I think a lot of companies don't want to produce product to sit in storerooms, and lose interest over that. JIT (just in time) programs are developed for this reason. In my view it reflects a changed supply chain management, and not necessarily the end of FA77 or so.
On Wednesday 11 August 2004 18:44, Joseph Tainter wrote: FJW> "Although most are still available in the US right now, does anyone know FJW> if they are still in production?" FJW> FJW> I bought my FA*24 new about 18 months ago. From the lens manual it FJW> appeared to have been manufactured several years previously. (That is, FJW> lenses released recently were not listed in the manual.) From this one FJW> can surmise that Pentax manufactured a bunch of them, then kept them in FJW> a warehouse until retailers ordered them. I would guess that they are no FJW> longer being made, especially given the announcement of the D-FA line. FJW> They should still be available, though -- at least some. FJW> FJW> A post here a few months ago (re: the unavailability of the DA 16-45) FJW> suggested that companies no longer warehouse equipment. Manufacturing is FJW> at a lower rate, with equipment shipped out to fulfill orders right FJW> away. This is where Manolo comes in. FJW> FJW> If this is what Pentax is doing, we should all consider what it means in FJW> re: long-term availability of lenses. If there is a lens you think you FJW> might want, don't mull it over long. Production runs may be short. It FJW> might be unavailable by the time you decide. This almost happened to me FJW> with the FA 77. FJW> FJW> Joe FJW> FJW> FJW> -- Frits W�thrich
