Recommendations on lenses please

Barry,
The crop factor is 1.5x on the Pentax (not 1.6 as on Canons)
So that's 120-480 effective.
I have used it hand held, but it's tricky, especially at the telephoto end! I would say brace it very well. Generally, though, I use a monopod (Manfrotto carbon fibre) and don't have a problem at all with that
Matt

Thanks for the correction Matt. I brought my son a Manfrotto monopod last Christmas. I might have to 'borrow' it.

Barry here are some links to shots from the 80-320:

Handheld:
http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/showlargepic.cfm?photoid=284608
http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/showlargepic.cfm?photoid=263110

Monopod:
http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/showlargepic.cfm?photoid=294710
http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/showlargepic.cfm?photoid=298080
http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/showlargepic.cfm?photoid=343556

With 1.7x AF on Manfrotto tripod:
http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/showlargepic.cfm?photoid=447534

As for recommendations, let's say I wouldn't get rid of the 80-320
Matt

Hi Matt, With photos like that, nor would I be getting rid of that lens. Thanks for the links.

I have a Pentax 80-320 which I use on MZ6 and DS2 and get great results. However I also have a new Sigma 70-300 APO Macro (latest version) which is also superb.

I will definitely keep the 80-320 though.

Mike

My Pentax DA 50-200 arrived today. What a great lens. Nice range of focal lengths and so compact. Crisp images and very fast focusing.

So I now have:
Pentax K100D
Sigma 18-125
Pentax DA 16-45
Pentax DA 50-200

I've sold my Pentax Super A and other Sigma zoom on eBay.

Thanks for the recommendations on this one too guys.

At Willoughbys in New York the 50-200 DA is now $196US (after the $150 mail-in rebate). At that price I think I'll go for it.

Its 35mm film camera lens equivalent range is 76.5-306mm, and should be much easier to hand-hold than my 300mm f:4 SMC Takumar prime (which I love dearly) mounted on my DS, which, on the DS is something like a 450mm?. On a tripod with the DS it becomes a proper entry into bird photography, and I intend to keep it for that and other tripod-mount uses.

However, the 50-200 DA isn't much heavier than the 18-55 kit lens and I suspect it will suit me well for sports and other hand-held stuff.

Any opinions on that?

Ted

Hi Ted.

I have heard only positive things about the 50-200mm DA lens. For pricing though, check out www.adorama.com (US$219 before US$50 rebate) or www.bhphotovideo.com (US$229 before US$50 rebate). One thing sticks in my mind: Why pay more when you can pay less?

Hi Ted

hahaha I can't believe you are still mulling over that 50-200mm purchase. Wasn't it MONTHS ago that you got stiffed on a mail order promise of a 50-200mm "in stock" ? I did a search on Willoughby's for you. Check this out
http://www3.shopping.com/xMR-Willoughbys.com~MRD-309798~S-1 Quite a few dissatisfied customers and sounds like the same problem you had last time you ordered. What about buying in Tuscon?

FYI I live in a town of 75,000 in Canada and I can get one at London Drugs here for the equivalent regular price of $170 US with no rebates. I'm surprised at the higher online prices plus shipping there. Anyway, your decision.

I have had my DA50-200mm for about 18 months now and it rarely comes off my camera. It is a superb walk-about lens and the quality is very good. BUY IT for godsakes Ted!! You won't be sorry.

Good luck this time

Drew

OK, OK, Drew. I will.

Now, can I just get the damn thing from London Drugs like you did? Wonder what the shipping to Arizona would be...

In what city are you located? Oh, and where is London Drugs located?

Thanks for the Willoughbys customer reviews. Cooled me right off (even though that's where I got my istDS w/kit lens ($748 to the door) with nary a problem. ONe reason I've procrastinated is probably due to my bagful of long primes, but as you probably know, attaching and detaching them is fiddly and takes time and great care.

Ted

(PS: I was wrong about the $150 rebate, it's $50 - but the price to the buyer is the same).

Michael:

Thanks for the info. I had forgotten about BH and Adorama.

Ted

Hi Ted

London Drugs is located all across Canada and has an excellent photographic department. They are also available online at
www.londondrugs.com It is all in Canadian prices so to figure approx. US equivalent multiply by .85.

:arrow: I have sent you a PM Ted.

Cheers

Drew