All Forum Comments
Comment by petrochemist posted on 300mm lens for the K7 at 26/06/2012 - 13:51
Like Frogfish I prefer the top one, but that may be just that the pano needs to be bigger to get the impact it deserves.
Comment by petrochemist posted on Typical at 22/06/2012 - 08:31
Comment by petrochemist posted on Are these M42 lenses worth bringing back? at 21/06/2012 - 23:12
I've never heard of this radioactive lens issue...thought the only thing i needed to worry about was whether my Pacific tuna or salmon was affected!
Comment by petrochemist posted on Radioactive Takumar M42 lenses at 21/06/2012 - 23:05
It also seems that the initial radiation IS alpha (for both isotopes of Thorium used in the glass), this is all stopped by other lens elements. After undergoing radioactive decay the subsequent decay steps can involve beta radiation.
This Link on Thoriated camera lenses might be interest.
Comment by petrochemist posted on Radioactive Takumar M42 lenses at 21/06/2012 - 22:54
I don't have actual data on the activity of the glass used in those Takumar lenses, but I suspect the levels are exceeded my many everyday situations. Living in Cornwall, flying, eating brazil nuts... all significantly increase your background exposure to radioactivity.
Beta & gamma radiation travel further (a few mm of lead stops beta) but are less ionising.
I'd expect both types of sensor used in cameras (CMOS & CCD) to record radioactive particles in the same way that film will. Occasionally such interactions will damage the sensor giving either a hot pixel or a dead one. Quite a lot of random pixels can be effected like this before you're likely to notice unless you go looking for them.
Comment by petrochemist posted on Radioactive Takumar M42 lenses at 21/06/2012 - 21:40
My first wage, age 16 as a trainee draughtswoman was just 11 pounds a week. 10.52 after deductions. Somehow I managed to learn to drive, run a car, pay my mum bed and board and save money on that!
My next job, a year later, as a computer operator gave me an astounding 23 pounds a week take home pay.
When I started here 25 years ago, I ended up with about £400 a month spending money, these days despite a four fold increase in basic pay, it's probably nearer to spending £400 a month more than I earn! (Mortgage, family... ...no longer young, free & single)
Comment by petrochemist posted on January 1984 Prices at 15/06/2012 - 11:11
I have read and heard a lot of issues with batteries purchased on e-bay, which are in fact duds, or have caused damage to the camera in question.
Sure, it might be very rare, but it is something that makes you think. Hence why I always purchase something like a battery from a reliable source.
Given they cost £20 (2 batteries with charger) it wasn't worth sending them back to china, they'll get used sometime in something less sensitive (old flash/toy car...)
Where hardware is designed for Li ion batteries I wouldn't expect this to be an issue, but it's probably still best to avoid the very cheapest options.
Comment by petrochemist posted on Buying a spare battery at 14/06/2012 - 12:29
So some other options to consider beyond longer telephotos:
A fast 50 (or wider) prime for low light shots? Depending on type (Manual or auto aperture/focus) These can be had from ~£20 to ~£150+
A Macro for ultra close-ups From £50 for older models.
Ultra wide angle/Fisheye typically >£300.
Any lens with a PK mount can be used with the K10D (or any Pentax DSLR) lenses having M42 screw mounts, T2 mounts, or Adaptall2 mounts can be used with suitable adapters.
Earlier mounts (PK rather than PKA)along with nearly all adapted lenses will require manual apertures (green button for metering) and manual focusing.
PKA mounts (A series lenses from Pentax & third party ranges) give auto aperture (when the aperture ring is on A) but remain manual focus.
Auto focus lenses should all work fine, wether screw type or ultra sonic (USM/HSM). Pentax F & FA series were designed for film but fit this group. DA lenses are designed for digital (Due to lower coverage they often wont usually cover a 35mm negative)
Comment by petrochemist posted on K10D what Lenses should I or CAN I get? at 14/06/2012 - 12:02
I had a 500mm mirror lens (Manual focus & fixed aperture) for many years, but found the F100-300 (a bit heavy) generally gave better pictures, both are often seen for under £100.
The DA55-300 is a cheapish & reasonable quality modern lens to consider too...
Must go to work.
Comment by petrochemist posted on K10D what Lenses should I or CAN I get? at 14/06/2012 - 08:36


Another potential advantage is the extra reach this full frame lens would give on the K7 (according to the Sigma website up to 450mm on an APS-c sensor camera)
The Pentax DA55-300 will give you just as much reach, at the long end & goes a little wider. I havent used the Sigma70-300 but I'm fairly sure it will be significantly heavier.
I use the Bigmos on my K7 (weight can be a real issue) I'm not convinced the stabilized viewfinder makes that much difference, and switching the K7's SR off is a bit of a pain if you're switching between lenses a lot. Mind you my other 500mm+ lenses have all been manual focus so I've not been trying to hold a focus point on target, so the OS might be worth the extra hassle, but I've never missed it on any of my 300's