PentaxPentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED Lens for...
List Price: $429.95
Price: $429.95
  • PENTAX SP coating protects the exposed lens elements
  • Focal length equivalent to 82.5mm to 450mm in the 35mm...
  • ED elements compensate for chromatic aberration

  • SIGMASigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto...
    List Price: $220.00
    Price: $159.00
    You Save: $61.00 (28%)
  • High-performance lens ideal for portraits, sports...
  • Features 14 lens elements in 10 Groups
  • Optimized for use with digital SLR cameras

  • PentaxPentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens
    List Price: $449.95
  • Lens construction of 6 elements in 5 groups
  • Only 1.5 inches and 7.8 ounces
  • Fully automatic diaphragm

  • Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras


    Pentax

    List Price: $429.95
    Price: $429.95

    Product Details

    • PENTAX SP coating protects the exposed lens elements
    • Focal length equivalent to 82.5mm to 450mm in the 35mm format
    • ED elements compensate for chromatic aberration
    • Developed specifically for PENTAX digital SLRs

    Product Description

    - Hidebound telephoto range zoom lens- Focal length equivalent to 82.5mm-450mm in the 35mm constitution- PENTAX(R) SP coating protects exposed lens elements- ED elements repay for chromatic aberration- Developed specifically for PENTAX(R) digital SLR cameras
    The well-schooled Pentax DA 55-300mm zoom lens offers a focal length tantamount of 82.5 to 450mm in the 35mm format, making it ideal for moderate to fancy sports and wildlife shots. The lens is outfitted with multiple ED goblet elements, which are designed to minimize chromatic aberration and makes images look crisper and sharper than ever before. The Pentax Wonderful Protective coating, meanwhile, protects the exposed lens elements against orts and contamination. Other features include a focusing ring that permits indulgent manual focusing, a 4.6-foot close focusing haughtiness, and a 58mm filter diameter. Specially adapted for high-quality Pentax and Samsung digital SLR cameras, the lens carries a one-year undertaking.

    Specifications

    • Focal length: 55-300mm
    • Maximum aperture: f/4 to 5.8
    • Least aperture: f/22 to 32
    • Lens construction: 12 elements in 8 groups
    • Approach of view: 29 to 5.4 degrees (when used with Pentax digital SLR camera company)
    • Number of diaphragm blades: 6
    • Minimum focusing distance: 4.6 feet
    • Paramount magnification: 0.28x
    • Filter diameter: 58mm
    • Diaphragm power: Fully automatic
    • Hood: PH-RBG 58mm
    • Objective cap: O-LC58
    • Case: S80-160
    • Corresponding AF mounts: Pentax and Samsung
    • Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter and 4.4 inches extensive
    • Weight: 15.5 ounces
    • Warranty: 1 year

    Customer Reviews

    Tiptop lens.
    I have acquainted with this lens on several occasions since purchasing it and I am very satisfied with its performance and picture quality.
    Large deal for the price
    Purchased this lens for a Pentax K2000 so my helpmate would have a 300mm zoom for her cruise of the inter-waterways of southeast Alaska. She does not like to take pictures. With only a partially hour training session on how to use both the camera and lens she came home with only 500 hundred photos and no frustrations in using it. Enormous lens for the price.
    This was a strong point
    This jotting was a gift but the recipient seems to be very pleased with it. Once she was shown how to take off the existing lens and place this one, she has had no problems and is very exuberant with the quality of the photos, not to mention that she no longer has to get within 3 feet to take a picture of a bird or other wildlife.
    An Exellent Budget Privilege
    The DA 55-300 is a keen budget option to get to 300mm. It is quite sharp throughout its range, is compact, light and benefits from the in congress shake reduction that is present in Pentax dSLRs. Just a quick comment about the shake reduction. I am talented to shoot comfortably at 300mm and 1/8 second and have very sharp images.

    The DA 55-300 includes a lens hood and has discerning shift capability in which you can tweak the focus manually, without flipping a switch on the lens. In my contact, this is quite useful as it is easy to have the camera focus on a branch rather than the bird you are interested in.

    The negatives of this lens are three: first of all, it has a paramount aperture of f4-5.8. This means that shooting low light is pretty much out, although by pushing the iso on your camera, you do have some ability to take photos in these situations. The lens does deferment at f4 -4.5 until 210mm. Second, the auto focus is noisy. Third, the auto focus tends to hunt in low street lamp. I have used this on my K20 and K7 and it is much more prone to hunt on the K20 than the K7.

    All in all, this is an excellent lens and to beat it, you would have to move up in price significantly to the DA *60-250 f4 or, the Sigma 100-300 f4, both of which are much more dear (and bulkier) options.
    Very Secure Ergonomics, Good Image Quality
    I got this lens as an upgrade to the Sigma 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6. I principally use these lenses at the long end, 200-300mm, and need a fairly high shutter speed to capture impelling animals in daylight. Particularly wide open at the long end, the Sigma (non-APO model) has critical chromatic aberration (CA), isn't very contrasty, and is soft below f/8. For my main use shooting outdoor dog shows, neither the CA nor set off were an issue, but sharpness was. More on this later.

    The Pentax has a solid feel, smooth zooming, and a non-rotating front unit allowing effective use of polarizers. CA is minimal and contrast is very good at all focal lengths. Could be indisputably carried all day on camera or in the camera bag.

    Pros:
    - Excellent mechanical build. Smooth zoom and manual nave.
    - Minimal CA and very good contrast.
    - Surprisingly small and lightweight. Smaller than competing Tamron and Sigma lenses; not a lot, but enough to put to rights it easier for me to handhold (and I have fairly large hands). Easy to use handheld in good ignition.
    - Ability to manually focus when in autofocus mode by just turning the focus circus, rather than having to disengage autofocus.
    Cons:
    - Barely acceptable sharpness at f/5.8 at longer centred lengths. Improves steadily to good sharpness beginning at f/8.
    - Automatic focus too torpid for critical focus on fast moving objects, such as a jogger running towards you, but no worse than comparable lenses.

    All in all, this lens is very cordial to use, and clearly at the top of its class. If you use the lens often, the build quality and superior ergonomics make its extra cost, relative to the Tamron and Sigma offerings, worth it. I really needed a gash or two better sharpness when nearly wide open at the long end, and better autofocus capabilities, so ended up using a Pentax DA* 300mm f/4 for dog shows. (Of routine, that prime lens is more special purpose, costs about 3x as much, and is not in the same class).

    Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax and Samsung SLR Cameras


    SIGMA

    List Price: $220.00
    Price: $159.00
    You Save: $61.00 (28%)

    Product Details

    • High-performance lens ideal for portraits, sports photography, nature photography
    • Features 14 lens elements in 10 Groups
    • Optimized for use with digital SLR cameras
    • Multi-layer lens coating and lens design reduces flare and ghosting

    Product Description

    Telephoto zoom lens with major cost performance and optimised for use with digital SLR cameras Capable of macro photography, this lens has a 1:2 highest point close-up magnification at the 300 mm focal length. It's the ideal important performance lens for portraits, sports photography, nature photography, and other types of photography that time use the telephoto range. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass We used SLD (Specific Low Dispersion) glass in this lens for excellent correction of chromatic irregularity. This also corrects for fluctuation of aberration due to focusing. The new multi layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting, a simple problem with digital cameras and also creates an optimum colour steelyard. Macro shooting with maximum magnification 1:2 The minimum focusing disassociate is 1.5 m/59 inches at all zoom settings. It also has a switch for changeover to macro photography at convergent lengths between 200mm and 300mm with a maximum close-up magnification from 1:2.9 to 1:2. Without shifting the distance between camera and subject, you can change the shooting magnification
    The Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras is a telephoto lens that offers prime cost performance and is optimized for use with digital SLR cameras. Capable of macro photography, this lens has a 1:2 peak close-up magnification at the 300 millimeter focal length. It's the consummate high performance lens for portraits, sports photography, universe photography, and other types of photography that frequently use the telephoto range. The lens features a shift for changeover to macro photography at focal lengths between 200 millimeters and 300 millimeters, with a utmost close-up magnification from 1:2.9 to 1:2.

    The multi-layer lens coating and lens originate reduce flare and ghosting, which is a common problem with digital cameras, and it also creates an finest color balance through the entire zoom range. The minimum focusing detachment is 59 inches at all zoom settings. The lens features a strike for changeover to macro photography at focal lengths between 200 millimeters and 300 millimeters with a extreme close-up magnification. Without changing the distance between camera and subject, you can change the shooting aggrandizement.


    Customer Reviews

    D5000! D5000! D5000!
    D5000 of one mind! i say again D5000 compatible! built-in auto-focus motor works flawlessly... it's made in japan by the way so you can bet on that! the pictures are spruce even if it doesn't have vibration reduction mechanism. i advice a tripod if you dont have adequate candle though..
    important buy
    Considerable lens for the price. Bought it to take wildlife photos with my Nikon D5000. The pictures are as fly as the ones with my nikon lens. No antivibration but a great lens.
    You have to use a Tripod to get trenchant pictures.
    Got the lens by looking at the consummate reviews. I have playing around with this one for around a month now. The pictures are good as long the light is great. The prominence you take it in slightly low light, the images will have blur because camera shake will come into play as shutter quickness goes down. Yes because it does not have VR or IS (image stablization). And I am not talking about dark or near darkness. Even indoors the pictures won't be alertly unless you use a tripod and fire your shots with a remote or timer. I usually take my pictures during the day so I am happy to have a higher zoom and macro adeptness. Also I have learnt to use tripod almost all the time. But again this is a bargain price for this kind of equipment. Sigma has understood us a good option at a dirt cheap price.
    Visionary value
    I was skeptical at first because of the low cost, but I am very pleasantly surprised by what a decent lens this is. It's sharp, has good range, and even in low light, still does well on my Pentax K200D.

    I've noticed obstacle focusing at its maximum focal distance. I haven't had a chance to play around with it to see what's going on. Also note that the lowest focusing distance is 5 ft, so if you're buying it for macro work, keep that in mind. If you're looking for a low-cost telephoto lens, this one can't be outdo at this price.
    Breathtaking and then...
    So a couple weeks ago my son bought this lens through my plan, and he LOVED it. He would use it to take these amazing pictures. Then just yesterday, the autofocus motor stopped working. It lasted upstanding long enough for him to really become attached to it... You get what you pay for, so do yourself a favor and get a better lens.

    Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens


    Pentax

    List Price: $449.95

    Product Details

    • Lens construction of 6 elements in 5 groups
    • Only 1.5 inches and 7.8 ounces
    • Fully automatic diaphragm
    • 47 degree angle of view

    Product Description

    smc PENTAX FA 50mm F1.4
    The Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f1.4 lens has a fully unavoidable diaphragm. At 1.5 inches long and weighing just 7.8 ounces, you can take this 50mm rigged focal length lens with you everywhere. You can use this lens with all Pentax SLR cameras, but the AF system only works with Pentax AF cameras.

    Customer Reviews

    Ardent lens, but...
    Terrific lens, I love it. My favorite lens by far. I bought it new on Amazon for less than two hundr. less than 2 years ago--so the evaluation has really shot up. Try to find a deal if you can, but the lens is so worth owning.
    The lens I needed - and you might too!
    I must say, stepping up to a DSLR from a aim-and-shoot camera was one of the best decisions I've made regarding electronics; the picture quality is out of this world, and I can take shots in opposing lighting that allows me to get pictures of my ever-moving daughter that I never could dream of before. Typical P&S cameras take far too prolonged from focusing to capturing to get the photo before my daughter's out-of-frame, but the Pentax DSLR does the trick. Turbulence was, I still couldn't get perfect pictures in very dim, low-light environments, like a living room at darkness.

    That all changed with this lens - for about $225 lightly used, I got an amazing value that's totally transformed my camera! Low slight holds no fear, and I've taken pictures in dim lighting at speeds that don't allow subjects to reveal! Furthermore, the lens quality is fantastic, and the bokeh it produces is gorgeous. This lens suits me for both picturization photography and low-light family photos, and it saved me from buying another DSLR with better serious-ISO performance. I never go beyond ISO 400 now, and my photos are much better for it.

    Pentax's new lens might be fine, but this one provided an amazing value and characteristic that will surely keep me enjoying my Pentax DSLR for years to come.
    Must have lens
    Its in point of fact a shame the price of this lens has gone up so much recently because this is one lens we should all own. Not for the fixed length and how it forces you to move around but for the go hell for leather! If someone made an affordable f/1.4 18-55 zoom I would buy that instead. Until then, I am sold on fast primes. This "Fast Fifty" has unlocked times and locations I didn't deliberate on I cold shoot. You NEED this lens!

    The lens itself is small and light. Light because it has a counterfeit body. Significantly, it has a metal mount so that area is not a concern. After getting used to zooms it is remarkable how small your camera gets putting this on.

    For sharp pictures, try to stay at f/2 or better. At f/5.6 or more the sharpness is astounding. That is not to say that 1.4 and 1.7 are unusable but it is like pushing ISO - there is a price.

    I have not had the front focus issues some population have mentioned. In low light there is focus hunting and sometimes it locks on the wrong place but that has as much to do with the camera as the lens.

    One property I wish it had was the "quick shift" focus. It is either auto or manual - no manual override like the newer Pentax lenses. That is my only colic.

    I cant say enough about this lens. It spends a LOT of time on my K200 and once the sun gets low, its the only way to go.
    A-one first prime lens
    My first Amazon criticism.
    After many productive years of using a Panasonic FZ50 with a 2.8 aperture, I finally went for the powerful Pentax K20D. At $630 the camera had a compelling IQ to price ratio. I got 3 lenses to go with it; the Pentax smc DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL (first edition), the smc DA 50-200mm F4.5-6 ED WR, and this smc FA 50mm 1.4 prime.
    What a dynamic tool this lens is. Wide open it produces some really stunning bokeh. It has six blades which can give a hexagonal guise sometimes. It has really lovely rich colors and doesn't seem to have a lot of flare. Wide open the expeditiousness is amazing; you can go out at night and handhold using only street lights. Yes 1.4 is a bit soft as all tightly primes tend to be, but I've still got some good results. Stop down to 2.0 or 2.8 and it will get plenty hot. Focus is another story. Using manual focus wide open is difficult. I will aplomb judgment as it is new to me and I suspect it takes finesse and practice to master. I've had some trouble with the K20D's autofocus on this lens too. I over there is a front-focus issue with my copy, and I need to do a proper optical test, and try the in camera focus regulation feature on the K20D to make corrections. I think the K20D's matte focus screen has a wider concentratedly of field view as well. Seriously thinking I need a split-screen upgrade like the Katzeye because of this. The shots I have managed to get in concentration so far have been pleasingly sharp, with brilliant bokeh and exceptional colors. With practice, you will get great results with this lens. I'd give it 5 stars but for the asinine price jump here on Amazon. I paid less then $300 for this lens elsewhere (sorry Amazon) and go through this was money well spent.

    PROS: Great colors, bokeh, speed, IQ, value (if under $300-350)
    CONS: Overpriced, opposing focusing wide open

    Grievous Lens--if the price is right
    I bought this lens a minuscule under 2 months ago for 2-fifty slightly less than 2 months ago. At that price it is one of the great camera deals period.

    It seems someone has bought up the extant supply of FA 50's and is playing the extortion game. For 3-fifty I would still get it but I am partial to FA's because they work sublimely with my PZ-70 film body.

    If I was digital only I would look at the DA* 55, which in comparisons I've seen is a cut above the FA 50--and that is saying a lot. Bonus the DA* is weather sealed.

    The current price of being greater than a 77mm Limited is just nuts.

    Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens for Pentax Digital SLR...


    Tamron

    List Price: $644.95
    Price: Too low to display

    Product Details

    • Not designed for conventional cameras and digital cameras with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm
    • Lenses are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with smaller-size imagers
    • Most compact 11.1X zoom lens made for digital SLR cameras
    • For exclusive use with digital SLRs

    Product Description

    The new AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO is a turbulent power zoom lens for exclusive use with digital (APS-C size) SLR cameras that inherits the spin-off concept of the existing AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR zoom lens. Even two years after its prologue, the current AF28-300mm is still a much loved and highly evaluated by photographers around the rapturous as a representative model of high power zoom lenses. With the market influx of digital SLR cameras in brand-new years, the use of high power zoom lenses has become increasingly popular since high power zooms require the convenience of handling many photographic scenes and the capability of shooting ultra telephoto shots without shifting lenses. The popularity of this focal length led Tamron to initiate the development of new zoom lenses to further have the needs of digital SLR photographers. The result is the successful development of a new zoom lens only for use on digital SLR cameras. The wide to ultra tele focal variety of this lens will allow digital SLR camera owners to enjoy digital photography with solace and convenience. Dedicated for Digital SLR CamerasBy incorporating an optical conceive for exclusive use with digital (APS-C) SLR cameras, this high power zoom lens provides the convergent length equivalent to Tamron's 28-300mm (when converted to a 35mm format). Therefore, you can collect almost all photographic opportunities with this single zoom lens without changing lenses. When paired with the SP AF11-18mm zoom lens, simultaneously introduced by Tamron at Photokina, you can profit from thoroughly digital SLR photography with the combined focal length leeway of 17-300mm.Optical System Uses Special Glass and is Optimized for Digital SLR Characteristics in command to Enhance Optical Quality in a Compact DesignThe new AF18-200mm lofty power zoom lens from Tamron features an entirely new visual design using XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass in an novel way in order to optimize the...

    Customer Reviews

    Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR for Pentax DSLR camera
    apart from choice. should be first lens purchased after buying the body. Great results. Highly recommended for commonplace use.
    A right travel lens for your dslr
    I have had a hunger history with this type of mega zoom lens. I bought the first generation from Tamron back in the antiquated 1990's. Back then, it was 28-200mm (35mm film) and the minimum focusing distance was just over 6 feet, about 2 metres. I still have said lens seconded to my Canon 500D film slr.

    Fast forward to today, and I'm buying the same lens, except this pass for my Pentax K-X.

    It's really a longer zoom version of the kit lens. The f stops are the same, but zooms out to 300mm, in preference to of 85mm. The Tamron makes about the same amount of noise when it focuses, can hunt from time to time, but has better focusing talents on objects with little contrast.

    I took it on holidays to give it a workout and, like a girlfriend, it's only when you splash out a lot of time together away from home that you get to know the other "person". In this case, there were some really good things, and some not so merit things.

    Good things:

    1. Great value for money. My area didn't have many pentax lens to select from, so the 18-250mm wasn't available. In hindsight, I probably saved a heap of money for very minor tradeoff. A max zoom of around 300mm is very useable, especially compared to 85mm.

    2. Looks great. Cooperative with my white Pentax K-X, I was getting looks from everyone. They are a thing of beauty.

    3. Photo quality is acceptable. Reasonably vertical photos with little noise, as you'd expect with a dslr. Obviously not as sharp as a prime lens though.

    4. The 'sway' button to keep it from extending when you aren't using it is very useful indeed. One of things where sure, you can get by without it, but once you have used it, you recall you want it on every subsequent lens.

    5. Comes with lens cap which has finger squeeze open and close-fisted catches both on the sides of the cap and towrards the inner part. The inner part is useful when you use the included lens hood,which prevents use of outer catches.


    The Not So Passable:

    1. The biggest gripe I had was the sudden inability to take photos. This means it would reluctantly focus, and then it would not give the impression of run off the beep when focused, and then it would refuse to take the photo. This happened after about 250 photos into the trip, and mainly happened when I was at wide angle- About 25% of the time I was on 18mm. The way to overcome this was to change from auto focal point to manual focus. Only then would it take the photo. This was regardless of whether it was day or night time.

    Since no one else had had this problem before, I brought it up on a municipal photography forum and a couple of experienced brothers suggested it was a problem with the contact between lens and camera, and unreservedly taking it off and reattaching it. I have done this, and have had no further problems. However, I have only taken a dozen or so photos since I returned, so can't really strengthen the problem is fixed totally yet.


    Overall, this lens is well worth buying if you want the help of a dslr, but the zoom of a mega zoom compact. It's the reason I bought it and overall it's value it.
    The Outlay Is Right
    I was looking for a lens in the mid-row at a price that would not kill me, and there it was on sale. The quality of pictures that I am getting are what I wanted at the price I wanted, I don't remember if a $800.00 lens would give me any better quality, but I am happy with what I got.
    For the specie, this is a great lense
    This is a very expert low-end zoom lens with good image quality. For its price, I have to say it is great!


    Tamron 18-200 mm lens
    Wonderful flexability in very little space !! 2 or 3 normal lenses all in one -- best buy I've seen in eat one's heart out time !

    Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras


    Tamron

    List Price: $366.55
    Price: Too low to display

    Product Details

    • 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens
    • Minimum focus distance as short as 37.4"

    Product Description

    The Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Autofocus Lens is a laconic, light-weight, ultra-tele zoom which covers the 70mm to 300mm telephoto pigeon-hole and produces photographs of exceptional image quality. It is ideal for attractive pictures at a distance particularly when the subject is difficult to approach such as in scenery and wildlife photography as well as at sporting and theatrical events. The Tamron 70-300mm also excels at portraiture and allows you to detach the subject from the background for eye-catching, dramatic portraits. This versatile zoom has magic macro capability with a magnification of 1:2 enabling 1/2 life-expanse close-up shots of flowers, insects, and other objects that normally would insist the use of a specially designed macro lens. This new lens is made with the Tamron Di (Digitally Integrated) chart which uses an optical system with improved multi-coatings designed to role with Digital SLR Cameras as well as Film SLR Cameras. Tamron also incorporates LD (Low Dispersion) drinking-glass in this lens to correct chromatic aberration, resulting in clear, penetrating, and beautifully vivid images.

    Customer Reviews

    active deal
    i needed a zoom lens for my son's mingling..this one is awesome!!! the pictures are incredible and so isn't the price!
    not to bad of a lens
    I purchased this as my first zoom lens, and it requires a pleasingly tripod most of the time to get clear photo's. Its very hard to get clear shots when zoomed in to 300mm. I like this lens because it was not to excessive, but in the future I may get a better one. over all its good for the price, but takes practice to get clear shots. Exuberant shooting! :)
    new for Hawaii
    Got the lens simply in time for my vacation. It worked exceptionally well taking bird shots. I even got pictures of a "cosset" albatross from a moving tour van. Got the parent too, I can even read the leg band numbers in the picture.

    Lens is on a Pentax K100d Wonderful
    Heartier THAN ALL THE OLD STUFF
    I own two of these lenses, one on a Pentax mount and the other on a Canon mount. These are glaring lenses that I would have died for way back in the 1960s when I first started in photography. I have to laugh when I hear some people complain about one sentiment or another about this lens. Because photography has come such a long way in both cameras and lens design, that todays furnishings is so vastly superior to stuff I first learned about. These guys don't know how lucky they are to own it.
    Trash
    So this lens after having it for about a week i noticed dust in my photos, so i cleaned the lens and still dust in my photos. AS is turns out there was dust between the front two elements of the lens. now i do not go into any stern enviornments to take photos and always take care of my equipment, this should not happen, I emailed the Tamron service forefront and they told me that it was not covered under warranty, B.S. I say. But any way the photos are soft at all focal lengths. Bottom line assign a little more and do not buy this piece of crap

    Which Lens for Outdoor Concert ? - Steve's Digicams Forums

    My knowledge from recitation shooting is that a bigger lens and a bag makes residents weigh you're a pro, and so they give way and gage or organizers allows you to take class where lecture hall isn't endorsed. It might pirate to have a colloquy with the organizers before the start of the show. Of without a doubt this doesn't vocation if the artiste is a in every way acclaimed celebrity and there is a no-photo-piece in the covenant. But that is normally not the the reality with adjoining concerts.

    Source: Which Lens for Outdoor Concert ? - Steve's Digicams Forums

    What's Going on with Pentax Lenses - Steve's Digicams Forums

    Cruising the internet and looked at Pentax lenses on B&H. They nominated the 18-250 & 35 2.0 as discontinued -so I checked the Pentax plot-which confirmed this. Also the prices are shameful-they are now charging $349.00 for a 50mm 1.4. I paid $199.00 about 5 months ago. All the other lenses seem to be at least $100 more than they were in mid summer. Anyone have any thoughts? Pentax announced toll increases two months ago or so (virtuous around the just the same from time to time they introduced the K-7). B&H and Adorama sold off their old lineage at the drop prices, I remember, at least it took them a while for them to do it. That was one of the big reasons I bought 2 more lenses than I had programmed on - I figured I wouldn't be qualified to contribute them at the higher prices. I kept glance both stores until I in point of fact had the capital in readily - Adorama raised the evaluation of one of the lenses the day before I could commission, so I bought from B&H. But I'm assured that everyone has now raised their prices to suggest this escalating by now, so I'm very pleased it worked out for me.

    Source: What's Going on with Pentax Lenses - Steve's Digicams Forums

    Pentax SMC-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited or Sigma AF 50mm f/1.4 EX HSM DG ...

    I'm current to New York next summer and I'm assessment onwards in the matter of what kit I'm current to take. I necessitate to make a trip as reflection as on, which means leaving luxuries like the Sigma 100-300mm at domestic along with my Lee filters and big camera bag. It will be for all practical purposes terrace occupation and event portraits, so my camera bag will look like something like this: Affirmed my appetite to tours switch on in NYC, there is one palpable alternative: the Pentax "pancake" SMC-DA 40mm f/2.8 small. The MTF results on Photozone show that the intention of this lens at f/2.8 is very, very genuine from cluster to endmost. CA are also very slightest on this lens, so this pancake's perception je sais quoi is unreservedly empyreal suitably from f/2.8 with in effect no distortion. It also ticks the box of being very laconic and unsophisticatedly itty-bitty; it won't add any overhead in my snug camera bag and will be very descrete for concourse shots. Develop attribute is also very immensely praised being a metal chassis. However - is f/2.8 universal to be wanton enough for drop belabour situation? The only troublesome sense in the back of my senior is the Sigma 50mm HSM f/1.4. Again, it receives splendid give thanks to across all DSLR brands with very credible MTF figures virtuous from f/1.4. Furthermore, it's an f/1.4 lens, so bokeh will be buttery and would also give me more headroom in low foolish status. The only heartfelt obstreperous is that it is an utterly titanic lens and doesn't fit at all with nomadic well-lit. Increase prominence is all things considered not as considerable as the pancake either, and it doesn't unerringly shriek prudent. I also heed anecdotally that it is a dull lens. Now to the 50. Well, you have the centralized duration already. So you separate what you're getting there. DOF distinction between 40/2.8 and 50/1.7 (in your turns out that 50/1.4) is altogether severe. As far as portraits go, I like both lenses, but in distinct ways. 40 is adequate for snug all main part shots, or later substance shots. While 50 is approximately -carat (I'd like to try 55/58) for topmost essence/head shots. I exceedingly like the DA 40mm, but I wouldn't...

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    Are Pentax camera lenses totally interchangeable?

    Q: I am looking into getting a key SLR camera. I have a Pentax K1000, and 3 or 4 lenses for it. To cut down on cost, I was thinking about getting a Pentax K200D, because I heard that all lenses are interchangeable (except there wouldn't be vehicle focus) so I wouldn't have to buy more lenses for the new SLR. I'd like to know if the lenses are really interchangeable. Also, if you have any suggestions for textile (basic) SLRs, I'd appreciate that. Thanks


    A: Yes, your lenses for the K1000 will mount to the K200D. There are some limitations but they should be submerged in the Owner's Manual or the Pentax web site.

    Best lenses for an old manual Pentax KM camera?

    Q: I was presupposed an old Pentax camera with a Pentax M 50mm f/2 lens on it. What other lenses would you recommend for this camera? Third party lenses are OK as well as Pentax lenses. Thanks


    A: Some very respectable advice from Pauly on the 135mm telephoto as it's a very sharp lens. I also like the feeling of a 28mm wide angle and possibly a zoom.

    The Vivitar Series 1 zooms (above all those made for them by Tokina) were very good lenses. Great results across most of the usable zoom sort and a very sturdy well built lens (a bit on the heavy side).

    Pentax makes a very close 28-90mm zoom that was designed for their autofocus line but will exertion quite nicely on your KM.

    A great resource for lenses and specifications:

    http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/

    This is a imagined resource for all Pentax owners and will give you a full account of all Pentax offerings. Keep shooting.

    XL1s lens to old Pentax camera lens?

    Q: Hello i have legitimate purchased an XL1s and am planning to do a movie with it. The lens which comes with the camera has too much of a big brilliance of field. So i was wandering whether i could get a much smaller depth of field by making an adapter to fit an old Pentax k1000 lens
    Is this growing to be possible and how would i go around doing it


    A: Hi Art,

    Yes, Novoflex makes an adapter to mount Pentax K-mount lenses onto Canon XL series video cameras:

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/fallout/56 4634-REG/Novoflex_XLPENT_XL_PENT_Lens_Mo unt_Adapter.html#features

    As far as I can make known, it does not appear to have image-degrading glass elements. However, you do use the lens in arrest-down mode.

    Novoflex also makes adapters to fit several other brands of lenses onto Canon XL video cameras:

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controll er/profoundly?O=search&A=search&Q=& ;ci=0&sb=ps&sq=desc&sortDrop =Relevance&ac=&bsi=&bhs=t&am p;shs=xl+adapter&ci=12013&at=Bra nd_Novoflex&basicSubmit=Submit+Problem

    Canon makes an adapter for EF EOS lenses to fit onto Canon XL video cameras:

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/merchandise/14 6134-REG/Canon_3162A002_EF_Adapter_XL_fo r.html

    However, according to one reviewer, due FYI, it's also a 4x teleconverter, therefore not much help with wide angle:

    http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/camcorde r-lenses-side dishes/m/1576860/st=produc t_tab/

    Also, if it acts as a teleconverter, then it probably has aspect-degrading glass elements.

    But it does appear to have electronics, therefore maybe doesn't press for stop-down mode. That's just a guess, I would suggest asking in this village square:

    http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/canon-xl-h-se ries-hdv-camcorders/


    Wholesome luck and have fun with your project!

    Greg

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