Pentax Teleconverter

Can anyone inform me if I can use a Pentax Teleconverter with PK=A mount on a Pentax K10?

If it is a A type( thus with electronic contacts), Yes! You can.
martin.

Hi Martin,

It is a Pentax A 2X Vivitar Teleconverter PK-A

Personally, i would not go near any teleconverter with an other name on it. Even if it is made for Pentax A type lenses. If........and it's a very large IF, you insists in using a converter, stick to the original pentax ones. And only use them with very high quality prime pentax lenses. Other wise you are better off buying a sheaper zoom, and gaining reach that way.
Best regards,
martin.

Appreciate the point. I do a lot of safari stuff in East Africa and whilst I know you are right there are times when that extra focus obtained on a 300mm via a teleconverter will pick something up otherwise missed. Otherwise do you have a recommendation for a 500=600mm zoom that will not break the bank?

If you have a 4.0/300mm you can go for the Pentax A 1.4x L or the Pentax A 2.0x L. The large versions are specialy designed for use with 300 mm and above. The (S)mall versions are designed for 85 till 200mm.
And these would mean no AF on the K10D obviously. There is a Pentax 1.7 AF converter but you will pay a lot of cash for it. If you can find it on Ebay. There are two zooms that could be interesting for you. Much loved and wished for here on the forum is the Bigma.(Sigma 50-500 AF) Still in production and in The Netherlands for sale for:1089 euro which is about
820 pounds.Also you could consider the Sigma 135-400 AF.( 450 pounds) or the Sigma 170-500 AF (592 pounds). An other choice could be an older secondhand Sigma Apo 5.6/400 mm AF or if manual focus is no problem the mf version. And considder also the Pentax SMC 5.6/400 mm MF.
If you can find one
Good luck, hope it helps
Martin.

Thanks for the interest and help.

I have found that high quality 7 element teleconverters from the respected lens manufacturors produce very acceptable results when coupled with prime lenses

The Tamron SP converter in Adaptall mount in particular produces superb results, although obviously it is limited to use with adaptall lenses.


Pentax TCs are generally superb, as you would expect, but in reality are almost impossible to get because they are no longer made and those who have them tend to hang on to them.