Choose the FA31 if you have the money and don't mind the bulk. (I do.) Along with the K35 it is best for manual focus.

Choose the FA35 if you don't mind the build and absolutely need f/2.

Choose the DA35 to save money.

Choose the K35 if you don't mind the green button nonsense and don't need AF.

Otherwise, get the DA35 Limited Macro for its jewel-like build and close focus ability. It is distinctly pleasant to use, but don't try manual focusing outside the macro range. Very little play.

In the right hands they will all take great pictures. Pentax makes good lenses. I don't think any will necessarily improve on the K35 if you already have it. But the rendering has changed to a more "modern" look over the years, especially with the DA35 Limited which simply screams micro-contrast.




I took this shot with the DA35 Limited prior to selling it. Got many other keepers, but the FOV of 35mm on APS-C does nothing for me.

Enjoy a good camera at a bargain price!

Prices like this happen from time to time. It doesn't imply any larger trend. Simply that a buyer had money going spare.

Er, no.

You have to buy a K-5 IIs first. No sale prices on the lenses.

And this is US only. So the pound sign is not appropriate.

Score!

Have fun with these nice lenses.

This.

It is a great lens and one of the true Pentax bargains... even at full list price. I bought it instead of the DA*16-50, since to my eyes is optically superior.

A shame I have little cause to use it these days.


Lightburst At Castle Point by robinparmar, on Flickr

Something needs clarifying here. A light tripod can be useful, because it is not the weight that is important. After all, you can always add weight to a lighter tripod, in cases where this is really needed, either by weighing down the legs or by putting something heavy off a central hook. (I just noticed Dave Holmes wrote this already.)

More important than weight is rigidity. You do not want a tripod where any part can bend or flex. You want it to be robust under all kinds of torsion and stress. That's what aluminum can't offer, and nor can a tripod with poorly constructed joints.

You can also do a great job without any plugins... though they may make it easier. There are four or five methods, the worst being a simple desaturate. A web search should pull them up.

Yeah, this thing here.

Mono in post gives you choice and freedom never dreamed of in my film days. With practice you learn to visualise the scene ahead of time.

I agree with David. In fact, none of the "high street" brands are worth the money. They use cheap parts and cheap assembly. For example, I had a Slik that came highly recommended and fell apart after very little use. I could see they used the cheapest possible plastic bushings to hold the leg segments together. Here's what I learned after wasting money.

1. If it isn't light to carry, you likely won't have it with you when you need it. A tripod sitting at home or in the car is completely useless.

2. A tripod that isn't sturdy is worthless. (Especially for lucky Pentax users with SR.)

3. "Carbon fibre" is a term that covers a multitude of sins.

4. A tripod that is light, sturdy, and made with quality carbon fibre will be expensive. The raw materials and workmanship demand this. There are no short-cuts. All good tripods are expensive!

I bought a Feisol for about 500 quid, half of what a competing brand would charge for the same quality. I did that as a rather poor person who rarely even uses a tripod. Why? Because... I simply can't afford to keep repurchasing rubbish.