kenern_petersen

Here's a rarity normally seen all beat up at yard sales. Looks like a

nice point and shooter.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7576438104&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

Would help if I posted the url:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7576438104&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

Kenney,

You are mistaken. The $25 is not mentioned in FAQ, but it is in the sign up procedure screens.

Anyone who doesn�t use photo.net long enough to discover it�s a fee-based service, is not the person subscription is targeted to. However, I do agree that the fees should be mentioned in the FAQ.

I don�t think the frequency of my use compels payment under the current guidelines, so I�m not at all bothered by heavy-handed remarks about honor or labels like freeloader.

Greetings

The ZX-L and the ZX-50 are compatible with the same lenses. These are designated as: FA, F, A. Therefore, your lenses will perform the same on the ZX-L as the ZX-50. If you go with the ZX-60, you actually use the ability to use manual �A� lenses.

The next Pentax autofocus body higher in line that offers greater lens compatibility is the ZX-5N. It accepts: FA, F, A, M, K which encompasses the complete �K� mount line of Pentax and third party lenses. The ZX-5N would also offer you spot metering and center-weighted metering in additional to the 6 segment matrix.

The Pentax web site offers a side-by-side comparison chart of as many three different bodies at a glance.

Good luck with your choice!

I own a Rebel and a bunch of Pentax stuff and have had no problems with any of it. However, from your list, the Elan II & 28-105mm USM really stands out. The Elan has full manual capability to learn on and a lot of bells and whistles to keep you from wondering what all the whoopla is about matrix metering, autofocus and advanced program modes. The Elan has been around a while and has proven itself well. There are many favorable reviews on the consumer sites. Price sounds very reasonable too.

Pentax K mount compatible prime lenses are available on the used market very cheap, while EOS stuff is much more expensive. But the Canon 28-105 covers a lot of focal lengths and should keep anyone busy.

Good luck and happy shooting with whatever model you choose.

If you are willing to have a non-auto focus backup, there certainly is no shortage of K mount compatible bodies out there. For the most part, Pentax autofocus lenses work fine with them. Most can be had very cheap in the used market and there are a few still in production.

Take a look at these extensive Pentax K mount web sites for some alternate brand suggestions and specific compatibility issues.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/index.html

http://www.BDimitrov.de/kmp/

Hello,

Compatible �K� mount lenses sometimes have an �A� setting all the way to the left on the aperture ring to allow the camera (if so equipped) to automatically set an appropriate aperture to match your manually selected shutter speed (shutter priority mode) or the shutter speed that the camera�s auto program deems most appropriate. Ricoh�s line of �K� mounts used the �P� to designate the same feature. I have also seen some �K� lenses from Chinon that used a �P.�

Since the KR-10m does not have shutter priority mode, setting the ring to �P� should result in the camera defaulting to the widest aperture of the lens. So in effect the KR-10m cannot take advantage of the �P� setting of the lens since only full manual and aperture-priority AE are available.

With your camera you can use full manual to set an aperture ( not �P�) on the lens ring, then select a shutter speed to obtain an ideal exposure, or in the aperture-priority mode you can select your desired aperture setting on the lens ring, and the camera will calculate and set the appropriate shutter speed automatically to obtain a correct exposure.

Hope this helps,

Hello,

I own a ZX-M and several other K mount bodies. I primarily shoot Pentax K mount equipment and have collected quite a few K mount lenses over the years. The ZX-M (MZ-M) is compatible with all K mounts (even the newest KAF autofocus). This includes the older lenses that have no electrical contacts. However, the ZX-M will not display the aperture in the viewfinder nor will it automatically select the appropriate F-Stop when you use shutter priority. Also, the segmented matrix metering of the ZX-M is only activated when you use an "A" equipped lens (electrical contacts). So with your older lenses you will not be able to take advantage of the ZX-M advanced metering. Having said this, the ZX-M offers little over any of the more advanced older manual cameras, since it defaults to center-weighted metering with the older lenses.

Since I own several other K ount bodies, I shoot the non-electrical lenses on the them and use only the newer lenses with the ZX-M. Why? It's the biggest justification I have to use the ZX-M. The older bodies handle the older lenses great, and the ZX-M can't utilize its segmented metering with the older types.

If you plan only on using non-electrical lenses, then the ZX-M might not be the best choice to make. An older and more robust body will probably perform just as well in the center-weighted metering role. So you'll need to examine if your need for the matrix metering justifies buying different lenses or will you be satisfied using your older non-electrical contact equipped lenses on the new body.

The ZX-M is very light and has many features that I wanted like depth-of-field preview, matrix metering, exposure compensation and auto film advance--plus it was brand new! Many reviews I've read speak negatively about the plastic lens mount. It has been no problem for me. Please feel free to email me any questions about the ZX-M and the performance I have gotten from it.--Regards

Hello,

I have several 135mm lenses; a Takumar 2.5, Sears 2.8, and a Vivitar 2.8. I borrowed a SMC Pentax 135 3.5 about two months ago and shot a test roll of Agfa Precisa 100 to see if I could tell a difference using an 8x (inexpensive) loupe. I have been seeing many SMC 135s going for 28-35 Euros in my area of Holland and considered buying one. I too wanted to get rid of the lesser quality. Right away you would think the Takumar and SMC would blow away the Sears and Vivitar--not so.

I shot each lens from a tripod using my A3000 (center-weighted metered) body at a colorful box (lots of text) using the widest aperture, then smallest and then two stops from widest. At the two stops from widest, I cannot tell a single difference in the quality of the slides. Only at the widest aperture is there a noticeable difference with the SMC leading. The Sears was actually better than the Takumar on the widest setting followed by the Takumar, and then Vivitar. On the smallest aperture all slides looked identical except the Vivitar (photgraphed text not sharp).

After considering the results, I did not buy the SMC 3.5. For my needs, the Takumar will do. As for the other lenses, I'll get rid of the Vivitar and hold on to the Sears at least until I get to try a SMC 2.5.

If you have been shopping for PK lenses, you know that there are over a dozen different 135mm brands out there, especially in Europe. Most are all 2.8s. The 2.5s are the most expensive regardless of brand, and at least in Holland the 3.5 SMC are the cheapest, even cheaper than a Petri or Pallas 2.8. The odd brand M42 screw mounts are practically used for paperweights now.

Your two lenses are very similar in build quality and in the slides they produce (my tests). You might want to shoot some 100 speed negative film have it developed and printed by a quality lab and judge the results yourself, or shoot slides and let a knowlegeable person evaluate them with a real quality loupe. Don't let the evaulater know from which lens they are from until he points out the flaws (some people are biased against the Takumar right away.) Hope this helps.