Joseph wrote: Pentax is retrenching in their traditional offerings. Good lenses, as I suggested earlier today, are going away, or are at least not so easy to get. They have apparently slashed their manufacturing capacity. Lenses are no longer stocked, but shipped from the Philippines in only enough quantity to fill orders.
It's a new econonic world in photography. REPLY: I believe the reason for the possible discontinuation of the FA 50/1.7 is more likely due to the fact that the stock is sold out and that the sales are so low that making new parts for new ones aren't viable anymore. 50mm lenses stopped long time ago being standard lenses as almost everyone have this focal lenght covered by a zoom. Prime lenses in this range are nowadays mostly speciality lenses like macro or high speed. The 50/1.4 fit this bill better. I don't think having both a 50/1.7 and a 1.4 is really neccessary in todays marketplace. The 50/1.7 has been around in one form or another for 28 years now something that a pretty respectable lifespan for a lens construction. P�l
