I like the angle of number 2. Nice effect. Next time I am in London, I will be going back and probably fisheye it to death

I think the Sigma 170-500 has had a new lease of life with the HD-DA converter if this shot is anything to go by.

Initial thoughts on the 1.4x converter

On the DA*300 I have found that occasionally it won't trigger, The focus confirmation is there, but it seems it does not want to know that. I think I will give the contacts of the 300 a quick clean before I consider it a problem. Mind you, like I say, it is occasional.

DA*50-135 - Lovely indeed. Nothing to complain about at all

Sigma 170-500 - Fast IQ is limited be the lens, not the converter. Still, it seems pretty good, possibly better than without the converter. I might give this lens a new lease of life (still not in the IQ league of the 300 with or without the converter)

FA50 F1.4 - Very strange indeed. Wide open it registers F2.4 on the body, it should read F2. IQ could be called dreamy at best. Downright soft at worst. Still, it could be used very well for portraits. So much so I have ordered a DA50 F1.8 which is very much like the F1.7 wide open, ie contrasty. Stopped down, sharp as a tack as usual.

10-17mm Fisheye - Well you just have to give it a go, don't you Curves are dramatically reduced. Still, it works, unlike the 21mm (which I have used on it) due to the rear element not moving further out which will hit the converter element. It is only a couple of mm's but enough. Do NOT use the 21mm with the converter, all.

Overall though, the converter is excellent, the IQ is akin to a lens without (apart from the FA50), and it opens up horizons with just about all your lenses.

Just remember this one thing:-
Check the lens you are considering using it with. If the rear element stays flush when you zoom and focus, or just focus on primes, you will be fine. If it starts sticking out when you use it (use the rings to check) then do not under any circumstances use it with the converter as it will damage it.

It is the Samsung one as we all know rather than a Sony one. I only mention it for the OP as he may not be aware.

TBH I have found it not as good as the Sony ones, It's dynamic range appears not to be as good, certainly when I have processed, and is a lot more susceptible to banding. Nail the exposure over 800ISO and it is okay, but that is hard with the limited DR. Bright light and a lack of extreme highlights and shadows though in the shot, it is fine.
It really put me off Samsung cameras, as I considered one of the NX100/200 models. I got the K-01 instead. Glad I did

But we are going a little off topic.

I suppose it would be good to give the OP a little history of the DSLR range, So I will.

First DSLR, 6MP, Compact Flash card, no sealing - *istD

6MP DLSR's with Pentaprism, SD(HC) cards - *istDS, *istDS2, Samsung GX1S

6MP DSLR's with Pentamirrors, SD(HC) cards - *istDL, *istDL2, Samsung GX1L, K100D, K110D

6MP DSLR's with Pentamirror yet has ability to focus SDM lenses - K100D Super

10MP DSLR's with sealing - K200D (pentamirror) K10D (Pentaprism). Samsung GX10

10MP DSLR's with no sealing - K-m

12MP DSLR's with no sealing - K-x, K-r

14MP DSLR's all with everything - K20D, Samsung GX20, K-7

16MP DSLR's, All with everything - K-5 series, K30, K-50

16MP DSLR's, but no sealing - K-500

24MP DSLR - K-3

I know it is like sucking eggs to all on here, but it is a brief outline of all the Pentax DSLR's.

Welcome Hoyerman.
Depending on you budget and the fact that you wish to shoot Landscapes most of all, I would suggest the following

The Aformentioned K-5. It is a mighty DSLR, in fact even with the K-3 coming out, I have not upgraded to the K-3, I love my K-5 so much.

If the K-5 price is too much, then I would seriously suggest the K10D. Although it is "only" 10MP (more than enough for A3 prints though) I have found that it is a better option than the K20D (I have both) as the images that you get are better, certainly for landscapes. I don't know what it is, but the K20D no longer gives me much pleasure in the IQ department. Maybe I am spoiled with the K-5, maybe at lower ISO's the K10D just gives you that much more in its rendition.

K200D, is basically a K100D but with the K10D sensor and sealing. But only takes AA batteries. Still a good option though.

Which ever you choose, I would seriously suggest getting hold of an 18-55mm WR kit lens. This will give you a shooting option when it is raining hard, whereas your existing lens collection won't fully seal the camera. Depending on the lenses you have (and I assume they will be a number of wonderful primes) It won't quite match them IQ wise but it will surprisingly close.

Hope this helps.

Stand back to back, 135mm apart, turn and shoot (a flower)

Here is an example out of the camera. Dreamy you could call it. Could be great for portraits.

Well it arrived this afternoon at the office.
One interesting thing I have found though, Put the FA50mm F1.4 and the maximum aperture it shows is F2.4. Seems that the firmware is assuming the FA50 is a DA50, if the 1.4x multiplier is taken into consideration - F1.4 x 1.4 = F2, F1.8 x 1.4 = F2.4

Still no matter, as I think I will be getting a DA50 anyway as the contrast is far better wide open. The FA50 is VERY soft indeed using the converter.

Didn't take them long......LOL

I still treat it with a pinch of salt. I think it all stems from that massive New York Shop - B+H - show the stock of lenses, or lack thereof. Rather than back order or suchlike, they say disconinued. Very Strange. Obviously it starts big rumours like this one.