Benji,

You have already posted this, on Thursday, under Pentax Film SLRs. We've all read it. And you replied to it earlier today.

G

Chris,

Just to be brutally frank, for a moment, I have to say that these pictures are not sharp enough to be worth spending too much more effort on.

Get the girl back, and shoot some more, making sure that your focus is correct (or are you using a Canon lens?).

G

I have to say that JR's portrait is technically excellent, but perhaps therein is the reason why Daniel prefers Chris's efforts - they appear more natural and less posed. JR's does scream "STUDIO".

Nonetheless, I think JR's points are all valid. The secret Chris needs to learn is to capture the vitality of John's picture whilst retaining the simplicity of his.

A little theory and a bit more practice is required, methinks.

Keep 'em coming, Chris. There's lots of potential in your pictures. And the model is a sweetie. (As is John's.)

G

I suggest you buy that camera. You will have endless fun with it, and it'll keep you out of mischief for months.

And there is no law, as far as I am aware, that says you are only allowed one zoom lens. If 16mm is too narrow for you, get a 12-24. Then a 24-90, perhaps, to give you a bit of length.

Both these lenses are easy enough to find, either new or second-hand (I've just sold a 24-90). Just keep a beady eye on Ebay.

G

I concur with everything you said, though my nerves are perhaps a little easier to twang than yours.

G

But he didn't say "loss leader". He said "just a loss leader", which changes the meaning considerably.

G

I'll keep quiet, I think.

G

And don't overlook the 77mm. You can get them in excellent condition for around £400.00, and they are just superb. Much smaller than the 85mm, which is a bit of a beast.

G

Come, come. Non-current lenses may not be relevant to Viewfinder's argument, but they are certainly relevant to people who want to buy a lens rather than start a slanging match.

The Pentax-F and -FA 1:2.8 135mm is reasonably fast for this focal length, and readily available if you want to buy one.

(I should declare an interest here. I have one for sale!)

G

I do agree that in an ideal world there would be loads of fast, low-cost, primes sitting on the shelves waiting for you to buy them.

But the sad fact is that nowadays most people prefer not-so-fast zooms. Fast zooms are not just expensive, but big and heavy too.

So until Pentax starts selling cameras in the millions again, it is not going to produce lots of fast, low-cost, primes. The market just isn't there.

It does however, produce some wonderful, fast, not-so-low-cost primes which can be bought on Ebay at around half list price.

If you're quick, there's a lovely 1:2 35mm on Ebay at the moment. It's in top zustand, apparently.

Plus several 43s, a 77mm, an 85mm, and a 20mm 1:2.8.

Happy hunting.

G