sorry yes it is a 35-70 not a 30-70, and the over exposure is probably my K10 I have the same problem with the other A series lens I have but not my 18-55 kit lens or th sigma 28-300. Any way it is not a problem I just have to remember to stop down slightly.
anyway was this "cheap" kit lens in the 80's or a catalogue lens?
Alistair

I have a Raynox DCR250 macro lens that I would like to either sell or better still swap for a 90 degree viewfinder to fit a K10.
The only reason for selling is it over magnifies for what I want and the depth of field is to narrow, but for thse who love bugs and spiders it is great.
Alistair

I have a smc Pentax- A zoom 30-70 zoom 1:3.5~4.5 lens with a "macro" focus at the 70mm end of the range.
I have never seen one of these for sale on Ebay or anywhere and was interested to know is it a unusual size lens, and was it once a kit lens? and any other info any one might have.
It is a great little lens, and takes nice sharp images [when I get the focus right! Damn these tired old eyes of mine]
My only complaint is that on my K10 I have to either stop down by one or post alter every image as it seems a bit over exposed always to me
Alistair

Thanks every one especially Heftyone, ok and green button ect are NOT in the K10d boot not even the download "current book" from Petax
thank yo
Alistair

Thank you can you elaborate on the info above please?
Alistair

I'm sure some where I once saw a post that listed some button push combinations which had feature/mode effects not mentioned in the K10 hand book,
would some one kindly tell me where to find this info?
thanks
Alistair

Anvh, thank you just beat me to editing my question to include the focal length, I suppose ease of use as in weight has to come into it for hand held shots, and a nice long focus movement,although I find it is often better to move back and forwards if the object will stay still for me.
alistair

I suspect this has been covered many time so please point me to the thread but,

I wonder in the prime range of lenses available [any make] which would give the best IQ for taking images with a view to heavy cropping /enlargement??

my reasoning is the a "dedicated micro lens" is silly money. but given what you can achieve with top class prime and the 10-14mp cameras we now use , if a image has a nice low ISO and you are lucky enough to get that perfect in focus image with a decent DOF you can enlarge way past the magic macro figure of 1:1 with little loss of IQ.

So given the proliferation of used k lenses that are available from various sources, what are the best of the IQ ones to look out for? what is a good prime k mount any make manual or A type with a high IQ and with a short focal length

Thank you for your replies it seems that 100mm macro or with a macro add apter of a type is the consensus
thanks
Alistair

Hi I need advice from those wiser than me , which is plenty of you!!
I have a kit 18-50 A/F lens supplied with my camera which is fine for close up images of flowers and other large object that don't get frightened by a lens looming in at them.
But I would like to try to capture insects, spiders and ladybirds and the like which are small and need a 1:1 macro or better, or so I understand.
It seems since I cannot afford a new 1:1 macro lens that I have choice.
Get an A series 50mm 2.8 [which I understand from another post is better than the 1.4 for this due to the construction] and try it with an extension or reversing ring both of which I have, these 50mm seem to be plentiful and cheap from various sources, or
to wait and try to find A series 100mm macro which will allow some distance to be maintained from the insect ,
comments , thoughts , and advice please as I really can't afford to buy lenses that won't do the job.
Alistair