Ahoy There!

Hi there groupies,

New member, first post. I'm currently a Sony shooter with a lot of intermediate and top-shelf optics and accessories and a rather tasty FF Sony Alpha A850, but after reading the reviews of the K-5, it looks like I'm about to revert back to APS-C and with a brand never used before as it's what the replacement to the Sony Alpha A700 should've been, though I really like the look of the retro silver/black K-5 LE.

I shoot mainly aviation, but motorsport is another area of interest, but I'll try my hand at almost anything. Hopefully I'll be able to make further contributions in future, but until I actually acquire a half decent set-up akin to what I have already. I'm still likely to be seen as 'the enemy' though. I've been a keen amateur for about 6-7 years, so don't regard myself as anything else. I just love the hobby especially when coupled with other interests.

I would welcome any assistance regarding the brand and specifically the K-5 and lenses. I hope I'll see you around the forum in due course (need to get my sea legs here), though if anyone knows anyone looking for any Sony gear, send 'em my way

Avast Ye!

Well I must admit to being very surprised .. thought you were a Sony shooter through and through Pirate.

Welcome aboard.

The K-5 with 18-135mm WR lens is a powerful combination. But then so are others....It sounds like you might need at least a DA 55-300mm, but maybe the more expensive 60-250mm or 300mm.

A Liverpudlian Pirate? Fair enough, welcome aboard!

I'm not a Scouser, I just 'live' here now (don't go there - long story). As for lenses, a 300/2.8 will do for a start whether Sigma or other version if there is an older option available at a lower price, though the Sigma 100-300/4 will do perfectly well. The rest will likely be a Sigma AF 17-70 DC Macro or Tamron 17-50/2.8, Tamron 90/2.8 1:1 Di Macro and possibly a 70-200/2.8 or 200/2.8 (if available in Pentax mount), though I will have to get some background info on the 18-135 WR (whatever that means) and many other potential options including the *Sigma 100-300/4 (*this is a superb lens and tack sharp at all apertures and focal lengths as well), so maybe I'll only need 3 or 4 and maybe the odd prime. I confess I'll need re-education as I don't know which lens mounts fit the body, so unlike the older Minolta AF lenses, the Asahi-Pentax and other metal and glass optics are an unknown quantity to me (so far). I may even get a K-5 as a second body, though I really like the retro silver/black edition.

Hello and welcome

Ahoy!

Moving on . . is this THE place to buy/sell hardware or are there other sources I ought to know of apart from a certain well known auction site? I find buying/selling to/from other like-minded people much better due to the fact that users tend to know their product and arguably look after their investment, so I really could use a nudge here and there if anyone is prepared to initially take me under their wing and point me in the right direction(s) for all things Pentax (reviews, equipment, product database, best buys/what to avoid, pricing - the whole enchilada).

As as footnote, what is the BBCode for insertion of colours in your signature? This forum seems to use a different format to that which I'm accustom.

If I can source a K-5 body c/w kit lens (I hate kit lenses BTW) for £500.00 or thereabouts or a body and source a decent IQ intermediate grade lens (the 18-135mm WR sounds interesting but is it any good and are there alternatives to consider - such as the Sigma/Tamron short WA zooms which are both affordable and give superlative results) then that will be a start. I see the generic VG is pretty cheap @ circa £31.00 delivered (they're solidly built - I've owned one before for the Sony A580), as they balance the lens/body combo nicely. Other things will be a tilt/swivel semi-pro flashgun, a second battery for the VG and a fast memory card.

I'm going to have to offload a bunch of A-Mount optics to fund this venture, but therein lies the challenge. Is access to the classifieds restricted to newbies and is listing non-Pentax gear permitted? I'm not here just to use the classifieds BTW, though I'm going to have to if it's the best source of used equipment.

Thanks to all who have extended your warm welcome messages, and I'm sure I'll be asking for additional advice in future posts and maybe once sorted, will become a more prominent contributor (God help you all - you've been warned)! For those that know me from other forums, I hope you'll put in a good word on my behalf as I find my may around the forum and the brand until I get settled and gain product knowledge.

TIA.

Hello and Welcome to the forum!

Perhaps it came with some booty or was purchased in a rum soaked stupor

Welcome to the forum Mark