Must confess: I am another LBA Challenge loser. Shots with the DA*50-135mm

[davidmantilla]

Hi all,

<p>

I must confess I lost the LBA challenge. I had three "big events" coming up (a

soccer tournament, grad school graduation, and a trip to China) so I though I

did the best I could to hold back on purchasing lenses, I caved in.

<p>

I ended up first buying the smc-M 80-200mm f/4 lens, and soon afterwards the DA*

50-135mm f/2.8. A family relative is going to reimburse me for my DA* lens

purchase as a "graduation gift", so that leaves the manual focus zoom lens

unaccounted for. After a month of walking around with a guilty conscious I've

decided to come clean and confess to losing the LBA challenge. ;)

<p>

<b>Pentax smc-M 80-200mm f/4</b><br>

I really wanted the DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 zoom to begin with, but it was pretty

expensive, so I caved in to LBA/eBay and got a cheap zoom lens on eBay instead

(smc-M f/4 80-200mm). (See pics below). The lens itself was in excellent

condition but needless to say, it was hard to manually focus at a soccer game.

(I previously posted about using a smc-M 135mm f/3.5 lens at a soccer game). The

zoom gave me some versatility in framing shots, but I found myself at the long

end most of the time anyway. At 200mm, the old lens had noticeable chromatic

aberration. Plus, it rained the entire weekend and I kept thinking to myself,

hmm, weatherproofing would be a good thing to have right now...

<br>

Here are threeshots from the soccer tournament:

<p>

<img src="http://davidmantilla.smugmug.com/photos/308049681_8UkgX-L.jpg"><br>

<img src="http://davidmantilla.smugmug.com/photos/307044628_tZNSM-L.jpg"><br>

 

<p>

The lens is pretty sharp and has nice backgrounds when up close: <br>

<img src="http://davidmantilla.smugmug.com/photos/308012093_Zn8bo-M.jpg"><br>

<p>

Full gallery: <a

href="http://flickr.com/photos/davidmantilla/sets/72157604938881687/">http://flickr.com/photos/davidmantilla/sets/72157604938881687/</a>

<p>

 

<p>

<b>Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8</b><br>

After the workout I gave my eyes using the manual focus lens, and after being

disappointed w/ the chromatic aberration (yes, I was pixel-peeping), I decided

to go get the DA*. I have no regrets about getting the DA* lens, it is a truly

amazing piece of glass. I love the bokeh, the color, and the ultra-quiet (and

fast) auto focus. I have shot on the beach, in mild rain, etc, taking

advantage of the lens' weatherproofing. Actually, the only regret I have about

the DA* is not having bought it earlier (like at the 2-day soccer tourney where

I was drenched in rain).

<p>

Vanderbilt mansion (The Breakers) in Newport, RI:<br>

<img src="http://davidmantilla.smugmug.com/photos/307986913_G223E-M.jpg"><br>

Yours truly on the Vanderbilt estate beach:<br>

<img src="http://davidmantilla.smugmug.com/photos/305964501_9KoFo-M.jpg"><br>

The seashore in Newport RI:<br>

<img src="http://davidmantilla.smugmug.com/photos/307991120_38vbA-M.jpg"><br>

Sun sets on the Florida Keys (no postprocessing):<img

src="http://davidmantilla.smugmug.com/photos/308108073_DBHwZ-M.jpg"><br>

<p>

[hagar]

Nice shots Dave... that DA lens looks pretty good :-) And oh, by the way.. it's ok to feel guilty :-) lol.

[ricky_ng]

Congrads on at least admitting your LBA. That is a might fine lens though, expect to see lots of great shots from china.

 

I'm still in the "it's just an investment, not really a splurge" mentality and extremely jealous of you DA* 50-135 =P

[frygge]

Repent your sins ;-)

 

Of course, I'm just exhibiting cardinal sin number six for your DA* 50-135mm.

 

Fredrik

[miserere_mei]

I'll let Rose and Hin slap you on the wrist :-)

 

Isn't the 80-200mm and f/4.5, not 4? Although I don't own any of these zooms, I imagine they'll be like day and night on your K10D (or K100D).

 

In any case, the soccer shots came out very well despite the crappy light and weather. That's a weird sunset colour in Florida, but it's cool.

 

Enjoy China and post pics when you get back!

[shots worth sharing]

Yes, acknowledging your weakness is the first step toward rehabilitation. Now you have to suppress all delight in your new acquisition (fat chance! ;~)

[davidmantilla]

Oops, yes, the smc M 80-200 is f/4.5 (not f/4 like I wrote above).

 

DA* is so nice, hard to go back to the older lenses, though I still love (and prefer) the metal construction on the older lenses. I'm thinking of getting a good quality wide angle lens, but will hold off on that for a while. ;-)

[mc2imaging]

I'm glad <i><b><u>I</i></b></u> did not sign <i><b><u>myself</i></b></u> up for

the LBA challenge. I keep saying the 50-135 is the next on my list, but I just picked

up another Super-Tak 28mm f/3.5 for my stereo rig. I had been offered a couple of

these in the past and declined because I already had <i><b><u>one</i></b></u>.

Now that I'm using 2 K10D's for stereography, the matched 50mm's I had been using

on the P30t's just weren't cutting it...

[jgredline]

Great work, love the soccer shots. :)

[miserere_mei]

Matt, I love how you've managed to find an excuse to buy 2 of each lens with that stereo gimmick of yours. First it was "I need a second K10D as back up and so I can mount a wide lens on one and a telephoto on the other...for weddings, of course." Then a "reason" to buy 2 lenses...

 

Maria loves you too much to see through your ploy, but for the rest of us it's clear as day :-)

[hinman]

David, congratulation on the two new lens. We are not that far off from our target. I don't blame you for the wonderful lens. I am a cheapo guys who love to brag about inexpensive gear. I am impressed with your 80-200 lens and the soccer shot is outstanding.

 

At this point, I am not sure if the challenge has helped me or not as I am having all sorts of weird symptoms of thinking of new lens when I sleep. It is very sweet dream until I wake up and look at the calendar. I have yet to come up with plans to guard against buying spree. I am likely to get one lens after the challenge -- DA 35 Macro, Tamron 17-50, Pentax 21mm limited are the top three candidates of my want-to-buy list.

 

No matter how tempting and torture I feel, I am sticking it to the end.

[miserere_mei]

Hin, you *have* to stick it out, otherwise we'll tell Doug to cancel your p-net account :-p

 

I'm with you on loving the cheapo-but-goodo lenses.

[alisa_stieg]

I'm sorry but I have to giggle...I had absolutely no intention of buying any lenses, so I didn't see the point in even joining the challenge. And yet here I am having purchased a new lens and still wanting another...The Sigma 17-70mm will have to wait for some time though! What IS this illness? There is no cure for LBA, alas...

 

Funny how I did not have these symptoms until I became a Pentax Forum junkie...

 

David, all your shots are great! ENJOY your lenses! That's what the hobby of photography is all about!

 

Lisa

[mcmanamey]

Mis - no, no... I can see right through Matt. It's the love that keeps me w/ him, even

though I can see right through him.

 

It's worse than "needing" a 2nd K10 "for backup." The "backup" is why his dad was

given a K10 for christmas!!!! Now, for some reason, MY K10 and dad's K10 are the

stereo cameras!

 

I think I need to sacrifice and get a K20......... so that Matt doesn't HAVE to be

shooting stereo pics w/ a camera we NEED dedicated to main shooting.

[alisa_stieg]

Good one, Maria...very good! I like the way you think, sister!

[miserere_mei]

That is a cunning plan, Maria. So cunning, that you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel.

[danblu]

Hi David, The 80 200 is a really good portrait lens, really sharp with super smooth bokeh. I have one and love it.

cheers.