All Forum Comments
Comment by JohnMcD posted on Regretrably For Sale FA Limited 77mm F1.8 SOLD at 20/05/2008 - 11:20
If you've read my thread in the lens section you'll know that the FA77 and my Pentax DS don't get on well. So rather than have a very expensive paper weight I've decided to try and sell the 77mm and just go back to using my old 50mm. But it hurts to loose it.
The lens is less than a month old and is like new. I'll send it special delivery so it's insured. I'll leave the genuine SMC Pentax skylight filter on it. I don't expect these will be available
Cash, cheque or paypal £365, no offers please as I'm allready out of pocket. If it doesn't sell I might buy a K10 so that I can actually use the lens.
It's only been on the camera 3 times.
If you need a lens review then try here
http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Pentax%20Lens%20Tests/48-pentax/128-pentax-smc-fa-77mm-f18-limited-review--test-report
Sorry pics look a bit dark, I'll try some new ones if I get a moment tonight.
The lens is less than a month old and is like new. I'll send it special delivery so it's insured. I'll leave the genuine SMC Pentax skylight filter on it. I don't expect these will be available
Cash, cheque or paypal £365, no offers please as I'm allready out of pocket. If it doesn't sell I might buy a K10 so that I can actually use the lens.
It's only been on the camera 3 times.
If you need a lens review then try here
http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Pentax%20Lens%20Tests/48-pentax/128-pentax-smc-fa-77mm-f18-limited-review--test-report
Sorry pics look a bit dark, I'll try some new ones if I get a moment tonight.
Comment by JohnMcD posted on Regretrably For Sale FA Limited 77mm F1.8 SOLD at 20/05/2008 - 09:05
If you want fragile then the "F" series 50mm F1.7 auto focus is extremely fragile.
The whole front where the filter would screw in is plastic.
The number of these I've seen with ciplled, cracked or missing bits is very high.
I kept a filter on one of mine just to keep the chips from getting any bigger. My 2nd one broke completley though I did drop it.
Fortunately I replaced it with an FA50 F1.4 that has a metal front.
The whole front where the filter would screw in is plastic.
The number of these I've seen with ciplled, cracked or missing bits is very high.
I kept a filter on one of mine just to keep the chips from getting any bigger. My 2nd one broke completley though I did drop it.
Fortunately I replaced it with an FA50 F1.4 that has a metal front.
Comment by JohnMcD posted on When is a Pentax not a Pentax? at 20/05/2008 - 12:38
Quote:
Hi John,
I think you've misunderstood what is being said here. Mainly what Matt said!
The AF is exactly the same on K10 and K20 - and aparts from the complicated (not really - its a very simple process) explanations on how to set up spot AF rathen than auto one - there is one essential detail: It is probably your pentax DS that is not working properly with the Ltd lenses, not the opposite. So you should really look into upgrading to a newer body.
There is nothing complicated about setting the AF to spot on the K10 - or K100/K200 so really no problems there.
Then if the issue is a money one, sell the lenses and make good profit out of them. But if the decision is being made already, then what is the point of asking?
Also, nobody has suggested to get rid of the Ds, and you should definitely keep it for the Macro applications you have! Are you sure anyway that this macro flash is not usable with a newer body? Usually, they will not support TTL or P-TTL but still work in manual mode... so you really shouldn't lose much.
cheers,
Nathan
Hi Nathan, the macro flash I have has no manual mode at all and works in TTL mode only so can't be used on any other body so no matter what I do I need to keep the DS.Hi John,
I think you've misunderstood what is being said here. Mainly what Matt said!
The AF is exactly the same on K10 and K20 - and aparts from the complicated (not really - its a very simple process) explanations on how to set up spot AF rathen than auto one - there is one essential detail: It is probably your pentax DS that is not working properly with the Ltd lenses, not the opposite. So you should really look into upgrading to a newer body.
There is nothing complicated about setting the AF to spot on the K10 - or K100/K200 so really no problems there.
Then if the issue is a money one, sell the lenses and make good profit out of them. But if the decision is being made already, then what is the point of asking?
Also, nobody has suggested to get rid of the Ds, and you should definitely keep it for the Macro applications you have! Are you sure anyway that this macro flash is not usable with a newer body? Usually, they will not support TTL or P-TTL but still work in manual mode... so you really shouldn't lose much.
cheers,
Nathan
I don't like any of the other Pentax bodies at the moment and I'm happy with the DS as it ok with a lot of lenses just not the limiteds I have.
I always use centre only focus, I have it switched to that in the menus.
I'm just wondering whether I should sell the lenses to get some of the money back as they aren't much use to me at the moment. There doesn't seem to be anything in the pipeline that's been talked about either as far as I know. Pentax seem to be moving away from compact bodies unfortunately.
I suppose if I sell them I can always buy them again but I've wanted them for such a long time it seems a shame. Anyone know what's next up from Pentax ?
Comment by JohnMcD posted on Help Should I sell my Limited lenses ? at 14/05/2008 - 21:54
Quote:
My wife has the *ist-DS and I have the *ist-D and a K10D.
One of the things that gets me with the *ist-DS is the focus point is usually set to automatic - and the camera often gets it wrong
Personally, I prefer centre-only focus. The *ist-DS has a menu option to change to centre only (and you can also choose the focus point if you prefer).
Additionally, I also like the separate AF button on the *ist-D and K10D. This can be simulated in the *ist-DS - there's a custom menu that disables focus on half-press. You then press the OK button to engage autofocus.
With those two changes (centre-focus + OK-to-focus) I found I had exact focus every time with the *ist-DS. Focus at f/2.4 was easily possible and accurate.
The K10D is a fine upgrade... though you will find it substantially larger and heavier. (My wife loves the tiny size of the *ist-DS)
Just a thought
Matt
Hi Matt, ( isn't that something to do with Sony ?) anyway I always have my focusing sensor set to the middle one only, anything else is too complicated for me to manage.My wife has the *ist-DS and I have the *ist-D and a K10D.
One of the things that gets me with the *ist-DS is the focus point is usually set to automatic - and the camera often gets it wrong
Personally, I prefer centre-only focus. The *ist-DS has a menu option to change to centre only (and you can also choose the focus point if you prefer).
Additionally, I also like the separate AF button on the *ist-D and K10D. This can be simulated in the *ist-DS - there's a custom menu that disables focus on half-press. You then press the OK button to engage autofocus.
With those two changes (centre-focus + OK-to-focus) I found I had exact focus every time with the *ist-DS. Focus at f/2.4 was easily possible and accurate.
The K10D is a fine upgrade... though you will find it substantially larger and heavier. (My wife loves the tiny size of the *ist-DS)
Just a thought
Matt
Comment by JohnMcD posted on Help Should I sell my Limited lenses ? at 13/05/2008 - 14:54
Quote:
dear John,
In all honesty, I think that you should seriously think about buying a new camera. As George said in a post around here, it is always worth to buy a second hand lens, but rarely a second hand camera.
The selling price of those 2 Ltd lenses is still very high, and unless you have treated them very badly, the 43 and 77mm are still incredible performers and the 35mm is great "normal" lens .
On the other hand, digital cameras are very different from the old film cousins, and unfortunatly depriciate immediately, and don't last as long as the old film slr's. It seems like after 3 and a half years, your DS simply can't cope with it anymore.
I wouldn't suggest you to move to nikon, because that will mean buying a whole lot of new equipment, and again, those 2 ltd lenses are more valuable than thousends of pounds of nikon stuff!
If you think that the K10 is too big and heavy, why don't you buy an inexpensive K100 super, or the new K200. They are both smaller than the K10/K20, very similar to the Ds, work perfectly fine with all K-mount pentax lenses, and will provide you with a new body and an incredible set of lenses to work with. All for under £350 (for the newest k200).
Hope this helps, if you still want to sell the 43mm and the 77mm, I would definitely be interested in buying!
Cheers,
Nathan
Hi Nathan, the 43mm I've had since January and the 77mm is about 3 weeks old they are like new. The smaller cameras like the k200 might be ok except they don't have the focus adjust for each lens like the K20 does and I think I'd need that just in case. If I do decide to sell them I'll post them here first.dear John,
In all honesty, I think that you should seriously think about buying a new camera. As George said in a post around here, it is always worth to buy a second hand lens, but rarely a second hand camera.
The selling price of those 2 Ltd lenses is still very high, and unless you have treated them very badly, the 43 and 77mm are still incredible performers and the 35mm is great "normal" lens .
On the other hand, digital cameras are very different from the old film cousins, and unfortunatly depriciate immediately, and don't last as long as the old film slr's. It seems like after 3 and a half years, your DS simply can't cope with it anymore.
I wouldn't suggest you to move to nikon, because that will mean buying a whole lot of new equipment, and again, those 2 ltd lenses are more valuable than thousends of pounds of nikon stuff!
If you think that the K10 is too big and heavy, why don't you buy an inexpensive K100 super, or the new K200. They are both smaller than the K10/K20, very similar to the Ds, work perfectly fine with all K-mount pentax lenses, and will provide you with a new body and an incredible set of lenses to work with. All for under £350 (for the newest k200).
Hope this helps, if you still want to sell the 43mm and the 77mm, I would definitely be interested in buying!
Cheers,
Nathan
Comment by JohnMcD posted on Help Should I sell my Limited lenses ? at 13/05/2008 - 14:41
Quote:
Replacing the *istDS has to happen sometime, maybe sooner, maybe later, but it won't last forever.
So how about selling the *istDS and putting the cash towards a K10D. The price is pretty good just now.
And the Limited lenses are really too good not to use and enjoy.
Hi John thanks for the reply. I really need to keep the DS for now as I have a macro flash for it that won't work on the K10 or K20. I don't mind the quality of output from the DS it's just that it wont focus with my newly aquired and rather expensive lenses. The K10 doesn't allow you to setup individual focus points for each lens like the K20 does so I might just be in the same position with the K10.Replacing the *istDS has to happen sometime, maybe sooner, maybe later, but it won't last forever.
So how about selling the *istDS and putting the cash towards a K10D. The price is pretty good just now.
And the Limited lenses are really too good not to use and enjoy.
Comment by JohnMcD posted on Help Should I sell my Limited lenses ? at 13/05/2008 - 14:36
Hi all, I've had a Pentax DS since they came out about three and a half years ago. I use a variety of lenses on it with the most used being the 50mm F1.4, 50mm Macro, 16-45 zoom and 135mm F2.8. They all work fairly well and seem to focus ok most of the time.
So I've recently added to these the FA 35mm F2, FA43mm F1.9 Limited and FA77mm F1.8. Sound ok so far ? I even sold all my "M" series lenses to pay for the limiteds.
So what's the problem. Those last 3 lenses refuse to focus consistently on my DS. They're not so much out of focus as out of focus 50% of the time making them unreliable.
I don't really want to buy a K10 or K20 which might focus better as I like the size of the DS. The K20 does allow you to adjust the focus but it's a bit big.
So any suggestions ? I could just sell the 3 that don't work on the DS ? Dan brought round a K10 and they worked ok on that. It seems like a waste to just sell them as I've wanted them for such a long time but now they're a dissapointment on the DS.
My local camera shop said that I should buy a Nikon ? Well I suppose it wouldn't do they any harm.
So I've recently added to these the FA 35mm F2, FA43mm F1.9 Limited and FA77mm F1.8. Sound ok so far ? I even sold all my "M" series lenses to pay for the limiteds.
So what's the problem. Those last 3 lenses refuse to focus consistently on my DS. They're not so much out of focus as out of focus 50% of the time making them unreliable.
I don't really want to buy a K10 or K20 which might focus better as I like the size of the DS. The K20 does allow you to adjust the focus but it's a bit big.
So any suggestions ? I could just sell the 3 that don't work on the DS ? Dan brought round a K10 and they worked ok on that. It seems like a waste to just sell them as I've wanted them for such a long time but now they're a dissapointment on the DS.
My local camera shop said that I should buy a Nikon ? Well I suppose it wouldn't do they any harm.
Comment by JohnMcD posted on Help Should I sell my Limited lenses ? at 12/05/2008 - 22:59
Quote:
re shops in edinburgh, try Cameratiks - 122 morningside road. They tend to have piles of old stuff. Theres a shop just down the road (near holy corner with the four churches) that has a second hand cabinet, but I can't remember its name. It has a white front I think.
I think the "other one" is a branch of Edinburgh Cameras, if my memory serves me well. They had some M series lenses but it was 3 years ago when I last visited !re shops in edinburgh, try Cameratiks - 122 morningside road. They tend to have piles of old stuff. Theres a shop just down the road (near holy corner with the four churches) that has a second hand cabinet, but I can't remember its name. It has a white front I think.
Comment by JohnMcD posted on Shopping for old lenses in and around Edinburgh at 12/05/2008 - 22:50
I'm a bit busy today with football & "chores" so it will be a week before this baby hits ebay so don't be shy.
Comment by JohnMcD posted on For Sale Pentax Z1P imacculate, boxed, cased etc at 11/05/2008 - 13:48
I could keep it for my Z1P, MZ5 and MX but I mostly use the DS now and only use the others on holiday.
If I could try it on a newer body I might keep it if it worked ok but at the moment it would have to be a K10 as I don't have the money for the K20.
The 43mm seems to work a bit better on the DS and I have some great holiday photos with it but I might sell that too as it's so close to the 50mm and I'm not scared to use the 50mm.
I've done this before, bought the best Pentax stuff then been too frightened to use it. I had an absolutley mint late edition LX with the winder, case, finger grip A50mm F1.2 and A28mm F2 and was too frightened to use it so I had to sell being too scared to take it out.
My FA35mm F2 also focuses poorly on the DS so it might have to go too.
If I don't sell it by the weekend I might take it down the camera shop and try it on a K10 and if it's ok buy it.