K100D compatibility with future Pentax lenses

I was at a camera store a few days ago, playing with the K100D and K10D, and the

salesman told me that many of the lenses that Pentax plans to release in the

future will use a new focus mechanism -- I think he called it "supersonic"; he

said it was similar to Canon's USM -- and he said that the K10D would be be

fully compatible with those lenses, but the K100D would only be able to use

those lenses in manual focus mode.

 

Is that true?

 

I can't find any mention of it on the Pentax web site, so I'm a bit skeptical.

It definitely wouldn't be the first time a camera salesman gave me inaccurate

information.

 

After much debating, I thought I had finally nailed down my decision and would

take the plunge with the K100D, but if I won't be able to autofocus with future

lenses, the K10D would make a lot more sense. (Either that or I'll just wait

for the K100D's successor.)

 

I'd really appreciate it if somebody could give me some accurate information!

Your salesman appears to be at least partially correct. The extra two contacts just inside the K10D's lensmount opening are to support the new extra-quiet, fast-focusing supersonic lenses which will soon be available. The old power-zoom lenses are again supported as well. But for the forseeable future, these new lenses will only be of the fast, expensive pro type zooms, matching the K10D is a pro-oriented camera design. It is an advanced camera design at an attractive price for its category. It appears Pentax will also be manufacturing top quality non-supersonic lenses as well. The new digital-only, premium, expensive Limited prime lenses are an example. The K100D is a fine compact DSLR with many great features at a very low price, and with exceptional image quality. Maybe in time Pentax will make a similar low-price model that can handle the new super-quiet lenses. I hope it will continue to function with the old lenses. But how long might that be, and are you really interested in these new lenses? If you are, the K10D is for now the only answer. For myself, I still shoot film and look for compatibilty. I have found that a good 70-300mm f/4-5.6 standard speed lens is as good optically with about one stop slower speed compared to a 70 or 80-200mm f/2.8 within the same focal length... to 200mm. So I stick with the older designs. I admire a few things about Nikon- like its coming out with a new 70-300mm standard f/4.5-5.6 lens with the VR stabilizing system and premium optics- also good for film cameras, at a good mid-price. This is to compete with similar lenses by Canon. I wish Pentax would not so prematurely, IMO, abandon film oriented equipment.

It seems to be right. I know nothing about the next generation of lenses besides that there's a pair of pro f2.8 zooms + a f4 sports & zoo zoom announced. I hope they'll make a next generation of supersonic f1.something primes too.

 

You seem on some kind of budget. If you can get your bag stuffed now, get the K100D. But if you aren't shooting in available darkness for the web like I am, the K10D should be the better choice alone for the by far more convenient controls. (It isn't available where I live and should become cheaper in summer)

 

I don't get along with manual focus on those DSLRs and focusing AF lenses manually really isn't my taste at all. - YMMV.

 

Pentax will surely take some time to redesign most of their lenses for SSM. - Look at Canon it took them ages to offer a USM 85mm f1.2. So buying a basic kit with screwdriver AF should remain possible for a while. OTOH I doubt that they'll ever make long primes or similar with that feature again.

Does anyone have any confirmation that the new DA* SSM lenses will not also offer AF with older non-SSM bodies (powered by the in-body motor)? This would be unfortunate as it would make it much less practical to use an older body as a backup or for use during those times you want something a little more compact. Of course, those lenses don't exactly lend themselves to the compact kit.

 

-Andrew

It's rumoured that the DA* SSM lenses may be dual-drive. But Pentax hasn't said one way or another yet (I suspect they're trying but not sure if it is practical).

 

Given Pentax's track record, expect a K100D/K110D replacement sometime in the next 6-9 months, probably with the only changes being SSM compatibility and (hopefully) a larger buffer.

<i>I was at a camera store a few days ago, playing with the K100D and K10D, and the salesman told me that many of the lenses that Pentax plans to release in the future will use a new focus mechanism -- I think he called it "supersonic"; he said it was similar to Canon's USM -- and he said that the K10D would be be fully compatible with those lenses,</i>

<br /><br />

He's correct up to here.

<br /><br />

<i>but the K100D would only be able to use those lenses in manual focus mode.</i>

<br /><br />

But saying this as a certainty is dubious. Nobody knows yet, outside of Pentax. Maybe Pentax doesn't know yet.

<br /><br />

If you buy a K10D, no worries, all current and new lenses will work as designed. Some new lenses may or may not only manually focus on the K100D and earlier bodies. Chances are that Pentax want and are trying to make the new lenses work on all recent bodies. Whether that will be the case when they are finally available, we don't know.

<br /><br />

If you like and can afford the K10D, it's the one to go for, anyhow, for lots of reasons beyond lens compatibility.

This was confirmed by my Pentax rep also. The K10D will be able to use these new lenses but the older bodies will not auto focus with them. Time marches on...