Weather Sealed Telephoto lens for Pentax LX

<p>Hi<br>

Now, I'm not planning on scuba diving with the thing, but without a weather sealed lens, the rubber seals on the LX body seem pointless?<br>

Just wondering if someone, sometime, made a weather-sealed k-mount telephoto (300mm-400mm) that has an aperture ring? <br>

Thanks!</p>

<p>-Richard</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hi Richard.<br>

Before Pentax went digital they didn't make a 'true' weather sealed lens of any kind. That said, The LX and several other cameras were so well made that I never had an issue with them getting around a little water (if we are talking rain/snow). I never worried about getting 'a little water' on the LX, and I suspect that's what it was for. The lenses were, again, reasonably water tight, enough to handle a little water, but they weren't truly weather proof.<br>

Thinking about this, were any lenses of that era (Nikon/Canon/Minolta) actually coming with seals?<br>

I used to shoot with a Sigma 400mm f5.6 APO macro (version II) and it was worse than my Pentax lenses in that it would get humidity inside, it was a real pain in tropical environments anyway.</p>

<p>I am currently googling....but I wonder if sigma made any weather sealed lenses during the last few years when they still had aperture rings? <br>

Maybe the best option is to get a 400mm fixed lens to minimize moving parts which could bring in water. I will only really be using it on a tripod, so if its set up in the rain, a cover wouldn't be too hard to integrate. <br>

But it would really be nice to find one that had at least some form of weather sealing as well as an aperture ring. But I am getting the feeling that this does not exist!</p>

<p>Honestly I used to just use a rain cover myself. It is no where as easy to use, but it will keep your gear safe.</p>

<p>I've never seen anything like that.<br>

I have an A* 300/4 that has been in some rain and snow and come through unscathed although it doesn't have any sealing. </p>

<p>I do appreciate having an aperture ring, since my MZ-S requires one for full operation. My 300mm Pentax FA* lens is excellent, but not weather sealed. However, I've heard it is still good in moist weather, but why should I take a chance? Even used this lens is still quite pricey. I would give more serious thought for going to a Pentax weather sealed APS-C DSLR. An APS-C model DSLR would also enhance the telephoto effect due to the crop factor. I thus prefer using my Pentax WR DSLR APS-C bodies for telephoto, and have several high-quality WR tele lenses for this purpose. Any film I shoot these days has been in the realm of wide angle to very moderate tele, or very rarely going into longer tele only under decent weather conditions.</p>

<p>Hi Michael<br>

Yes, I have sort of deviated after my search was non-fruitful. Although its more of a doubling, than a deviation. Ill stick with the old 50mm prime lens that I already have on the LX. Should be fine. There is almost no electronics in the thing anyway. <br>

Although the pentax K10d is very old now, they can be had for <200 dollars in mint condition, so ill probably do that. Fine for now, upgrade later...but am spending the money saved on a new WR HD lens. :D </p>

<p> </p>

<p>Actually, I've been contemplating selling my great old K20D, which I've used just once over the last year, since having acquired my K-5IIs and K-S2 bodies. I also have a K200D to get rid of, but it developed a battery drain problem. All my cameras are in mint condition, bought new, with very low use. I have so many bodies to switch between, none get even medium use. The K20D has better features, such as Pentax lens AF fine tuning, highlight overexposure compensation, dynamic range control and more. It also delivers better jpegs than the K10D.</p>

<p>A WR HD lens is a good idea. I love my DA 55-300mm. I even use a Hoya HD protective UV filter for it. This lens can keep to F/4.5 all the way out to 200mm, and with very good results! I have the older f/4-5.8 version, which still operates with the camera's screw drive AF. The latest version has a quieter AF motor and is said to be faster AF if you have a camera model to support that feature. But it is of slower aperture- f/4.5-6.3 and I don't need the updated AF anyway, and it it is far more expensive.</p>

<p>Interesting.<br>

I'm not too interested in MP count as a consequence of the limited budget I have for a camera body at the moment...but I have read that the K10d produces better more vibrant looking colors vs the k20d due to its kodak ccd sensor. I'm sure they are all fine, and we are just splitting hairs here I know, but just wondering if you have ever had the chance to do that comparison? Interested in your assessment as K10d vs k20d is the exact thing I am trying to sort out now. </p>

<p>I know they are both old, but like I said, I am going to be investing into a HD FA lens first, and then upgrading to hopefully the k1 or crop sensor in a few years...either new, or used (if anyone is foolish enough to sell their). I am not expecting too much of a used market though, as there is nothing in Pentax to upgrade to! The k1 is the zenith, and I expect it will be for some time. </p>