on something else, then quickly come right back to the original focus without another hunt for the proper focus.


Check out the Focus Range Limiter. That lets you set the lens to focus full range fast and quietly, or to set it to focus at close ranges or far away ranges. That speeds up an already fast focus if you use it and that comes one both the 150 - 450 and the 70 - 200.
br br They have improved more than just the opti... (show quote)


GEN, I'm sure the new Pentax lenses are a great lens!
But just so you know, Canon Super Teles have had both of the above feature for 25 years now.
One of my focus-by-wire supers actually has a 3 speed manual focus with an ultra-slow speed very handy at times for more precision focus!
But it is nice to see those features showing up in other manufacturers lenses.
SS

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Mar 28, 2017 06:36:17   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
GENorkus wrote:
Having just looked in greater detail about two of the Pentax lenses, (70-200 & 150-450), I now see why the price is a bit higher than you'd expect from Pentax. They have improved more than just the optics!

I don't think anyone has a good method to lock the zoom ability from drifting. Irex has a focus lock but they only provide manual focus and fixed lenses.

Pentax now has a Preset button on their 150 to 450 lens. It lets you record a focus point after focusing so you can focus on something else, then quickly come right back to the original focus without another hunt for the proper focus. (Wish I had that ability while covering sports! I can see a great need for naturalists and bird watchers too.)

Check out the Focus Range Limiter. That lets you set the lens to focus full range fast and quietly, or to set it to focus at close ranges or far away ranges. That speeds up an already fast focus if you use it and that comes one both the 150 - 450 and the 70 - 200.

Then they added a SP (Super Protect) Coating to the glass. (I just might consider not using a clear filter to repel the dust, water and grease... well maybe not. LoL)

Those who thought Pentax was just about washed up better think harder. They've got a full frame and crop DSLR's that have many excellent features that other wish they had and now they're improving their lenses. That kind of puts the "big two" camera Mfg's in catchup mode. LoL

I wonder what else they're doing?
Having just looked in greater detail about two of ... (show quote)

Nikon has had pre set focus buttons on there lenses for over 10 years.

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Mar 28, 2017 08:48:39   #
kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy
 
Pentax's pixel shift technology, when it's possible to use it, gives cleaner images with higher DR than either Canon or Nikon, especially the former.

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Mar 28, 2017 09:10:19   #
cthahn
 
Worth not reading.

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Mar 28, 2017 10:48:13   #
Narog50
 
70-200 f 2,8 is not a rebranded Tamron, it is made by Pentax, and Jun Hirakawa, who is a former legendary lensdesigner at Pentax and has for example designed Pentax 85mm f 1,4 and the two limiteds
43mm and 77mm and several others Pentax lenses, is now working for Tamron. He knows Pentax very well and I suppose that is why Pentax rebrands some of Tamron´s lenses

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Mar 28, 2017 11:03:36   #
cuckoobob
 
Hello! I cannot answer this question, as I'm an extreme newbie. I'm pleased to find a Pentax question, because I'm only using a Pentax K10D (entry-level DSLR) because I had been using 3 K1000 35mm entry-level cameras, and I had many lenses that I still wished to use, and I can, on the K10D. I've been "looking and learning" for a month or so, and have seen that most folks here use much more expensive cameras that are out of my reach, so nice to see information about the lower end! So much to learn! So little time!
Cuckoobob

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