MZ 7

Hi I've just joined,and just purchased a K20D+DA18-55mm II.

My trusty MZ 7, let me down during a visit to ULURU Australia, I found that the shutter was dead!
Camera had never been dropped, banged or suffered any form of misuse, and frankly I was amazed that it had packed up!

Cost of repair outweighs the value of the camera(film cameras are not worth a light), so I have taken the plunge and replaced it, with the K20D.
What experiences have anyone had using a Pentax 80-320 35mm lens on a digital camera? I'm interested in what results can be achieved

Welcome to the forum.

The FA 80-320mm is a good lens. A common criticism is it's softness at the long end, just like most long range zooms. Between 80 and 250'ish its a good performer.

On your K20D it'll have an equivalent field of view (FOV) of a 120-480mm lens on a 35mm film camera.

Welcome to the forum Roscoe , Would you please fill in your location profile when you have a moment thanks..

Hi Tel,

I've updated my location Profile-Stanford-le-Hope Essex

Thank you Mannesty,

Have you used this lens for wildlife/bird photography?
what lenses do you use?

The FA 80-320 is my primary walking around wildlife lens. As Manesty says, it's a little soft beyond 250 but not unusably so. What you don't want to be doing is zooming right in and hoping to crop very much. If you can get the subject to fill the frame at 320, you will probably be very happy with the result. Especially if you stop down to ~F8.

The new DA 55-300 is a better lens on digital in all respects, but the FA 80-320 is no slouch and using it for now will save you £200.

Welcome to the forum Roscoe

Welcome Roscoe.

Hello Hyram,

Like you I have the AF280T, have you used it on your K20D with the Pentax hotshoe grip?

If you have what Synch cord are you using to connect the K20D hotshoe to the hotshoe grip?

What are you using the Metz on, and do you use it on a hotshoe grip?

I'm trying to sort out compatibility issues with the K20D

I used it on the odd occasion. I now use a DA* 300mm with & without a 1.7X AF TC, a SMCP-M 400mm, and when I'm feeling very strong, a SMCP 135-600mm.

Hello Roscoe, welcome to the forum.

I think there is only one cable you can use between the K20D and Hot Shoe Grip. It's the same cable used to connect an AF400T.

You won't sort out the compatibility issues. The AF280T has an analogue interface and the K20D uses a digital interface.

Your flash can be used in manual mode, when it will fully discharge, or it's auto modes. You'll need to use the camera in fully manual; mode to get the best out of your flash.

Also, the AF280T is a TTL flash, a mode that is not supported by the K20D, which can use only P-TTL automation.

Hi Roscoe - another Essex boy!

Dan

Hiya Roscoe!

Welcome to the forum.

I have the 80-320, I was considering selling it a few weeks ago but I've changed my mind, I dont know about it being soft at the long end though, TBH I think it outperforms my several times the cost "Bigma"

Your MZ7 shutter, do you just get a whining noise and it refuses to fire? my MZ5n did the same