Although it might be better quality and definitely smaller than the 12-24mm zoom, it has the same widest aperture (f/4). I think I'll be saving my pennies and buying something else.

Best wishes, Kris.

How about a A* 85mm f/1.4?

Although the M f/3.5 might be better it is more common and, obviously, doesn't have the A setting. As a result the M's go for £30 (23 sales), the A's £111 (5 sales) and the K f/2.5s for £110 (3 sales). I have never seen a A* 135mm f/1.8 on ebay, and I don't know where the Takumar (Bayonet) budget lens would fit into this.

Mowog... the reason that lens went so cheap is that the seller didn't mention it was an A series lens. You can see the setting on the photo though.

The 100mm is already £111 with just less than six days to go. IIRC John Riley quite liked this (or its M equivalent) lens.

Cheers, Kris.

I resisted for quite a while but once I had one in my hands I knew "resistance was futile..." I seem to have a plethora of 50/55mm lenses, and now I have a M42 to K adaptor I can even fit my Takumars to the K10D. One day I'll set up a shot and work my way through all the 50s, the 43, and the DA* 50-135. I know it has been done before but it will be interesting to try myself. I could even do the same with a selection of 135mm.

Lots of possibilities, limited time. I really must get out and photograph the snowdrops in the local wood before they get past their best, then it'll be the daffodils in another wood, and then bluebells and wild garlic, and the lovely purple spotted orchid.

Cheers, Kris.

Well they got in quick but not with a good design (the 35-70mm on the ME-F). Not sure what happened after that. The P-series was a bit tacky, the SF and Z series were pug ugly, the MZ series seem back on track to me and get the best comments of the AF models.

I am sure some of our more knowledgeable Pentaxians will have a better answer.

K.

Sounds like a nice solution. If there was an MX-sized Pentax dSLR I would be tempted to go down that route too, although I am infamous for carrying big bags of stuff (not just camera equipment).

I chose the 43mm Ltd because I want to be able to use them on my film cameras too. I'll have to win the lottery before I can get the 31mm and 77mm Ltds.

Cheers, Kris.

Well I admit to buying Pentax originally because the ME Super was the "camera of the year", top selling SLR at the time, etc etc. I knew pretty much nothing else about cameras at the time, apart from a few reviews in the magazines, and bought it because it was "the camera" to have at the time.

Luckily for me, it started a 25 year love affair with Pentax equipment. Mind you, I skipped everything from the ME Super/MX/LX until the K10D.

I was thinking about getting one of the Lomo panoramic pinhole cameras. Have you come across anything about those?

I am tempted to try this using my LX and a body cap. I was thinking the LX because of the MLU facility and it's ability to meter from the film plane during long exposures.

Best wishes, Kris.

He has some great shots. I love this one:

link

I remember some years back having a holiday snaps slide show with a friend. Mine were all nicely exposed slides of ruined castles and old churches. Good competent pictures, and dull as ditchwater. Ideal for lecturing about the buildings which was mainly what they were for. My friend, who rarely shot slides, had underexposed ones, wonky ones, and a few real keepers but in the end they were much more interesting as photographs rather than "lecture slides".

Since (a) getting the K10D and (b) discovering this site I have been trying much more to take good images rather than good teaching materials. I leave it up to you lot if I am starting to get there. I have a way to go.

Cheers, Kris.