06-12-2016, 10:24 AM
I'm not impressed with the build quality of the 18-50 RE; I don't have one so I can't say anything about its reliability but that retractable mechanism looks terribly flimsy (obvious plastic-on-plastic feel). I hope the 55-300 RE will be better.
Regarding the electromagnetic diaphragm... I wonder, which other lenses would have it? It was included in the 55-300 RE because of the retractable design (very likely), and for smooth aperture control during video.
Nikon introduced their version also with some special lenses - 3 PC-E Nikkors; but they didn't really start with it until last year. Will Pentax do the same, would they wait a bit before large scale adoption? Or that's it, they decided to advance the K-mount in the full-electronic era?
If for now they're just experimenting, then the compatibility issue is at most a niggle. Pentax promised compatibility for K-70, and K-1, K-3 II, K-S2, K-S1 after a firmware update (a notable exception is the K-3... perhaps it's not identical with the K-3 II in the relevant parts).
If the new D FA primes and new APS-C lenses will use electronic aperture control, I imagine quite a few K-3 users would be annoyed.
Anyway... I think it's a good idea (even if I have a presumably incompatible body, a K-5 IIs). Planning is up to them, but I don't think they can afford to wait too much.
Regarding the electromagnetic diaphragm... I wonder, which other lenses would have it? It was included in the 55-300 RE because of the retractable design (very likely), and for smooth aperture control during video.
Nikon introduced their version also with some special lenses - 3 PC-E Nikkors; but they didn't really start with it until last year. Will Pentax do the same, would they wait a bit before large scale adoption? Or that's it, they decided to advance the K-mount in the full-electronic era?
If for now they're just experimenting, then the compatibility issue is at most a niggle. Pentax promised compatibility for K-70, and K-1, K-3 II, K-S2, K-S1 after a firmware update (a notable exception is the K-3... perhaps it's not identical with the K-3 II in the relevant parts).
If the new D FA primes and new APS-C lenses will use electronic aperture control, I imagine quite a few K-3 users would be annoyed.
Anyway... I think it's a good idea (even if I have a presumably incompatible body, a K-5 IIs). Planning is up to them, but I don't think they can afford to wait too much.