EBay, I am a keen Ebay user for photo gear, buying and selling. This viewfinder is an expensive genuine Leica model which is really for Leica cameras with a 50mm lens. They go for around £100.

Any model of viewfinder would do, but most are for 35mm film full frame cameras.

Because my K-01 with its crop sensor has a 35mm lens, that is equivalent to a 50mm lens on a full frame camera-- so-- a 50mm viewfinder

Fair comments, and it seems most specialised wildlife photographers have already chosen other systems (mainly Canon?) as the "best tools for the job".

Pentax is clearly NOT the best tool for the job of photographing swift moving wildlife, all reviews have tended to highlight this to a greater or lesser degree.

I am following the Facebook Group trials and tests to see what the best combinations of technique and settings provide optimum results with the K-1, as it will be handy to know for the rare occasions I will want to use the techniques.

K-1 is just brilliant for what I want a camera for, thankfully!

Quite simply, by using this 1988 lens, (a near 30 year old design) you are not giving your Pentax camera a chance.

(I wonder how fast the focussing would be on a Canon camera with a 1988 film era lens?)

OK it is reputed to be beautifully sharp, optically outstanding, and 'professional grade' but it is the old film era screw drive autofocus, and just doesn't have a chance, whatever camera you use it on.

On the Pentax Full Frame Facebook page, one of the members is posting results from series of tests on focusing on moving objects with different lenses, and that is showing very interesting results.

I wouldn't personally change systems just because of one lens, but then I am a biased Pentax user since the 1970s, and don't think I have ever wanted to take a picture of a bird in flight.

Your tests were a good part of my decision,

I can't (or cant be bothered) to do scientific tests but shoot similar scenes in similar light with the lenses I want to compare, and for me this lens is a winner.

(Now...do I keep the Sigma 24-70 or sell it?)

When I first bought my Pentax K-1 I got a Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 to use on it, but I found it a bit heavy and unwieldy for general use.... crop factor Pentaxes and lenses had spoilt me with lighter weight.

I was intrigued by the new Pentax D FA 28-105mm and noticed that WEX had one at a reduced price as it was a demonstrator... blow me if a few days later WEX had a general 10% off Pentax lenses so I checked and the lens was still available, new but around £100 off.

Ephotozine tests by John Riley tended to show that results from the tested 28-105 pretty much equalled those from the D FA 24-70mm at comparable focal lengths/apertures.

Ordered, delivered, and fixed to K-1.

Right away a much lighter and handier feeling package, first tests were better than the Pentax 18-135mm and Pentax 16-85 I had tested on my K-3 for across the frame sharpness and into corners.

I will report again after I have been using it for a longer period, but for now it has not been off the K-1!

The Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 slightly outperformed both the Tamron 17-50mm and the Pentax 16-50mm in tests. It is currently a good price.

It was my most used lens on my K-5 and K-3, a well balanced package with really excellent performance, I recommend it unconditionally.

(Mine is now redundant as I have moved to K-1 full frame.)

SRS have probably had more of my photography business than any other firm, found them excellent.

Reading the flash manual, it appears NiMH batteries give quite a bit better performance... must get some!

The one WEX and others are selling for £89 is the old AF200FG.

The one I have bought is the new AF201FG which is "dust and moisture resistant" and with the tilting head the old model does not have.

This model like its predecessor has no wireless function.


I have seen a couple of reports which praise its use with the Pentax mirrorless cameras.

Smudge wrote

"I have a set of 540s for events and such but I don't want to carry one of those when I'm on holiday."

Hear Hear!

Bought one, £109 from SRS.
for my K-1. I did use the built in flash on the K-3 now and again, so wanted something small and light to go on the K-1 and am pleased to say the AF201FG fits the bill, very small, light P.TTL, 2 AAA batteries, and a tilt head for bounce. Guide No. 20 /100 ISO.

I already have the mid size Pentax AF-360FGZ for 'serious' flash use, but it is big and heavy with its four AA batteries, and I wanted something more compact.

Pleased with it so far!