Novice, basic lens questions?

The camera manual should describe these functions, if the camera supports it.

It should be in the lens manual try this one: Page 19

http://www.pentaximaging.com/files/manual/FA_Lenses_112205.pdf

shim

Thanks, that may well be so. The Power Zoom idea never caught on for SLR lenses, but it went on to be used in just almost every compact and bridge camera!

Thanks, yes it does work on the K20 but I don't think you can set the view taken so apart from a slow shot taken whilst zooming it seems it is of little use unless I want to drain the battery. How ever that apart I think the 100 - 300 FA may be one to keep the other is 28-80FA and I think I will have a good play with both before I decide. Have some Sigma, newer and covering the same range but although lighter I am not sure they are any better.

Very grateful for your help I think I need to put in some shooting time with all my lens before spending any money after all I may be needing a new body soon, who knows

I'm currently using the 28-80 Power Zoom for all my eBay pictures and it's a fantastic lens. I've seen indifferent comments about it on the Internet, but my sample bears out the excellent test result that AP published when the lens first appeared.

I can confirm that the advanced Power Zoom functions do not work on a K20D or any digital camera. The switch near the front of the lens does nothing on these cameras.

However, a Power Zoom lens in PZ mode will Power Zoom on a K20D when you twist the zoom ring. Interestingly, it also continually auto-focuses whilst zooming even if you have AF-S selected. Also the lens returns to it's shortest physical length when the camera is turned off.

Power Zooming does not work at all on K200D, K100D Super, K-m, nor presumably any other digital camera besides K20D and K10D. The lenses do have a manual zoom option though.

The FA 28-80mm f3.5-f4.7 Power Zoom I tried seemed generally OK optically, but no better than the FAJ 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 AL I replaced it with. The FAJ is smaller and much much lighter.

Think I will have another workout with the 28-80, used it as the main lens on the Z1 but not used it since using the lighter and longer Sigma 28-300 but although I found the lighter lens good on the ist on the K20 the 28-80 seems comfortable and I think a slightly better result.

You gents are so helpful, I know you can't tell me what kit I want or need but to have the encouragement to stick with something with the assurance that it should produce acceptable results even if old is both helpful and encouraging.