New K-5 special edition with 40/2.8 XS

<p>Pentax has re-released the silver Special Edition K-5, this time bundling it with a silver version of the new 40/2.8 XS lens.</p>

<p>More info: http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/03/02/Pentax-K-5-Silver-Marc-Newson-40mm-F2.8-XS</p>

<p>I hope they back it up with a healthy ad budget. Everyone else's DSLRs seem to be betting bigger and heavier--I get tired of that macho thing.</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p>They're only making 1500 of them; press releases and word-of-mouth are probably all the advertising they'll need to sell such a small number of units.</p>

<p>Totally agree about the macho "my camera is bigger than your camera" thing! That's part of why I'm so impressed with the Olympus OM-D. Olympus just needs to take it a step further and come out with some nice Pentax-style pancakes to go with it.</p>

<p>Michael and R.T. - I have to agree with your comments about the whole "my camera is bigger than your camera thing". It made me think of this photo of me standing next to my friend Andy at one of our local photo club "group shoots". He has a very different style to his photography than I do. Not that either is better (well, his is probably more creative really).</p>

<p><img src="http://frankbaiamonte.smugmug.com/Photography/Hosting-Only/i-THkqz7F/0/L/IMGP5711-L.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="600" /></p>

<p>I guess I should mention that he does not in any way do the "my camera is bigger than your camera thing", and is a really good guy. We took this shot as sort of a joke just to illustrate the differences. We very much discourage brand wars and such in the local club. And actually, my pancake lenses get a lot of attention from the guys lugging larger zooms. Generally the look is somewhat envious, especially as the day wears on.</p>

<p>As for the new XS lens, not sure I like it. The DA40 Limited is one of my most used lenses, and I think the size is about right. This new one seems a bit too short, and I don't see a hood.</p>

 

<p>(For those that don't know me - I'm the one with the hair. And the much smaller lens.)</p>

Great photo and great post, Frank!

<p>R.T. Dowling wrote:</p>

<blockquote>

Totally agree about the macho "my camera is bigger than your camera" thing! That's part of why I'm so impressed with the Olympus OM-D. Olympus just needs to take it a step further and come out with some nice Pentax-style pancakes to go with it.

</blockquote>

 

The MFT dudes did that from the word "go":

<ul>

<li>Panasonic Leica G 14mm F2.5 ASPH: 55g, 20mm</li>

<li>Panasonic Lumix G Vario 20mm F1.7 ASPH: 100g, 25.5mm</li>

<li>Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm 1:1.8: 116g, 37mm</li>

</ul>

This is all the kit I'd need. (Though I own only one of these... so far.)

 

Unfortunately these don't compare with the exemplary workmanship and aesthetics of the Pentax Limited lenses.

<p>I should clarify: when I wrote "Pentax-style pancakes" I didn't just mean small and light, I also meant awesome optical performance. :-)</p>

<p>The Oly 45/1.8 doesn't quite qualify for pancake status in my book (due to its length), but it's a cool little lens. There's also the Oly 17/2.8, which <em>is</em> a genuine pancake, but optically it doesn't come close to any of Pentax's small lenses. Personally I probably wouldn't bother with it; the Panasonic 20/1.7 is sharper <em>and</em> faster.</p>

<p>Is it me, or does this Oly lens remind anyone else of the styling employed by the Pentax Q lens line? The color of the metal, the color of the plastic around the front element, and just the overall styling seem very Q-lens-esque to me: http://www.photozone.de/olympus--four-thirds-lens-tests/673-oly12f2</p>

<p>@Robin, the private group in Pentaxian talks about you while you are no longer subscribed and we exchange email starting from Miserere betting on who may have the high potential going after OM-D. I mention you as the likely candidate instead of myself as I am not ready for another camera. With three primes in 14mm f/2.5, 20mm f/1.7 and 45mm f/1.8, that OM-D sounds very tempting and I will round it out with the weather sealed zoom. <br /> <br /><br /> And Robin, why the Panasonic 14mm and not the <strong>Olympus 12mm f/2.0</strong>? We can't read just the final score but it serves as a good reference no matter how controversial the numbers can get<br /> <br /><br /> <a href="http://www.43rumors.com/dxomark-micro-43-camera-lens-combination-is-perfectly-capable-of-replacing-an-aps-c-combination/"><img src="http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj524/picrumors/Schermata02-2455974alle214851.png" alt="" width="640" height="267" /></a><br /> picture <a href="http://www.43rumors.com/dxomark-micro-43-camera-lens-combination-is-perfectly-capable-of-replacing-an-aps-c-combination/">links to source</a></p>

<hr />

<p><br /><br /><br /> And the <strong>Olympus 45mm f/1.8</strong><br /> <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Micro-Four-Third-Lens-Reviews/Olympus-M.-Zuiko-Digital-ED-45mm-f-1.8"><img src="http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj524/picrumors/Schermata02-2455976alle120255.png" alt="" width="640" height="267" /></a><br /> picture <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Micro-Four-Third-Lens-Reviews/Olympus-M.-Zuiko-Digital-ED-45mm-f-1.8">links to source</a></p>

<p>Hin, good to hear people are making bets on me while absent. At least that way someone stands a chance of making some money. :-)</p>

<p>I am buying a second older MFT body (should have it Monday) along with a viewfinder. I cannot afford the E-M5 or I would have one on pre-order for sure. I simply do not have the disposable income many other camera lovers seem to. That's why I'd choose the far less expensive 14mm over the 12mm. </p>

<p>R.T. Dowling wrote:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I should clarify: when I wrote "Pentax-style pancakes" I didn't just mean small and light, I also meant awesome optical performance. :-)<br>

The Oly 45/1.8 doesn't quite qualify for pancake status in my book (due to its length), but it's a cool little lens. There's also the Oly 17/2.8, which <em>is</em> a genuine pancake, but optically it doesn't come close to any of Pentax's small lenses. Personally I probably wouldn't bother with it; the Panasonic 20/1.7 is sharper <em>and</em> faster.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>True enough the 45mm is not a pancake but what lens of that field of view is a pancake? I am quite sure it'll suffice in the optical department. At least MFT has appropriately sized lenses for the bodies, unlike, say, Sony NEX.</p>

<p>Meanwhile ultra-thin lenses like the Pentax DA40 don't interest me, since they are ill-matched to the platform. That's because I like to be able to find (and use) a focus ring. Small can be taken too far!</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>"True enough the 45mm is not a pancake but what lens of that field of view is a pancake?"</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>The only one that comes to mind is the DA70/2.4 on APS-C though it looks a little less pancakey with its included screw-on telescoping metal hood. It has a nice focus ring.</p>

<p>Yes, the 70/2.4 Ltd was going to be my answer as well. Even though its maximum aperture is slightly slower, the two lenses are nearly the same in terms of depth-of-field potential, due to the MFT sensor being smaller. The Pentax has two primary advantages: less distortion, and higher resolution (especially wide open). The Oly is about $150 less, though. For someone on a tight budget, that might be a very reasonable trade-off.</p>

<p>To me this is silly, and not sound marketing to offer products that could bring meaningful profits to the company. On again, off again. First you see it- now you don't, then you do again for a short time, just as the K-5 is ending its run!! Peek-a-boo!!</p>

<p>And now bundled ONLY with a lens many would pass on in favor of the 21mm LTD or another lens.</p>

<p>When the siver version was originally offered, what they SHOULD have done is offered it as an upscale PRODUCTION model, as was done with the K-r's color options, but at a little higher cost for the added design features. Ditto with the matching silver DA Limited lenses. Not only that, a new DA 28mm Limited f/2.4 or 2.8 in both black and silver would have been a nice enticement as an option. The K-r should also have been offered in silver/black fiish as well, for those wanting an even smaller, less expensive body to have with one of the compact silver LTD lenses. IMHO they would have sold more cameras and more LTD lenses.</p>

<p>With that assurance of product availablity, reliable serviceability and relative stability, I would have gone for a silver K-5 myself along with such a new DA 28mm LTD lens, instead of the black one I bought with no new lens.</p>