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Pentax K10D revived - are early silver AF lenses OK?

deeslexia
Posted 14/08/2015 - 09:44 Link
I confess to moving to Sony A290/A35 to use my old Minolta lenses , however , the death of another camera has instigated the revival of the K10D .
I have been using a manual 80-200 zoom at the local airshow , but would like a lighter AF version plus a 35-80 which I use extensively on the A290 as the crop factor of nom 52 -120 is perfect for me.
I love the manual 50 f1.7 which is a reason I bought the camera initially, but a 35 f1.8 for the Sony kind of surpassed it.
i am just a considered snapshhooter so ultimate quality is not an issue.
[the Leica M8 / CV 35f2.5 bought in a moment of madness serves the serious role !]
The silver Pentax lenses seem really cheap , but which would you recommend ?
Thanks
dee
Edited by deeslexia: 14/08/2015 - 10:05
johnriley
Posted 14/08/2015 - 10:37 Link
Perhaps an FA series 100-300mm or 80-320mm. Both are excellent lenses that gained good reviews at their release. The FA J 70-300mm is also a really good lens which I used a lot until I bought the newer 55-300mm.

The 55-300mm DA is an all round better lens, maybe not too expensive second hand.
Best regards, John
jeallen01
Posted 14/08/2015 - 12:06 Link
The 80-320 has a very long extending barrel and has a reputation for developing unfixable wobble when extended - mine certainly did (so badly I would not have dared to sell it on). Also, was not very impressed with the image on my GX10 (K10D).

Replaced by the 55-300, which is sharp but rather slow and noisy to focus (would not recommend for airshows or other fast moving activities), and always try to get the more expensive "non-DAL" metal-mount version because it has (badly needed, IMHO) "quickshift" to allow you to manually override the autofocus.

Would not recommend the 28-80 silver either - bought a s/h one from the (then) local Jessops and was not impressed (by anything).
K-3 II, K-3 and a K-70 from SRS (having now relegated the K-30 /"K-50" to a backup body), & some Sigma and Pentax lenses (and a lot of old 35mm gear!)
deeslexia
Posted 14/08/2015 - 12:07 Link
Thanks-I will look out for the FA 100-300 and FAJ 70-300.
dee
deeslexia
Posted 19/08/2015 - 21:05 Link
An update . I received the FA 35-80 and FA 80-200 via e-bay for the cost of £27 , so worth a try.
I love the 35-80 which is so light that it balances well on the K10D.
As ever , I love the nom 52-120 range it provides on APSC .
The gunmetal colour is so much more discrete than the light silver of the Minolta lens .
I tried out the 80-200 and it resolves enough detail and contrast for my modest expectations
Unfortunately I messed up the exposure on both Pentax and Sony taking low flying Spitfires in thick cloud over Biggin Hill , but the experience of being buzzed by 20 Spitfires and Hurricanes kinda overruled the photography - it was enough to be there on a crowded road outside the airfield .
For little money , my K10D has been revitalised to the extent that I would love to afford a slightly lighter Pentax DSLR - especially as Sony have abandoned DSLRs .
dee

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