18-55, 50/1.4 and 35/2 are sold

K-7, 16-45 and WR50-200 are still available.

I think all PMs have been responded to (in order) - there've been quite a few!

Best wishes,

Jon

35mm now sold pending payment.

K-7, WR50-200 and 16-45 still all available.
50/1.4 subject to various offers in an orderly queue....

Cheers,

Jon

WR18-55 kit lens sold subject to payment. Various other PMs replied to.

K-7, WR50-200 and 16-45 lenses still definitely available.

Cheers,

Jon

After several months with micro four thirds now, I've realised that system meets the vast majority of my needs and my Pentax kit, although wonderful, is sitting around massively under-used. So a big decision has been made, and I am offering my remaining Pentax gear as follows:

K-7 Body in excellent condition incl OME53

I can check the exact shutter count but it is in the region of 8,500 actuations. In excellent condition and showing only very minor signs of use. Well cared-for and boxed with all the original contents. Rear LCD has been protected since new with glass cover. Includes OME-53 magnifying eyecup and an additional (Pentax brand) battery. £475 including insured RMSD delivery in the UK.

35mm/2 Samsung version of the SMC FA lens in excellent condition

The box is a little bashed around the edges but the lens is in superb shape. Comes with hood, caps and pouch. Superb sharp lens. Nice and fast too. £165 including insured RMSD delivery in the UK.

16-45/4 Samsung version of the Pentax DA lens in mint condition

Boxed and superb. Less than one year old and some warrantee therefore remaining. Lens is as new. Box looks like it was on the shelf for a while before I bought it. Great upgrade to the kit lens. £165 including insured RMSD delivery in the UK.

50mm/1.4 SMCA in superb condition

I doubt you'd find a better one - it's in fantastic shape with absolutely no nasties. Comes with caps and the original (rectangular) hood. Lovely low light lens and bokeh-master. £90 including insured RMSD delivery in the UK.

WR 18-55 and 50-200 kit lenses

Both boxed and only very lightly used. Both in mint condition with original hoods, caps, etc. The 18-55 is going for £40 incl Recorded Delivery in the UK. The 50-200 is £75 incl RMSD in the UK.

Please note:

(1)I can post some photos in this thread over the next couple of days, but they will confirm my descriptions above. All of this kit is in great condition.

(2)Prices do not include PayPal fees if you prefer to pay that way.

(3)If people want to buy more than one item, we can negotiate a little on price.

(4)Would prefer not to turn this into a "why are you leaving Pentax" thread - I have no interest in bashing the brand, which offers a compelling choice for people who need and will use SLRs regularly. It's just about what makes sense for me at this moment, that's all.

Please PM if you have any questions.

Best wishes,

Jon

Peter - their website says they will (only the istD) but when you talk to them they won't...

I tried to get K100DS converted by them (and argued that the sensor was pretty much the same as the ist they claim to be happy to convert) but they refused to contemplate it.

In conversation, they told me that Pentax cameras are rebranded Samsungs, that the build quality inside is terrible, and that they are only happy to work with Nikons or Canons. I gave as good as I got and then gave up.

Sad

Sadly I couldn't find anyone to do a conversion in the UK - there are only one or two firms that do it, and they're only interested in Nikon and Canon. There are places in the States that do it - but the costs involved in shipping etc are such that you'd end up being better off buying a converted camera in the UK instead - even if it's not a Pentax.

My recommendation for people who want to dabble in IR is actually to consider something like a converted Canon G10/11 - the image quality is excellent and the liveview screen really helps. I know it's not from a Pentax camera and not really for this site - so here is a link to what a converted G11 can do:

link

Cheers,

Jon

My feeling is that if your main intention is to use it with extension tubes, then you will almost certainly also need to stop down a fair amount to get reasonable depth of field for macro shots. In which case, I'm struggling to see why you'd change from what you've got.

That said, the 1.7 lenses are possibly a little sharper than the 1.4 lenses, esp closer to wide open, but the 1.4 lenses give you more fun with bokeh and depth of field. They probably have more "character" than the 1.7 and that will appeal to some more than others. I'd choose the 1.4 for portraits.

In terms of build quality, the 1.7A lens is probably a weak point - plastic aperture mechanisms seem prone to wear - not a problem I've experienced with other Pentax primes.

I've got the 50/4 SMCM and it is a lovely sharp lens. But I think the price is too high - I bought mine in absolute mint condition from West End Cameras in London (not usually cheap) for £75 including a warrantee.

Jon

Eek - too ugly to buy!! You don't need to convince me about mirrorless though.... I love my m43 kit and really wish Pentax would join the club with a higher spec and WR offering... I don't think I'm the only one either.

Cheers,

Jon

Hmmm - mirrorless K mount is pointless because the distance the lens has to be mounted from the sensor is too great. Look at the adapters you have to use to make a K fit lens work on m43 and it becomes clear that you end up with little or no size advantage compared to a dSLR when you are using legacy SLR lenses. Legacy rangefinder lenses are a completely different matter, and the adapters for them are much smaller.

If Pentax go mirrorless, I wouldn't bank on them doing it with their existing series of lenses - you'd need an adapter the best part of an inch long to make them work.