I'm looking for a Sigma 24-60mm F2.8 EX DG lens. Get in touch if you have one to sell.

The lens arrived yesterday in good condition.

Thank you,

DavidG

Filter received next day. Thank you, DavidG

I have a Super-Takumar 85/1.9 (M42) looking for a new home - not what you asked for I know, but just in case.............

[Quote]There is no 'lack'. You can get split prism screens for the K-x. As an example http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/item--Pentax-K100D-K110D-K200D-K-r-K-x-Focusing-Scr... (of course I picked the (probably) most expensive make )[/quote]My mistake, the K-x does indeed have interchangeable focussing screens, apologies.

The focussing screen sits above the mirror, just under the prism and is what makes the view through the viewfinder fuzzy if the lens is not in focus or sharp when it is.

Why is interchangeability desirable ? - the factory fitted focussing screens on most dSLRs are optimised for a bright view, but rather difficult to manual focus with when compared to screens on old manual focus SLRs, such as your ME, which are optimised to help achieve precise manual focus. There is no visual "snap" when you get the subject in focus as there is with an old SLR.

It is possible to buy replacement screens from a number of 3rd parties, including Katzeye (see above) and FocussingScreen.com (still good, but a bit cheaper). Otherwise you have to rely on the AF focus confirmation light in the viewfinder when using manual lenses, which some people find OK, but many others like me find difficult, hence the market for 3rd party focussing screens. They are a bit fiddly, but not difficult to fit, (though sometimes require calibration with "shims" which makes it a bit more of a fiddle).

My advice would be, if you intend to use manual focus lenses, make sure you buy a camera that does have interchangeable focussing screens, use it for a while and see how you get on using the AF focus confirmation light and then buy a replacement screen if you are finding it difficult.

Anyway, enough of this detail. Any camera is better than none - go buy one!

Nice little camera that the K-x is, if you are learning about photography, then I'd say a K10 is a much more suitable camera.

My main reason is you have much less direct control of the exposure and focussing on the K-x than the K10. The controls on the K-x are simpler and more aimed at consumers who might leave the camera on "automatic" than those on the K10. For example:
- 1 control dial rather than 2 (on the K10 you have shutter speed and aperture control directly at you finger tips);
- no top-LCD;
- fewer dedicated buttons (eg no AF point selector button);
- no AF point selection in viewfinder

Other reasons to prefer a K10 over a K-x include:
- the K-x's lower spec viewfinder, (you'll already be getting a smaller, darker viewfinder on the K10 than you had on the ME and the K-x is even more of a small dark tunnel because it uses a pentamirror rather than a 'proper' pentaprism like the K10 and ME);
- less robust body:
- lack of interchangeable focussing screens (replacing the focussing screen on the K10 makes it much easier to manual focus, which makes cheap old Pentax manual focus lenses even more of a bargain);
- K10 is weather sealed (with a weather sealed lens mounted)

On the other hand, reasons to prefer a K-x over a K10 include:
- lightness;
- live view (primitive, but still useful for still life work);
- better rear screen;
- slightly better sensor (?);
- easier to read menus;
- and .......... suggestions on a postcard please.

I have a Samsung GX10 (which is a Pentax K10D clone, made by Pentax for Samsung, to the same design and on the same production lines - identical in almost every respect, including the Pentax lens mount) which I was just getting around to putting on eBay. Body, 18-55mm kit zoom, 2 batteries and strap - £165 including postage and Paypal fees. Send me a private message if you are interested.

One thing you should be aware of when fitting a new focussing screen for accurate manual focussing is that you may also need to fit a new focussing screen "shim" as well. The "shim" is a little washer type thing that ensures that the focussing screen is positioned at the correct distance from the lens so that when the subject is in focus on the screen, it will also be in focus on the sensor. Each camera has a shim fitted together with the focussing screen and accurate calibration of the focussing screen is achieved by fitting the correct thickness of shim. The correct thickness varies depending on manufacturing variations in structure that holds the focussing screen in position.

It appears that Pentax's quality control on the calibration of the factory fitted focussing screen is not as good as it might be and it seems not uncommon for the factory fitted focussing screen shim to be the wrong thickness. They seem to assume that you will be relying on auto focus and that accurate calibration of the focussing screen is not important. You can check this by seeing whether focussing manually and focussing using auto focus give the same result.

Note - by manual focussing I mean manual focussing through the viewfinder using the focussing screen only, ignore the green focus confirm light, that's part of the auto focus system. Its also worth checking whether there is a difference between manual focussing via live view and the auto focus system. That will tell you if the auto focus system is calibrated correctly. If the auto focus system is not calibrated correctly, sort that out first, then move on to calibrating the focussing screen.

I had this problem with my K5. When I first got it, I had a lot of mis-focussed photos when using manual focus through the viewfinder, but not when I was using live view magnification for manual focussing or auto focus. When I replaced the factory fitted focussing screen on my K5 with a Katzeye screen the problem did not go away. However, sets of different thickness shims are available from Pentax UK Service and replacing the factory fitted shim with a slightly different thickness shim sorted out the problem nicely. Now manual focussing via the viewfinder, live view and auto focus all line up nicely.

It might be worth adding, that I did not have this problem when I fitted a new focussing screen to my K20D - maybe I was unlucky with the K5 or perhaps Pentax's quality control standards have got worse over recent years?

RH is a Pentax hater and IMHO an idiot... he was also posting everywhere that the k-5 mk II rumors were fakes.. anywho... the lens LOOKS like it collapses, and it probably does... Pentax is notorious for having less than useful press releases and marketing efforts lol! time will tell.[/quote]As above. RH often posts BS including mock ups and is a known Pentax-hater.

The 560mm almost certainly does not collapse - not only did Pentax not say anything about what would be a major feature in their press release :

http://www.pentaximaging.com/about/press/287/PENTAX_Announces_Two_New_K-Mount_Le...

But you can see for yourself it would be impossible :

http://www.pentaximaging.com/img/press_images/1347052678_a_DA560f5.6_sm_large.jp...[/quote]I handled one of these DA 560mm lenses at a Pentax UK marketing event in London on 29/09/2012. The copy I handled certainly did collapse. There were 2 stages, first the lens hood slid back, then the lens tube with the front element slid back, shortening the lens exactly as shown in the photo on RH's blog. The foremost hexagonal "bolt"is tightened to hold the lens tube in collapsed or open positions. Intriguingly, the PentaxImaging photo does not show this hexagonal "bolt". I don't know whether the lens I handled was a full production model or not.

Disappointingly, despite a long search with it from a good high vantage point I failed to find any members of the Royal family to photograph, topless or otherwise, but this lens did seem up to the job if the opportunity presented itself.

Katzeye did not supply any shims with my screen.

The phone number is Pentax Service Europe, who charged me £26 for a complete set of shims (which they call "washers") delivered to my UK address.