A sample photo published on forum.xitek.com which claimed taken by new upcoming star series 50mm F1.4 lens with PENTAX K-1 combination!
Here you can download 1281x1920px sized original file
Update: Yes! It’s an official photo, also published on Ricoh Imaging Japan’s Facebook page! A prototype version of HD PENTAX-D FA★ 50mm F1.4 SDM AW was used.
Very nice to see further news and encouraging developments. Now, if anyone at headquarters is listening, can we have a lens to up the ante on the 4 150-600’s currently on the market? The optical formula is not rocket science and the emand is gigantic. People are entering photography and gearibg up with 600mm range lenses because they’re excited about the affordable quality and stunning results that even lesser brands can offer for a reasonable price. Pentax is actually unreasonably low in price, where bodies are concerned, and loses market share to uninformed buyers and social media influencers perpetuating the idea that the camera world only has two or three major players. I shoot beside many top NPS and CPS pros and ambassadors and Pentax image quality takes a back seat to no one. Even employees of your top competitors often tell me of their own Pentax experiences and how they still shoot K mount glass and bodies. So here’s an observation borne out by dozens of shop visits and events, coast to coast: 150-600 and 200-500 range lenses are the rage, and 600mm reach is extremely manageable with Pentax SR. I see countless shooters buying 150-600’s and yet, when they see what a K-1 does with an old Sigma 50-500, I have been asked if I shot with an Art series prime. A more talented photographer than me would attain truly astonishing results; me, I’m just lucky and happy to get what I do. But if sales, real sales figures matter, you’re missing a LOT of sales if you don’t court demanding amateurs and enthusiasts, pros, who can’t compromise on IQ and who need and really require, extra focal length. If you take the gloves off and simply show what a Pentax is truly capable of, you’re going to need s bigger production line.
Thank you very much for your detailed and well written text, dear Roland! %100 agree with you! Also modernization of current products can be a good move for the moment. Like upgrading SMC coated models to HD ones, because there is a benefit and technical improvement. Best!