The HD 35mm f/2 is very tempting. Does anyone know if the build quality of the new version has improved? The only FA lens I have is the 50/1.7 and while build quality is decent enough I think it could be better.

The Sigma 24/2.8 is a very nice lens and the flare is decent for artistic use. I started with the MF version which I sold when I got the AF one, but I miss the MF as it was much nicer to use and I think also smaller and lighter. Plus, the AF on this lens makes a right racket. I have the EF-mount version too and it's the same.

My recent acquisitions, though not sure when I last posted here:

:arrow: K 35/3.5 - I already have one but for £30 posted I couldn't pass up a second copy.

:arrow: Vivitar (Tokina) 17mm f/3.5 - Bought on this forum for a fair bit less than the Tokina-branded version goes for. Increases my widest lens for film by 2mm so this will be fun.

:arrow: K 135mm f/2.5 - I just sold my in-need-of-repair copy as I got a good copy for relatively little. I think the shop confused it with the f/3.5 version and priced it accordingly.

:arrow: Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5. I've wanted something wider than my DA 15mm for a while and this came along at under €170 just in time for my birthday. No hood but otherwise in great condition.

:arrow: DAL 50mm f/1.8. Bought on the forum to temporarily replace the FA 50/1.7 broken by my daughter while it was in for repair, but from the little use I've given it I think I like the DAL more than the FA, so the FA may be sold off. It's intended more for use on AF film cameras than on digital, so I'll need to see where I stand regarding exposure modes on my AF SLRs before I decide.

:arrow: Not Pentax, but a Fujifilm 18-55mm f/2.8-4. I needed something with AF longer than 35mm and a zoom will be handy. My head told me to get this, but my heart was saying 60mm f/2.4 or 50mm f/2. Sometimes you just have to be practical.

It's a lot but recently I've had very little time for photography and most of what I have done has been with my Fujifilm gear as it's been more suitable. Hopefully over christmas I'll have more time.

I really, really hate the way that Amazon lumps lens reviews together as if different lenses were slight variations of one another rather than completely different designs.

Withdrawn from sale for now.

Both Komine and Kiron versions of the 28/2 are good lenses and worth looking for. Make sure you check for sticky aperture blades, apparently a common problem.

I'm not selling either of mine though

If anyone wants to gift me a K-1 I will very gladly take a few more sample shots

Hi all,

I will be back in the UK for a week from the 12th so I'll put this up here in case anyone is interested. I will need confirmation by Tuesday morning at the latest because if it doesn't sell I won't be taking it over with me.

This is a classic 90mm f/2.8 Vivitar with 1:1 macro in Excellent ++ condition. Cosmetically virtually perfect, focus is silky smooth, aperture clicks nicely and stops down properly. It's perfect for anyone looking for the manual focus experience of 1:1 macro and feels much better in use than modern AF lenses. No fungus and minimal dust for a lens of it's age.

I have too many lenses around this focal length and too many macro-capable lenses and this one doesn't get enough use.

Here are a couple of nice photos of it on my ME followed by a few dodgy phone photos.



Pentax ME with Vivitar 90mm f/2.8 macro by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



Pentax ME with Vivitar 90mm f/2.8 macro by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



2019-11-09_09-36-03 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



2019-11-09_09-35-53 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



2019-11-09_09-35-36 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

Here are a few images taken with it, showing it's good for macro but pretty decent as a mid-telephoto general-use lens too.



Blossom by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



Flower by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



Blossom by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



Cactus by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



South Queensferry by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



Busker by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

I'm asking for £69 plus postage (probably another £7 or so signed-for and insured).

Thanks for looking

A couple of quick mobile photos as I said I would, though the lens is reserved already for Haris.



2019-10-31_04-16-24 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



2019-10-31_04-16-08 by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

It has non-original caps including an OM rear cap which fits the K-mount better than some K-mount rear caps I've had.

Some quick tests out of the window lead me to estimate the maximum focus distance as somewhere between 70 and 100 metres.

Hi everyone,

I have recently picked up what looks to be a good copy of the K 135mm f/2.5 (the second fastest 135mm lens Pentax have ever made) and will be over in the UK on the 12th of November, so I am planning to sell the slightly faulty copy I already have of the same lens. The problem with it is that it won't focus to infinity and the part of the barrel forward of the aperture ring is loose, though that doesn't seem to affect image quality within the range at which it can focus. The infinity focus problem may be due to the looseness or it may be separate. The lens focuses far enough away for general use but can't be used for landscapes etc without repair. I don't have the necessary skills to open it up and fix it but someone may be able to, or they may be happy using this legendary lens with the limitation on focus range.

At the weekend I can take some pictures of and with the lens and get a more concrete number on the maximum distance at which it will focus. For now all I can provide are a couple of pictures taken wide open with it. Click on them and they'll take you to the Flickr page where you can see them at 100% to see how incredibly sharp this lens is at f/2.5.

If anyone is interested then I will take it over to the UK when I go over and post from there. Other than the problems mentioned above the lens is in fine condition - no fungus, minimal dust, the aperture ring works nicely and the focus is beautifully smooth.

I'm asking for £30 plus postage (firm price) - you'll never see this lens at that price again! Payment by bank transfer or PayPal.



IMG_7153a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr



IMG_7155a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

Focus shift is where the point of focus varies slightly with the aperture used and therefore cannot be avoided by using live-view focusing, unless the lens is actually stopped down to the aperture to be used while it's focusing.