Yes indeed. The f1.7 lenses have a flatter field and are more suitable when being (optically) abused by add on items such as close up lenses, bellows, etc.

The f1.4 lenses have higher contrast and lower resolution, as suits their low light reportage role.

Classified Ad, please keep on topic!

My last package to Hong Kong actually showed up on the Royal Mail site as "delivered in Hong Kong" but I'm not sure now what service that was.

It's down to keeping things in proportion I think. If I sell a filter,value £3 let's say, the first class post is fine. If it gets lost, it's no big deal to refund.

If I sell a K20D and it's £450 then it needs Special Delivery and the £21.50 or so that it costs will be cheaper than taking the risk if it goes astray.

I don't charge any more for insuring packages where the value has exceeded expectations. The insurance is entirely for my benefit and I absorb the cost. The reason is that overall shipping costs are quyoted lower and the auctions are more attractive as a consequence. The odd loss on postage can be accepted in return for the higher turnover.

A better option is the Tokina 80-400mm zoom, if you can find one.

Much more compact than these old film 400mm lenses, albeit still heavy enough!

I think we'll move this to lenses discussion as it's not really a lead to any great deal.

Does anyone has any experience of sending Samsung DSLRs to the official Pentax repairer? You'd have to pay, but most of the internal parts will be the same.

In any event, the OP might be better looking for the Pentax option.

The seller. There's a resposibility to deliver the goods paid for.

Consider how rae this might be - but early Pentax stuff is even rarer. Largely I suppose because therer were severe import restrictions in the UK, following WWII and right through until the end of the 1950s.

Only professionals with a licence to import could have an imported SLR of quality, hence the rise of the Praktica and Russian models that were sold in their thousands right through to the 1960s. Where camera were available, we usually had the lowest price options anyway. The Compur Rapid shutters and multi-element lens versions were very, very expensive.

Things to dream about. We don't see many Asahiflex lenses on offer. But via the Asahiflex adapter to 42mm screw thread, plus a K adapter I don't see why we couldn't use one on a K-5!

A picture would be reassuring. Not impressed by the description either....

It's a 1955 focal-plane focusing model with agood lens and shutter. Last issue of McKeowan's Guide puts the expectation at $350-$600.

So maybe.