I just read this on a thread posted on the photo.net MF section.

Pentax has announced two new lenses for the 67II:

75/2.8AL (7el./5 groups, 61 deg. min f/22, min. focus dist.41m, filter 67, hood included)

ZOOM SMC90-180/5.6 (10el./10groups,53-28 deg. min f/45 min. focus 1.2meters, filter *95*(egads!), hood included.

Looks like your hopes for a new zoom have been answered!

Just wanted to pass this along.

-- Samuel Stone (sam.stone@arthurandersen.com), August 22, 2001

Answers

Michael: The difference in price between the two zooms doesn't make sense, especially when you consider that the 90-180 is reported to have at least one and possibly two low dispersion elements. This glass is very expensive and probably way more than the high index glass that is used in the 55-100. The difference in number of elements in not enough to worry about, so that is not the cause for the differential. The average diameter of the elements between an f/5.6 tele and f/4.5 wide angle will be similar but the wide angle will have a slight advantage. This will not cause such a large price difference however. The 55-100 may have a more intricate internal lens group movement system than the tele zoom. Not sure.

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), November 05, 2001.

That's good news! A little short for my taste, but it should help. I wonder when it will be around, and how much it might cost!

-- Ed Hurst (BullMoo@hotmail.com), August 23, 2001.

I just had this reply from Pentax USA........

Thanks for contacting Pentax Corporation, and your support of Pentax products.

Pentax USA is the USA distributor and national warranty repair facility only, and all Pentax product development and design is performed by Asahi Optical Co. in Japan, so Pentax USA is dependent on Asahi for information on any pending new product introductions. Although Asahi may be planing to introduce these lenses in the US in the near future, and they may be available for sale through other Pentax divisions in other countries, we have not been advised of any plans for their availability in the US.

-- george bordner (aerialos@minn.net), August 23, 2001.

Any idea what the "AL" means re. thhe 75mm lens?

-- Ed Hurst (BullMoo@hotmail.com), August 23, 2001.

"AL" refers the lens have Aspherical Lens elements.

-- Mark (mfdalal@hotmail.com), August 25, 2001.

I've just spoken with Pentax Sales in the UK, and they knew nothing of the lenses. They are going to contact Pentax Japan over the next day or two, and get back to me. I'll let you know when/if they say anything of interest...

f5.6 seems a little on the slow side for the zoom, doesn't it? Especially as the prime lenses in that range of focal lengths are mostly f2.8 and the wide angle zoom is f4.5.

-- Ed Hurst (BullMoo@hotmail.com), September 04, 2001.

As I said in my original post, this is information that I read on a photo.net post. I cannot vouch for it's authenticity. The poster said he found this information on a German Pentax site.

Sam

-- Samuel Stone (sam.stone@arthurandersen.com), September 04, 2001.

RECEIVED THIS POST TODAY FROM PENTAX ... GOOD NEW FOR THE 67 USERS!

George:

Since our last correspondence, we have been notified of the pending introduction of these two lenses. The 75mm f/2.8 has a minimum aperture of f/22, 67mm filter size, and weighs 19.9 oz. The list price is not yet available. The f/5.6 90-180mm zoom has an minimum aperture of f/45, 95mm filter size, 40.9 oz. Is the weight (without the hood), and the list price is $1934, although retail will of course be less. Both lenses are scheduled for release in the US in October, although we do not have a definite date.

Hope this helps some. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Thanks,

Greg Monroe Pentax Corporation

-- George Bordner (aerials@minn.net), September 08, 2001.

I was reviewing the prices for the new zooms, as listed on B&H, Adorama, and elsewhere. I was curious why the 55-100 is around $1700, while the 90-180 is only $1200. It seems unlikely that, optically, the different zoom ranges would result in such a substantial cost difference (the former lens is roughly half the normal length to the normal length, while the latter is roughly the normal length to nearly double the normal length). For instance, in the 35mm, a 28-80mm or 28-105mm, and a 80-200mm or even 75-300mm, are often comparable in price. In fact, even for fast 35mm lenses, the latter is almost always more expensive than the former (a fast f2.8 28-80mm will be much less, not more, than a 80-200mm or 70-210mm, straight f2.8, etc.). Of course, there are reasons for not making 35/6x7 comparisons, but it is noteworthy. I know little to nothing about the Pentax 645, but the two zooms for this camera have virtually identical prices (45-80mm, just over $1600, 80-160mm, just under $1600 – and some dealers use the same price for both lenses). Same with the Rollei SLX/6000-series, where the 75-150 & 140-280 are the same price at some sellers, and the difference is 3-5% at most others (though what is $200-300, when you are looking at a $5k+ Rollei price tag!). Any thoughts on why the 55-100 is $500 more in the P67 line? I realize it is possible to buy from dealers undercutting B&H, but I was most interested in the differential itself. Also, if anyone owns both P67 zooms, I am sure I am not the only one who would like to hear some observations on how they compare against one another.

-- Michael Tolan (mjtolan@kbjrmail.com), November 05, 2001.

The price difference is wierd, but I'm not complaining if it is cheaper! A couple of years ago I modified a Mamiya 100-200mm f/5.6 zoom lens to fit on a Pentax Mount. This modified lens was very heavy to handhold. I tried using it once at a wedding, that was a mistake. The lens, camera, bracket and Quantum Q flash weighed a ton.

I finally got a local machinest to make a rotating bracket for the 100-200mm lens , but It is still not a good solution.

So I'm very happy about this new lens. It weighs less than the wide angle zoom lens so torque rotation should not be a major problem when it is mounted on a tripod. It also has a very large focusing ring and an good zoom ring, something my converted Mamiya didn't have (both focusing and zooming were located at the far end of the lens).

Hopefully I'll buy this lens and test it out soon. Unfortunately it takes a large filter size. I wish they could have made it 77mm like Mamiya's and Fuji's 680 equivalent zoom lenses.

Peace, Rolland

-- rolland elliott (rolland_elliott@hotmail.com), November 24, 2001.

I have not actually seen either one of the two new zoom lenses and am looking at my filter options. Do the two new lenses have Pentax bayonet mounts for filters, or are they just threaded? On the sites like Adorama, they list something like the 75mm as "Pentax bayonet and 82mm". But, on the zooms, they just say "95mm", with no mention of bayonet. If anyone owns both lenses would you confirm for me what the frontispeice looks like? Thanks. David Stores.

-- David Stores (DSiii@cybernetcity.net), April 11, 2002.