Is the lens actually sharp wide open? Just wondering if it has a de-centering defect that may make it a little soft until stopped down, and the camera might then struggle to obtain best focus with it? :

Dan

That's right, you have focal lengths covered from 18mm (wide angle) through to 300mm (long telephoto), with just a small gap between 55mm and 70mm, which won't be any trouble at all.

Glad that's sorted! The whole 'XXmm on digital' thing causes so much confusion, as well as having 'digital' lenses, which, when they're based on a design from the film era, are fundamentally the same as 'non-digital' lenses, just with little tweaks which may well have been designed by the marketing department.

Have fun with your camera, and when you've identified some short-comings in your lenses, then start looking for another one.

Dan

You already have a 70mm lens, the Sigma 70-300. It's not a 105-450mm on digital, but if you were using a 35mm film camera, to get the same field of view that this lens gives you on digital, you would need a 105-450mm lens.

With hindsight, most of us can easily sit here and say "don't buy another lens just because you feel you have to have a thrid lens", but when you're starting out, it's easy to get carried away.

The FA50mm lens won't get you any closer than the 18-55mm you already have (in fact it won't get you quite as close), but it will give you flexibility when choosing aperture and shutter speed.

By all means buy it, you will get use from it. But I would echo the advice from others and say hang on until you really know what situations you want to shoot, that your current lenses can't cover.

Dan

Might this just be an administrators option? I just see 'quote' and 'edit' on my posts.

Dan

...and here: http://maradydd.livejournal.com/374886.html

Dan

Talking of which, you're a lot younger than I thought you'd be. And what Pentax camera model is that you're using?

Dan

I was guessing it was you two, but would have put you round the other way for some reason.

Dan

Yeah, but that's cos you're from Glasgow, you're tougher than me.

Dan

I don't know, but I wouldn't like to meet either of them down a dark alley!

Dan