It is, but of course Samsung needed lenses with their partnership with pentax, so the coatings will be the same on the standard DA lenses.

However the top notch SMC coatings that Pentax use on the DA* and Limiteds are all for pentax only, this is probably which you don't see Samsung eqv of DA* and Limited lenses, only the ordinary DA range.

EFOV is effective field of view in relation to 35mm (or full frame), this takes into consideration the crop of the smaller APS-C sensor, ie what is seen by the sensor in relation to the image that the lens sees.

However, a 50mm lens will still act as a 50mm lens, even though the camera sensor is seeing an effective 75mm image.

Hope this does not confuse you too much.

As regard to bforbes question about the 35mm F2 with a samsung badge. Samsung did (or still do) make this lens, in fact warehouse express still have it available.

Hope this helps

Greytop, don't worry about Samsung lenses, they are Pentax lenses in drag. The only difference (certainly on the DA range) is the coating colour, Samsung have a blue tint, and Pentax have a green tint. In the real world it makes no difference, they are indentical and made in the same factory. I have done a comparison with the Samsung 18-55 (my mother and father both have GX-1s models) and the Pentax 18-55. Result? Identical.

To answer your first question unlikely, as the EFOV of the 50mm is 75mm, and the EFOV of the 35mm is 53mm.

Your second question, Samsung equiv lenses ARE Pentax lenses, just a different badge (Schnieder and samsung), so you are getting a Pentax, but at this time, a lot cheaper (but don't tell Pentax........)

Hope this helps

I have the non APO version (could'nt afford the APO at the time) and found it fine with the K20D

For example I took this with the lens. No sharpening required.

link

ISO was 800 too.

Looks like yet another model has been introduced which is the same

Namely the Samsung WB5000.

This time there is an admission that it is the same.


So, how many different models of the camera are out there? Its almost like the VW Golf/Audi A3/Seat Leon/Skoda Octavia of the camera world

Interesting topic John.
I was at Poynton Show on Saturday with 3 friends, one Pentax (me with both the K10D and K20D), Two Canon (1Dmk3 and 40D) and one Nikon (D300), and the results were similiar. Indeed the Canon users do complain about the LCD being poor and will wait until they upload before sorting the pics out. The Nikon user, like you say did not use the vivid setting to keep the colours in Check.

The other interesting thing as well, was whilst walking around the show, was not the usual CaNikon users everywhere, but the number of Pentax users that were around too, indeed I say another K20D user, a K200D user, and a user with the K-7, Grip and 60-250mm on the front (drool!). Makes a change to see more Pentaxians than normal at a public show

The Sigma 10-20mm is a great lens, I use it a lot.

As for QC issues, I have not heard of problems with any Pentax mount, nor Nikon mounts. However Only Canon users have had a problem, which is interesting.

I can't vouch for the Tamron or DA 12-24 as I have neither, but the Sigma is an excellent choice.

Ricoh. Interesting. I have a Ricoh myself, the R8. Its a nice well built compact camera. It look almost like a Leica except for the red dot, so nice clean black lines. None of these odd colours that make other compacts lok cheap. Image quality? Okay, bright outdoors are excellent, but face detection is slow, and portraits are soft. But on the whole a classy compact.

So, Ricoh could be an option if it happened. However, Pentax as a brand is valuable and well regarded. Maybe that team up would work...

But of course currently, Pentax is still alive and thank god it is.

I have DR on at start up on both my K10D and K20D.

K10D - 19500 shots and counting
K20D - 10500 shots and counting

Apart from a replacement sensor on the K20D (not related to the start up at all) no problems. Both working fine

Now I have said it, I have tempted fate!!!!!!!