Another New Pentax SLR in London
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Posted 18/06/2012 - 20:54
Welcome to the forum! Sounds like we have similar taste in kit! I love using the 75-150 on my K7. For a 14/15mm lens, that's a difficult one if you're looking to use a 'legacy' lens - I'd keep your eyes peeled for a DA15mm Ltd; they come up fairly regularly in the classifieds.
[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]
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[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]
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Posted 18/06/2012 - 21:06
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Posted 18/06/2012 - 21:30
therea a DA 15 for sale in this forum:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/set-of-da-ltd-lenses--15mm--40mm-and-70mm...
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https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/set-of-da-ltd-lenses--15mm--40mm-and-70mm...
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Posted 18/06/2012 - 21:51
Thanks people - I was thinking about one of the really old wide primes, but they are obviously hugely rare. The DA15 LTD - is that a current lense? Because of the focal length I didn't think auto focus would be important, so the older ones looked like a good option, although I wonder if I should be concerned about using them on a DSLR in terms of the lack of coatings and other digital optimisations that newer lenses have?
Of course I could splash out on a Zoom - the Pentax ones look pricey - any experience of using the Sigma or Tamron offerings?
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Of course I could splash out on a Zoom - the Pentax ones look pricey - any experience of using the Sigma or Tamron offerings?
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
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Posted 18/06/2012 - 22:37
Welcome to Pentax. When I was choosing my first DSLR, after looking into the options I couldn't find any good reason why anyone would ever buy a Canon or Nikon over a Pentax.
If only more people knew.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3 & K200D, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
If only more people knew.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3 & K200D, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
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Posted 18/06/2012 - 23:16
If there was a cheaper, equally satisfactory, way of getting what the DA15 ltd offers, I would have found it! I have been through a Tokina 17mm (not quite wide enough and a bit heavy), a Sigma 24mm 'Superwide II' (lovely but not remotely wide enough - a great 35mm substitute on APSC though), a Zenitar 16mm fisheye (wonderful, but a fisheye and the novelty of the distortion soon wore thin) and a Sigma 10-20mm (really good lens, great value, but it's a comparitively bulky zoom) before putting an end to my craving for the DA15mm.
You're right, AF isn't really that important, but there just aren't that many MF options; there is an old manual 15mm but it isn't quite as good as the DA15 ltd, and isn't cheap because it's so rare. It also has a bulky front element, whereas the DA15 ltd is about the size of your 28mm.
The only relatively cheap prime at 14/15mm is the Samyang 14/2.8, very good, but quite large.
[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]
You're right, AF isn't really that important, but there just aren't that many MF options; there is an old manual 15mm but it isn't quite as good as the DA15 ltd, and isn't cheap because it's so rare. It also has a bulky front element, whereas the DA15 ltd is about the size of your 28mm.
The only relatively cheap prime at 14/15mm is the Samyang 14/2.8, very good, but quite large.
[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]
Last Edited by Pentaxophile on 18/06/2012 - 23:19
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Posted 19/06/2012 - 04:22
Welcome to the forum.
Knew what specifically?
We all see many many times more Canon and Nikon DSLR's in use than Pentax.
My first DSLR had to be Pentax as the majority of my lenses were Pentax.
Best regards
Jonathan-Mac wrote:
Welcome to Pentax. When I was choosing my first DSLR, after looking into the options I couldn't find any good reason why anyone would ever buy a Canon or Nikon over a Pentax.
If only more people knew.
Welcome to Pentax. When I was choosing my first DSLR, after looking into the options I couldn't find any good reason why anyone would ever buy a Canon or Nikon over a Pentax.
If only more people knew.
Knew what specifically?
We all see many many times more Canon and Nikon DSLR's in use than Pentax.
My first DSLR had to be Pentax as the majority of my lenses were Pentax.
Best regards
Link
Posted 19/06/2012 - 20:43
Thanks everyone, great to be welcomed here. I was very taken with your suggestion, Pentaxophile, of the Samyang 14mm, which has got a positive recommendation on lenstip.com link, and its so reasonable that I am very tempted.
Has anyone had any experience with this lense? Sounds like this brand are finding their feet somewhat, but they seem to have landed nicely with this particular lense. The Fotoxen online store lists it as having an 'A' setting for Pentax, which would certainly make life easier than an older 'M' series generation lense. Would love to hear any user feedback on it if anyone has tried one.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Has anyone had any experience with this lense? Sounds like this brand are finding their feet somewhat, but they seem to have landed nicely with this particular lense. The Fotoxen online store lists it as having an 'A' setting for Pentax, which would certainly make life easier than an older 'M' series generation lense. Would love to hear any user feedback on it if anyone has tried one.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
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Posted 20/06/2012 - 09:30
K10D wrote:
Knew what specifically?
We all see many many times more Canon and Nikon DSLR's in use than Pentax.
Knew what specifically?
We all see many many times more Canon and Nikon DSLR's in use than Pentax.
Pentax users know what they want - Canon and Nikon users don't know and rely on a spotty oik in Dixons to tell them
Welcome McGregNi
If I were you get the 14 or 15 DA lenses - designed specifically for Pentax DSLR - Canon and Nikon don't do anything like the DA 15 Ltd, anything else is bulky or old.....
AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff
6 posts
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Posted 07/07/2012 - 21:10
I used to own the Samyang 14mm Nikon mount on a D90. It was a very sharp lens. Nicely built except for the built-in plasticky petal type hood. focus ring was nice and smooth. The lens suffers from moustache style distortion which could be quite strong, not a problem for landscape really but no good for architecture. You cant use filters because of the bulb like front element. The dxo score for the lens was very high as good as or slightly better than nikon's 14-24mm 2.8. Very reasonably priced too.
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Posted 07/07/2012 - 21:11
as an after thought, I have just bought the Pentax 15mm limited and although I have not used so much it seems to be a very decent lens and the build quality is superb.
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Posted 07/07/2012 - 22:16
Thanks Silverfox, do you know if your Samyang 14mm was a 1st or 2nd generation? I'm still sorely tempted - certainly on balance looking at reviews and the comments so far here, it is a very enticing option at the budget end. It doesn't sound like this involves any compromises on the sharpness, build quality and usability fronts.
Is it true that it has an aperture ring, and there is an 'A' setting?
I'm not very hopeful of being able to walk in to a shop and try one - might have to hope a mail order outfit will send it and allow a return. I do like building shots, but it'll mostly be out and about in the hills and valleys, so I'm planning to brush up on software options to minimise the distortions.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Is it true that it has an aperture ring, and there is an 'A' setting?
I'm not very hopeful of being able to walk in to a shop and try one - might have to hope a mail order outfit will send it and allow a return. I do like building shots, but it'll mostly be out and about in the hills and valleys, so I'm planning to brush up on software options to minimise the distortions.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
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McGregNi
Member
Surrey, England
I was a Canon film SLR user for a few years, and always assumed that when changing to digital it would obviously be better to get a Canon body and use my lenses on it. But that was wrong! I spent a few weeks in and out of shops toying with various Canon bodies and kit lens combinations, and was constantly frustrated at the price / feature pros and cons. None of them seemed just 'right', and expensive.
Then by chance I picked up a K7 with the 18-55 WR zoom in a Jessops shop thinking I would be putting it down again straight away - well, I didn't want to put it down, thats for sure. Feature by feature it blew away the competition. And all for less money that a 600D with a basic lens! A 'no-brainer' situation.
Since then I found an 'A' series 28mm prime and the 'M' f4 (constant) 75 - 150mm secondhand and I'm a happy chappy. Amazing to be using a lens like the 'M' zoom, setting the aperture on the lens and stop down metering - all very grown up! So I'm a true convert - all my Canon kit will be traded in as soon as I find a dealer with a good wide angle 14mm or 15mm prime (probably I'd be lucky).
Thankyou Pentax.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver