Dear All,

I have a problem with a very noticeable piece of dust inside my Mk1 18-55 mm kit lens. It is stuck on one of the inside (inaccessible) elements, about 1/3 of the way from the top of the viewfinder.

Has anybody managed to dislodge similar or have you resorted to opening up the lens yourself?

How much would a lens "technician" charge to do the same job and would this be comparable with the replacement cost for the lens.

Funny that I was looking at a 16-45 a few weeks ago!


Regards

Dear All,

I would be interested to hear comments from users of both the 18-55 Mk1 kit lens and the 16-45 f4 on their relative merits.

Although many of you have suggested that the 18-55 is a decent lens, I sometimes feel that it lacks a bit of sharpness. I feel that the 50-200 performs better by comparison, despite being the "other half" of the low cost kit.

How does the 16-45 autofocus and sharpness compare with the 18-55.
I am sure that there is plenty to justify its greater price over the kit lens, but what do users think?

Looking forward to your responses,


Regards

Peter

Greetings all,

Page 60 of the K10D manual describes the procedure for setting the dioptre adjustment.

As a variation to this, I did it by taking the lens off and then pointing the camera at the sky. I found it a bit distracting doing it with the lens attached as the cloud detail was catching my eye.

As a spectacle wearer, I still enjoy the focus confirmation in the viewfinder having used a manual focus SLR until last year.

Regards

Peter

It may be of interest to you that the Samsung 50-200 is available for £100 less a penny at one of the larger retailers websites - they must be Crackers!

I think the consensus is that it is a re-badged Pentax.

I have one and a Pentax Mk1 18-55.

Some of the shots I have taken with the 50-200 seem to have a bit more "punch" than most of what I have taken with the 18-55.

However it could be that having had the 50-200 since April, I have been using it in better (brighter) weather conditions!


Regards

Peter

Dear PentaxUsers,

Unfortunately the Browser3/Laboratory3 CD that I received with my K10D has become scratched and is unreadable.

Unfortunately again, I had not installed it on my PC (Win98SE, awaiting upgrade!).

Does anybody know where/if the software can be down-loaded, or have you been successful in exchanging damaged/faulty CDs.

Regards

Peter

Dear Pentax Users,

There was a discussion some time ago about the similarities between the Pentax and Samsung (D-Xenon) 50-200 mm zooms.

Has anyone since been able to compare the two to establish whether they are the same albeit differently badged.

On the Pentax & Samsung websites, the data below is identical between the two makes:
Lens construction: 11 elements / 10 groups
Angle of view: 31.5° - 8.1°
Minimum aperture: F22 - F32
Maximum aperture: F4 - F 5.6
Minimum focusing distance: 1.1m
Maximum magnification: 0.24X
Dimensions (diameter x length): 66.5x 78.5mm

Weight: 260g (w/o hood) Pentax, 255g Samsung.


Does anybody have any idea how these compare optically with a 20 year old 35mm Tamron 80-210mm f3.8-4.

Other factors like weight, full functionality, different focal lengths I have taken account of already.

Any comments gratefully received,

Greetings Pete et al,

First post here...

Would you call me a Luddite for suggesting breathing on the lens to create a mist effect and stretching a stocking/tights over the lens to give a softened effect.

When you only have a rubbish computer and no fancy software, you have to try other options!