Yes of course, I missed the fact that the 85mm was soft focus. Cab I ask how you fixed your ring flash to the mount end of the reversed 85mm ?

I know that there is a special ring light adapter, and I've tried to make something similar without success so far. Or did you use the tried and trusted duct tape solution

Don,

Impressive, if a little fuzzy at the edges. Roughly how far from the lens was the subject ? I'm guessing it would be only a few centimetres, or maybe even millimetres away.

Regards, Pete.

Thanks SMC, but I'll probably keep the 35-70, it'll ideally compliment my SMC-A 70-210 f4 lens when it arives.

I'm planning to retire to the sun very soon and whilst I'm still earning a crust I'm buying up the range of lenses that I always wanted, but couldn't afford previously, nor did I have the time to use them. I'll rationalise my collection later and offer the ones I don't want to keep back on eBay. Whilst all my cameras, with the exception of my beloved Super-A, are AF bodies I do like the build quality of the older MF lenses, SMC-A variant preferred but not essential. Apart from the 28-80 Macro Zoom that is, mine fell apart.

The later F & FA versions seem to be too 'plasticy'. That said, they are a lot lighter than the older metal bodied lenses and if you pick the right one, the build quality and the glass are probably very similar. I have read somewhere that the plastic (or polycarbonate) lens bodies might actually be better than metal because of its inherent temperature stability.

SMC,

Thanks for that, I bought both lenses and I'm certainly looking forward to receiving them. I thought your pricing was spot on, if a little underpriced (hence they sold very quickly) for todays lively market in the better Pentax lenses. The current range of DSLR's from Pentax and the ease of buying on eBay has increased their second hand value dramatically of late. FWIW, I will be using these lenses with my MZ-S and istD cameras over the next few weeks (as long as they arrive on Tuesday as promised ) in Spain when for once I hope to have plenty of time for piccy taking.

General info: I also found a SMC-F 100mm 1:2.8 Macro at Ffordes for not much money, cheaper than they are going for on eBay anyway. It remains to be seen what condition its in but they described it as 'signs of use', which is a tad generalistic.

Sorry, I couldn't resist it at that price. If I decide not to keep it, I'll offer it back here before putting it back on eBay (if that's OK with the moderators). I'm not sure if the forum policy prohibits touting items for sale.

Go for it ! At £30.00 it's got to be worth a try and I'd suggest it's possibly worth more than that. This lens is the highly regarded version which maintains the set aperture across its zoom range.

Anyway, if you find you don't like it . . . I can tell you where you can sell it quite easily

If its still there in an hour I might have a go myself ! ! ! My wallet just groaned . . . and my credit card has done a runner.

Ffordes have this lens in stock @ £159.00 at the moment if anyone is interested.

Thanks George, I couldn't believe it, and to think that I very nearly went for the 280 quid one. I'm sooooo glad I didn't. I do think however that £280 was just a bit OTT, even for this super lens.

I have the 3 manual focus 50's now, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.7 in a mixture of A, M, and now it appears, K versions. I think I can live without the 1:2 version. All I need now is the time to use them, too busy working at the moment unfortunately.

Pete.

Wow, thanks Brian. I bought it. There was a similar lens went for £280 recently and £130.00 is certainly a bargain if the lens is OK. I think the lens is the original K variant as it lacks the M or A suffix but hey, still a great piece of glass.

Thanks again for the tip, Pete.

Tube combinations:

1, 2, 3, 1+2, 1+3, 2+3, 1+2+3 = 7 different combinations, 8 if you count no tubes at all (but that's silly).

What am I missing ? ? ?